Work argument: best college football team vs. worst NFL team in History: out of 10

Voodoo Tatum 21

All-Conference
May 18, 2016
2,970
1,765
0
ok. Need a little help from the brain trust out there to see if I'm totally off base.

If the best college football team of all time (pick your best team to insert here. The undefeated Nebraska teams, USC teams, Alabama teams, Miami teams etc etc. and of course the 1991 UW huskies). Played the worst NFL team of all time (pick your team - but I'm thinking the expansion Tampa Bay Bucks). And they played 10 times... Would the college team win at least one game?

Further info - college rules apply and they each got to practice the same amount of time leading up to the first game.
 
May 2, 2013
274
80
0
ok. Need a little help from the brain trust out there to see if I'm totally off base.

If the best college football team of all time (pick your best team to insert here. The undefeated Nebraska teams, USC teams, Alabama teams, Miami teams etc etc. and of course the 1991 UW huskies). Played the worst NFL team of all time (pick your team - but I'm thinking the expansion Tampa Bay Bucks). And they played 10 times... Would the college team win at least one game?

Further info - college rules apply and they each got to practice the same amount of time leading up to the first game.
against the 1976 bucs i'd give'em one win. Tampa was shut out 5 times and scored less than 9 points a game. one of those AL teams could have run the ball effectively enough to win one
 
Jul 24, 2012
772
280
0
ok. Need a little help from the brain trust out there to see if I'm totally off base.

If the best college football team of all time (pick your best team to insert here. The undefeated Nebraska teams, USC teams, Alabama teams, Miami teams etc etc. and of course the 1991 UW huskies). Played the worst NFL team of all time (pick your team - but I'm thinking the expansion Tampa Bay Bucks). And they played 10 times... Would the college team win at least one game?

Further info - college rules apply and they each got to practice the same amount of time leading up to the first game.


Gforrest,

The Detroit Lions went 0-16 in 2008 so don't forget about them. I think there is a college team that was so good they could beat the worst NFL team of all time.

The Lions was so bad that year.
 

Voodoo Tatum 21

All-Conference
May 18, 2016
2,970
1,765
0

Not even one game out of 10 played over the course of a year?

Some of those best college teams of all time had 18 to 20 starters drafted in the nfl over the course of two years depending on when the younger starters came out.

I am in agreement that the best college teams in each year versus the worst nfl team of each year would get their lunch handed to them and go "0 for" BUT the historical worst NFL team of all time Versus the historical best college team of all time?

Didn't way way back in the day (pre super bowl pre conference merger) some of the big team teams and ND play some non conference games against pro teams?
 

Voodoo Tatum 21

All-Conference
May 18, 2016
2,970
1,765
0
Gforrest,

The Detroit Lions went 0-16 in 2008 so don't forget about them. I think there is a college team that was so good they could beat the worst NFL team of all time.

The Lions was so bad that year.

Yeah! Thanks! I forgot about them. But that was not super long ago - I was thinking the player development gap might be closer if I went back a little further to the 1970's happless expansion Bucs.
 

mc140

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
8,749
2,802
113
Not even one game out of 10 played over the course of a year?

Some of those best college teams of all time had 18 to 20 starters drafted in the nfl over the course of two years depending on when the younger starters came out.

I am in agreement that the best college teams in each year versus the worst nfl team of each year would get their lunch handed to them and go "0 for" BUT the historical worst NFL team of all time Versus the historical best college team of all time?

Didn't way way back in the day (pre super bowl pre conference merger) some of the big team teams and ND play some non conference games against pro teams?

This is a terrible argument. A college team may have 18 to 20 players drafted, but and NFL team has 53 player who made an NFL roster. Plus were talking in a lot of cases playing against guys that are 10 years older.
 

SilverHelmets

Junior
Nov 29, 2014
553
212
0
Maybe against a team from before the super bowl era. The size and speed of current ncca players would matchup but not against any NFL team in the last 40 years. So maybe one of the recent Bama, a 2000s USC or Miami against the worst team from the 1950s NFL
 

Voodoo Tatum 21

All-Conference
May 18, 2016
2,970
1,765
0
Maybe against a team from before the super bowl era. The size and speed of current ncca players would matchup but not against any NFL team in the last 40 years. So maybe one of the recent Bama, a 2000s USC or Miami against the worst team from the 1950s NFL

That's why I was thinking the1976 Tampa bay bucks expansion team against a recent (fast forward 30 or 40 years) to a recent dominant college team from maybe Miami or Alabama. Lifting weights/diet/training way better now than in the 1970's. Might close the gap some in terms of strength/size/speed.
 

chitown-irish

Sophomore
Sep 21, 2011
326
159
43
If your saying any given year take the national champion and have them play the worst nfl team no , they would never win. But I don't think you have to go back near as far as you think if your saying any college era vs any nfl era. Today's college athelets are much superior to nfl atheletes from the 80s. Every position they are bigger stronger and faster. I would say the college offensive and defensive lines would outweigh 1980s nfl line by about 30 pounds. And besides being bigger then them they would also be more athletic and stronger.
 

Voodoo Tatum 21

All-Conference
May 18, 2016
2,970
1,765
0
If your saying any given year take the national champion and have them play the worst nfl team no , they would never win. But I don't think you have to go back near as far as you think if your saying any college era vs any nfl era. Today's college athelets are much superior to nfl atheletes from the 80s. Every position they are bigger stronger and faster. I would say the college offensive and defensive lines would outweigh 1980s nfl line by about 30 pounds. And besides being bigger then them they would also be more athletic and stronger.

Yes. Best ever college team playing worst ever pro team. And the college team being able to win at least one game if they played 10 times over a season.

Example 2001 Miami Hurricanes vs 1976 Tampa bay Bucs.

Hurricane had 40 guys drafted from that team (lots of back ups like Vince Wilfork that didn't see the field in 2001 but were on the team as backup younger guys). 17 guys drafted in the first round. Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Jeremy Shockey, Ed Reed, Mckinnie, Vilma, etc. etc.

That Hurricane team playing the 1976 Bucs 10 times.

Most people (including me) seem to think they would be able to pull out one victory out of 10. Couple folks say no way,.... But non scientific poll seems to favor a good chance for one win for the college team.
 

Cat Box

Senior
Sep 23, 2012
1,118
718
0
Curious to know the average weight & strength of linemen in the 1976 NFL vs. the 2001 Miami team. Superior nutrition & training may make for a larger, faster, stronger Miami team than 1976 Tampa Bay NFL.

Seems every lineman in top college programs these days goes about 6'-4" and weighs around 300 lbs.

Call me crazy, but I say the 2001 Miami team wins half the games vs. 1976 Tampa Bay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MS4EVER

mchsalumni

All-Conference
Sep 24, 2008
5,702
3,531
0
That's why I was thinking the1976 Tampa bay bucks expansion team against a recent (fast forward 30 or 40 years) to a recent dominant college team from maybe Miami or Alabama. Lifting weights/diet/training way better now than in the 1970's. Might close the gap some in terms of strength/size/speed.

Different argument then the way I read it. 2015 top 5 college could definitely compete with and/or beat the best pro team from before 1960.
 

NazDad

Sophomore
Aug 27, 2012
309
153
0
If you are playing different era teams, whose rules are you using? Today's super athletes aren't going to fair well when Dick Butkus is biting them or Lyle Alzado and Jack Tatum are trying to decapitate them.

This is a fun exercise, but there are many variables to be considered other than strictly the athletes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jwarigaku

Voodoo Tatum 21

All-Conference
May 18, 2016
2,970
1,765
0
If you are playing different era teams, whose rules are you using? Today's super athletes aren't going to fair well when Dick Butkus is biting them or Lyle Alzado and Jack Tatum are trying to decapitate them.

Hi NazDad. Using today's college rules. All NFL teams would need to play by today's college rules no matter the era the NFL team came from.

We were Nerding out during after work with some drinks the other day negotiating back and forth on if it would be possible for a college team (any college team - the best college team ever in history) to beat an NFL team just one time.

There was concensus that each years "best" college teams would get smoked by the worst NFL team in the same year (last year Alabama would go 0 for 10 against Tennessee Titans

Where there was a lot of disagreement (and the fun part) was "has there ever been a college team that could win one game out of 10" against an NFL team.

My thought was a team like Miami Hurricanes in 2001 could do it (they had 40 guys drafted over 4 years on that team and 17 in the first round) tons of backups on the 2001 team that didn't play but were awesome (Vince Wilfork etc). I was thinking they would for sure win a few games against the 1976 Tampa bay expansion bucks. I'm not so sure they would have beat last years Tennesee team 1 time though. Maybe the 2008 Lions once out of 10?
 

Voodoo Tatum 21

All-Conference
May 18, 2016
2,970
1,765
0

Sorry on my cell. Using today's college rules. All NFL teams (no matter the era) would have to play by today's college rules.

This was an after work/drink discussion. There was general concensus that in any given year - the best college team(s) would get smoked by the worst NFL team of that same year. Example last year Alabama vs Tenessee Titans. No one believes Alabama could win one even if Tenessee played by college rules and were limited to same practice time limitations etc etc.

Where there was discord is "could any college team - the best college team of all time" beat the worst pro teams of all time just one game out of 10".

I was thinking the 2001 Miami team that had 40 guys drafted over 4 years with 17 first round picks could beat the 1976 Tampa bay bucks. They didn't have the same nutrition/weight lifting/ programs back then which would even out the discrepancy on the o line and d line

maybe a better question is " would the 2001 Miami Hurricanes beat the 2008 Detroit Lions one game out of 10? No weightlifting/nutrition edge to the college team in that example.
 

GMAN81

Junior
Aug 21, 2013
1,686
243
63
Hahaha! You guys must really be bored. But of course I am kidding. The whole idea of any NFL team playing a college team is, by far, the dumbest thought on earth. What exactly does an NFL team have to gain by playing a college team regardless of how good that college team is? Nothing. You really think these NFL guys would risk an injury to play a completely meaningless game? That's why we have seen such a change in the pro bowl game...which is also worthless. But a far less chance of injury.
 

NNFAN

All-Conference
Sep 9, 2001
10,054
1,600
0
Current top college teams today would pound the living daylights out of bottom feeder NFL teams from the 1950's, probably the 60's as well. Speed, size, strength, and athletic ability ... no comparison.
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

All-Conference
Nov 9, 2002
5,846
2,728
0
Does that NFL team have Cutler as their starting QB? If so, I take the top tier college team (because I know I at least get 3 turnovers for the game). If not, I take the NFL team.

Nuff Said.

Wassup
 

mc140

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
8,749
2,802
113
Current top college teams today would pound the living daylights out of bottom feeder NFL teams from the 1950's, probably the 60's as well. Speed, size, strength, and athletic ability ... no comparison.

What if those teams from the 50s and 60s were given the same training? People also openly rejected playing in the NFL back then because the pay was terrible.

You can't compare eras. Humans are bigger, faster stronger and more drugged up then they were 50 and 100 years ago. Jesse Owens would barely make the Olympic trials based on his times and jumps from 80 years ago. Now if he had the same tracks, shoes, training etc people had now I'm sure he would of been a lot faster and jump farther but will never know.
 

ramblinman_rivals165935

All-Conference
Jul 18, 2001
9,102
2,802
0
ok. Need a little help from the brain trust out there to see if I'm totally off base.

If the best college football team of all time (pick your best team to insert here. The undefeated Nebraska teams, USC teams, Alabama teams, Miami teams etc etc. and of course the 1991 UW huskies). Played the worst NFL team of all time (pick your team - but I'm thinking the expansion Tampa Bay Bucks). And they played 10 times... Would the college team win at least one game?

Further info - college rules apply and they each got to practice the same amount of time leading up to the first game.


You specifically said from all time for both types of teams. I'm sure that there were some pretty sorry teams in the very early years of the NFL relative to the the worst NFL teams of today. First and foremost, the players back then were nowhere close to the same sort of physical condition as the very worst NFL teams are today.

Given the possibility of matching up the best collegiate team from the past 10 years with the worst NFL team of ALL TIME, I could see a scenario where the best collegiate team wins 10 out of 10 games against such competition.
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

All-Conference
Nov 9, 2002
5,846
2,728
0
What if those teams from the 50s and 60s were given the same training? People also openly rejected playing in the NFL back then because the pay was terrible.

You can't compare eras. Humans are bigger, faster stronger and more drugged up then they were 50 and 100 years ago. Jesse Owens would barely make the Olympic trials based on his times and jumps from 80 years ago. Now if he had the same tracks, shoes, training etc people had now I'm sure he would of been a lot faster and jump farther but will never know.

Great athletes from yesterday's era would be great athletes in our current era regardless of when they were born, period!
 

PowerI66_

All-Conference
Oct 11, 2012
3,943
2,894
0
Great athletes from yesterday's era would be great athletes in our current era regardless of when they were born, period!
This is the easiest graphic to demonstrate that your statement is ridiculous.
 

Wassup13_rivals219252

All-Conference
Nov 9, 2002
5,846
2,728
0
This is the easiest graphic to demonstrate that your statement is ridiculous.

Your forgetting those in the past era born in the present era would have available to them all of today's advanced training methods, footware, weight machines and etc. Those born in the past have the same drive of those in the present.

Anotherwords Michael Jordan would be just as awesome in today's game as he was 20 years ago even if he were born 20 years later.

Wassup

Wassup
 

reaperup

Redshirt
Jan 21, 2016
48
11
6
2001 Miami would have beaten the 08 Lions at least 1 out of 10... I'd say give them 3-4/10. The main reason is how strong the Canes were up front... Don't even worry about Andre Johnson, Jeremy Shockey, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Najeh Davenport... They didn't allow a single sack the whole season. Ed Reed, Vilma and the DL including Vince Wilfork also would have given Dan Orlovsky or Jon Kitna fits.
 

mchsalumni

All-Conference
Sep 24, 2008
5,702
3,531
0
2001 Miami would have beaten the 08 Lions at least 1 out of 10... I'd say give them 3-4/10. The main reason is how strong the Canes were up front... Don't even worry about Andre Johnson, Jeremy Shockey, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Najeh Davenport... They didn't allow a single sack the whole season. Ed Reed, Vilma and the DL including Vince Wilfork also would have given Dan Orlovsky or Jon Kitna fits.

No.
 

mchsalumni

All-Conference
Sep 24, 2008
5,702
3,531
0
Your forgetting those in the past era born in the present era would have available to them all of today's advanced training methods, footware, weight machines and etc. Those born in the past have the same drive of those in the present.

Anotherwords Michael Jordan would be just as awesome in today's game as he was 20 years ago even if he were born 20 years later.

Wassup

Wassup

True, but that isn't the question at hand.