Steve Muench

  (2:04 PM)

Happy New Year everyone. Let get right to it.

Jack, Port Arthur, TX

Do think Texas will play in the Nat'l Championship next year? If so, who will they be playing?

Steve Muench

  (2:06 PM)

Sure Texas has a shot but a lot will depend on how who stays and who goes with McCoy obviously topping that list. If he reverses field and says he's coming out than the situation obviously changes. I also think Florida is in a similar situation so maybe we get the Texas Florida game next year.

kori cincinnati ohio

hey i was really disapoiinted with how the bearcats played last night but are qb gave the game away bye throwing 4 interceptions.

Steve Muench

  (2:07 PM)

Tough game for QB Tony Pike who really stepped up for the Bearcats this year. I wished he had ended on a higher note but that's a good Va Tech defense.

Bob(Denver)

We need a playoff. USC looked like the best team in CFB again this year and got left out again.

Steve Muench

  (2:10 PM)

I agree that we need a playoff but I'll play the devil's advocate here and say beat Oregon State earlier this year. There is a big part of me that agrees that USC is a top 2 team but what happened to earning it? I mean the Trojans had to know that a loss to the Beavers could take them out of the mix right? Look at the NFL should New England be complaining about its playoff system? I mean San Diego is 8-8 and it's in.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Steve I have to say as a PSU fan, I was really impressed by how USC played yesterday (not so much how they acted off of it). Do you think they might be the best team in the nation?

Steve Muench

  (2:12 PM)

The Trojans could be the best team in the nation right now yes but I take Florida ahead of them. The Gators have been white hot since losing to Ole Miss earlier this year.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Steve, I agree that USC should've known the OSU loss would hurt them, but how is it USC is penalized more so for a conference loss than any other team, in any other league? It's happened each of the last few season.

Steve Muench

  (2:17 PM)

The level of competition is different at least in the eyes of the powers that be. Florida lost to Ole Miss at home but beat then No. 4 LSU, then No. 6 Georgia, then No. 25 South Carolina, then No. 20 Florida State and then No. 1 Alabama since that loss. USC beat then 21 Cal and then 23 Oregon both at home after its loss. It makes a difference.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

If Oklahoma gets beaten down by Florida, do they get ridiculed as badly as Ohio State has been?

Steve Muench

  (2:18 PM)

Fair is fair so I say yes if not more so. I also think the Big !2 should take a big hit just like the Big 10 has the past couple years.

Jason (Chicago)

Who you got, Ole Miss or Texas Tech?

Steve Muench

  (2:20 PM)

I like Ole Miss and look out for the Rebels next year too.

Chet (LA)

Do you think Shonn Greene made the right decision to declare for the NFL draft? Also, do you think Donald Brown from UConn will enter the draft as well?

Steve Muench

  (2:22 PM)

I'm not real comfortable passing judgment on players' decisions concerning the draft. I just don't know about guys' home lives and financial situations. I will say that I think that Greene's stock may not get any higher next year so the move makes sense to me in that regard.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

I'm going to ask this again because I root for a Big Ten team. In your opinion, what do the Big Ten schools need to do in order to gain back some respectability? Do you think their academic requirements are too stringent or is it just that going to a warm-weather school is much more appealing than playing in the Midwest during November?

Steve Muench

  (2:26 PM)

I think the addition of Pryor and Redriguez are two steps in the right direction. Why? While you and I enjoy smash mouth football, speed has given the Big Ten problems. Pryor is one of these dynamic playmakers that high school kids either want to be like, play with or even play against. I think he's going to attract a lot of young playmakers to the conference. Rodriguez' scheme meanwhile should help the Big 10 lose the stigma of slow and predcitable offenses.

Chet (LA)

I don't get what the fascination is with Matt Stafford. Everyone continues to say he could be the #1 overall pick. But, he tends to make terrible decisions with the football. With the way the NFL is driven now (limit turnovers) how can a player like Stafford be considered a great pick? Have we not learned that just because you can 'make every throw' doesn't mean you can be successful in the NFL. Your thoughts on Stafford?

Steve Muench

  (2:27 PM)

First off, I can't tell you how much I enjoy posts like this one. You're making intelligent and informed comments on both Stafford and the NFL. But I do like Stafford and here's why:

Steve Muench

  (2:28 PM)

1. Arm strength is important albeit overrated at times and you can't coach it. Either you have it or you don't he's got it.

Steve Muench

  (2:30 PM)

2. His offensive like was riddled with injuries and I think the inconsistent pass protection hurried his decision making. Now I'm not giving him a pass (I rate Bradford higher b/c he's the best decision maker) but it played a role.

Steve Muench

  (2:31 PM)

3. Intangibles. I haver never met the young man but every report/article I've seen on him suggests he's a hard worker and a team leader.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Steve: I agree about the strides made by Big Ten teams in terms of offenses (BTW, don't forget the Spread HD in Happy Valley and some new schemes in Minnesota). I think the bigger issue comes on the defensive side of the ball though. Penn State had the best defense in the Big Ten and got lit up for over 400 yards passing yesterday. I think Big Ten coaches need to work on speed on the defensive side of the ball too.

Steve Muench

  (2:31 PM)

Excellent point all around JB.

Nick (NJ)

Why isn't Kenny Britt being talked about in the Top 3-5 WR conversation (pending he declares for the draft)? He had identical stats as Crabtree, is slightly bigger, and got his stats in a more pro-style offense as opposed to a pass-first spread offense.

Steve Muench

  (2:36 PM)

Nick two big reasons are he plays in the Big East and there wasn't as much buzz surrounding him going into the season. I also like Crabtree and Maclin better. But if he declares for the draft and works out well for teams I think he could very well be in the top five. If he goes back to school for another year and puts up similar numbers he could go even earlier.

Steve (Muncie, IN)

Who is a bigger homer (SEC fan or Big XII fan)?

Steve Muench

  (2:38 PM)

Look if you went to or grew up around a great college football team and are a rabid fan you should be a homer. If you love something, you are going to be biased.

Jojo

Hey Steve, have a quick question on the Holiday Bowl. Out of all the stars in that game, does Jeremiah Johnson stand out to you for the NFL draft or is his size/skill set not suited for the league?

Steve Muench

  (2:41 PM)

I think he will get get drafted in the second or third round even though you are right to ask about his size. It's good not great. I also like Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant and TE Brandon Pettigrew.

Will J (Portland, OR)

I don't mind people being biased, as long as they also have logical/rational explanations as to why they are saying something.

Steve Muench

  (2:45 PM)

You know what Will J you're right and there's a better way of saying than I did earlier so let me try to do just that. Every conference/school has its rabid fans who have a hard time being rational at times because of it. The SEC Has them, the BIg 12 has them the Pac 10 has them etc etc. so no conference has cornered the market on "homers".

Otto (CA)

It's obvious you're just like the rest of the people in the media and have an east coast bias. Are you saying USC gets no credit for beating Ohio State and several PAC-10 teams that have been proven to be underrated? Whenever an SEC team has courage to face USC, USC pounds them.

Steve Muench

  (2:51 PM)

Hmmm you do know that I said that I think that USC is the second beat team in the country earlier in this chat right? Go ahead look it up. I think you are more upset with the system than me Otto. I mean who are your underrated teams? Arizona probably falls into that category and the Trojans won that one by seven points.

Otto (CA)

Oh, and Ole Miss is down 14 now... I don't think Florida's loss at HOME to Ole Miss is any prettier than USC's loss to OSU on the ROAD.

Steve Muench

  (2:54 PM)

Never said it was but than again that doesn't really matter to you does it? What I said is that look at what each team has done since their respective loss. I'll go onto say look at the margins of victory. You want to jump on me for picking Ole MIss over Texas Tech fine. Have at it but don't twist my words when it comes to USC not going to the championship.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Steve I think Otto has anger management issues. He's lucky the BCS officials didn't use his logic or PSU would have had a better chance at playing for the BCS title than USC did anyway.

Steve Muench

  (2:54 PM)

Did not want to say because of the score but he's got a point Otto.

Steve (Muncie, IN)

You must be a pecker, you take a long time to answer questions. LOL

Steve Muench

  (2:55 PM)

It's a curse.

John

As an Oklahoma fan, I can tell you there's a lot of nervousness about this game. If OU gets beaten down, it will, and will deserve to, get all the disrepect heaped upon us that's heaped upon Ohio State and the Big 10. There's a lot of nervousness in Sooner land, trust me. (Not because Florida is necessarily more talented, but because we haven't shown up in big bowl games for a few years).

Steve Muench

  (2:55 PM)

Check out John laying it on the line before the game. I got nothing but respect for it.

eric sf

Hey Steve, now USC has no one to blame but themselves but do you not think that a +1 game would best solve this problem given the constraints on a playoff. This way USC is not punished as OSU won it bowl game and is a 9 win team and the winner of OU and Florida plays them. Sorry texas but you must win your conference! Your Thoughts?

Steve Muench

  (2:59 PM)

First off, I think that USC, Texas, Texas Tech etc. knew the rules coming into this season so they can't complain too much. 2. As a sincerely unbiased observer, it kills me that a team like USC (believe it or not Otto) and a team like Texas don't have a playoff format to show their stuff. By the way, Texas is interesting because they had the same record as Oklahoma and beat the Sooners but still lost the conference. The Big 12 really needs to take another look at that tie breaker.

Matt (WI)

Miss only losing by 7 now

Joe (San Fran)

How many SEC/Big 12 people today are openly laughing at PSU but quietly thanking God the current system kept USC away from their teams?

Steve Muench

  (3:02 PM)

I get your point. USC is a dangerous team but so are Oklahoma and Florida. I don't see Urban Meyer relieved about playing the Sooners because he doesn't have to play USC.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

Steve: Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the Big XII is looking into the tie breaker system.

Steve Muench

  (3:02 PM)

I think you are right.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Steve, you're absolutely right, don't worry I get irritated with Pac-10 homer too, much like Otto from CA, and I'm a Pac-10 fan. Makes us all look bad.

Steve Muench

  (3:04 PM)

Look Otto may not be a homer in fairness. He's been in here a lot and I hope that doesn't change. In addition, homers can be great. Nothing wrong with loyalty but it does bother me when people say I have an east coast bias because I'm not drinking the punch. Agree to disagree that's all.

Russell (Iowa City, IA)

What is the stupidest comment anyone has written to you?

Steve Muench

  (3:07 PM)

You would think that I would get more crazies but I don't.

Otto (CA)

Steve is just biased against USC because his pretty boy Brady Quinn couldn't beat them.

Steve Muench

  (3:09 PM)

Still with the Brady Quinn comments? Good enough for a laugh though Otto.

Ryan (FL)

Tell Joe from San Fran there is at least one Gator fan who would love a piece of the big, bad USC. In some ways, you USC fans have it the best. All you get to do is complain and have everyone think you are the best without actually having to beat anyone. Believe me no SEC team is afraid of USC. We are too stubborn and prideful for that. Good luck next year!

Steve Muench

  (3:09 PM)

Ryan said it not me Otto.

Steve Muench

  (3:11 PM)

Alright that's it for this week. Yet another chat that shows just how much we need a playoff system I think. Take care and hope to see all of you next week when we really start focusing on the draft. I get the feeling I might get back on Otto's good side then.

Steve Muench

  (3:12 PM)

Wait wait

Otto (CA)

Ryan, in the Pete Carroll era, USC has beaten Auburn, Iowa, Arkansas twice (when they were the top team in the SEC), Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame several times when they were good, Cal, Oregon, Michigan twice, Illinois. Who has Florida beaten out of conference?

Steve Muench

  (3:15 PM)

Couldn't resist and he has some very good points but the 2003 and 2004 national champs had great offenses. 2008 not so much. Point is college football changes year to yea and I don't think that teams like Texas, Oklahoma, Florida AND USC fear anyone.

Steve Muench

  (3:16 PM)

Alright, now I am really leaving. Take care.