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What do you think?

  • The suspension is fair.

    Votes: 1 3.3%
  • The suspension isn't nearly enough.

    Votes: 6 20.0%
  • A&M should be put onto probation and Manziel lose his eligibility.

    Votes: 5 16.7%
  • The NCAA needs to revise its rules.

    Votes: 7 23.3%
  • Who cares, all the teams in the SEC cheat.

    Votes: 11 36.7%

  • Total voters
    30
No one could last year, either.

The game will really turn on how well A&M's defense can slow down Bama's offense because the Tide D isn't fast enough to stop A&M's offense.

True. But I think the bigger issue for Alabama vs. A&M is that the game is on Sept. 14. Not that having the game later in the season helped much last year (I think that the Alabama team and fans underestimated A&M and assumed a home victory), but there are a lot of personnel changes that'll take time to gel.
 
Following up an upset with another upset the following year against the number 1 team in the country is harder.

Very true, but it wouldn't be nearly the upset this time around (assuming JF plays), especially since it will be at Kyle Field.

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True. But I think the bigger issue for Alabama vs. A&M is that the game is on Sept. 14. Not that having the game later in the season helped much last year (I think that the Alabama team and fans underestimated A&M and assumed a home victory), but there are a lot of personnel changes that'll take time to gel.

A&M has a lot to replace on defense and depth in the front 7 is a concern. Still, the D will be faster than last year, so that will help.
 
Typical SEC oversigning, shady recruiting practices, and basically home bowl games... Never do the SEC teams play in any real weather.

yea right, we have 6 teams from the SEC in the 2013 AP College Football poll, what does that tell ya!
 
What are your thoughts on all of the Manziel antics this off season and the investigation?
Interested to hear your take on it

The off-field stuff doesn't bother me at all. I did a lot dumber stuff when I was 20. If I'd had the fame/access he has, I'd have done all the cool stuff he did, but if twitter/Instagram/etc. existed back then, I'd probably be in prison.

As long as he takes care of business on the field and doesn't do anything horribly illegal off it (bar fights and fake IDs notwithstanding), I'm fine with him acting like any other rich college kid.

As for the autograph stuff, I haven't seen a shred of proof that he took any money. Everyone points to the sheer amount if Manziel stuff out there, but there's an equal amount of stuff signed by Jadaveon Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater, Braxton Miller, Marquis Lee, etc., yet ESPN isn't running daily reports about them.

Anytime Darren Rovell reports something, it should be viewed with a raised eyebrow. Anytime a story alleges someone got paid but also mentions there are no eyewitness accounts of money exchanging hands, it should be viewed with a raised eyebrow. Anytime a story claims there's video evidence but refuses to actually show that evidence…you get my drift.

If he DID take money, then he's just stupid. He knows the rules and whether he likes them or not, if you break that particular rule, your college career is over and your NFL prospects, unless you're a can't-miss prototype, take a dramatic hit.

All that being said, I think he plays. Some new evidence could still come out to change that (ESPN could be HOLDING something, waiting for the biggest impact time to release it), but if what's out now is the extent of it, there's no way he's not in the field on August 31, especially given the amount of lawyering up that's been done by player and school.

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Typical SEC oversigning, shady recruiting practices, and basically home bowl games... Never do the SEC teams play in any real weather.

Weather? Who cares? The B1G plays their conference championship game in a dome, don't they?

Besides that, driving rain brought on by tropical storms and hurricanes are par for the course in the Deep South and Texas during the late summer/fall. I sat in an awful rainstorm during the A&M-Arkansas game last year. Could barely even see the opposite sideline for much of the second quarter.
 
Local media are reporting that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops will name redshirt freshman Trevor Knight as starting QB over redshirt junior Blake Bell. Locally, many of us are slightly surprised. With the success of the "Bell Dozer" formation last year, many thought he was heir apparent. Knight must have been much better for the conservative Stoops to choose him over experience.
 
The off-field stuff doesn't bother me at all. I did a lot dumber stuff when I was 20. If I'd had the fame/access he has, I'd have done all the cool stuff he did, but if twitter/Instagram/etc. existed back then, I'd probably be in prison.

As long as he takes care of business on the field and doesn't do anything horribly illegal off it (bar fights and fake IDs notwithstanding), I'm fine with him acting like any other rich college kid.

As for the autograph stuff, I haven't seen a shred of proof that he took any money. Everyone points to the sheer amount if Manziel stuff out there, but there's an equal amount of stuff signed by Jadaveon Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater, Braxton Miller, Marquis Lee, etc., yet ESPN isn't running daily reports about them.

Anytime Darren Rovell reports something, it should be viewed with a raised eyebrow. Anytime a story alleges someone got paid but also mentions there are no eyewitness accounts of money exchanging hands, it should be viewed with a raised eyebrow. Anytime a story claims there's video evidence but refuses to actually show that evidence…you get my drift.

If he DID take money, then he's just stupid. He knows the rules and whether he likes them or not, if you break that particular rule, your college career is over and your NFL prospects, unless you're a can't-miss prototype, take a dramatic hit.

All that being said, I think he plays. Some new evidence could still come out to change that (ESPN could be HOLDING something, waiting for the biggest impact time to release it), but if what's out now is the extent of it, there's no way he's not in the field on August 31, especially given the amount of lawyering up that's been done by player and school.

This. Level and even response to all the Manziel nonsense.

It's hard to feel bad for a trust fund athletic freak with the word at his fingers, but when everyone is around looking to record any misstep or poor decision (and he is at fault for some of it), you feel for the kid.
 
The Baton Rouge newspaper is reporting that A&M and LSU will end the season vs. one another beginning in 2014…on Thanksgiving Day. As a side note, due to the construction process of the Kyle Field renovation, the stadium should hold about 109,000 for the 2014 season. Should be an incredible environment.

Local media are reporting that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops will name redshirt freshman Trevor Knight as starting QB over redshirt junior Blake Bell. Locally, many of us are slightly surprised. With the success of the "Bell Dozer" formation last year, many thought he was heir apparent. Knight must have been much better for the conservative Stoops to choose him over experience.

Probably a good idea, though. Bell looked really bad/indecisive in the few instances he was asked to do something other than run the QB draw.
 
As for the autograph stuff, I haven't seen a shred of proof that he took any money. Everyone points to the sheer amount if Manziel stuff out there, but there's an equal amount of stuff signed by Jadaveon Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater, Braxton Miller, Marquis Lee, etc., yet ESPN isn't running daily reports about them.

Anytime Darren Rovell reports something, it should be viewed with a raised eyebrow. Anytime a story alleges someone got paid but also mentions there are no eyewitness accounts of money exchanging hands, it should be viewed with a raised eyebrow. Anytime a story claims there's video evidence but refuses to actually show that evidence…you get my drift.

If he DID take money, then he's just stupid. He knows the rules and whether he likes them or not, if you break that particular rule, your college career is over and your NFL prospects, unless you're a can't-miss prototype, take a dramatic hit.

All that being said, I think he plays. Some new evidence could still come out to change that (ESPN could be HOLDING something, waiting for the biggest impact time to release it), but if what's out now is the extent of it, there's no way he's not in the field on August 31, especially given the amount of lawyering up that's been done by player and school.

Agree. If he took money, he shouldn't play. If he didn't, or if nobody can prove that he did, he should be on the field. I'd much rather see Bama play A&M with Manziel than not.

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Boo. Bama needs to have yet another period of mediocrity.

I think it'll be awhile before Alabama is mediocre again, at least as long as Saban is around. He's built a highly effective process for recruiting top talent and getting them to play to their potential with the team. That's no guarantee of a championship given what happened the past couple of years, but unless something crazy happens Bama will be a contender at least.
 
Agree. If he took money, he shouldn't play. If he didn't, or if nobody can prove that he did, he should be on the field. I'd much rather see Bama play A&M with Manziel than not.

The thing that really gets me is that these anonymous sources are, by all accounts, brokers in the autograph business. While I'm sure there are some good folks in the profession, it's an industry widely-known for deception and fraud, and largely populated by people with criminal backgrounds and companies with less than stellar reputations. If these are your sources, and they can't provide any actual evidence of wrongdoing—and if it's widely accepted that at least 75% of autographs sold are fakes—I just don't understand how a "news" organization like ESPN can perpetrate the near-daily Manziel character assassination without consequence.

IF Manziel is cleared of wrongdoing, I would not be at all shocked to see a libel suit filed against Darren Rovell, Joe Schad and ESPN. They've taken a guilty until proven innocent stance from Day 1 despite telling us they've never seen credible evidence he took money.

I think it'll be awhile before Alabama is mediocre again, at least as long as Saban is around. He's built a highly effective process for recruiting top talent and getting them to play to their potential with the team. That's no guarantee of a championship given what happened the past couple of years, but unless something crazy happens Bama will be a contender at least.

Agreed. Saban is an all-timer. If he decides to hang it up in the next couple of years, or try his hand at the NFL again, do you envision the Tide going after a big name or elevating Kirby Smart?
 
Not to jump too far ahead, but the SEC released the 2014 schedule with a pair of notable dates for Texas A&M. South Carolina will host A&M on Thursday, August 28 in the first game ever televised on the SEC Network and, as previously speculated, A&M will host LSU on Thanksgiving in front of 109,000+. Pretty cool.
 
yea right, we have 6 teams from the SEC in the 2013 AP College Football poll, what does that tell ya!

That tells me that the media are suckers for the SEC. Yes, the SEC had been fantastic for the last several years, but the current rankings won't be anything close to the end of season ratings, and everyone knows it.-

Besides that, driving rain brought on by tropical storms and hurricanes are par for the course in the Deep South and Texas during the late summer/fall. I sat in an awful rainstorm during the A&M-Arkansas game last year. Could barely even see the opposite sideline for much of the second quarter.

Oh, a widdwe wain fo yer widdle football game? I'd love to see those guys play in -10F weather. Things hurt more when its cold. Yes, the B1G plays in a dome for their championship, but the only way you get there is surviving the games you have to play in the weather. Those teams aren't built to play in miami weather. Those teams are designed to play in the elements.

I know Alabama and others are sending guys to the NFL, but watch how they play in the cold. They all suck. They are physically gifted, but they can't play in the elements. There is a reason you see the really good teams using their draft picks on guys who have played in the cold.
 
That tells me that the media are suckers for the SEC. Yes, the SEC had been fantastic for the last several years, but the current rankings won't be anything close to the end of season ratings, and everyone knows it.-



Oh, a widdwe wain fo yer widdle football game? I'd love to see those guys play in -10F weather. Things hurt more when its cold. Yes, the B1G plays in a dome for their championship, but the only way you get there is surviving the games you have to play in the weather. Those teams aren't built to play in miami weather. Those teams are designed to play in the elements.

I know Alabama and others are sending guys to the NFL, but watch how they play in the cold. They all suck. They are physically gifted, but they can't play in the elements. There is a reason you see the really good teams using their draft picks on guys who have played in the cold.

wrong again..

63 players from SEC in 2013 draft:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...rd-with-63-players-selected-in-2013-nfl-draft

and at least 5 to 6 teams from SEC in 2014 AP College Football poll... as always..
 
wrong again..

63 players from SEC in 2013 draft:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...rd-with-63-players-selected-in-2013-nfl-draft

and at least 5 to 6 teams from SEC in 2014 AP College Football poll... as always..

I'd ask if you went to an SEC school, but that would be redundent. Yes, they send lots of players to the draft, but it takes them years, if ever, to learn to play in real weather. There is a reason that the teams up north are good and survive winter games while those from down south don't.

If you need me to, I'm sure I could find some cliff notes for you if you still don't get it.

(edit) Look at it this way. Who are the best teams in the NFL?
 
Oh, a widdwe wain fo yer widdle football game? I'd love to see those guys play in -10F weather. Things hurt more when its cold. Yes, the B1G plays in a dome for their championship, but the only way you get there is surviving the games you have to play in the weather. Those teams aren't built to play in miami weather. Those teams are designed to play in the elements.

Hahaha. Cold weather is SOOOOO difficult to play in. Those big bad teams from the B1G are so acclimated to it they look like they're running in place when it's warm. Makes total sense.

You ever played catch in 60+ MPH wind conditions, Bub? It's a little different than needing to throw on a windbreaker.

Look at it this way. Who are the best teams in the NFL?

It doesn't snow much in San Francisco and Baltimore isn't "the north". It snows in Seattle about as often as Dallas. Houston is in the southern part of the country and plays in a dome.

What about Buffalo, Cleveland, Kansas City, Philadelphia and New York? How is toughing it out in the tear-jerking weather working out for those powerhouses?
 
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The Baton Rouge newspaper is reporting that A&M and LSU will end the season vs. one another beginning in 2014…on Thanksgiving Day. As a side note, due to the construction process of the Kyle Field renovation, the stadium should hold about 109,000 for the 2014 season. Should be an incredible environment.

I remember the good old days when LSU played Tulane in the last game of the season, alternating from New Orleans (Tulane), to Baton Rouge (LSU), each year. You were either an LSU or Tulane fan, never both! The A&M thing sounds like fun!
 
That tells me that the media are suckers for the SEC. Yes, the SEC had been fantastic for the last several years, but the current rankings won't be anything close to the end of season ratings, and everyone knows it.-



Oh, a widdwe wain fo yer widdle football game? I'd love to see those guys play in -10F weather. Things hurt more when its cold. Yes, the B1G plays in a dome for their championship, but the only way you get there is surviving the games you have to play in the weather. Those teams aren't built to play in miami weather. Those teams are designed to play in the elements.

I know Alabama and others are sending guys to the NFL, but watch how they play in the cold. They all suck. They are physically gifted, but they can't play in the elements. There is a reason you see the really good teams using their draft picks on guys who have played in the cold.

Ok, you lost any credibility you might have had with this post :)
 
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