[stupac2]

According to ESPN, here are our games:

Sept 5 @ Northwestern
Sept 12 vs UCF
Sept 19 @ USC
Sept 25 @ ORST (Friday)
Oct 3 vs Arizona
Oct 15 vs UCLA (Thursday)
Oct 24 vs Washington
Oct 31 @ WSU
Nov 7 @ Colorado
Nov 14 vs Oregon
Nov 21 vs Cal
Nov 28 vs Notre Dame

The clustering of home games strikes me as non-ideal, 3/4 games to open the season are away. Not a lot of time to work out the kinks with a friendly crowd, and the one home game is against a non-patsy. I guess it's more of the same in terms of our ridiculous schedule.

A few notable things about this being a short year:
1) We don't get a true bye week, our only bye comes before the Thursday night game against UCLA.  All things considered that's probably a good time to have it, but these short years sure are brutal.
2) Whoever said that the 13-week calendar would screw over some other rivalry the way it screwed it over Big Game a couple years ago... yeah, didn't happen. Well, unless you consider Arizona getting a last-week bye screwing them over, which I suppose it is...

[stupac2]

According to ESPN, here are our games:

Sept 5 @ Northwestern
Sept 12 vs UCF
Sept 19 @ USC
Sept 25 @ ORST (Friday)
Oct 3 vs Arizona
Oct 15 vs UCLA (Thursday)
Oct 24 vs Washington
Oct 31 @ WSU
Nov 7 @ Colorado
Nov 14 vs Oregon
Nov 21 vs Cal
Nov 28 vs Notre Dame

The clustering of home games strikes me as non-ideal, 3/4 games to open the season are away. Not a lot of time to work out the kinks with a friendly crowd, and the one home game is against a non-patsy. I guess it's more of the same in terms of our ridiculous schedule.

A few notable things about this being a short year:
1) We don't get a true bye week, our only bye comes before the Thursday night game against UCLA.  All things considered that's probably a good time to have it, but these short years sure are brutal.
2) Whoever said that the 13-week calendar would screw over some other rivalry the way it screwed it over Big Game a couple years ago... yeah, didn't happen. Well, unless you consider Arizona getting a last-week bye screwing them over, which I suppose it is...

[Spiny_Norman]

The 2015 football schedule was announced today.  David Lombardi takes a first look at Stanford's schedule - http://espn.go.com/blog/stanford-footbal...t-analysis

Additional dislikes:
Again, Stanford plays a Friday night game (at Corvallis) which creates a short week of prep.  It falls in September when a young team may still be jelling and might need more practice time to get ready.  They also play a Thursday evening home game vs. UCLA.  I don't like weeknight home games.  It's tough to get to the Stadium in time and limits tailgating.
Brutal start to the season - 3 of the first 4 games are on the road, at Evanston, Corvallis and LA

Some positives:
Stanford misses ASU and Utah
After Sept 25, Stanford only has two other road trips - at Pullman and at Boulder

Full conference schedule available here - http://static.pac-12.com/sports/football...elease.pdf

I see that Stupac beat me by about 10 minutes.  Yvonne - can you combine these threads?

[Spiny_Norman]

The 2015 football schedule was announced today.  David Lombardi takes a first look at Stanford's schedule - http://espn.go.com/blog/stanford-footbal...t-analysis

Additional dislikes:
Again, Stanford plays a Friday night game (at Corvallis) which creates a short week of prep.  It falls in September when a young team may still be jelling and might need more practice time to get ready.  They also play a Thursday evening home game vs. UCLA.  I don't like weeknight home games.  It's tough to get to the Stadium in time and limits tailgating.
Brutal start to the season - 3 of the first 4 games are on the road, at Evanston, Corvallis and LA

Some positives:
Stanford misses ASU and Utah
After Sept 25, Stanford only has two other road trips - at Pullman and at Boulder

Full conference schedule available here - http://static.pac-12.com/sports/football...elease.pdf

I see that Stupac beat me by about 10 minutes.  Yvonne - can you combine these threads?

[French Rage]

Well the start is brutal, but if we make it through that then a run of home games, only interrupted by Colorado and Wazzou, not exactly the toughest teams historically, is somewhat advantageous.  Add to that the fact that all home games other than UCF get the benefit of students present.  That said, starting with both USC and OSU away, within 6 days of each other, is one hell of a way to start.  And Oregon-Cal-ND makes for a fun finish.

[French Rage]

Well the start is brutal, but if we make it through that then a run of home games, only interrupted by Colorado and Wazzou, not exactly the toughest teams historically, is somewhat advantageous.  Add to that the fact that all home games other than UCF get the benefit of students present.  That said, starting with both USC and OSU away, within 6 days of each other, is one hell of a way to start.  And Oregon-Cal-ND makes for a fun finish.

[Farm93]

Hard to complain about the lack of September home games and then complain about having too many home games before students arrive.
Folks got to pick a side on that one.  I like the road shows because as a fan we will have fewer games in the wok.  It is also better for students.
The short week after USC is not a lot of fun.  At least the Coliseum features favorable road game logistics for the team, and that should help a touch.
Couldn't ask for two better opponents to get before Oregon.  3 games in November is hard on the turf, I hope it holds up.
Every Pac-12 team needs to host weekday games so I like the idea that it is UCLA.  At least there is a chance for a packed house.  If it was Arizona, then the stadium could feature a few too many empty seats.

[Farm93]

Hard to complain about the lack of September home games and then complain about having too many home games before students arrive.
Folks got to pick a side on that one.  I like the road shows because as a fan we will have fewer games in the wok.  It is also better for students.
The short week after USC is not a lot of fun.  At least the Coliseum features favorable road game logistics for the team, and that should help a touch.
Couldn't ask for two better opponents to get before Oregon.  3 games in November is hard on the turf, I hope it holds up.
Every Pac-12 team needs to host weekday games so I like the idea that it is UCLA.  At least there is a chance for a packed house.  If it was Arizona, then the stadium could feature a few too many empty seats.

[Rally]

There is no schedule that would preclude many fans wailing, "we was robbed!"  Looking at some other Pac12 school blogs, every fan base feels the same.  Looks more interesting to me than this year's.  There is no easy schedule around here.

[Rally]

There is no schedule that would preclude many fans wailing, "we was robbed!"  Looking at some other Pac12 school blogs, every fan base feels the same.  Looks more interesting to me than this year's.  There is no easy schedule around here.

[stupac2]

Hard to complain about the lack of September home games and then complain about having too many home games before students arrive.
Folks got to pick a side on that one.  I like the road shows because as a fan we will have fewer games in the wok.  It is also better for students.

Those might also be different people. The problem is that none of the teams we face are actual patsies*, meaning we need to hit the ground running. It just decreases the margin of difficulty, especially when one is on the road. I'd rather open the season at home against a relative cupcake just to get the kinks worked out, then play the mediocre-to-good non-conference game, then start league play. But whaddayagonnado?

*(Okay, so neither Northwestern nor UCF look strong  this year, but they've both managed to put together good seasons in recent history, so taking either for granted is a mistake, IMO.)

3 games in November is hard on the turf, I hope it holds up.

IIRC they completely changed the turf after the disaster in 2011. I believe that we had a similar stretch last year and the turf was great the whole time. I think that problem has been conclusively solved, but I guess if we get a string of rainy days before each game it could go back to being mush. Who knows?

[stupac2]

Hard to complain about the lack of September home games and then complain about having too many home games before students arrive.
Folks got to pick a side on that one.  I like the road shows because as a fan we will have fewer games in the wok.  It is also better for students.

Those might also be different people. The problem is that none of the teams we face are actual patsies*, meaning we need to hit the ground running. It just decreases the margin of difficulty, especially when one is on the road. I'd rather open the season at home against a relative cupcake just to get the kinks worked out, then play the mediocre-to-good non-conference game, then start league play. But whaddayagonnado?

*(Okay, so neither Northwestern nor UCF look strong  this year, but they've both managed to put together good seasons in recent history, so taking either for granted is a mistake, IMO.)

3 games in November is hard on the turf, I hope it holds up.

IIRC they completely changed the turf after the disaster in 2011. I believe that we had a similar stretch last year and the turf was great the whole time. I think that problem has been conclusively solved, but I guess if we get a string of rainy days before each game it could go back to being mush. Who knows?

[Papa John]

So I'm guessing that my 30-year reunion will be October 24 vs UW. Visit some old friends, scope out the pumpkin patches at Half Moon Bay...Sounds great to me!

[Papa John]

So I'm guessing that my 30-year reunion will be October 24 vs UW. Visit some old friends, scope out the pumpkin patches at Half Moon Bay...Sounds great to me!

[Bruce Wang]

I've been looking for an excuse to go to Chicago.

[Bruce Wang]

I've been looking for an excuse to go to Chicago.

[Renaissance Man]

My only real concern is that OSU gets a home game with San Jose the Saturday before the Friday night matchup, while Stanford travels to socal.  Big advantage for OSU on paper.

[Renaissance Man]

My only real concern is that OSU gets a home game with San Jose the Saturday before the Friday night matchup, while Stanford travels to socal.  Big advantage for OSU on paper.

[stupac2]

My only real concern is that OSU gets a home game with San Jose the Saturday before the Friday night matchup, while Stanford travels to socal.  Big advantage for OSU on paper.

ORST will also be breaking in a new QB, so who knows what they'll look like? Mannion may not be the best QB ever but he's solid and good in that system. Replacing him could be tough.

[stupac2]

My only real concern is that OSU gets a home game with San Jose the Saturday before the Friday night matchup, while Stanford travels to socal.  Big advantage for OSU on paper.

ORST will also be breaking in a new QB, so who knows what they'll look like? Mannion may not be the best QB ever but he's solid and good in that system. Replacing him could be tough.

[Papa John]

ORST will also be breaking in a new QB, so who knows what they'll look like? Mannion may not be the best QB ever but he's solid and good in that system. Replacing him could be tough.

Stanford may also be breaking in a new QB next year.

[Papa John]

ORST will also be breaking in a new QB, so who knows what they'll look like? Mannion may not be the best QB ever but he's solid and good in that system. Replacing him could be tough.

Stanford may also be breaking in a new QB next year.

[stupac2]

Stanford may also be breaking in a new QB next year.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the odds of that are extremely low. Hogan's not luck, he's going to stick around. And Chryst probably won't be good enough to beat him out. If he is, then it's a positive, not a negative.

[stupac2]

Stanford may also be breaking in a new QB next year.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the odds of that are extremely low. Hogan's not luck, he's going to stick around. And Chryst probably won't be good enough to beat him out. If he is, then it's a positive, not a negative.

[CrazedZooChimp]

I think the schedule looks great.  Northwestern is probably the weakest team on the schedule (unless they turn around big) and that should be a fun trip.  Students only miss one game, should be packed house the rest of the season.  Closing out the season with the two easy road games followed by 3 straight home games could be a great finish.  Plus, I love not playing any crappy FCS or non-major conference teams (I guess the AAC isn't a major conference anymore, but UCF is a solid opponent who will be at worst two years off a BCS win).  I also like that the Thursday game (basically .5 bye week on either side) comes smack dab in the middle of the season.  The extra half week on either side of it seems like a perfect time for a little rest.

Speaking of byes, only Utah, Oregon state, and WSU get full byes.  Colorado gets no bye at all (they play at Hawaii, so 13 games), and Arizona gets stuck with a bye the last week of the season.  The other 8 teams all have the pre-Thursday game bye.  So it could be worse, we could be Arizona or Colorado...

[CrazedZooChimp]

I think the schedule looks great.  Northwestern is probably the weakest team on the schedule (unless they turn around big) and that should be a fun trip.  Students only miss one game, should be packed house the rest of the season.  Closing out the season with the two easy road games followed by 3 straight home games could be a great finish.  Plus, I love not playing any crappy FCS or non-major conference teams (I guess the AAC isn't a major conference anymore, but UCF is a solid opponent who will be at worst two years off a BCS win).  I also like that the Thursday game (basically .5 bye week on either side) comes smack dab in the middle of the season.  The extra half week on either side of it seems like a perfect time for a little rest.

Speaking of byes, only Utah, Oregon state, and WSU get full byes.  Colorado gets no bye at all (they play at Hawaii, so 13 games), and Arizona gets stuck with a bye the last week of the season.  The other 8 teams all have the pre-Thursday game bye.  So it could be worse, we could be Arizona or Colorado...

[fullmetal]

[quote author=Papa John link=topic=10656.msg98567#msg98567 date=1410969686]Stanford may also be breaking in a new QB next year.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the odds of that are extremely low. Hogan's not luck, he's going to stick around. And Chryst probably won't be good enough to beat him out. If he is, then it's a positive, not a negative.
[/quote]

Agreed, Hogan's not leaving for the NFL just one CFB season after beginning to tweak his mechanics.  And if the NFL scouts are as critical as some of us are (me included), Hogan will know that he needs to get things straightened out before playing on Sundays.  His performances remind me of Joe Flacco, particularly as a game manager.  I haven't seen Flacco's throwing motion yet.

[fullmetal]

[quote author=Papa John link=topic=10656.msg98567#msg98567 date=1410969686]Stanford may also be breaking in a new QB next year.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the odds of that are extremely low. Hogan's not luck, he's going to stick around. And Chryst probably won't be good enough to beat him out. If he is, then it's a positive, not a negative.
[/quote]

Agreed, Hogan's not leaving for the NFL just one CFB season after beginning to tweak his mechanics.  And if the NFL scouts are as critical as some of us are (me included), Hogan will know that he needs to get things straightened out before playing on Sundays.  His performances remind me of Joe Flacco, particularly as a game manager.  I haven't seen Flacco's throwing motion yet.

[Papa John]

[quote author=stupac2 link=topic=10656.msg98568#msg98568 date=1410970391]
[quote author=Papa John link=topic=10656.msg98567#msg98567 date=1410969686]Stanford may also be breaking in a new QB next year.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the odds of that are extremely low. Hogan's not luck, he's going to stick around. And Chryst probably won't be good enough to beat him out. If he is, then it's a positive, not a negative.
[/quote]

Agreed, Hogan's not leaving for the NFL just one CFB season after beginning to tweak his mechanics.  And if the NFL scouts are as critical as some of us are (me included), Hogan will know that he needs to get things straightened out before playing on Sundays.  His performances remind me of Joe Flacco, particularly as a game manager.  I haven't seen Flacco's throwing motion yet.
[/quote]

Well, Luck stayed for a fourth academic year and finished his degree. 2014-15 is Hogan's fourth academic year, and I thought I heard that he's on track to graduate this coming spring.

I'm no draft expert but one 2015 draft website has Hogan as the #4 QB, #25 overall:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prosp...gs/2015/QB

That same website has Hogan as the #3 QB for 2016.

Hogan may well opt for a fifth year on the Farm. But I think it's reasonable to suspect that he will look to the next level.

[Papa John]

[quote author=stupac2 link=topic=10656.msg98568#msg98568 date=1410970391]
[quote author=Papa John link=topic=10656.msg98567#msg98567 date=1410969686]Stanford may also be breaking in a new QB next year.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the odds of that are extremely low. Hogan's not luck, he's going to stick around. And Chryst probably won't be good enough to beat him out. If he is, then it's a positive, not a negative.
[/quote]

Agreed, Hogan's not leaving for the NFL just one CFB season after beginning to tweak his mechanics.  And if the NFL scouts are as critical as some of us are (me included), Hogan will know that he needs to get things straightened out before playing on Sundays.  His performances remind me of Joe Flacco, particularly as a game manager.  I haven't seen Flacco's throwing motion yet.
[/quote]

Well, Luck stayed for a fourth academic year and finished his degree. 2014-15 is Hogan's fourth academic year, and I thought I heard that he's on track to graduate this coming spring.

I'm no draft expert but one 2015 draft website has Hogan as the #4 QB, #25 overall:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prosp...gs/2015/QB

That same website has Hogan as the #3 QB for 2016.

Hogan may well opt for a fifth year on the Farm. But I think it's reasonable to suspect that he will look to the next level.

[fullmetal]

If that's true and Hogan believes he will do well in the draft, then he *should* take off.  After all, you don't want to make the Jake Locker mistake (and only Sam Bradford could stay #1 after an injury-cancelled senior season).

There are a lot of NFL teams with average/mediocre QBs out there.  I'm about to put the NYG in that category too.  Maybe BAL.  If Hogan can make an impact with those teams, well, that's probably been his dream since Pop Warner.  Maybe he'll replace Kirk Cousins as a hometown hero, and we can take a few shots at MSU fans.

[fullmetal]

If that's true and Hogan believes he will do well in the draft, then he *should* take off.  After all, you don't want to make the Jake Locker mistake (and only Sam Bradford could stay #1 after an injury-cancelled senior season).

There are a lot of NFL teams with average/mediocre QBs out there.  I'm about to put the NYG in that category too.  Maybe BAL.  If Hogan can make an impact with those teams, well, that's probably been his dream since Pop Warner.  Maybe he'll replace Kirk Cousins as a hometown hero, and we can take a few shots at MSU fans.

[Rally]

If that's true and Hogan believes he will do well in the draft, then he *should* take off.  After all, you don't want to make the Jake Locker mistake (and only Sam Bradford could stay #1 after an injury-cancelled senior season).

There are a lot of NFL teams with average/mediocre QBs out there.  I'm about to put the NYG in that category too.  Maybe BAL.  If Hogan can make an impact with those teams, well, that's probably been his dream since Pop Warner.  Maybe he'll replace Kirk Cousins as a hometown hero, and we can take a few shots at MSU fans.

Will be interesting to follow.  Seems like many of our heros don't do well at the next level while some we insist needed to stay another year catch on and do well.  Surprising given the deep expertise all of us here have.  Oh well, the NFL can't always get it right.

[Rally]

If that's true and Hogan believes he will do well in the draft, then he *should* take off.  After all, you don't want to make the Jake Locker mistake (and only Sam Bradford could stay #1 after an injury-cancelled senior season).

There are a lot of NFL teams with average/mediocre QBs out there.  I'm about to put the NYG in that category too.  Maybe BAL.  If Hogan can make an impact with those teams, well, that's probably been his dream since Pop Warner.  Maybe he'll replace Kirk Cousins as a hometown hero, and we can take a few shots at MSU fans.

Will be interesting to follow.  Seems like many of our heros don't do well at the next level while some we insist needed to stay another year catch on and do well.  Surprising given the deep expertise all of us here have.  Oh well, the NFL can't always get it right.