OldhamSheridan

And this is why people can't watch college football. Arizona clocking up 49 points against Nevada is just daft. That's probably the best game since the Texas-USC Rose Bowl*. *I don't include the Cardinals v Packers playoff game as I have no idea how good that was due to dying a thousand deaths.

That won't be the official time yet (as far as I can tell they've released the fictures until mid-February), so take care with this one if your flight is so close. It's a pretty big game so may well get shifted for telly. This would mean a Friday 5pm kickoff or a Monday night kickoff (7.45pm). Even if it is not on telly, it is as likely to be on a Saturday as a Sunday (12 and 12.30 respectively). There are loads of games on in Germany though, if this isn't timed right - and many can be reached from Munich (and Unterhaching I think are at home on the Saturday).

Generally the rail ticket is covered by the ticket. This works for all non-ICE trains in Germany. So you can travel half the length of Germany on a football ticket as long as you use regional trains (unless things have changed recently). This includes the Second Division tickets I believe. The only thing is you have to have your ticket with you, meaning you have to get it delivered, which can be more expensive than their cheap rail system and picking it up at the ground. I liked Hertha, but it did put across what you need to do when going to watch German football. Find out where the main home bunch generally congregate and get a ticket as close as you can to (or in with) them (generally a standing section at one end of the ground). Small/full grounds it doesnt matter, but when in a Hertha/Cologne where it isn't likely to be full it is a bit of a must.

I saw 1860 a few years ago and sadly it is one of the few German grounds where, despite their best efforts, the ground is just far too big. We just rocked up and paid in (although you do have to be careful with using this policy, as it only just worked at Nuremburg {sold out, bought tickets off a rubbish tout} and failed at Dresden). I'd be amazed if they sell out any second division game in that stadium though. However, to be sure you could try online (main website, nearer the time) and pick up at the stadium. For that I'd try contacting them direct: tickets@tsv1860.de, and finding out when they go on sale and if they'd mind awfully helping you out nearer the time (as the website is in German - unless you can speak German that is).

I'm guessing reverse Dutch steamboat is though. Can someone look and let me know.

As results tend to level up over time, I think it is more about where the bad grounds are (or a list of :censored:hole towns). Luton always tops my list as it is awful. It's like a blackhole for grime and lacks completely in anything to do. I would travel out of my way to not go there again in my lifetime. Out of town ones like Northampton and Chester don't have the redeeming features of decent central pubs that Shrewsbury and Colchester have. MK is a bit this way, but if you go to Bletchley it isn't too bad.

After Mike Carlson, they all seem a bit :censored:.

...and Barcelona reserves could be an issue with Benfica needing to win to get through.Chelsea & Bayern you would think so as they both have something to play for. Man Utd have the same issue as Barcelona. Might win, but not something I'd especially touch. Always go by the motto of never bet at the beginning or end of a competition.

But (if he's still waiting after a year), the Odd One Out (as mentioned in DS's post) is real ale/cider awesome and all round brilliant (if you don't stand on ceremony). And the ground is exactly the same as Shrewsbury, except Colchester put on a bus and the sun gets in your eyes at Shrewsbury.

:censored: load of money, should be top by a mile.

I've considered this strenuously, but only for me - of course. Good: Newcastle, Man Utd, Sunderland, City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Harrogate or Hastings (I'm good with either), Liverpool, Dale, Leeds and Brighton. Quite good: Aldershot, Wimbledon, Everton, Norwich (hic), Watford (selfish - brother* lives next door), Spuds, Burton (to see where DS ends up) Bad: Luton. Quite bad: Tranmere, Crawley, Stoke, Sheff Utd, Preston, Barnsley, Hull, Rotherham, Peterborough, Luton again, Bournemmuff, Orient and Luton. *Not a selfish-brother.

I think it is down to a number of reasons. Distance being one of them. You'll support your local team and in the main you are a million miles from an NFL team. In relative terms high school teams are just as manic, I'd point you towards the new Allen Eagle Stadium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eagle_Stadium.jpg) on that one (in Texas of course) You have students, parents and alumni supporting the teams at the games, which is a substantial number in the crowd. When I've been over there, there is pride in their local university teams (Pittsburgh and Cincinnati immediately come to mind - even though they have NFL teams and not very good college teams). The defences often lack discipline (well the whole teams do - it just shows up in the defensive side of things as one missed play is very detrimental). What you do notice about the college game is momentum. You can have a team getting slaughtered one second, then a dropped punt and all of a sudden they are romping it. Plus, dominant teams will rack up scores to get up the BSC list - so scores can get daft.

He could have saved several shots that were going wide.

It would be pretty special if he had kicked him in the bollocks whilst looking the other way. Its also not his style, he prefers to stamp on opponents, etc. As for the Jets game, I'm no fan of New England, but for about two minutes that was utterly hilarious.

Mingo as mentioned. I like Mike Glennon at NC State for QB, and I reckon someone could get a bit of a steal there. Seems a better prospect than Barkley to me. The fancy QBs are a couple of years away with 'Johnny Football' Manziel (seems very good) and Marcus Mariota (seems to have a very good team around him). Manti Te'o seems to get alot of mentions, but I don't like Notre Dame so I fast forward through most of their games. But top of the list I would expect Jarvis Jones (Georgia) - obviously depending on what teams are after. But he won't be low down that list.

Can't do myself, but if you really feel the need you can make it to and from Durham on the bus. You will also get to see the delights of Peterlee and be able to closely examine some wind turbines. Its the 22 (I think it is Scarlet Band that run it now) and takes about an hour and twenty minutes. But be careful as the last bus back is about twenty to ten.

I'm getting frustrated just looking at Edwards' name. I seem to remember more Chris Day and Rob Scott, with a dash of Mark Hughes.

Just another way of giving the bigger clubs a further advantage, as someone :censored: broke will be able to name youth players (if that), and someone with cash will be able to name much stronger players. As for Dan Taylor, he was playing in the Northern League last year, that's Division 9 by the way. So hardly surprising he isn't fit for football six divisions higher half a season later.

Are we not getting an LSU update this week?

I want to know what they did about those going around demanding money with menaces.

Paterno got chopped for reporting it. Just to the wrong people, who said nothing and also got the boot. I think it is fair to say he was on his way out anyway (as he is now dead). This was all funny when he was stuck in a hurricane and looking at monuments from three miles away in the dark whilst drinking bottle water. But now he's started rocking up to stadiums/teams I want to see...

Isn't it the opposite, as it happened in a seating area?

Well good news and bad news there. Bad news is he's got a bad injury which following ligament damage to his other knee last year, will at best lower his earning potential and certainly put people off taking him on. In good news, he got away with a fumble there.

Jesus, if this carries on much longer I'm going to have to invent a time machine to go back in time and uninvent the Interweb.

These sound all too much fun. Walsall at home, Northampton away, Wycombe away or Doncaster seem more likely in the dullness stakes.