No. 2 Oregon Loses, 1-Loss Teams and Tebow Rejoice
College Football November 16th. 2007, 10:44am
We thought it’d be different. Since Oregon beat Arizona State two weeks ago, we’ve been yapping about how the Ducks most definitely would lose one of their final two games. You scoffed. Then, Dennis Dixon’s knee buckled last night in the desert and the Ducks never recovered, losing to a sub. 500 Arizona team, 34-24. But it doesn’t feel like the Ducks choked … how can you come down hard on a team that loses its starting QB and RB, and has to make due with a Leaf brother?
But we can all agree on the state of the Pac-10: what a mediocre conference. Check out this stat on the three ‘best’ teams in the conference: The Trojans first loss came against a Stanford team with a losing record, California lost to an Oregon State team that was .500 at the time (but appears to be on its way to a bowl game), and Oregon lost to an Arizona team with a losing record. If you want to compare this to the SEC – full disclosure for the 200th time: We did not attend an SEC school – feel free. LSU’s loss came at Kentucky (which was ranked at the time, and still is); Florida lost to Auburn, which was 2-2 at the time, but is now 7-4 and going to a bowl game; and Georgia lost to South Carolina and Tennessee, two teams that are on course for bowl games and have been ranked on and off this season (both in the Top 15, in fact).
Everyone wants to say that there’s no such thing as a quality loss, but we tend to disagree. When there are four 1-loss teams vying for two spots in the BCS title game, try telling the computers that a quality loss doesn’t factor in to the equation.
What does Oregon’s loss do to the National Championship picture? Still too muddy to say with any certainty. LSU still must travel to Arkansas and then play in the SEC title game; Kansas still has dates with Missouri and the Big 12 title game; West Virginia still must play two ranked opponents. What’s left for Ohio State and Arizona State? The Buckeyes have Michigan this weekend and ASU hosts USC next Thursday in a game that suddenly has meaning. So yeah … nothing’s remotely decided.
What does Dixon’s injury to do the Heisman? Tebow, baby!
51 Responses to “No. 2 Oregon Loses, 1-Loss Teams and Tebow Rejoice”
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November 16th, 2007 at 10:47 AM
It may just be the Sooner fan in me talking, but….f**k Oregon. It’s a shame the Instant Replay official couldn’t fix Dixon and put him back in the game for you. Cheating bastards.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:05 AM
This thing is wide open still. Should be a fun last 3 weekends.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:06 AM
I feel bad for Oregon fans, as this was a really unfortunate and crumby way to lose. It’s a shame. They really earned it up to this point.
That being said, this will hopefully allow the proper player to win the Heisman, Tebow, and not the most noticeable player on the team in the National Championship game.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:14 AM
Two words for you: Chase. Daniel.
Tebow’s a sophomore. Granted, he’s got gawdy stats, but his team has three losses. If Daniel can somehow engineer a win vs. KU and a win vs. OU in the Big12 championship, that will be two ABC primetime games to help sway voters. They win (somehow, someway, still sounds insane), I think he wins.
And yes, I live in Missouri, but didn’t attend there.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Mike Stoops is quickly becoming college’s version of Wayne Fontes
November 16th, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Tebow’s stats are too gawdy to ignore, definitely the Heisman, Florida could lose 5 games and he should still be the Heisman. Since we all seem to be making a note of this, I live in VA and hate the Gators.
I also think I hate TBL’s new banner.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:20 AM
The Big Lead, your logic is flawed:
– How can Cal be one of the “best” teams in the conference when it is currently ranked No. 7 in the Pac-10? (Oregon State, by the way, is 4th.) And yes, this is the same Cal team that beat a Tennessee team that is destined to go to go the SEC championship game.
– I’ve heard time and time again that a conference is considered to be great when the lower-ranked teams can actually beat the higher ranked teams. That’s the argument used to bolster the SEC. That is also the same argument that was used to bash the Big-10, because Michigan and Ohio State were so dominant, and the league wasn’t competitive at all. So conferences with a bunch of patsies are considered superior?
–Yes, it looks bad when a lowly team beats a high-ranked team. But of course there were several factors you have to consider: Dennis Dixon’s injury, other injuried, the fact that Arizona HATES Oregon with a passion after losing recruiting battles last year, and the fact that the 2 Stoop Brothers who coach at Arizona hate Oregon even more on behalf of their brother Bob of Oklahoma.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:22 AM
if Tebow’s stats are “too gaudy to ignore” then why hasn’t the Heisman gone to a Texas Tech or Hawaii QB these last years?
There is no “best player” this year. I hate to say it, but there’s been nationwide “suck” and nobody really deserves it. If anyone should get it, it should be Jake Long, who has actually dominated the whole year rather than taking a game or two off. of course there’s no way in hell he gets it (good, because hes a wolverine and their season has been shitty as well).
Who the hell can you honestly give it to? I’d still have to say Dixon.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Tebow is the winner, and he is the clear winner. It is clearer than it typically is, and if you have watched Florida this year, you would, or at least should agree. The dude is a stud, regardless of his year in college. He has played a gauntlet of a schedule, and has played great in every game save for the Georgia game, where he still didn’t play bad, but was clearly injured.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:27 AM
@Marty: When I think of Sooner fans, all I can think of is that deranged fuck who ripped another guy’s scrotum.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:28 AM
Also, for the record, I think I like the other banner better TBL. This one is quite hard to read.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:29 AM
I have done a total 360 on the Heisman thing. I realize Reesing probably doesn’t have a shot this year, so I am right back at Graham Harrell. Who’s gaudy meaningless numbers are better Harrell’s or Tebow’s? Let’s have an Andre Ware year this year, and try for a legitimate winner next season.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:30 AM
everyone get off the jock of tebow
the gators have how many loses this year, thank you
it is all about the best player for the best team in the nation
Glenn dorsey will win the heisman
November 16th, 2007 at 11:31 AM
I like the new banner, although I’m not sure about the first silhuette.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:37 AM
Don’t like the new banner either. Too much black with the black on the sides.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:39 AM
Wait, now the new banner looks better. Before it was black on black. Now I like.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:41 AM
do we really care about the banner today fellas
gosh a bunch of nit picking bitches today
November 16th, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Were those Texas Tech and Hawaii QB’s running for over 20 TD’s spencer in addition to throwing all those TD passes? No. End of argument.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:47 AM
Irishmafia, it’s Friday, chill
November 16th, 2007 at 11:55 AM
irishmafia is a treat
November 16th, 2007 at 11:58 AM
McFadden is the best player in college football. Yes, better than Tebow.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:01 PM
We got a Reds fan on the board?
FireDustyBaker
November 16th, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Irismafia wins the Grammer Heisman.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Oh my god I ripped Irishmafia’s grammar, then promply misspelled grammar.
What sweet irony!
November 16th, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Banner=Awful
November 16th, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Tebow’s Gators have played the second toughest schedule according to Jeff Sagarin. Chase Daniel, 52.
Anyone think Daniel would have one loss if he had Tebow’s schedule, including @ LSU, vs. Georgia, @ Kentucky, vs. Auburn, @ Tenn? It is pretty likely that Mizzou will lose another game so one more in should give Daniel the Heisman over Tebow?
November 16th, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Unsolicited opinion: I actually like the new banner a lot. Also, it’s much better than that yellowish mess that was at the top of the page earlier this week.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:37 PM
banner backstory: we were all set to hire some guys to do it. They were taking longer than expected and out of the blue a RANDOM READER!! sends this in. We were blown away. It’s a bit edgy, has a movie element to it, and is different from anything we’ve seen out there.
Ran it by a few people … all five of them liked it. Then we decided to take heed and switch out the black on the sides for white, and think it looks better.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:42 PM
anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn’t he danced his did
November 16th, 2007 at 12:45 PM
I just wanted to see if ee cummings poetry and an irishmafia post are similar both grammatically and in making a fucksworth of sense.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Arkansas plays at LSU..LSU better watch out this week. Ole Miss took them to OT last year in Death Valley.
I think we’re getting pretty close to having a two loss team play for the national title. Here’s a big if.
WVU loses to Cincy
OSU loses to Michigan
ASU loses to USC
LSU loses
Kansas wins out
That leaves Georgia sitting there. Could you imagine a two loss national champion?
hilarious..
November 16th, 2007 at 1:48 PM
TBL’ers: Get yourself over to Yahoo and look at the Rivals minute and Ashley Russell. Holy….
November 16th, 2007 at 1:55 PM
Ashley Says:
October 5th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
hi my friend and i were bored so we googled my name which is Ashley Russell
and i find tht i have a fan club!!!!
now i know im gorgous and what not but please i fan club for me !!!!!!!!!
awwwww you shouldnt have …..
no really you shouldnt…..my frinds name is charlee wilshire if your bored look up her name =]
XxASHxX
Please tell me that is fake and that she didn’t call herself gorgeous. Nothing upsets me more than girls that are gorgeous telling everyone they are gorgeous, conceited bitch.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:55 PM
dear god…that rack…i want too…dear god…
November 16th, 2007 at 1:56 PM
im sorry, i prematurely posted. how do those sweater cows not rip through that shirt like a RB thru nebraska’s defense?
November 16th, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Low blow spencer, low blow
November 16th, 2007 at 2:19 PM
im sorry, but i dont take disagreements with my heisman logic lightly.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:31 PM
I feel it necessary to rename the Pac-10 the “Big West.” Just like the Big East, they have one team that perennially performs well (USC/West Virginia), a handful of teams that show up every few years and look good, but ultimately disappoint (Oregon, Cal, UCLA/Louisville, Rutgers), and then a bunch of teams that probably shouldn’t be playing D-I football (Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Arizona/Syracuse, Pittsburgh).
The Big West is, across the board, better than the Big East, but they’re structured the same, and about as internally competitive.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:39 PM
Give me a break. Michigan has been playing ALL SEASON without their starting QB and RB and have been completely vilified for their performances (at least by the mainstream media). Too bad for Oregon but they should be dropped just as hard.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:55 PM
OSU has a great shot to be in the title game “When We Beat That Team From Up North. The way I figure it we only need 2 things to break right for us. LSU and WVU must lose. If that happiness we are guaranteed of getting in the National Title Game. As we all know only one team from the Big 12 will get in.
Here is a likely example, Missouri beats Kansas, then they play Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game the winner goes to the title game lets just say Oklahoma and the loser falls below OSU. I think this is very realistic, and I have tried to take my OSU homer hat off for a second. I think WVU has one loss in them, maybe this weekend. Also I think LSU has a chance to lose in the SEC Title Game. I don’t think either of the 2 examples are that far off base. So if you are a Buckeye Fan have faith.
Current Top 8 now
1 LSU
2 Oregon
3 Kansas
4 Okalahoma
5 Missouri
6 West Virginia
7 Ohio State
8 Arizona St.
Projected Final Standings of Original Top 8
Okalahoma – Will Win Big 12 Title Game Going to National Title Game
Ohio State – Will Beat Michigan and go the National Title Game
Missouri – Will Beat Kansas, but lose to Oklahoma in Big 12 title Game
Kansas – Will Lose to Missouri in final Game
LSU – Will lose to UG in SEC Title Game
Oregon – Lost to UA
West Virginia – Will to lose to UC
Arizona St. – Will Lose to USC
Go Bucks!!!
November 16th, 2007 at 3:10 PM
Agreed, Oregon needs to take their rightful place below Florida in the polls.
3 losses in the SEC is like 12 in the Pac 10.
November 16th, 2007 at 4:11 PM
If anything Dixon’s injury legitimized him as a heisman candidate because oregon’s offense could not function against a terrible Arizona team without him at the helm. The thing about the greatness of Oregon’s offense is that it put superior skilled players in one on one match ups where they can use their skills to beat the defender. However, the cog that makes the wheel go round is the QB to distribute the ball apropriately to the skill players without his decision making the whole scheme falls apart. Hence Dixon for heisman
November 16th, 2007 at 4:34 PM
We are going to need to see Heath Schuler’s little bro in at QB for Florida, in place of Tebow before we can have an even comparison.
November 16th, 2007 at 4:38 PM
It’s not THAT tough to figure out who’s going to play in the championship. If LSU wins out, which they probably will, they’ll play the winner of the Big 12 championship. One thing is for sure: A Big 12 team will be the title game.
November 16th, 2007 at 5:23 PM
Washington shouldn’t be playing D-1 football? The Huskies won a national championship in 1991.
As for Washington State, the Cougars finished the season ranked #9 just
four years ago.
TBL: forget about bowl games. When you play almost 3 patsies a year like the average SEC team, you’re halfway to bowl eligibility.
Both of these programs have had more recent success at the national level than Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Mississippi and Kentucky.
November 16th, 2007 at 6:02 PM
Brian- come on. The average college football team plays 2-3 patsies a year. The Pac 10 only gets 3 non conf because they play 9 conference games. It doesnt matter what conference they’re in. Don’t believe me?
non conf opponents “cupcakes”
1. LSU- MTSU, Tulane, La tech.
2. Oregon – Houston, Fresno State (and they are a cupcake, they stink)
3. Kansas – Central mich, SELA, Toledo, Fla International
4. Oklahoma – N.Texas, Ut. State, Tulsa
5. Mizzou – W.Michigan , Illinois St.
6. WVU – W. Michigan, Marshall, ECU
7. OSU – Youngstown, Akron, Kent St.
8. ASU – SJ St. SD.St.
9. Georgia- w. Carolina, Troy
10. Va Tech- E. Carolina, Ohio, William and MAry
I understand you want to tout Pac 10 supremacy but the reality is everyone does it. The Pac 10 schools may schedule “better” games but they are still scheduling easy wins like every other school in the country.
November 16th, 2007 at 6:24 PM
@ XV43: you should be castrated for putting that opinion out in public. Saying that WSU and UW don’t belong in D-1 football. Just to back up what Brian said, WSU finished in the top 10 three straight years ending in 2003 after they whooped Texas’ and VY’s ass in the Holiday bowl. UW won a goddamn national championship in 1991 and have one of the most memorable wins in college football history, they snapped Miami’s amazing winning streak of 35 home wins or some shit, called it “the whammy in Miami”.
TBL has been hating on the Pac-10 for weeks now, mediocre huh? Ask Tennesee how mediocre the Cal Bears are. Please stop dismissing the Pac-10 as a second tier conference, its just erroneous.
@ aehite: you also misspelled “promptly”
November 16th, 2007 at 6:29 PM
RS27: You can’t fault Oregon b/c Fresno had an off year, they schedule that ish way in advance. Fresno State is a pretty legit program that puts many guys into the NFL.
Most Pac-10 teams play a good non-conference schedule, I know WSU played Wisconsin this year and UW played Boise St., Ohio State, and will play Hawaii before the year is over, no patsies there.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:09 PM
There’s always the outlier team like Washington in the Pac 10 or Syracuse in the Big East that doesnt schedule easy games, but most schools do. Its a fact of life in college football. USC played Idaho this year.
I hate the argument of my conference is better than your conference because your conference schedules cupcakes. Everyone does it. No one is immune. That was my point.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:56 PM
RS,
This ground has been covered here in previous posts. See them for full details, but the 12 SEC teams played 28 non-competitive opponents at home this year, or 2.3 per team. The 10 Pac-10 teams played 10 such opponents at home this year, or 1.0 per team. 1.3 wins is a huge difference in a 12-game season where 6 wins makes you bowl-eligible. This is in addition to the huge boost in the polls and computers that comes from the SEC’s 18-win head start on the Pac-10. The 12 SEC teams play a total of 7 non-conference road games this year (and 3 of those involve Mississippi and Mississippi State– and one is LSU at the Superdome against Tulane); the 10 Pac-10 teams had played that many non-conference road games by Sept. 15.
USC played Idaho this year as a courtesy to Nick Holt, who left USC to coach there (and is now back at USC), but it’s the exception, not the rule. No one in the nation schedules more aggressively out of conference than USC. That is just about the only example of a non-conference tomato can that USC has played in six years. USC has played Notre Dame 6 times, Auburn home-and-home, Arkansas home-and-home, Nebraska home-and-home, Virginia Tech (in Maryland), Kansas State (road), BYU home-and-home, Hawai’i home-and-home, Colorado (road) Fresno State, etc. Next year, they play Ohio State, Virginia and Notre Dame as their three non-conference opponents. There isn’t a Louisiana-Monroe or Florida Atlantic in the bunch. (Oh, and by the way, they won every one of those games except Kansas State, and that was five years ago.)
November 17th, 2007 at 6:32 PM
Louisiana-Monroe beat Alabama at home, so I stand corrected. The SEC only has 27 non-competitive home games.