Wanted to open a thread for discussion on the panalties levied against Ohio State.

Wow, i personally am a little underwhelmed at the "severity" of the mayhem brought down by the NCAA. 1 year bowl ban (not this year...), reduction of 9 scholarships, and 2 year probation.... Yawn. We've been through a 5 year bowl ban.

I just don't see missing one year of bowls (no GUARENTEE they would have even made one, but probably so.), a few less scholarships which basically means squat, and probation. I think if you look at recruiting they already have this year, and even what USC is able to pull off, their is no impact to recruiting based on these penalties.

To me, neither OSU nor USC will really miss a beat, sure they will lose a couple dollars, but they will still remain the football machines as before their infractions. heck, OSU probably got a coaching upgrade because of it!

Let me know when the NCAA decides to do something more than shaking their disapproving finger at these programs.

It must be December: the Buffs aren't in a bowl game, you're scrambling to get your kids the hot new electronics, the beer has more berries and nutmeg added, and the Pick Em Bowl Mania is back.

Nothing is at stake, no costumes, no money, nothing except the glory of being the master of a system of collegiate athletics that is outdated, flawed, and money driven. Lucky you! Anyone can join, good luck.

Yahoo College Pick Em

id = 19669

password = beer

Fairchild will not return in 2012 as Rams football coach

Seen some interesting threads about who is next at CSU:

Pat Hill: Fresno State

Randy Shannon: Former UMiami

Turner GIll: Former KU/Buffalo Coach

Return of Sonny Lubick: Former CSU

Brent Venables: Defensive Coordinator of OU

Gary Barnett: Former CU??

Jim Tessel: tOSU

Urban Meyer: Haha I kid I kid...

Also have been reading on their threads that its CU who wanted to keep it at Mile High. For cereal?

Instead of flipping back and forth between threads to talk about recruiting, I thought it might be easier to have an all-in-one message board.

I will keep this list updated as more information becomes available. Thank you Buff'em Up and Jon for starting these conversations (and for providing a prospect list to work with).

As of 11:30 PM Sunday, here is what we know (also thank you to Rivals, Scout and ESPN):

Latest Buzz:

*UPDATED*: DE Samson Kafovalu *** Rivals Scout Commits to CU! This guy looks likes like a man! He's 40! Impressive offer list and highly recruited for a 3 star. Another great get!

DE Kyle Kelly ****/*** Rivals Scout Visited 10/10. Claims Arizona still leads for his signature but is still not 100% solid. CU, Oklahoma, and Arizona will meet with him again Wednesday and he will take his final official visit to Oklahoma this weekend. He will decide next week.

CB Yuri Wright **** Rivals Scout Visited 10/10. According to ESPN, Wright's Facebook status Sunday morning: “Pretty boring night last night out here in colorado headed home in a couple of hours can't wait to get back...” Along with other statements...

New Commitments:

DE Samson Kafovalu *** Rivals Scout

DE John Stuart *** Rivals Committed after an in-home visit 12/5. Additional offers from Fresno State, Nevada, New Mexico State, Utah State, and Washington State

DE Kisma Jagne *** Rivals Scout - Highly recruited for a 3 star. Great get for the Buffs!

DT Josh Tupou ** Rivals Scout Committed after visit on 10/10

RB Donta Abron ** Rivals Committed after visit on 10/10

Prospects Visiting Weekend of 12/17

CB Ryan Lewis ** Scout Apparently favors CU

Continue reading this post »

I know it would be nice to get some more practices under the belts of returning players but with no bowl to plan for the entire staff is concentrating on recruiting. Embree is currently in New Orleans trying to pick up a commit from Gerron Borne, a 6'2" DT. He is currently committed to Arizona but plans on decommitting soon.

Some big names will be paying a visit to the CU campus this weekend.

Commits

• DT Tyler Henington ***
• RB/FB Clay Norgard *** (now ranked as the 4th best FB in the nation by Rivals)
• WR Gerald Thomas *** (runs a 4.3 in the 40)
• DE De'Jon Wilson *** (from H.D. Wilson H.S)

Prospects

• CA OT Nico Siragusa *** (offers from WSU, Oregon State and San Diego State)
• JC OT Alexandru Ceachir http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXi377O-1k (Can he qualify academically?)
• TX S Leo Thomas *** (Another offer from Arizona, Ht: 6-3 Wt: 175)
• DC CB Kenneth Crawley **** (Fellow teammate of Sherrard Harrington and D'jon Wilson. Committed to Tennessee but if we can get him to switch that would be a huge get) http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Kenneth-Crawley-113285
• NEW - Deaysean Rippy **** his player profile says he's visiting Pitt but I am hearing he'll be at CU so not 100% on this http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=4587758
• CA WR/CB Jonavaughn Williams Ht: 6'0" Wt: 195 no stars but impressive offer list - Arizona, ASU, San Diego State, Washington, Oregon State http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Jonavaughn-Williams-128831 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3uMPrTb1as
• OL CA Steven Moore *** Ht: 6'7" Wt: 265 (Yet another Arizona de comitt) http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=5534403
• DE CA Kyle Kelly **** Ht: 6'3" Wt: 205 (comitted to Arizona but we've seen the trend) http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Kyle-Kelley-124163 He will be visiting next weekend 12/9/11
• DE JC Morgan Breslin Ht 6'3" Wt 245 (soft verbal to UCLA) http://colorado.scout.com/a.z?s=148&p=8&c=1&nid=5480180

There is a cold front moving into Colorado which should keep temps in the mid 20’s to mid 30’s all weekend. On the other hand the fresh snow on the Flat Irons should be impressive.

Before the season I wrote a story on what I thought would happen in 2011.

I was a little off...  http://www.ralphiereport.com/2011/4/19/2119680/predictions-for-next-year-and-opinions-about-what-weve-seen

I wasn't the only one with preseason high hopes!  Only 2% of the people polled predicted that the Buffs would win 3 or less games.  I thought the worst we would be was 4-9...  But injuries and severe lack of talent killed us!

I was a little right on the incoming freshman I picked to watch.  Malcolm Creer did nicely before he got hurt.  Juda made a couple plays.  Kyle Washington got plenty of time.  Harrington seemed like he'd play and certainly would have before he got hurt.  I was not right on Nembot.

So here is what I predicted: (my responses are next to bullet points)

7 WINS against: @Hawaii, @CSU, Washington State, @Washington, USC, Arizona and @UCLA.

6 LOSSES against:  Cal, @Ohio St, @Stanford, Oregon, @ASU and @Utah.

• Well we all know what happened here...  Glad I was wrong about Utah!

Bold predictions (just for fun)!

-Tyler Hanson starts every game!  Ends up as the 5th best QB in the 12 PAC.

• He started them all, but that one when Hirschman played for a couple series.  Hanson ended up 8th in the PAC 12 in passing.

-CU is 2nd in the 12 PAC in team rushing.  Speedy has 1,500 yards rushing, 400 yards receiving and 17 total TD's.  On his way to a 2nd team all-american performance.  

• CU was 9th in rushing.  Speedy had 854 rushing with 4 TD's (would have been more without the injuries!  He had about 600 yards receiving.  And might be honorable mention all PAC12.

-Tony Jones rushes for 500 and 5 TD's.

• Tony had 300 and 3 TD's.

-Paul Richardson has 850 yards receiving and 8 TD's.  Earns 2nd team all-conference.  

• He went for 550 and 5 TD's.  Certainly thought he'd get 1,000 after attending the Cal game!

-Toney Clemons has 650 yards receiving and 7 TD's.  Also adding 200 yards rushing and 2 TD's.  

• I got one!  He went for 680 and 8 TD's.  No rushing yards, but I'll take it!  

-Neither of the starting CB's listed on the current depth chart actually start.

• I was right about this one.  The spring game starters on the depth chart were Orms and Jaffee.

-Freshman Juda Parker records 5 sacks.

• He had no sacks...  9 tackles though!

-The Buffs win the Valero Alamo Bowl 32 - 14 over the Baylor Bears.

• Baylor may play in this game!  We might not...

-Embo and staff recruit the #19 ranked recruiting class next February.

• Probably not going to happen unless we have some big commits come here.  But a decent class that may make the top 40.

-4 players are drafted to the NFL from the 2011 team.  Ryan Miller is drafted in the 3rd round by the Colts.  Speedy is drafted in the 5th by the Chargers.  Toney Clemons is Drafted in the 6th by the Raiders after he shines in the combine.  And Conrad Obi is drafted in the 7th by the Giants.  

• TBD here.  I think I may be right about Miller being drafted in the top 3 rounds.  Speedy is likely to play in the NFL but may not be drafted higher than the 7th round.  I could be right about Clemons.  I doubt Obi gets drafted.  If I could add one...  Maybe Deehan gets a look as an UFA.  And hopefully Hanson goes and takes Hawkins' job for team America.

I can't wait to look back and see if I'm even close on any of these!

• Eesh, did I have no clue...

After enjoying the awesome win on Friday and afterglow of victory, I find myself feeling empty due to the realization that the College Football season is basically done.  Sure, there are Championship games next weekend and then bowl games in about a month, but the days of non-stop college football, campus atmosphere, and especially Buff Football are over for the next 9 months.  Yes, we have National Signing Day which is kinda cool, and Spring football which is also good, but somehow still seems a little unfulfilling.  

 Maybe its the post-Thanksgiving let down, or short days this time of year, but regardless the passing of another season of College Football sucks.

Geez, even my local High School Season (Southlake Carroll Dragons- JJ Drescher/Peyton Williams) is still going for potentially another couple of weeks.

Maybe i'll spend the off season practicing  my iPad typing skills which are pathetic, thank all of you for not pointing that out all season....

So, I'm one of the people who has been saying "this isn't a rivalry and won't be for a long time...", but I've got to tell you... I think it might not take all that long.  I've been monitoring Block U since yesterday's win and I have rapidly come to hate the whiners that make up their fan base.  It isn't shocking, considering they shared a conference, but Utah's fans remind me of CSU's fans.  They have an inferiority complex, whine when they get beat and, frankly, have a WAY over-sized sense of self worth.

It makes me happy to read how terrible our team is, how we are bottom feeders, the worst team in the PAC and at least 5-years behind Utah's program.  I hope everyone in the conference continues to underestimate us going in to next year.  It usually takes 3 years to turn a program around because you have to cycle out the old coach's players before the new coach's system can fully be implemented.  Well, we should be able to shorten that time frame because of how Senior heavy our team was.  Embree's recruits will hold a very large number of the starting spots next year and, while we will still be young, I expect we will build off the momentum we developed toward the end of the season.  Further Bienemy now has a full season of play calling under his belt and we've now had a chance to study all of the PAC teams in detail.  Frankly, my biggest concern heading into next year is QB and we have potential for a ton of upside there.

Here's to beating Utah again in 2012 ahd proving that, like CSU, they truly are our little brother.  Hopefully a rivalry is born!

P.S. I love that USC is smoking UCLA right now.  I can't wait for Oregon to blow out UCLA as well and then for Neuheisel to get fired thereafter.

So we're starting a new conference, minus Nebraska. That means we need a new Thanky G rivalry. Enter Utah. I know we have no real reason to hate them, but I can find reasons to hate anyone. So, manufactured as it is, let's send the wheels in motion, embrace this manufactured rivalry, and find reasons to hate the hell out of Utah.

Continue reading this post »

Not much time left. The Ralphie Report has some ground to make up. 

BuffStampede.com is hosting a season long pick 'em contest between them, Bob and I here at the Ralphie Report and the guys over at AllBuffs.com. 

Thanks to Adam for pulling this together. Here are the week thirteen picks. 

ADAM MUNSTERTEIGER BuffStampede Record: 76-44 D.B. BARON BuffStampede 73-47 JON WOODS Ralphie Report 74-46 BOB BELL Ralphie Report 73-47 BRIAN RILEY AllBuffs 59-61 DAVID WALSH AllBuffs 77-43 CU at Utah   (34-20) (38-13) (38-17) (38-17) (24-21) (34-17) Arkansas at LSU   Iowa at Nebraska   UGA at Ga. Tech   OSU at Michigan   Va. Tech at UVA   PSU at Wisconsin   FSU at Florida   Clemson at S.C.   N.D. at Stanford