ChicagoBull

Enough already about next week.  Let's get pumped about this week.  Looking forward to a reverse Homecoming for Vantrease as he plays just up the street from his high school.  

Not sure I would like to play SMU in Frisco, but I like the destination.  It has been too many years since I've made a trip to Dallas.  Frisco gets a thumbs up from me.  

On 11/4/2019 at 4:44 PM, dutchcountry7 said:

MAC Bowl Ties, Affiliations

Highest-ranked champion from the AAC, C-USA, MAC, MW & Sun Belt will play in a New Year’s Six bowl.

The MAC doesn’t have a true pecking order. The bowls matchups are based on best possible games and geography.

– Cheribundi Tart Cherry Bowl vs. American Athletic
– Dollar General Bowl vs. Sun Belt
– Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs. Mountain West
– Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl vs. Conference USA
– Raycom Media Camellia Bowl vs. Sun Belt

– Quick Lane Bowl
Conditional if ACC or Big Ten can’t fill a spot.

Best geography!  🥴

On 11/5/2019 at 9:30 AM, clodney said:

He should have started from Day 1. I never thought Myers looked ready to play at this level and Vantrease at least looked competent in his limited time last year. I'm guessing the coaching staff sees a bigger upside in the long term development of Myers but gambling on the freshman likely cost us a shot at the MAC.

 

Indeed.  Looking back, it does seem like a gamble.  I could see how it might have made sense in the first game for which we were a huge favorite.  Treat it like an exhibition game.  He seemed like the fan preference, but what do we know.  I don't recall ever hearing much of the rationale for starting Myers.  Regardless, here we are and things are looking good.  Go Bulls.  

On 9/28/2019 at 2:16 PM, clodney said:

Play Vantrease. 

Your wish has been granted.  😲

On 10/30/2019 at 10:05 PM, dutchcountry7 said:

Every AD will say the next game they are trying to hype is the biggest. 

 

Being the the first time game day is there makes it historic by default.  But it isn’t program defining and not their biggest game. 

 

 

I don't think Memphis wins that game at a neutral site.  The Game Day atmosphere for a fan base that is craving it like Memphis adds so much to the experience.  I think Vegas odds reflected that this was not just another road game for a higher-ranked team.  They routinely fill a 60k stadium.   Memphis may be in Tennessee, but it is a long way from Knoxville, and they own the town.  Plus, the Liberty Bowl does so much to bring college football pride to the city.  I've never seen a city embrace their bowl more than the Liberty Bowl.  

P.S.  Loved it when Jerry Lawler threatened Lee Corso after he threw off the Tiger head and put on a Mustang head.  

Too much of the talk we hear is generated by agents (leveraging the next contract extension), media (talking heads with way too much time to imagine things), and fans (who know next to nothing).  So, unless I'm hearing things from trustworthy sources, I don't put much stock in it.  

Does he also kick XPs?

Anybody have any notes from the scrimmage on Saturday?

I'd like the Independence Bowl because I think I can travel to that one!  

So, were we just early and got him?  There doesn't seem to be much interest by other strong programs.

This was very impressive.  And I hear that it is even better than they make it seem on the video.  Great job UB.

Probably good for him.  Too bad for us.  I like having him in the RB room.  He is a proven talent and had such impact two seasons ago.  May be much more to the story.  Sorry to see him go.  

Athlon's prediction puts us within easy reach of the championship game.  

This line sums it up for me as I hope for good performance as a QB steps out from Jackson's shadow.   The O-line and ground game should help loosen up the passing game (at least a bit).  

"The Bulls can lean heavily on a standout line and ground game to ease the transition on offense."

26 minutes ago, Jeseph said:

 

Is this good for the MAC?  

Get a lead in State College and the TV numbers will be huge!  

Am I reading correctly that the Bahamas Bowl is the very first bowl?  

Edit:  Never mind.  I found a site with a complete list.  

Is Tyree sticking around campus to work out for himself and/or with others who are still on the team?  

Semi-serious.  Is there a rule against scheduling MAC teams for the non-conference?  Perhaps only teams that aren't already on the schedule for that year. 

2 hours ago, SGBull said:

Hodge must have had a horrible Pro Day. The fact that he hasn't signed as an UDFA is baffling. 

Seriously.  Still waiting for more informed explanation of what happened.  

21 hours ago, bull_trojan said:

Tyree being deemed UDFA, makes AJ's value even higher in my mind. Everything changed once AJ was on the field and things got worse when AJ was off. I'm incredibly shocked he didn't get drafted.

The Bosa kid got an injury sat out most of the year got drafted #2. Ed Oliver nursed an injury all season, got drafted #9. Hawaii's Ursua had two monster seasons in the run and shoot offense, but tore his ACL in 2017 and  had a lingering injury in 2018 similar to AJ this year...however Ursua skipped his bowl game to prepare for the NFL, and got healthy enough to get drafted in the 7th despite below average NFL size... Hawaii's offense sputtered in the bowl without Ursua and UH got blown out by La Tech.

Meanwhile AJ kept coming back when he had nothing left to prove, almost won us a MAC title on one leg, yet ends up UDFA.

Message seems clear the NFL only pays lip service to the character part of being there for your team, but ultimately they only care about the 40 and cone times...

AJ vs 6th round pick Scott Miller

2017: AJ 8 for 160 2 TDs  - Miller 10 for 108 1 TD

2018: AJ 4 for 26 0 TDs - Miller 4 for 115  2 TD (Miller caught a 63 yard TD while BGSU was down 44-7 midway through the 4th)

More and more, we see that the NFL is a cold-hearted business.  At least in college, we still have some semblance of team loyalty, although it really got stretched this off-season by UB players.  

3 hours ago, skrabukes said:

Tyree got the same bonus as that 7th round pick. If that 7th round pick gets cut, he doesn't get that $2.5 million that you list. If Tyree makes the Bills (or any other team), he'll be making the same amount as any of those 7th round guys, and not far from the 4th-6th round guys. The minimum is $500k+, so any of the UB guys that make the squad on opening day will be earning that salary. Hopefully they can be healthy and show off their skills and we have a few on rosters/practice squads come September.

"Hopefully they can be healthy and show off their skills and we have a few on rosters/practice squads come September."  Agreed!  

13 hours ago, UB05 said:

 

How much do you think late round picks’ get for a signing bonus? If you think it’s $750k I have a bridge to sell you. Not to mention there’s no guaranteed money outside the signing bonus for day 3 picks.

Are you really arguing about this?  Tyree and AJ woke up yesterday expecting to be 4th round picks.  Here are the facts:

The first pick in the 4th round:   $3,324,499 with $804,499 signing bonus.  

The last pick in the 7th round:  $2,594,288 with $74,288 signing bonus.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/draft/

15 minutes ago, UB05 said:

75k guaranteed is pretty good considering he hasn’t made the team 

Tyree woke up this morning expecting to earn 10 times that as his annual salary and another 10 times that as a signing bonus.

Seems like the "first" undrafted free agent to sign should have gotten more money.  Or is the salary set by the NFLPA contract?