2025-2026 College Football Thread

[fatediesel]

Another stunning hire as Todd Graham is leaving Pittsburgh after just one season and taking the Arizona State coaching job. I've kept pretty up to date on the coaching rumor mill and at no point was Graham even mentioned. Graham took the gutless way out and rather than inform the team in person that he was leaving he told them via the following text message:

"Coaching there has always been a dream of ours and we have family there. The timing of the circumstances have prohibited me from telling you this directly. I now am on my way to Tempe to continue those discussions. God Bless. Coach Graham."

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...burgh-panthers

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Another stunning hire as Todd Graham is leaving Pittsburgh after just one season and taking the Arizona State coaching job. I've kept pretty up to date on the coaching rumor mill and at no point was Graham even mentioned. Graham took the gutless way out and rather than inform the team in person that he was leaving he told them via the following text message:



http://espn.go.com/college-football/...burgh-panthers

Reminds me of how Nick Saban swore up and down he wouldn't leave the Dolphins and then did exactly that. Not the same circumstances of course, just what that reminds me of.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

In a shocking hire, Arkansas State has reportedly hired Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. Malzahn turned down a $3 million per year offer from Vanderbilt last year and was a candidate for the North Carolina and Kansas jobs this year so it's surprising he'd take such a low-level job. Arkansas State's former coach Hugh Freeze (who left for Mississippi) was the lowest paid coach in all of FBS last year at $202,000, but Malzahn will reportedly make $850,000, which is still a significant pay cut from his current $1.3 million salary.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports...n-gus-malzahn/

I'm thinking this guy has some skeletons/baggage we don't know about. Was he ever friends with Sandusky?

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Reminds me of how Nick Saban swore up and down he wouldn't leave the Dolphins and then did exactly that. Not the same circumstances of course, just what that reminds me of.

Saban's a dirtball. Pretty sure he bailed on Michigan State right before their bowl game. Texts didn't exist then, so I'm sure he sent the notice via Prodigy or Compuserve.

He'll bail on Alabama via Skype.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I'm just worried this lawyer is so bad Sandusky may end up getting a re-trial due to incompetance of his lawyer. This Amendola guy has been a disaster from the start.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/i-...ticle-1.990880

Fortunately for the public who want to see Sandusky hanged, his lawyer's dumb public statements won't support an ineffective assistance of counsel ploy. If he flubs up at trial, that's a different story.

Re: Casey Anthony's attorney, had she lost the case, I guarantee she would've appealed and/or sued him on those grounds. He won that case despite himself.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Chordata

Fortunately for the public who want to see Sandusky hanged, his lawyer's dumb public statements won't support an ineffective assistance of counsel ploy. If he flubs up at trial, that's a different story.

Re: Casey Anthony's attorney, had she lost the case, I guarantee she would've appealed and/or sued him on those grounds. He won that case despite himself.

Exactly. I live in central Florida and saw/heard more of the Anthony trial than I cared to. I've never heard a single person who followed the trial closely, especially lawyers, claim Baez is anythign more than an average trial lawyer. Most still consider him below average. He's a guy who lucked out in many ways. But one thing Baez did do well was keep his client from doing any interviews and he never really said anything embarrassing in court or in interviews.

Sandusky's lawyer on the other hand had his client to go on national TV with Bob Costas and incriminate himself. And while Baez was attacked by some for trying to take the spotlight and become famous off of the Anthony case he has nothing on Sandusky's lawyer who seemingly wants his own reality show off this.

[Chordata]

AP All-American list released today. LSU and Bama dominate it.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...rt-griffin-iii

Interestingly (though not interesting at all for those of you who loathe the conference), the SEC has the defensive backfield locked up with both corners (LSU) and safeties (UGA and Bama).

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by Chordata

AP All-American list released today. LSU and Bama dominate it.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...rt-griffin-iii

Interestingly (though not interesting at all for those of you who loathe the conference), the SEC has the defensive backfield locked up with both corners (LSU) and safeties (UGA and Bama).

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE
Quarterback - Robert Griffin III, junior, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, Baylor.
Running backs - Montee Ball, junior, 5-11, 210, Wisconsin; Trent Richardson, junior, 5-11, 224, Alabama.
Tackles - Barrett Jones, senior, 6-5, 311, Alabama; Matt Kalil, junior, 6-7, 295, Southern California.
Guards - David DeCastro, senior, 6-5, 310, Stanford; Kevin Zeitler, senior, 6-4, 318, Wisconsin.
Center - David Molk, senior, 6-2, 286, Michigan.
Wide receivers - Justin Blackmon, junior, 6-1, 215, Oklahoma State; Robert Woods, sophomore, 6-1, 180, Southern California.
Tight end - Dwayne Allen, junior, 6-4, 255, Clemson.
All-purpose player - Sammy Watkins, freshman, 6-1, 180, Clemson.
Kicker - Randy Bullock, senior, 5-9, 212, Texas A&M.

DEFENSE
Ends - Melvin Ingram, senior, 6-2, 276, South Carolina; Whitney Mercilus, junior, 6-4, 265, Illinois.
Tackles - Devon Still, senior, 6-5, 310, Penn State; Jerel Worthy, junior, 6-3, 310, Michigan State.
Linebackers - Luke Kuechly, junior, 6-3, 237, Boston College; Jarvis Jones, sophomore, 6-3, 241, Georgia; Dont'a Hightower, junior, 6-4, 260, Alabama.
Cornerbacks - Morris Claiborne, junior, 6-0, 185, LSU; Tyrann Mathieu, sophomore, 5-9, 175, LSU.
Safeties - Mark Barron, senior, 6-2, 218, Alabama; Bacarri Rambo, junior, 6-0, 218, Georgia.
Punter - Brad Wing, freshman, 6-3, 184, LSU.
----

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE
Quarterback - Andrew Luck, junior, Stanford.
Running backs - LaMichael James, junior, Oregon; David Wilson, junior, Virginia Tech.
Tackles - Jonathan Martin, senior, Stanford; Nate Potter, senior, Boise State.
Guards -Will Blackwell, senior, LSU; Austin Pazstor, senior, Virginia.
Center - Peter Konz, junior, Wisconsin.
Wide receivers - Ryan Broyles, senior, Oklahoma; Kendall Wright, senior, Baylor.
Tight end - Tyler Eifert, junior, Notre Dame.
All-purpose player - Joe Adams, senior, Arkansas.
Kicker - Caleb Sturgis, junior, Florida.

DEFENSE
Ends - Frank Alexander, senior, Oklahoma; Vinny Curry, senior, Marshall.
Tackles - Joe Vellano, junior, Maryland; Derek Wolfe, senior, Cincinnati.
Linebackers - Courtney Upshaw, senior, Alabama; Lavonte David, senior, Nebraska; Manti Teo, junior, Notre Dame.
Cornerbacks - David Amerson, sophomore, North Carolina State; Dre Kirkpatrick, junior, Alabama.
Safeties - Markelle Martin, senior, Oklahoma State; Antonio Allen, senior, South Carolina.
Punter - Ryan Allen, junior, Louisiana Tech.
----

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE
Quarterback - Matt Barkley, junior, Southern California.
Running backs - Ronnie Hillman, sophomore, San Diego State; Bobby Rainey, senior, Western Kentucky.
Tackles - Levy Adcock, senior, Oklahoma State; Cordy Glenn, senior, Georgia.
Guards - Ryan Miller, senior, Colorado; Gabe Ikard, sophomore, Oklahoma.
Center - Grant Garner, senior, Oklahoma State.
Wide receivers - Jordan White, senior, Western Michigan; Patrick Edwards, senior, Houston.
Tight end - Coby Fleener, senior, Stanford.
All-purpose player - Tavon Austin, junior, West Virginia.
Kicker - Quinn Sharp, junior, Oklahoma State.

DEFENSE
Ends - Sam Montgomery, sophomore, LSU; Andre Branch, senior, Clemson.
Tackles - John Simon, junior, Ohio State; Fletcher Cox, junior, Mississippi State.
Linebackers - Tank Carder, senior, TCU; Sammy Brown, senior, Houston; Emmanuel Acho, senior, Texas.
Cornerbacks - Nigel Malone, junior, Kansas State; Brodrick Brown, junior, Oklahoma State.
Safeties - Josh Bush, senior, Wake Forest; George Iloka, senior, Boise State.
Punter - Shawn Powell, senior, Florida State.
----

TLK

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Another stunning hire as Todd Graham is leaving Pittsburgh after just one season and taking the Arizona State coaching job. I've kept pretty up to date on the coaching rumor mill and at no point was Graham even mentioned. Graham took the gutless way out and rather than inform the team in person that he was leaving he told them via the following text message:

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...burgh-panthers

Has anyone noticed that Pitt hasn't burned any couches and Graham hasn't been vilified by the media for jumping ship after just one year?

When Lane Kiffin made his move after a year at Tennessee, the fan reaction was all over ESPN.

TLK

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

Has anyone noticed that Pitt hasn't burned any couches and Graham hasn't been vilified by the media for jumping ship after just one year?

When Lane Kiffin made his move after a year at Tennessee, the fan reaction was all over ESPN.

TLK

Todd Graham is a no-name coach and Lane Kiffin was already famous from his Raiders days, and his departure involved 2 much bigger programs in Tennessee and USC. I did hear Jim Rome spend a solid 5 minutes going off on Graham for leaving after a year and telling his players via text message, and I've seen numerous stories already ripping Graham. It will never be as big a story as Kiffin because the schools and names aren't as big, but Graham is getting ripped plenty.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

Has anyone noticed that Pitt hasn't burned any couches and Graham hasn't been vilified by the media for jumping ship after just one year?

When Lane Kiffin made his move after a year at Tennessee, the fan reaction was all over ESPN.

TLK

Lane Kiffin came into UT with a scorched-earth, look-at-me attitude. He talked trash about the other coaches and teams, reported supposed recruiting violations, accused other coaches of cheating, was publicly repriamnded, was forced (or at least requested) to issue public apologies.

Did Graham do any of that?

As for fan reaction, students at UT actually rioted or something and police had to come diffuse the situation. I wager Pitt fans didn't do that.

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by Chordata

Lane Kiffin came into UT with a scorched-earth, look-at-me attitude. He talked trash about the other coaches and teams, reported supposed recruiting violations, accused other coaches of cheating, was publicly repriamnded, was forced (or at least requested) to issue public apologies.

Did Graham do any of that?

As for fan reaction, students at UT actually rioted or something and police had to come diffuse the situation. I wager Pitt fans didn't do that.

And why is that? Could it be because UT fans saw Kiffin as a good coach and Pitt fans don't see Graham in qute the same light?

[Show spoiler]

TLK

[Moviefan1203]

I know Todd Graham did really good jobs at Rice and Tulsa, but what gives Arizona State confidence he can repeat that at Arizona State? It's going to be significantly harder to win in the PAC-12. (I'm not going to hold his 6-6 mark at Pittsburgh against him, because Wannstedt really left him with minimal talent.) However, the way he told his players via text message is pathetic. If I played for him, I would be genuinely hurt.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Chordata

Lane Kiffin came into UT with a scorched-earth, look-at-me attitude. He talked trash about the other coaches and teams, reported supposed recruiting violations, accused other coaches of cheating, was publicly repriamnded, was forced (or at least requested) to issue public apologies.

Did Graham do any of that?

As for fan reaction, students at UT actually rioted or something and police had to come diffuse the situation. I wager Pitt fans didn't do that.

Ya, Lane Kiffin was talking all kinds of junk trying to play up UT's rivalries only to slither out (after a terrible 7-6 season) the first chance he got. I suspect Kiffin would have been fired by now even if he stayed at UT. His recruits from the time he was there have been big time busts.

He kinda lucked into the USC job. I think he was about the 4th choice after others turned it down. Even on probation any dope could recruit boatloads of 4-5 star recruits to play for USC. The guy somehow scored both the UT and then USC job with a joke of a resume. Gotta love that "good ol' boy" network.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I know Todd Graham did really good jobs at Rice and Tulsa, but what gives Arizona State confidence he can repeat that at Arizona State? It's going to be significantly harder to win in the PAC-12. (I'm not going to hold his 6-6 mark at Pittsburgh against him, because Wannstedt really left him with minimal talent.) However, the way he told his players via text message is pathetic. If I played for him, I would be genuinely hurt.

And Rich Rodriguez is taking over the Arizona job. He was a bust at Michigan but he's a good recruiter I'll bet he improves Arizona, eating into Arizona St.'s pool of potential recruits. I doubt Graham improves AZ St. very much.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Ya, Lane Kiffin was talking all kinds of junk trying to play up UT's rivalries only to slither out (after a terrible 7-6 season) the first chance he got. I

I don't know if you look at the teams he played and how he played them that year with that bunch he had, I thought it was pretty impressive record, same with the job in oakland and the fact he had no control to almost have them on the right track is impressive in-itself even if it doesn't produce results.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Ya, Lane Kiffin was talking all kinds of junk trying to play up UT's rivalries only to slither out (after a terrible 7-6 season) the first chance he got. I suspect Kiffin would have been fired by now even if he stayed at UT. His recruits from the time he was there have been big time busts.

He kinda lucked into the USC job. I think he was about the 4th choice after others turned it down. Even on probation any dope could recruit boatloads of 4-5 star recruits to play for USC. The guy somehow scored both the UT and then USC job with a joke of a resume. Gotta love that "good ol' boy" network.

I know you don't like Kiffin, but he was well on his way to doing a good job at Tennessee. Before he left for USC, he had a KILLER class coming in. Unfortunately for the Volunteers, a lot of them jumped ship after he bailed. With the talent Fulmer left him, I'd say 7-6 in the SEC is pretty respectable.

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Ya, Lane Kiffin was talking all kinds of junk trying to play up UT's rivalries only to slither out (after a terrible 7-6 season) the first chance he got. I suspect Kiffin would have been fired by now even if he stayed at UT. His recruits from the time he was there have been big time busts.

He kinda lucked into the USC job. I think he was about the 4th choice after others turned it down. Even on probation any dope could recruit boatloads of 4-5 star recruits to play for USC. The guy somehow scored both the UT and then USC job with a joke of a resume. Gotta love that "good ol' boy" network.

This is probably one of the most uninformed posts in all of blu-ray.com, and that's saying something.

Congrats.

TLK

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

This is probably one of the most uninformed posts in all of blu-ray.com, and that's saying something.

Congrats.

TLK

Such as? What monumental accomplishments of Kiffin have I somehow missed? Please do tell. Or are you saying I'm wrong that USC is an easy place to recruit at? Because it is.

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Such as? What monumental accomplishments of Kiffin have I somehow missed? Please do tell.

He took over a 5-7 Tennessee team under Phat Phil Fulmer and made them 7-5 during the regular season. Anybody who watched UT that season could see that they were significantly better than the season before, highlighted by losing by 2 points on the road to the eventual MNC, Alabama. He also took an also-ran QB in Jonathan Crompton and made him serviceable enough to get drafted into the NFL.

So, riddle me this... If UT fans were happy to see him go, then why did they riot, burn couches, paint expletives on a rock, threaten Kiffin's family with bodily harm, and generally act like a petulant, jilted girlfriend? Because they saw that he was a good coach and recruiter and were angry/frustrated that he was leaving, that's why.

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Or are you saying I'm wrong that USC is an easy place to recruit at? Because it is.

You should have been there in the mid-1980s through the early-2000s with Tollner, Smith, Robinson II, and Hackett who couldn't coach or recruit particularly effectively like USC could under McKay and Robinson I beforehand and Carroll could afterwards.

TLK