The NFL Thread (with added College Football)

[cdbearsfan]

All the teams are put in conferences except for those who aren't in one. All the teams that win all their games qualify for the play-offs except for those that don't.

After the play-offs have finished, a bunch of journalists analyse the results then decide which team was best based on picking a name out of a hat.

It's as simple as that.

[UK Redsox]

All the teams are put in conferences except for those who aren't in one. All the teams that win all their games qualify for the play-offs except for those that don't.

After the play-offs have finished, a bunch of journalists analyse the results then decide which team was best based on picking a name out of a hat.

It's as simple as that.

There's actually a four time play-off starting this season. Although the semi-finalists will still be selected by a Committee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Football_Playoff

[cdbearsfan]

Bloody committees. Just have proper play-offs. Do they still have teams that don't even bother taking part in Conferences? I know Noderdame used to just play when they liked.

[AV82EC]

What a complete and utter cluster fuck that is! Jesus how hard can it be to organise something that relies on beating other teams to qualify for play offs and then ultimately a final. Typical yanks make something so simple as hard to understand as possible! Still as long as OU beat OSU I'm sure everything will be fine......

[UK Redsox]

Do they still have teams that don't even bother taking part in Conferences? I know Noderdame used to just play when they liked.

Its just the Catholics, Mormons and trained killers

Notre Dame
BYU
Army
Navy

(The Air Force team is however in one of the Western conferences)

[UK Redsox]

What a complete and utter cluster fuck that is! Jesus how hard can it be to organise something that relies on beating other teams to qualify for play offs and then ultimately a final. Typical yanks make something so simple as hard to understand as possible!

But...but.... but.... they're amateur 'Student-Athletes', we can't have them playing an extra couple of games. That would disrupt their studies 

Division 2, Division 3 etc have had a proper play-off system for years and their players really are Students.

(NB - the term 'Division' doesn't mean that there's promotion/relegation. No North American sport that I can think of understands that concept)


Despite my dislike of the system, I still enjoy watching NCAA Football. Especially in person.

[UK Redsox]

NFL RedZone is why TV was invented

[UK Redsox]

Only one NFL team is not the most popular team (per Facebook) in even one US county.

Make your educated guess and then click to display the map and reveal the answer

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/lygqkjqwwa94uzjgfwew.jpg

[cdbearsfan]

Interesting.

I guessed

Spoiler for Hiden:

Bills, as I thought New York State might be full of Jets/Giants fans, so I was on obviously wrong... it's full of Bills/Giants fans!"

Surprised at the level of unanimity among Hawaiian and Alaskan fans.

[UK Redsox]

I thought that a couple of ARZ counties might have been Bears in a similar way to the Giants counties in FLA

[Meanwood Villa]

That map is very interesting. Aren't the dark blue counties in Florida Cowboys rather than Giants? I'm also surprised by Arizona's dedication, particularly considering the Cardinals are usually shit. The Raiders not the most popular team in Oakland? Presumably that would be different if they hadn't have had the sojourn in LA, although at least LA still seem to love them for it. Can't say the same for the Rams despite being there longer. Correct me if I'm wrong but the Broncos look massive but hardly anyone lives in those places they cover?

[usav]

That map is very interesting. Aren't the dark blue counties in Florida Cowboys rather than Giants? I'm also surprised by Arizona's dedication, particularly considering the Cardinals are usually shit. The Raiders not the most popular team in Oakland? Presumably that would be different if they hadn't have had the sojourn in LA, although at least LA still seem to love them for it. Can't say the same for the Rams despite being there longer. Correct me if I'm wrong but the Broncos look massive but hardly anyone lives in those places they cover?

Florida - all the old people form the North East migrate there either permanently or for half the year, hence Giants not Cowboys.

Arizona - who else are you going to follow out there?

Broncos - yes, but you could say that for Texas as well, outside of Dallas, Houston and Austin.

[pmarachi]

That map is very interesting. Aren't the dark blue counties in Florida Cowboys rather than Giants? I'm also surprised by Arizona's dedication, particularly considering the Cardinals are usually shit. The Raiders not the most popular team in Oakland? Presumably that would be different if they hadn't have had the sojourn in LA, although at least LA still seem to love them for it. Can't say the same for the Rams despite being there longer. Correct me if I'm wrong but the Broncos look massive but hardly anyone lives in those places they cover?

Florida - all the old people form the North East migrate there either permanently or for half the year, hence Giants not Cowboys.

Arizona - who else are you going to follow out there?

Broncos - yes, but you could say that for Texas as well, outside of Dallas, Houston and Austin.

Hey guys, just remembered my H&V login!

The one thing you need to understand is that in MANY of these areas, the college teams are actually "the team" people really follow. Especially in SEC and ACC areas. I live in the northeast as I am pretty sure USAV does, and where we are, college football barely exists.

BUT...

For example, you ask most people in Florida what teams matter to them and you will hear FSU, The U (miami hurricanes), or Florida (gators). 

I have a few friends in Texas that like the cowboys and watch the games, but are really Texas or Texas A&M fans.
There are a few college stadiums in the Midwest that even hold 90,000-100,000 people and sell out every game. In the south there are people that would even consider their local high school team their team.


When you consider amateur athletes being exploited... Um I mean "honored with the opportunity to play" for one of these colleges, realize how much money is at stake.

Then realize that the money they make (not talking about money generated off the publicity, but actual cash money) STAYS in the sports programs. These coaches make a fortune.

Add to it schools like FIU that are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to go out and "job" to schools like Alabama.  So basically the program and coach makes a lot of money to show up and get beaten down gruesomely against a vastly superior opponent.  I'm sure the student athletes love that part.

[Jon Crofts]

Will Dallas win a game this season?

[UK Redsox]

Ray Rice no longer running for the Ravens.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11489134/baltimore-ravens-cut-ray-rice-new-video-surfaces

His story about how his then fiancé ended up unconscious in a lift has fallen apart after new video if the incident was released.