NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com NCAA Football FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Florida Fans Strike Back on YouTube, Say Georgia Started Cheap Shotshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/florida-fans-strike-back-on-youtube-say-georgia-started-cheap-s/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/florida-fans-strike-back-on-youtube-say-georgia-started-cheap-s/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/florida-fans-strike-back-on-youtube-say-georgia-started-cheap-s/#commentsFiled under: ,



Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes committed one of the dirtiest plays of the year on Saturday when he tried to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey, and after video of eye poke was seen by hundreds of thousands of people on YouTube, Spikes was suspended for the first half of Florida's next game. But now Florida fans have struck back with a YouTube of their own that they say shows it was Georgia that made the game dirty.

The video, which has become one of the most viewed on YouTube over the last 24 hours, shows Georgia linebacker Nick Williams drilling Florida quarterback Tim Tebow away from the play after Tebow had handed off. According to some Florida fans, that play was the one that set Florida players off and set the tone for a game featuring cheap shots on both sides.

For his part, Tebow says he doesn't want to make an issue of it:
"That's something that you don't need to talk about," said. "People, they want to do whatever they can to get an edge and that's happened a lot in college football and it happens more than people think. "It's just something you deal with, and something I've dealt with for four years. It's not something that I feel like I need to talk about or converse about because it's not ... I love playing college football."
I think Williams should have been flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, but I also think what Spikes did is an order of magnitude worse than what Williams did. If Florida fans want to say there were dirty plays on both sides, that's fine. but no one should equate lowering a shoulder into an opponent with gouging an opponent's eyes.

Florida Fans Strike Back on YouTube, Say Georgia Started Cheap Shots originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Michael David SmithWed, 04 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST Outside, the Life of the 'Cocktail Party'http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/outside-the-life-of-the-cocktail-party/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/outside-the-life-of-the-cocktail-party/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/outside-the-life-of-the-cocktail-party/#commentsFiled under: , ,

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- By the end of the first quarter Saturday, outside the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, a drunken mass of humanity sprawls in baking parking lots and beneath cool shade trees, the largest collection of people in America who cannot walk in straight lines. By now, the ratio of men to women has shifted, perhaps for the only time all day, to something approaching equal numbers. Women wearing bikini tops and tight dresses warble on flip flops or bare feet, men, Florida fans mostly, have discarded their shirts and stand bare-chested in the bright sunshine propositioning women as they pass.

"We still got beer left," a group of shirtless Florida fans, Cocktail party Romeos, call to a group of bedraggled Georgia girls, Capulets in red heels.

"We're looking for liquor," says one of the girls, moving past.

A scalper stands off to the right of the passing couples, four tickets held tightly in his right hand, jaw clenched.

"Game's going to be close boys, don't you want to go inside?" he asks, squinting his dark brown eyes to avoid the sun's rays. It's Halloween in Jacksonville, and all the world outside the Cocktail Party is a stage.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of football fans descend on Jacksonville for the Georgia-Florida football game. Some of them, a small minority, actually see a football game. The remainder, a teeming mass of humanity, remains outside the stadium and occasionally squints up at the looming structure as the crowd roars inside. Idly they may wonder whether Georgia or Florida has the better end of the game. Most likely, they don't react at all to what happens in the game.

Because they're too drunk.

This is their story.

















Getting There

Since 1915, Georgia and Florida have played a football game. For virtually every year since 1933, the teams have played this game at a neutral site, Jacksonville, Fla. This is the most popular social event in Jacksonville. There is no second most popular social event in Jacksonville.

The term World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party was coined in the 1950s after a sportswriter witnessed a fan offering a drink to a uniformed officer. In 2006, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive wrote a letter to CBS requesting that they no longer use the phrase World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

"We would appreciate any initiatives you might take to avoid using the cocktail party reference. This is a great college football game, which highlights a traditional rivalry full of the passion of football in the Southeast. Our hope is to keep the focus on the game."

In so hoping, Slive has failed.

For 16 of the past 19 seasons, Florida has emerged victorious. Prior to this, Georgia won. At least according to the record books. No one really knows because those victories seem so far in the past now, grainy, archival footage of Bulldog greats dominating games that Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy checked the score of. Now, well, Florida wins.

That doesn't mean Georgia fans fail to travel to the game. They still come, tens of thousands of them, wearing their bright red and black Georgia polos and barking haphazardly into their fraternity brothers as they wait to board flights. Like the one I'm on, leaving from Nashville en route to Jacksonville. My flight is equal parts Georgia and Florida fans, middle-aged white middle managers in their uniform of choice, coaches' polo, tightly tucked into jeans or khaki pants, BlackBerry carrying case buckled on the belt loop. Accompanied by well-coiffed middle-aged women with astoundingly pert breasts and hair that, also amazingly, has not faded one bit.

As soon as we board our Southwest flight -- my friend Tardio has accompanied me -- these men spring into action to aid an attractive damsel in distress. It seems a woman can't fit her bag into the overhead compartment. Fifteen men attempt to aid her. Including a male Southwest flight attendant.

It is clear to all that the bag does not fit into the compartment.

But no one is willing to acknowledge failure.

After a five-minute struggle, the flight attendant places his hand on the young woman's bare shoulder, "Don't worry, we'll find a place for your bag," he says.

"Just once, I want to know what it's like to be a hot chick," Tardio says.

My friend Tardio has come to chronicle the Cocktail Party with me. And by "chronicle the Cocktail Party," I mean, drink. But that's in the future. Currently, Tardio, a medical malpractice defense attorney in the city of Nashville, is convinced his carry-on bag contains the greatest Halloween costume on Earth.

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He has purchased a pair of blue doctor's scrubs. All his costume requires is a name-tag, which we will have to purchase in Jacksonville because the two of us arrived at the airport 38 minutes before our flight was scheduled to depart.

As we arrived at our gate 23 minutes prior to boarding, Tardio looked down at his phone. "We still had 10 minutes," he says.

He plans to write just one word on the name-tag that he will wear on right lapel of his scrubs: William.

On Thursday night, he conveyed his plan to me. "Get it?" he asked.

"No," I said.

"I'm Health Care Bill," he says.

Health Care Bill is currently reading the latest US Weekly magazine, purchased as we waited to board. "Sienna Miller is looking old," he says, scrutinizing her photo.

"No, she isn't," I say, "she's like 26."

"Really?" the man who will be Health Care Bill asks. "She looks older."

Welcome to Jacksonville

On Friday night, the cabs of Jacksonville descend on the city. And by city, I mean 400-mile radius of north Florida. Because, you see, no one is ever where they want to be in the city of Jacksonville. Also, it's nearly impossible, given that Jacksonville is the largest metropolitan city in America in terms of geographic size, to leave the city of Jacksonville no matter how far you drive. Or, for that matter, to actually leave Jacksonville's airport.

Jacksonville's airport, a monument to the color gray, eschews several archaic design traits such as functionality and economy of space. There are approximately 14 departing gates, all roughly a mile apart. Occasionally, as we make our way out of the facility, we see people, lost highwaymen en route to the holy city of Mecca perhaps, splayed out on the gray floors taking a nap or eating a meal. When you exit the airport you pass a row of offices. As if, in designing the airport, someone thought, you know what will make people love our city more? If they see the hard-working bureaucrats of the airport instead of reaching the baggage claim in less than four miles.

Moving on Up

Health Care Bill and I snag a cab. In Health Care Bill's bag he's actually carrying two pairs of scrubs, one blue and the other navy. That's because on Thursday night, he convinced me to participate in his costume plan.

"You can be Health Care Reform," he says, "but we'll make you a name-tag that says R.E. Form."

Our cab ride to the Courtyard by Marriott off Butler Boulevard in South Jacksonville costs $60. At this hotel, we are 5.8 miles from the stadium. Amazingly, Tardio and I stayed at the hotel next door to this one, the Red Roof Inn, for the 2007 Cocktail Party. The only thing I remember about that hotel is that they sold condoms from the vending machine.

Tardio surveys the half-acre of parking lot between the two motels. "You've really moved up in the world in the last two years," he says.

Checked into the the hotel, Tardio insists that we call a cab to take us to Walgreen's so he can buy some name tags and I can buy my costume necessities.

In lieu of Health Care Reform, I put out a suggestion for costumes in Friday's column. Immediately, I received an email from Blake P. who wrote, "Clay - you definitely can't go wrong with Alan (and baby Carlos) from The Hangover. Easy with some aviators, a cheap baby holder and baby doll from a dollar store with aviators. Plus, you didn't have to shave your beard, so you got that going for you."

In the 10 minutes before we left for the airport, I walked two blocks to the Family Dollar store in my neighborhood in north Nashville in search of said baby. I pushed open the dollar store door, covered in white metal bars, and scoured the dirty aisles, my foot occasionally pushing trash up under the product stands, for five minutes. There were many babies for sale, but given that I live in a majority black neighborhood, the baby dolls were all black.

Every single one.

I found myself faced with an unexpected ethical dilemma.

Could I really walk to the ladies, older black women, working the cash register and ask if they had any white babies in the back? Perhaps placed up on a shelf somewhere in storage? Maybe mis-delivered when the white baby dolls were destined for the suburbs?

Essentially, was it racist to ask for a white baby in a dollar store filled with black baby dolls?

Could I preface my request by remarking that I voted for Obama, liked Angelina Jolie? Anything?

The baby is white in the movie, that's what makes the name Carlos funny. What were the odds that elderly black women had seen and enjoyed The Hangover. Could I really capture the requisite level of verisimilitude with a black baby?

What's more, how does Family Dollar, a national chain, ensure that only babies of only one race are delivered to their inner city stores? Do they have a key-code for truck delivery that ensures only black baby dolls are delivered to my store? Am I, a white man, actually being discriminated against? Shouldn't the babies be diverse everywhere, a rainbow of smiling, plastic dolls?

I call an audible and flee, sans baby, without asking a question.

Decisions, Decisions

On our cab ride to Walgreen's we debate whether we should wear our costumes on Friday, tonight, or Saturday. It's a difficult decision because Saturday is Halloween, but we'll have to wear them to the game. "I'm sure that lots of people will be in costumes tonight," I say. "I don't think many people will dress up for the game."

Tardio has the opposite opinion, but if I argue my side long enough, I know that eventually he will agree.

Draft Tebow T-shirt
After procuring a white baby, a Draft Tebow shirt in Jacksonville Jaguars colors -- more on this later -- name-tags, a case of Coors Light, and aviator sunglasses for a baby doll, Tardio insists we go to the liquor store so he can buy a bottle of Maker's Mark for the game.

We return to the hotel, prepare our costumes, and walk to the only restaurant nearby, Applebee's. The Applebee's is selling jello shots on the patio, and inside the restaurant is packed with revelers rooting for Georgia or Florida.

"Let's sit at the bar?" Tardio asks.

"I'm not sitting at the Applebee's bar," I say. "And besides, it's packed."

It's true, there are no seats at the Applebee's bar.

It is 7:45 on Friday evening.

We drink beers out of yard glasses and eat spinach and artichoke dip.

"Can you imagine getting a DUI leaving Applebee's?" I ask.

"Can you imagine leaving Applebee's sober?" asks Tardio.

Beach-Bound

Back at the hotel, we get dressed. I've brought my family's brown Baby Bjorn under strict instructions from my wife not to lose it. I buckle the baby carrier, insert my white baby, affix the aviator glasses onto the baby, while Tardio dons his scrubs.

"Do you think I should write William on my nametag or Bill? asks Tardio.

"I don't think people are going to get either," I say.

Tardio scrunches his face. "F---," he says, "you've got me worried now. Is my costume going to bomb?"

"Yes," I say, "I think so."

"F--- me," says Tardio.

We compromise on "Bill." The quotation marks, we surmise, add the requisite symbolism necessary to make it apparent that Tardio's name is not actually Bill, rather, the name is a part of the costume.

Health Care Bill has no pockets in the scrubs so he has me carry his credit card, cash, two Titans vs. Jags tickets, and his license. Later, after I drop them on the floor, Tardio admits that he didn't mean to give me the tickets to carry as well.

Once more we hop into a cab, only this time it's actually a shuttle service driven by a man named Meza. This time we're destined for the Jacksonville beaches. After another $40 fare, we arrive at Brix, which is a bar made of bricks and pronounced like bricks except spelled with an X.

We stand outside, awkwardly peering into the bar.

"I knew it, no one is in a costume," says Health Care Bill.

Tardio is correct. We decide to go for a walk, fake white baby in sunglasses swaying in front of me, and find the bar with the people with costumes inside.

Thirty minutes later, having traversed the entirely of Jacksonville Beach, we have not seen a single costume.

"It's almost like," Tardio says, "the city forbids them."

The only costumes we see is for a group of happy costumed people who are climbing the stairs to what appears to be a loft party. We contemplate following them. Instead we get in line for Brix, I show Tardio's license for him, "Bill's not my real name," he says to no reaction from the bouncer, walk outside to the patio, and sit in the darkness.

We begin to drink.

Health Care Bill regularly surveys the crowd looking for someone, anyone in a costume. "I was worried about looking like unfun losers if we didn't have costumes," he says, "now we just look like losers."

We begin to argue over who has to go get the next beers from the bar, and reveal our costumes in the light of day.

I have to.

The bartender, a youngish woman with dark hair and mean expression stares at me. "I don't get it," she says.

"Did you see the movie Hangover?" I ask. "I'm....

"I get it," she says, unsmiling.

Someone dressed as David Robinson from Navy shows up. He fist pounds me, ignoring Health Care Bill in the process. Then other costumes, mercifully, begin to arrive.

We make our way inside. By midnight the costumed people are beginning to take over. We're moving into the mainstream. At least those of us who are in costumes.

Most people believe that Health Care Bill is, in fact, a doctor who has not had time to change after work. We test his costume on others, tell them it's three words long and that Bill is the last word.

No one guesses it.

What's more, "Doctor Blue Bill," is the best guess. Primarily because, "Doctor Bill," the primary guess, has only two words.

Three bars later and enough beers and shots to sink two less shameless men, we end up in the street looking for a cab. I call Meza, the man who drove us in his shuttle service earlier.

He's too busy to get us.

Mercifully, we find another cab. As we climb in, I call my wife, at two in the morning back home in Nashville, and leave a long message for her that consists of Health Care Bill jokes. She has no idea what is going on.

A few minutes into the cab ride, I begin to get text messages with things like this written, "Hey, good night, U are cute, lol."

It's from a Jacksonville area code. Health Care Bill swears he didn't give my number to anyone.

At 3 a.m., as the most recent text arrives, it suddenly hits me, our car service man, Meza, has me confused with someone else and is sending flirtatious e-mails to me on accident.

"I think it's on purpose," says Health Care Bill angrily ripping off his nametag.

"At least you didn't go with William," I say.

For a while I stand fiddling with the Baby Bjorn, attempting to undo it. But I can't seem to get the strap undone. So I climb into bed still wearing the baby carrying device. I take out Carlos, now absent sunglasses because they were stolen by a Florida sorority girl, and toss him across the room.

He bounces softly off the wall. Health Care Bill is already snoring.

It's gameday in Jacksonville.

The Hangover

At 11 in the morning, Spencer Hall, from the Web site EDSBS.com, calls. I tell him I"m still in bed wearing a baby carrier.

"Get up, bitch," he says, "I went to bed at four and got up at seven. And I slept outside."

Spencer is like this.

I could have called him and said, "I feel awful, I just had 14 quaaludes, a roofie, and a bottle of Jack, and Spencer would say, "I just had 28 quaaludes, four roofies, and two bottles of Jack."

He is already tailgating.

I put on my gameday attire, a Draft Tebow 2010 shirt, purchased last night. I do this for three reasons: A.) I believe this is the only way Jacksonville will keep a pro football franchise. B.) I'm interested in how people will react to the shirt and C.) I've never actually worn an NCAA violation that could be purchased for $12.99 at a local Walgreen's.

We procure another cab. Because we're gentlemen, we pick up two other people, Florida fans, to share our cab ride. Also, because it's cheaper. We explain that they will have to wait on us in the Applebee's parking lot because Tardio left his credit card there last night.

"'I just had a girl from Georgia in the cab,' he says. "She was wasted. I offered her a bottle of water and she said, 'Water? Why would I fill up my f---ing stomach with water?'"
"I know there is going to be $4,000 in Oreo shooters charged on this thing," he says.

This cab driver is better than last night's. Primarily because he is not sending me flirtatious texts.

"I just had a girl from Georgia in the cab," he says. "She was wasted. I offered her a bottle of water and she said, 'Water? Why would I fill up my f---ing stomach with water?'"

The girlfriend of the Florida fan is an Oregon student. She has blonde hair, fair skin and is concerned that the Oregon-USC game may not be on local television here. Her boyfriend has other concerns. "We need to get you some sunscreen because I want to touch you later and I don't want you sunburned," he says.

Our cab driver drops us off on Bay Boulevard and we commence to take in the tailgate sites. Immediately, my t-shirt draws compliments from Florida fans.

Georgia fans? Not so much.

"He's a f------ fullback," screams one man in my direction. This will be repeated approximately 14 times. In all, virtually every Florida fan approves of the shirt.

In every direction around the stadium, people are tailgating in the bright sunshine. It's a perfect day, cloudless, blue sky with bright sunshine bouncing off of the St. John's River, music blaring in every direction. Cornhole bean bags bounce along the well-worn grass, flip cup and beer pong spills drip off old tables. Everywhere you look, alcohol flows like the river that divides Jacksonville.

Fans are clad in Georgia and Florida gear but they're also dressed in the colors of other, non-playing teams. As we walk, I see every SEC school represented. Many people at the Cocktail Party have come with no indication of actually going inside the stadium, or, it would appear, with any real care for the fact that a football game is taking place at all.

As kickoff nears, a portion of the tailgating crew peels off and heads for the stadium.

But only a portion.

Many more, tens of thousands, stay behind. We make our way to a family zone tailgate alongside the stadium. Above us, towering in the sky, the Georgia and Florida sections of the stadium meet in the end zone. A few fans, wearing their team colors, stand up on the back row of last row of the stadium. We can watch these men cheer and divine what is taking place on the field. The Florida fans are cheering. Back down on the ground, a large tent housing the Heisman Trophy provides a modicum of shade and here fallen tailgating soldiers of both sexes lay passed out in the shade.

A man, bedraggled and shirtless approaches us, "Are they not serving beer in here?" he asks.

"I don't know," I say.

"F----------k," he says, turning the u into a long, drawn out wail. "Why do they even have the game if they don't have beer?"

Now joined by my friend Chad, a Georgia fan, we stand amid a huge surging crowd, relatively young in age, much younger than the actual crowd in the stadium, baking in front of a projection screen showing the game. Another shirtless man stumbles past. Earlier his back was painted with a number 2 and Demps written above it, but now, in the heat, he's sweated away the paint so that all that remains is a trace outline of the body paint.

Florida has already scored by the time we arrive, a Tebow touchdown pass to Riley Cooper. Not to be outdone, we see a second Tebow-to-Coooper touchdown pass, and Verne Lundquist shares his favorite SEC anecdote. Did you know the two men are roommates?

Georgia, wearing their black helmets and black pants, has failed to provide an early challenge to the Gators.
Tardio pulls his bottle of Maker's Mark out and mixes it with a bottle of Pepsi. Five minutes later, we're surrounded by police officers, "You get two choices," say the officers, "dump it or leave."

Tardio dumps it.

With Georgia trailing 14-3, we leave en route to a rumored party thrown by a Florida Coastal Law Professor. The pass word is, "We're not with the party."

As we walk across the parking lot, we pass a man in a white Chevy Tahoe SUV, he's slumped in the front seat of the car blasting, "Forever Young" as loud as his radio will allow.

Now, in the parking lot, the smell of alcohol, dirt, and filth, sweat, and sunshine baking on asphalt melds together into a potent and pungent smell. Like a flood after the waters have receded. Everywhere are beer cans, discarded bottles, shattered glass, and now, the tailgating zombies are out, stumbling from one place to another, the wasteland of football Saturdays.

A girl, sitting on a curb, shoeless, dress haphazardly gathered around her mid-thigh stares up at us, shielding her face with her hand, "Do you have beer?" she asks.

"We're going for some," we say.

"Okay," she says, standing and falling into line behind us like she has just arrived on a deserted island and heard we knew where water is. Soon, two of her friends have also joined up, a collective search and rescue party with a blood alcohol level that would allow surgery without anesthesia.

I stop near a single port-o-potty marked, "Private."

"Did you bring your own port-o-potty?" I ask some tailgaters.

"Yes," they say, "we do it right."

They've also brought a chef, a man named Robert. Robert tells me that he brought 60 pounds of chicken, 50 pounds of filet steaks, 20 pounds of crawdads, 10 pounds of andouille sausage, 50 pounds of potatoes, and 30 pounds of corn-on-the-cob for the tailgate.

Inside the stadium roars, Bulldog side, as tight end Aron White snags a Joe Cox touchdown pass to slice the lead to 14-10. Later, White will give my favorite quote of the game, "We came inside and saw those uniforms, and we were pretty excited by them," White said. "But as they say, the uniforms, they don't score the points."

I'm so sick of all the people who give the uniforms credit for scoring.

"With more beers, we make our way to Church Street. ... It's like a third-world country here. ... If I wanted to buy a rooster and a 34-year-old woman from Romania, I'm confident I could buy both at the same hat stand."
With more beers, we make our way to Church Street, on the west side of the stadium. It's like a third world country here, dirtier even than the other areas we've been thus far. Old brick factories crumble, every building with more than one story seems to be falling into itself, a sports bar with a dirt floor leads into a dark room where I expect to see goats munching trash underfoot. The road is dusty, everything seems to be for sale. If I wanted to buy a rooster and a 34-year-old woman from Romania, I'm confident I could buy both at the same hat stand.

I don't see any guns, but I believe that every person within 10 feet of me has three concealed weapons. The heat is making my head swim. Stumbling people are everywhere, a few men lay passed out in the dry grass, open-mouthed, staring at the sky above them, shirts slightly raised above their bellies like bloated Civil War soldiers. Suddenly from nowhere, a dirt alley, a tin-roofed shack, a dirty-haired scalper with deep sunburns materializes trying to sell us tickets.

"Georgia is making a game of it this year, don't you boys want to see the second half?"

"How much?" I ask, because I want to know how much he wants for the tickets and also because I'm scared not to reply to him.

"Twenty bucks," he says.

I wave my hand in his direction. "Nah," I say.

"How much will you give me?" he asks.

Inside the bar, Herschel Walker is on the television screen, a Zaxby's commercial. A couple of Bulldog fans cheer, remembering better days. Their voices carry out into the hot street, my beer tastes like water. Water, with helium inside.

My lips are dry.

I spit into the street.

Someone is throwing up in a trash can. No one gives him a second glance.

"How about it?" asks the scalper.

A girl walks past then, she's wearing a bikini top and tight shorts 16, maybe, but already looks 42. ""The game?" she snorts, rolling her dark eyes, "you can't drink at the game."

Health Care Bill is beside me now. "Where's the game?" he asks, meaning, I think where can we watch the game.

It's Halloween in Jacksonville, a carnival of excess, a game within a game within a game. This makes sense to me when I write it down in my notebook.

Now?

I'm not so sure.

"Everywhere," I say. "Or nowhere."

Health Care Bill nods. "God," he says, "my costume was awful."

Outside, the Life of the 'Cocktail Party' originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Clay TravisMon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST Brandon Spikes Suspended for a Half for Attempted Eye Gougehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/brandon-spikes-suspended-for-a-half-for-attempted-eye-gouge/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/brandon-spikes-suspended-for-a-half-for-attempted-eye-gouge/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/brandon-spikes-suspended-for-a-half-for-attempted-eye-gouge/#commentsFiled under: ,

Florida has suspended linebacker Brandon Spikes for the first half of Saturday's game against Vanderbilt for attempting to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in this weekend's game.

The punishment is surprisingly light, considering the nature of the offense: It doesn't get much dirtier than poking an opponent in the eye, and it's surprising that Florida coach Urban Meyer didn't give Spikes at least a full game suspension. Meyer claimed, however, that Spikes was retaliating for a Georgia player cheap-shotting him earlier in the game, and he said he thinks his punishment was appropriate:

"I don't condone that and I understand what goes on on the football [field], but there's no place for that,'' Meyer said. "We're going to suspend Brandon for the first half of the Vanderbilt game. I spoke with him. That's not who he is. That's not who we are. He got caught up in emotion. I love Brandon Spikes. Our team does. We're going to move on. He has our full support."

Video has circulated of Spikes sticking his fingers into Ealey's face mask while Easley was at the bottom of a pile, and that video has infuriated Georgia fans, who have been calling for the SEC to deal harshly with Spikes. It's still possible that the SEC could come down harder on Spikes than Florida did, but for now, Spikes will just have to sit out a half, and then take the field in the third quarter against Vanderbilt.

Brandon Spikes Suspended for a Half for Attempted Eye Gouge originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brandon SpikesBrandonSpikesUrban MeyerUrbanMeyerWashaun EaleyWashaunEaleyMichael David SmithMon, 02 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST Urban Meyer to Address Fightin' Gatorshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/meyer-to-address-fightin-gators/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/meyer-to-address-fightin-gators/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/01/meyer-to-address-fightin-gators/#commentsFiled under: , ,

All is good with top-ranked Florida. Scout's honor, according to head coach Urban Meyer.

Meyer denied on Sunday that his Fightin' Gators -- specifically seniors Tim Tebow and Brandon Spikes -- were involved in a "skirmish" following UF's (pardon the pun) hard-fought victory at Mississippi State two weeks ago. Spikes admitted to the media following the Gators' 41-17 win over the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday that the "skirmish" was more like two brothers venting at each other.

Meyer, however, did stress that he planned to talk with Spikes after news that a video surfaced on YouTube late Saturday night that showed Spikes appearing to gouge at the eyes of Georgia's Washaun Ealy after making a tackle.

"I'll talk with him today," Meyer said during his Sunday teleconference with the media. "He's a very emotional player. If that's the case, I'll have a very serious talk with him."

UF, which clinched the SEC East title with the win over the Bulldogs in Jacksonville, Fla., and secured a spot in the conference championship game when Tennessee beat South Carolina later Saturday night, is at home Saturday against Vanderbilt.

Spikes, who has been slowed by a groin injury the past few weeks but returned an interception for a touchdown against Georgia, told FanHouse and other media members following the game that he had not been playing to his potential.

"I had a lot of people saying I haven't been producing -- I haven't been doing this, haven't been doing that," Spikes said.

"Everything I take as a motivation. I did start off kind of slow but we are coming down towards the end of the season and this is where good teams step up. I just feel like I have to do something to help the team out and be productive."

Tebow also admitted that it was a difficult time for the Gators, saying there "was a lot of turmoil this past week." As far as a "skirmish" between Tebow and Spikes following the Mississippi State game, Meyer said no way.

"It wasn't Tim," Meyer said.

"Skirmish? I'm not sure. Did someone say that? There was no skirmish. There were some words said. It was much more than Tim. It was more, 'I can play better.' Mike Pouncey, with the offensive line, stood up and said, 'That one was on me.' It was all positive. It was all good stuff. We have to be careful that we don't put words in players' mouths.

"I'm going to have our people really watch that this week. That was absolutely incorrect. It was a bunch of guys taking fault for not playing well. A head coach came up and said he shouldn't have called that play from the 4-yard line. It was all positive."

Meyer also questioned media reports that he says twisted how the Gators are handling their business inside the locker room. UF, which has extended the nation's longest winning streak to 18 games, found itself in a struggle in the fourth quarter in consecutive victories over Arkansas and Mississippi State.

Even Meyer admitted to frustration, impatience and pressing to be perfect after the Mississippi State game. The Bulldogs are coached by former UF offensive coordinator Dan Mullen. Meyer said he wanted to make sure his players rallied around each other and ignored outside distractions.

Meyer explained that he addressed that situation following the game but it hasn't been described accurately.

"There was no altercation or finger-pointing speech," said Meyer, whose team made easy work of Georgia and won for the 17th time in the past 20 meetings in the series.

"I'm not sure where you're gathering your information. There was no finger-pointing speech whatsoever. There was a very positive speech about staying focused and facing a great team. There was no finger-pointing speech after the Mississippi State game. That was a very passionate locker room about how we can play better. I'm not sure where you're gathering your information, but those are two very incorrect statements."
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Meyer simply relied on his oft-repeated theme, saying the Gators needed to remain focused if they wanted to achieve their goals. UF is looking for its first undefeated season in school history and a second consecutive national championship.

"At some point during February, you do reflect upon points during the season. Not now," Meyer said.

"Once again, our focus is on Vanderbilt. One thing you admire about this team if you look across the country. ... I don't know Texas. I know their coach very well. They're doing a good job of just focusing and playing.

"Cincinnati, I don't know them, but I get home and I flip (the television) on. There are teams that have the ability to stay focused. There's a reason that our kickoff unit, our punt unit is the best it's ever been at Florida. That's because of the attention to great detail and great focus on what we had to win that game. If we maintain that, we have a chance to win the next game. If we don't, we won't."

Urban Meyer to Address Fightin' Gators originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brandon spikesgatorsgeorgia bulldogsMike Pounceytim tebowUrban MeyerJim HenrySun, 01 Nov 2009 19:50:00 EST Florida Gives Georgia 'Tail Whippinghttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/31/florida-runs-georgia-tucks-tail/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/31/florida-runs-georgia-tucks-tail/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/31/florida-runs-georgia-tucks-tail/#commentsFiled under: , ,



JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Two weeks, two months, two years.

The Georgia Bulldogs could have used all the time they wanted to prepare for the top-ranked Florida Gators and it probably wouldn't have made a difference in Saturday's Halloween showdown here on the banks of the St. Johns River. In fact, the Bulldogs haven't done much over the past two decades against their rivals.

UF beat the Bulldogs 41-17 for its 17th win in the last 20 meetings between the Southeastern Conference adversaries. More importantly, the Gators clinched the SEC East title and secured a spot in the conference championship game when good friend Tennessee, wearing new black jersey tops, beat South Carolina later Saturday night.


Call it the politically-correct "Battle At the Border" or the politically-incorrect "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," but make sure to call it a disaster for the puppies. Not even new black helmets and black pants -- let's not forget about last Saturday's bye week which gave the Bulldogs extra time to prep -- could change Georgia's luck.

Many of its fans decided to quietly escape the sunny, 86-degree temperatures at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium and head to their tailgates early in the fourth quarter following quarterback Joe Cox's second interception, ending any hopes of a rally.

The Gators (8-0, 6-0), who also hold the top spot in the BCS poll, extended the nation's longest winning streak to 18 games while the Bulldogs (4-4, 3-3) lost for the third time in four games.

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Georgia defensive end Demarcus Dobbs, sitting on a stool and in full uniform, tried to make sense of his team's tailspin. The pressure is mounting on a program that is not only losing juice in the SEC but has had to watch neighbor Georgia Tech make national noise.

The Bulldogs also saw UF quarterback Tim Tebow break former Georgia great Hershel Walker's SEC record for rushing touchdowns.

"We have to keep [pressure] inside, we have to fight for each other and not get down," Dobbs said.

"There's pressure on us because this isn't the way the Georgia Bulldogs play. We need to do what we need to do to get better and win out. This is a disappointing loss. We faced some adversity in the first half and I thought we bounced back. We knew coming into the game that if we made mistakes they would capitalize."

Bingo. That's exactly what the Gators did -- and wanted to establish after coming off less-than-impressive victories over Arkansas and Mississippi State. UF's top-ranked defense nationally recorded a season-high four interceptions, converting them into 17 points.

The Gators apparently survived some family bickering this week, too. There was also word circulating that Tebow and linebacker Brandon Spikes squabbled, though Spikes downplayed the incident and said all was hunky-dory between the pair.




"There was a lot of turmoil this past week," said Tebow, who also tossed a pair of touchdown passes to roommate Riley Cooper.

"A lot of people were talking about stuff and it was frustrating. We wanted to come out here, play well, compete in good form and get a win. That's what we did and it was very special."

Spikes, who had slowed by a groin injury, returned an interception for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring. It marked the third interception return for a touchdown in his career and his fifth career interception. It also put an exclamation mark on the Gators' effort and helps set the tone for the remainder of the year.

"I had a lot of people saying I haven't been producing -- I haven't been doing this, haven't been doing that," Spikes said.

"Everything I take as a motivation. I did start off kind of slow but we are coming down towards the end of the season and this is where good teams step up. I just feel like I have to do something to help the team out and be productive."

Any suspense against the Bulldogs ended on the opening play of the third quarter.

Trailing 24-10 and still within striking distance at the half, the Bulldogs turned over the ball on their opening possession of the second half, the third time in four years they have done that in this series.

Linebacker A.J. Jones deflected Cox's pass at the line of scrimmage, then made a diving catch for an interception at the Georgia 19.

The Gators, who had scored just two touchdowns in 15 previous trips within the red zone, made the most of this opportunity. With Tebow lined up behind center for three consecutive downs, he scored on an option play from five yards out on the last one.

Georgia coach Mark Richt promised his team would continue to search for answers. The Bulldogs were once again slowed by penalties (9-87 yards) and converted just 4-of-12 third-down conversions.

"We'll keep challenging our guys," Richt said.

"We have men of integrity who will do the right things regardless of the record. I don't think we'll have anyone who will give in. I think everyone will fight. I will do everything in my power to get us back on the winning track. I thought there was some good fight, but you can't turn it over like we did in the second half and mount a comeback."

Naturally, UF's success centered on Tebow.

On his record-breaking run, he slipped up the middle and ran mostly untouched for a 23-yard score with 1:32 remaining in the first half. The 50th rushing touchdown of his career gave the top-ranked Gators a 24-10 lead. Tebow actually dropped the football behind him, not realizing what he had just accomplished.

"I didn't immediately think about the record until the guys were reminding me," said Tebow, who finished with game-high 85 rushing yards on 18 carries, absorbed a few bull's-eye licks and played like a Heisman Trophy contender."Then I said, 'Oh yeah. Can I get the ball?' The most important thing has been the guys I've shared it all with.

"Breaking Herschel's record means a lot. Just to be mentioned in the same breath as Herschel Walker, it's extremely humbling and a little bit breathtaking because it's Herschel Walker. How am I going to be in the same league as Herschel Walker? I still can't understand it. It's pretty cool and it's really special."

Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, who has been under fire for the Bulldogs' porous numbers -- Georgia ranks last in the SEC and 84th nationally in scoring defense (27.7 ppg) -- couldn't slow Tebow but he found the words to praise him.

"He's just a special player," Martinez said.

"I don't know him personally but studying him and some of the things he does instinctively. His intangibles have to be off the charts. He's a great leader and on top of that he's talented to still run and throw the football."



Cox, meanwhile, was 11-of-20 for165 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

It was a familiar ending and feeling for the Bulldogs.

"I lost the game with three picks," Cox said.

"That score does not reflect how we played, how we moved the ball. I mean, it's the truth. Any time you turn the ball over that many times and give people chances to score, a good team is going to score and they did and that's why we got beat."

Florida Gives Georgia 'Tail Whipping originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Tim TebowTimTebowJim HenrySat, 31 Oct 2009 20:06:00 EST SEC Notebook: Auburn Ignoring Criticshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/sec-notebook-auburn-ignoring-critics/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/sec-notebook-auburn-ignoring-critics/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/sec-notebook-auburn-ignoring-critics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Auburn's offensive struggles in October have been discussed and dissected.

The Tigers have dropped three of their last four games this month, including last Saturday's 31-10 stinker against LSU. Auburn gained a season-low 193 yards on a season-low 61 plays in that game, igniting a wave of criticism from fans who are still smarting from last season's collapse that saw the Tigers open 4-1 before losing six of their last seven.

Auburn (5-3 overall, 2-3 SEC) is determined to snap out of its funk Saturday against visiting Mississippi (5-2, 2-2), which marches into Jordan-Hare Stadium on a two-game win streak and winners of three of its last four.

A strong start has helped Auburn maintain its lofty national rankings on offense -- the Tigers are seventh in rushing offense (230.3 yards), 19th in total offense (430.9) and tied for 26th in scoring offense (31.8) -- but recent struggles are hard to ignore.

Chizik points to mistakes across the board and says he's not ready to push the panic button.

"I don't think that there is one thing that you can pinpoint," Chizik said.

"Nine guys can be doing everything right and two get beat. It's a little everywhere, a breakdown here or there that causes certain things to be exposed. And when you play teams like we're playing - the LSU's of the world - seemingly little things turn into big things. We're not panicking by any stretch of the imagination."

Quarterback Chris Todd has been the target of the fans' displeasure.

Todd threw for only 47 yards at LSU before giving way to backup Neil Caudle, who directed the Tigers to a late touchdown. Caudle completed 3-of-5 passes for 34 yards and hit tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen for a score. Todd, meanwhile, completed 8-of-14 passes with an interception. He was also sacked four times.

Chizik re-affirmed his commitment to the embattled Todd early in the week, saying his quarterback can handle the heat.

"Really and truly I just think that a quarterback has to be a tough-minded person," Chizik said.

"It all comes with the territory and they all mentally have to be prepared for it. If you're not mentally tough enough to get through those things then more than likely you shouldn't be a quarterback in this league. That's just the way it is. I mean it's no different than coaching, right? You get the good and you get the bad and it all comes with the deal."

Todd stressed -- no, he's not stressed out -- that he remains focus and confident.

"Anytime things happen, as a quarterback, you have to take that on your shoulders and take some blame when things are going bad," Todd told the Montgomery Advertiser.

"When things are good you get some credit for some stuff and when things are bad, you take that, too. I'm definitely working myself and trying to improve things that will help us move on and win some ballgames."

Chizik also doesn't believe outside criticism will affect his team.

"We can't control any of that, so it's what you choose to hear and what you choose to listen to and what you choose to watch," Chizik said.

"I hope they weren't listening to it when we were 5-0. I really do. Now we've dropped three. If they choose to listen to it, that's something I can't control, but I highly advise them to keep doing the things, keep working to win."

Welcome Home Billy

On a muggy Halloween night in 1959, LSU's Billy Cannon caught a punt and, shaking off a seemingly endless array of Ole Miss tacklers, raced 89 yards to a touchdown and into Louisiana folklore.

That run, the definitive play of the halfback's illustrious career, is the reason Cannon will make a are appearance Saturday at Tiger Stadium as LSU meets Tulane on Halloween.

Behind Cannon's run and two goal-line stands, the top-ranked Tigers won that game 7-3 against the third-ranked Rebels. LSU went on to win the national title and the play helped Cannon clinch the Heisman Trophy -- he remains the only LSU Tiger to win it.

"It's been a fun thing to live with, " Cannon, 72, told The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune. "But did I know that night it would be 50 years later and we'd be here talking about it, no I didn't."

Protection Is Key

Kentucky's experienced offensive line has picked up where it left off last year in protecting its quarterback.

The Wildcats are tied for 14th nationally and second in the SEC in the sack-allowed category. In seven games, UK has allowed just seven sacks.

Last year, the offensive line gave up only 13 quarterback sacks and ranked fourth in the nation in fewest sacks allowed per game. The UK line also helped the team rank eighth nationally in fewest tackles for loss allowed per game.

The Wildcats play Mississippi State in their Homecoming Saturday, one that will help determine Kentucky's postseason fate. Last week, UK defeated the ULM 36-13 to record its 17th consecutive non-conference victory, matching the school-record streak previously set from 1954-60.

"This is one of the biggest games of the season, if not the biggest," offensive guard Christian Johnson said. "If we win this it could put us ahead where we need to be and help us accomplish our goal of going to the best bowl game that we can."

Lighter in the Britches

If Florida and Georgia appear a tad faster in Saturday's showdown in Jacksonville, Fla, it might be because they were both able to shed nearly a pound from their uniforms.

Last season, UF athletic trainers approached McDavid Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of protective athletic apparel, about redesigning the pads players wear under their uniforms. They wanted the least amount of restriction without sacrificing protection.

The next day, McDavid presented them with the HexPro Performance Mesh Supporter with HexPad, affectionately referred to as the "Elephant Jock."

McDavid's HexPad technology protects the hips and tailbone without excess weight or fabric, while it's material holds a cup in place to protect the groin. At 3.5 ounces, the "Elephant Jock" is nearly a pound lighter than the pads many players wore last year.

Other collegiate teams that have purchased the undergarment include LSU, Arkansas, Indiana, Cincinnati, Texas, Virginia and Oklahoma.

SEC Notebook: Auburn Ignoring Critics originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jim HenryFri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST Tebow's Touchdown Mark, Trick or Treat?http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/on-cocktail-halloween-will-touchdown-record-be-trick-or-treat/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/on-cocktail-halloween-will-touchdown-record-be-trick-or-treat/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/on-cocktail-halloween-will-touchdown-record-be-trick-or-treat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There is no more beloved Georgia Bulldog football player than Herschel Walker and no more beloved Florida football player than Tim Tebow.

Disagree if you like, but I feel pretty confident in both statements. Sadly, these gridiron warriors are separated by a generation and never will get the chance to play one another in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. By the time Tebow arrived at Florida, Walker was only in the news alongside Tebow for acknowledging his multiple personality disorder.

Until now. Saturday, Tebow, who trails the Georgia running back by one rushing touchdown for his career, is likely to break Walker's all-time rushing touchdown total in the SEC.

Or is he?

It seems there's a bit of an accounting error in the record books. See, the SEC didn't start counting bowl game touchdowns in the end of season totals until recently. So Herschel Walker actually scored five more touchdowns for the Bulldogs that don't appear in his official stats. That means Walker's 49 career rushing touchdowns should actually be 54 career rushing touchdowns. Now, right now, you might be thinking to yourself, that doesn't really matter very much. But if you know Georgia and Florida fans, you know the exact opposite is true, it matters an awful lot, particularly for Georgia fans who continue to worship at the altar of St. Herschel even as we approach 30 years since he last scorched across the Sanford Stadium grass.

Tebow's ascension to the top of the career rushing record in the SEC begs the question, how hard would it really be to put five interns in charge of reviewing the stats from every bowl game, add the touchdowns up with proper attribution, and then include them in the season totals? I mean, when you consider the amount of money that SEC schools waste on, say, travel, how can not having accurate records from bowl games really be an issue?

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Especially when it comes to a basic stat like touchdowns?

I'm not saying they need to be able to recreate sacks or punt yardage from ancient bowl games, but touchdowns? Come on, let's get on this. It wouldn't even cost a dime. But if the SEC wanted it to cost a dime so they could be a bit more certain about past histories, they could bring in an accounting firm, provide them with all the bowl records featuring every team, and let them crunch the data for a single weekend. By the end of that weekend all the stats would be accurate forever.

In fact, this idea makes so much sense, how has it not happened? I might turn this into a personal crusade until someone in the SEC offices explains why this is impossible. From doing research on my last book, I know the sports information departments keep all of the old clips from games that they can. Certainly, they keep all the old records from bowl games.

I'll keep y'all updated on this quest.

In the meantime, you can imagine why Georgia fans are so incensed at the idea of Tebow breaking Walker's record. It's one of the few things they have to hold onto in this series. In fact, in the 27 years since Herschel Walker last played for the Bulldogs, Georgia has won just eight Cocktail Parties. It's even worse since 1990. In the last 19 seasons, Georgia is 3-16 against the Gators.

Is there a more lopsided bitter rivalry game in the country?

As if that weren't enough, Georgia is coming off its worst loss in the series since 1996. And, of course, there's that tiny little fact about Urban Meyer taking two timeouts inside the final minute so Georgia fans could stew over their 49-10 defeat. Now, on top of all that, Tim Tebow is going to take Herschel's record? Right in front of Bulldog fans? Taking the record against Georgia is so diabolical, it almost seems planned.

Yep, these are the times that try a Bulldog fan's soul. And not just because Willie Martinez is still prowling the sideline, and he and Mark Richt spent the bye week convincing all recruits that Martinez wasn't going anywhere. With a bye week to prepare, a team that is over a two-touchdown underdog, facing a number one team on the other sideline that hasn't lost in 17 consecutive games, Georgia fans are doing their best to string together a plausible argument about why this year will be different than all the others that have come before.

And I'll give you this prediction: It's going to be a single-digit game.

Come Saturday, I'll be there to find out exactly how much both teams care when I attend the Cocktail Party. And by "attend the Cocktail Party," I mean don't actually enter the stadium. My goal this weekend is to capture the Cocktail Party atmosphere without managing to see a single live snap. So from Friday when I touch down in Jacksonville until Sunday when I take off, I want to see it all. This makes even more sense when you consider the obvious -- it's Halloween.

The always insane Cocktail Party will likely be ratcheted up to an entirely new level of insanity. And the costumes, my God, the costumes, will blow your mind away. That's why I'm soliciting costume suggestions. Although, to be fair, I'm really not sure how many people will be wearing costumes to the game. And is there anything worse than being the only tool in a costume when everyone else is dressed normally? The only ground rules for costume suggestions are that it can't be so hot to make me pass out (alcohol causing me to pass out is, of course, a natural hazard of the game) and I'm not dressing up as a girl.

Not again this year, anyway.



It's also going to be, wait for it, 89 degrees. The atmosphere around the stadium -- the only game that fills the Jacksonville Jaguar stadium up all year -- is going to be so laden with alcohol fumes that if someone struck a large match the entire place would explode.

On Cocktail Party weekend Jacksonville is like Sodom and Gomorrah and Tebow's the only person who wouldn't turn to salt. And I can't wait for the experience. I want to hear from y'all about what I have to do, see, and experience. So shoot me a line at clay.travis@gmail.com. Then check back on Sunday for the story of the game. Or, more accurately, the story of what went on around the game.

Tebow's Touchdown Mark, Trick or Treat? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Clay TravisFri, 30 Oct 2009 08:05:00 EST Georgia Blends Rest, Preparation for Upset 'Cocktail'http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/27/georgia-blends-rest-preparation-for-upset-cocktail/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/27/georgia-blends-rest-preparation-for-upset-cocktail/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/27/georgia-blends-rest-preparation-for-upset-cocktail/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mark RichtLSU was fresh from its off week and waxed Auburn Saturday night. Tennessee was rested from its break and nearly upset Alabama earlier Saturday. Florida, of course, had the opportunity to rest injured quarterback Tim Tebow during its off week earlier this month before traveling to LSU and beating the Tigers with Tebow behind center.

Now it's Georgia's turn to see how it fares following a breather last Saturday.

While the Bulldogs enter Saturday's SEC showdown against top-ranked Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., as a double-digit underdog, they at least have a little history on their side. Georgia is 11-3 under head coach Mark Richt following an open date, including 1-0 (42-30 two seasons ago) when it comes before playing UF.

Naturally, Richt welcomed an extra week of preparation for Florida (7-0), which found itself in a struggle in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive week last Saturday at Mississippi State. But Richt is more interested in his team playing a complete game, something the Bulldogs (4-3) have only come close to doing once all year.

"It's always nice and you hope you can turn that into a positive for your football team but there's just no guarantee," Richt said when asked of the benefits of an off week.

"I think there's probably too much made of it. I don't know if that has been the biggest factor other than who was better that day."

Of course, all the chit-chat leading up to last year's game was Georgia's touchdown celebration from 2007 and what kind of revenge would UF coach Urban Myer and the Gators have in mind. A 49-10 victory, punctuated by a couple of timeouts in the final minute, was worth a thousand words to Gators everywhere.

"That stuff [from last year] hasn't even entered my mind," Richt said. "I'm just trying to prepare for this game - period. All that stuff from last year doesn't mean much."

What does mean much for the Bulldogs, who are 1-2 against the nation's top-ranked team -- their last victory was 24-3 over the Gators in 1985 -- is to finally play to their potential, from start to finish.

Senior quarterback Joe Cox helped snap Georgia's two-game losing streak two Saturdays ago by directing a 34-10 win at Vanderbilt. Cox completed 16-of-31 passes to 10 different receivers and also had a career-long 65-yard touchdown pass to receiver A.J. Green. The offense had scored just two touchdowns in the previous 11 quarters.

Georgia's defense, which entered the Vandy game ranked 100th nationally in scoring defense, registered three sacks and an interception that set up the Bulldogs' first score.

"The season has been up and down; there's no doubt about that," Richt said.

"We've just not played consistently well, in really any game this year. I guess the closes we came was against Vanderbilt where we did well offensively, defensively and special teams. We were pretty good overall, but we know we'll have to be much better (Saturday)."

Georgia has used four different starting combinations on its offensive line this season, and the fifth could be on the way against the Gators. That being said, Richt stressed pivotal keys will be the Bulldogs' ability to protect Cox and display offensive balance against one of the nation's best defenses.

UF has allowed only four touchdowns this season -- two rushing, two passing. (The other two touchdowns scored against the Gators were on interception returns.) They are No. 1 in the nation in total defense, No. 2 in scoring defense, No. 2 in pass defense.

"They are very, very talented and difficult to deal with," Richt said.

"They've got guys just about at every spot better than your average bear, you know, and they are going to be a great challenge for us no doubt.

"The biggest concern anybody would have is to get into a situation where they know you are going to throw and they know you have to throw it to succeed. That's when things get very difficult to protect and very difficult to move the ball when there's no threat of a run or a play-action pass."

Despite Florida's issues, specifically on offense -- the Gators have scored just seven touchdowns in 25 trips in the red zone in SEC play -- Richt expects UF's best effort. The Gators scored five touchdowns in five tries in the red zone last year against Georgia.

UF quarterback Tim Tebow promised the Gators are working hard this week to fix their struggles inside an opponent's 20-yard line.

"We moved the ball on every possession (last weekend), just drove it right down the field and then we'd get in the red zone or do something kind of stupid and it cost us a drive," Tebow said during his Monday morning press conference with the media. (He also apologized for ducking the media after Saturday's game).

"We have to fix those little mistakes, they're very costly. There are things we need to work on and get right and that game could have been out of hand quickly. We're not excited the last few games how we've played in the red zone but we're going to get better."



The Bulldogs should also be healthier than they've been in several weeks -- linebackers Marcus Dowtin and Akeem Dent are expected to return.

"We've got to prepare for this game thinking that Florida is going to be at its best, which I'm sure they will be," Richt said.

"We have no reason to think that's not we're going to get. We've always gotten Florida's best shot before so that's we've got to be expecting."

Georgia Blends Rest, Preparation for Upset 'Cocktail' originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>mark richtTim TebowTimTebowJim HenryTue, 27 Oct 2009 06:00:00 EST Gators Determined to Ignore Criticshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/25/gators-determined-to-ignore-critics/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/25/gators-determined-to-ignore-critics/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/25/gators-determined-to-ignore-critics/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Urban MeyerThe Florida Gators are circling the wagons.

Even while UF regained the top spot Sunday in The Associated Press poll from Alabama, which was ranked No. 1 for a week ahead of the Gators, UF coach Urban Meyer appears to be growing weary of critics focusing only on his team's blemishes.

Though the Gators pulled away from Mississippi State in the fourth quarter for a 29-19 victory Saturday night to push their season record to 7-0 for the fifth time in team history and first time since 1996, questions continue to outnumber answers.
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"There's a lot to build on and I'm going to build on that, not this other stuff," Meyer said Sunday during his teleconference with the media.

Of course, time also continues to tick as UF turns its attention to Saturday's showdown against Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla.

While the Gators extended the nation's longest winning streak to 17 against the MSU Bulldogs, coached by Dan Mullen, who helped UF win two of the last three national titles as offensive coordinator, they found themselves in a struggle in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive week.

Even Meyer admits to frustration, impatience and pressing to be perfect, but he also wants to make sure his players rally around each other and ignore outside distractions. Meyer addressed that situation following the game.

No finger-pointing and let's enjoy the journey, please.

"Very on guard with the human element," Meyer said.

"I have seen it in the past, I haven't seen it on this team yet. Just like this group of questions I have today [Sunday] I'm not worried about me, I'm worried about the young players and how they handle it and the way questions are sometimes worded and all of a sudden it's front-page headlines so-and-so said this, of course he didn't say that.

"I know how our players feel about each other. I just want to make sure that I addressed it. We had a great meeting and very good chemistry on our team and our guys are going to stick together."

Naturally, a second consecutive victory -- and fourth in the past five meetings -- over rival Georgia would go a long way to soothe Gator souls. Georgia (4-3), idle last Saturday, snapped a two-game losing streak with a 34-10 victory over Vanderbilt on Oct. 17.

Meyer won't have to look very far when he begins his search for answers this week

Tim TebowOnce again Saturday, UF faltered in the red zone. Mississippi State kept quarterback Tim Tebow and the Gators out of the end zone on four of five trips into the red zone. UF has scored just two touchdowns in 15 trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line in the last three games.

Tebow, meanwhile, had two interceptions returned for touchdowns and declined requests for interviews and quickly boarded the team bus following the game. It was only the second time in Tebow's UF career that he has tossed two picks in a game.

The Gators' passing game hasn't had much variety to it -- only tight end Aaron Hernandez (33 catches, 392 yards) and receiver Riley Cooper (27-396) have caught double-digit passes. Cooper, in fact, has 19 more receptions than the team's third-leading receiver, David Nelson.

Tebow also has more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three) in five SEC games.

The good news was at least UF rushed for 249 yards against the Bulldogs, topping the 200-yard mark for the first time in three games.

Meyer's described Tebow as "very frustrated."

"He's used to playing at a certain level," Meyer said Sunday.

"A lot of guys are frustrated. You go down there and win 29-19, 10 points on the road and same old song and dance as the last couple weeks. Guys want to play better. One of the greatest stories of all is when we hold that Arkansas team [last week] and the defense was really upset with how they played.

"Our job as coaches is to coach them really hard, manage expectations and just play, have fun playing the game and not worry about this, worry about that. Today's day and age that's hard because it's just thrust upon you. Not coaches, who cares about coaches? I'm talking about these young players."

The Gators also received another stellar performance from its defense, even without injured All-American linebacker Brandon Spikes (groin) and two defensive linemen.

UF stuffed the Bulldogs' ground game, forced three turnovers as it picked off a season-high three passes and recorded four sacks, pushing its total to 13 over the last three games.

The Gators also survived potential disaster in the fourth quarter when linebacker Dustin Doe returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown, but replays showed Brandon McRae might have stripped the ball from the celebrating linebacker short of the goal line.

Despite the frustration and nit-picking that accompanies the Gators' struggles, Meyer is not interested in excuses. Much has been made this year of lost play makers to the NFL, injuries and questionable decisions.

"You don't even think about that kind of stuff as far as the expectations and did we foresee an issue," Meyer said when asked if he underestimated the loss of players from last season such as receivers Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy.

"We lost a couple good players. It was a little like in '06, we lost a couple good players on defense. Everybody has that."

While UF didn't look like a national championship team Saturday, it's one of the few that still have a chance to win it as October begins to draw to a close.

"It's part of college football at the highest level," Meyer said.

"Why is one area or two areas or three areas not performing at a high level? There's more focus on that. We're going to work hard to improve that, that's what we do."

Gators Determined to Ignore Critics originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Tim TebowTimTebowUrban MeyerUrbanMeyerJim HenrySun, 25 Oct 2009 20:30:00 EST SEC Notebook: Polls Not Tide's Concernhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/sec-notebook-tide-not-worried-about-polls/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/sec-notebook-tide-not-worried-about-polls/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/sec-notebook-tide-not-worried-about-polls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When it comes to debating rankings, Alabama head coach Nick Saban is a fuddy-duddy.

So there's no need to waste your time, even if the Crimson Tide leapfrogged SEC rival Florida into the top spot of this week's Associated Press poll. Of course, Alabama is also ranked second behind the Gators in the initial installment of the weekly BCS poll that will determine national title invites by early December.

Saban doesn't mean to be a killjoy -- or does he? -- but his game-at-a-time mantra is focused on Saturday's showdown against visiting Tennessee.

"If anybody asks me any questions about where we're ranked or what the poll is, what matters?" Saban asked. "Why does it matter? What's changed from this week to this Monday to last Monday? What's changed? We've got another game. This is the most important game of the year."

OK, agreed.

The Crimson Tide (7-0) is determined to finish October with a flourish. Off next Saturday, Alabama closes out a three-game homestand with a visit from LSU on November 7 before it positions itself for the regular-season's final stretch.

Of course, Alabama could have its hands full with the Vols (3-3) if not careful. But if the Crimson Tide is need of a hero, a shining star has risen from the Crimson Tide's backfield, and his name is Mark Ingram.

The sophomore has rushed for 905 yards and eight touchdowns for 129.29 yards per game average to rank fourth nationally and first in the SEC. Ingram's flashy -- he leads the nation with 30 rushes of 10 or more yards and also has chipped in eight receptions for 10 or more yards. And Ingram's tough -- he has gained 580 yards after first contact.

Best yet, Ingram is coming off his best performance of the season, rushing for 246 yards against South Carolina last week.

"He's a great competitor and a driven guy," Saban said.

"He works hard in practice every week. He plays fast all the time. He has a great competitive spirit and certainly will stay focused on the things that are going to help him continue to satisfy his goals."

Don't look for Alabama to change its goals, or its approach, according to the philosophical Saban.

"I'm very hopeful that we can stay on the positive side of it and be positive about our approach to what we are trying to accomplish and what we're trying to do and not get risk-aversive and start playing to keep from getting beat and a lot of negative motivation about what's going to happen if this happens and all that kind of stuff," Saban said.

"Not to avoid but to gain, is the way we'd like to approach it."

FINALLY, A STRONG FINISH?

South Carolina has been down this road before.

The Gamecocks are 5-2 and positioned nicely to make this coach Steve Spurrier's most successful season at South Carolina. The Gamecocks can continue their surge with a home victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday, a win that would give Spurrier 105 conference wins and tie him with Vince Dooley for third-most in SEC history.

Spurrier isn't one to relax, even if Vanderbilt has lost five straight conference games. Let's not forget the Commodores have beaten the Gamecocks the past two years.

"We're not a real dominant team," Spurrier said. "I think we're a real good team. We can play with almost anybody. We have to play a lot harder. We have to play with courage, effort and smarts."

That approach could help the Gamecocks avoid an unsettling trend of poor finishes. They lost their final three games last season, their final five in 2007 and, for the record, are 10-15 from the midway point of October under Spurrier.

"The pressure is on us to play the best we can every week," Spurrier said.

"We don't get too much in what happened last year or the year before. They outplayed us the last two years. They were better than we were. Give them credit. We'll try to play better this year and coach better, and see if we can come out on top against Vanderbilt."

ROAD TRIP

Save the postcards.

Florida hasn't enjoyed its past visits to Starkville, Miss.

The Gators travel to Mississippi State on Saturday seeking their first win at Davis Wade Stadium since 1985. They have dropped their last four games there, losing to the Bulldogs in 1986, 1992, 2000 and 2004. Second-ranked UF entered three of the games ranked, and two of the games are among the 12 conference defeats that Spurrier suffered as Florida's coach.

The showdown is also a reunion for Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, a former assistant coach under UF's Urban Meyer since their days at Utah. Mullen last served as the Gators' offensive coordinator, helping quarterback Tim Tebow win the Heisman Trophy and UF a pair of national titles.

"We're coming in, planning to win the football game," Mullen said.

"You never go to play a game that you think you can't win. Our guys are focusing on winning the game this Saturday, and focusing on doing the things you have to do to win the football game. There's nothing quite like winning a football game. It isn't anything crazy we need to do to win, we just have to focus on the game plan at hand in order to come out victorious."

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST

LSU and Auburn tangle in a game where both teams need their offense to set the tone.

LSU, which was off last week, is 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. The Tigers are one of two SEC West teams -- the other is Alabama -- to control its own destiny in the division race.

They will need solid performances from quarterback Jordan Jefferson and running back Charles Scott. Jefferson has been inconsistent as a passer and Scott is in search of a breakout game. LSU figures to rely heavily on the run because Auburn is allowing 181.4 yards per game, 11th in the SEC and 99th nationally.

Auburn, meanwhile, is coming off its worst offensive performance of the season, managing just 315 yards in its 21-14 loss to Kentucky.

Auburn (5-2, 2-2), which opened the season with five consecutive wins, has scored a combined 37 points in its past two games; it scored at least 37 in each of its first four. The passing attack is struggling, too. Quarterback Chris Todd threw 11 touchdown passes in the first four games but just one in the past three.

"You can't pinpoint our struggles on one thing. I don't believe in that," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said.

"There are a lot of things that can go wrong. I still feel that we can fix some of the mistakes and get back on track. There's a lot of issues in there, and we really feel very strongly that we're going to get that rectified. But it has been off the last two weeks."

SEC Notebook: Polls Not Tide's Concern originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jim HenryFri, 23 Oct 2009 13:15:00 EST Dawgs Won't Tuck Tails After Rocky Losshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/dawgs-wont-tuck-tails-after-rocky-loss/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/dawgs-wont-tuck-tails-after-rocky-loss/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/dawgs-wont-tuck-tails-after-rocky-loss/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Joe CoxWhat's next for the reeling Georgia Bulldogs?

Head coach Mark Richt, the dean of SEC coaches, admits the Bulldogs have "a long way to go" to be a good football team. After consecutive losses to LSU and Tennessee, Georgia has this week to find the necessary answers to beat Vanderbilt Saturday. Off Oct. 24 before meeting top-ranked Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 31, the Bulldogs actually don't return to Sanford Stadium for 35 days.

Considering the foul mood of fans, that might be a good thing.

"People are upset and that's what you expect," senior quarterback Joe Cox said.

"But we work hard. We don't want to come out on a Saturday, get embarrassed and then say 'Oh, well.' It hurts us worse than anybody, worse than fans, the coaches... we're the ones who play the game. It's not like we go out there and play bad then kind of say 'whatever.' We've been working since January every day to play 12 games.

"It's not a good feeling when you work that hard and it doesn't show but I think everybody is eager to work, I think everybody wants to correct mistakes and continue on with our season and finish up strong. We don't want to lay it down; we haven't done that yet. It would be even worse to get to this point and let it keep sliding."

While Richt doesn't expect to make wholesale lineup changes, he indicated that some tweaks could be made as players competed in practice this week. Fans also have voiced their frustration with defensive coordinator Willie Martinez and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.

At 3-3 -- its worst six-game mark since 1996 -- Georgia has struggled across the board. The Bulldogs are 100th in the nation in scoring defense (out of 120 FBS teams), 97th in total offense, 116th in penalties and 118th in turnover margin.

Changes? Take your pick.

"We've got to get better at defense, we've got to get better on offense, we've got to get better at coaching," Richt said.

"I guess what I'm saying is that it's a culmination of everyone. I'm not pointing fingers at any one individual; I'm pointing fingers at all of us as a whole, we all must improve; that's what I'm trying to say."

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Cox, who threw for 146 yards and two interceptions against the Vols and agrees he deserves his share of the blame for offensive woes, tried to say it, too.

"I think we all need to have a big gut check and find out how we want to finish out the season," Cox said. "You have to find guys that want to play and want to do it the right way."

The 45-19 defeat at Tennessee was certainly the wrong way.

The Bulldogs have surrendered 37 or more points in three of their last six games, while the offense has managed just four touchdowns in its last three games.

Cox says the Bulldogs need to regroup in a hurry. After throwing for 738 yards and eight touchdowns in the first three games of the season, Cox has 617 passing yards and three touchdowns in the last three. Overall, he has completed 104-of-178 passes for 11 touchdowns with eight interceptions.

"We obviously want to win every game," said Cox, who backed up by redshirt sophomore Logan Gray and true freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger.

"We've had a couple wins -- I know Arizona State, as an offense, we felt like we lost that game. The way it felt after the game, we know we didn't play well. I didn't play well. It was the first time I had won a game but felt like I lost the way I played the game.

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"We just have to put everything together and finish the season strong. Obviously we want to win every game -- that's our goal. But right now we are going to focus on Vanderbilt and win this game and go into the off week with a good mindset, give everyone some rest and kind of catch a second wind to finish the last half of the season."

Dawgs Won't Tuck Tails After Rocky Loss originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Mark RichtMike BoboJim HenryMon, 12 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST Kiffin Officially Arrives at Tennessee, Brings Crompton With Himhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/kiffin-officially-arrives-at-tennessee-and-brings-crompton-with/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/kiffin-officially-arrives-at-tennessee-and-brings-crompton-with/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/10/kiffin-officially-arrives-at-tennessee-and-brings-crompton-with/#commentsFiled under: ,

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Most SEC coaches who have achieved a measure of dominance in their coaching careers have had a signature victory over one of their rivals in their first season as head coach.

In his first season at Alabama, for example, Nick Saban beat Tennessee 41-17. That followed up Saban's dismantling of Alabama, Tennessee, and Ole Miss in his first season at LSU, when he took the Bayou Bengals from 3-8 to 8-4. Urban Meyer beat all three of Florida's fiercest rivals, Florida State, Georgia, and Tennessee, in his first year in Gainesville. Georgia's Mark Richt beat Tennessee in Knoxville, the famous hobnailed boot game that convinced Bulldog fans that better days were at last ahead. And there was Les Miles at LSU, beating Auburn, Alabama, and Ole Miss in his first season.

On Saturday Lane Kiffin and Tennessee gave Georgia a 45-19 woodshed beating that wasn't as close as the final score indicated. Time will tell whether Kiffin will ever hoist SEC Championship hardware like the other coaches listed above, but for the time being Kiffin got his own signature victory in front of a delirious Vol crowd that wants desperately to believe there are many more victories to come.

Kiffin's victory came in no small part because Jonathan Crompton played the game of his career, leading me to wonder whether I ought to call for Crompton's benching every week. For one week, at least, crow has never tasted better. Coming into Saturday's game, the best performance of Crompton's SEC career came in the final game of the disastrous 2008 season. In that awful, rainy game against Kentucky, Crompton went 6-of-8 for 101 yards. That was the only SEC start he'd ever completed a pass in and won. (In one of the truly odd stats of football, Crompton won the game against Vanderbilt last year despite attempting only one pass, an interception.) Against Georgia Crompton finished 20-of-27 for 310 yards, four touchdowns, and an average of 11.48 yards per completion.

The conclusion? If Crompton could play against a Willie Martinez defense every week, he'd win the Heisman Trophy.

Here are 12 observations from Saturday's game.

1. Mark Richt is Phil Fulmer in 2005

Only Richt has never won a national championship. He has the two SEC titles, the extremely successful start to his career, but he has also has the albatross of losing to a rival that hangs around his neck and infuriates the fan base.

What's more, as I've been saying for over a year, Willie Martinez is Richt's Randy Sanders.

In 2005, Fulmer was forced to replace Randy Sanders at offensive coordinator. He rebounded for two solid years, but eventually slipped when he hired Dave Clawson and suffered another losing season.

Eight years ago, in 2001, Mark Richt jogged onto the field at Neyland Stadium and beat a favored Tennessee team on a last-second touchdown. Georgia fans were ecstatic, convinced they'd found the man who would finally take them to the promised land. Every year since then, Richt has won more than eight games. This year, he's not going to win eight. And in that eight-year stretch, you can etch the coaching trajectory of a meteor coming to earth. Georgia fans are restless, their championship has not yet arrived and probably seems as far away today as it ever has been.

What's more, all four of their big rivals, Florida, Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee have hired new coaches since 2005, the last year Richt won an SEC title.

After this year, Richt is going to be forced to toss Martinez to the fans to keep his job. Either that or he's going to pursue a job somewhere else. I think Georgia and Richt are a couple headed for a divorce. I don't think anything's fundamentally wrong with either side, but I think it's becoming increasingly clear that they're both tired of one another.

And the end ain't going to be pretty.

2. Georgia's defensive coordinator Martinez is good for what ails your offense

I've been critical of Tennessee's coaching staff, but watching them go against Martinez and Georgia's defense was as big of a mismatch as tossing an SEC player Othello and having him read aloud.

Despite constant movement and changes of formations by Tennessee's offense, Georgia's defense never left its base formation. I didn't watch them constantly, but I don't remember seeing their defense make an audible adjustment all day. Clearly, that's because Martinez doesn't trust his guys to get into a better formation than the one he sends in from the sideline before he even sees the offense line up. Martinez is so gun shy he'd rather get beaten on every single snap than embarrassed on a couple.

How ominous is that if you're a Georgia fan?

Not as ominous as letting this year's Tennessee offense hang 45 on you. Tennessee took its foot off the pedal midway through the fourth or they might have scored more. Putting that into perspective, in 2008, Tennessee scored a total of 47 points against Florida, Auburn, Alabama, and South Carolina. So far this year, they'd scored 35 total points against Florida and Auburn.

The offense put up 45 on Georgia.

Case closed.

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3. Georgia fans will be seeing the naked bootleg in its dreams

I understand that you might fall for the naked bootleg once or twice. But on consecutive plays? Constantly throughout the game? Is Tennessee's rushing attack really so dominant that you've got to bite on this every single time? Crompton didn't have just one open receiver on every play, he often had two or three. What were the defenders doing?

Give Tennessee credit for continually getting Crompton outside the pocket and limiting the field so he could make easier reads. But, man, how can Georgia not defend the same play on consecutive attempts? And how did they look so clueless even after halftime?

They made Crompton look like a cross between Jesus and Joe Montana.

I'm fairly certain he's actually neither.

4. Tennessee's point totals against Georgia in three of the past four years: 51, 35, and 45.

Their margins of victory in those years: 18, 21, and 26.

And this year was the worst beating of all, even worse than 2007 which up to this point had been the best beating Tennessee has put on a rival since Mike Shula was still patrolling the sideline for the Crimson Tide.

5. During halftime, the Georgia band spelled out Georgia. The Dawg fan sitting next to me said, "We all know how to spell Georgia. How about they spell defense instead?"

The mournful tone of his voice was the best part, I recognized it as the same tone Tennessee fans have been using to describe our offense for the past two years.

Until today.

6. With Tennessee's defensive talent, Monte Kiffin is going to dominate pro-style offenses

Lost amid the shuffle of the past several games was the fact that Tennessee played three consecutive spread offenses: Florida, Ohio, and Auburn. You got the sense watching this game that Monte Kiffin was rubbing his hands all week and grinning at his good fortune to draw an offense that he'd been going up against for decades in the NFL.

How dominant was Tennessee defensively? Georgia's only points came on a 52-yard field goal. Otherwise Georgia scored on a kick return, an interception return, and a blocked punt. In fact, Georgia didn't even get inside Tennessee's 30-yard line all game. I don't know that I've ever seen a game where that didn't happen before. Have you?

Lane Kiffin said after the game that Monte used a similar gameplan to neutralize A.J. Green that the Tampa Bay Bucs had successfully used against the Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith.

Is that even fair?

Meanwhile, not to be outdone, Willie Martinez said that his defensive gameplan was the same one that the Marietta Middle School Rebels trotted out to stop the highly talented Jamie Smith of the Duluth Panthers.

7. Did anyone else notice when A.J. Green lined up in the slot and Eric Berry lined up across from him?

I elbowed my friend and said, "That's $40 million in guaranteed money within that tiny circle."

If you're an NFL fan you want both of these guys on your team.

Now.

At least Georgia fans know that Green can't leave after this year. He's a true stud. But how unfair is it that he has to stay in college when he'd be a top 10 pick if he left? Anyway, credit to Georgia on offense and to A.J. Green for being capable of playing every wide receiver position on the field. Georgia lined him up in every wideout position during the game. The Bulldogs didn't have great success with him, but they kept Tennessee from using the same defensive formation to neutralize him throughout.

8. For at least one game, Crompton was special

Give credit where credit is due, this is the kind of game that Tennessee fans have been expecting of Crompton for five years -- ever since he signed as one of the most heralded quarterback recruits in the nation.

Most impressive plays of the entire game? Crompton's return to the field after he threw an interception that sliced Tennessee's lead to 24-19. In past games one bad play led to several. I'd be lying if I said I didn't cringe when Crompton dropped back for his next pass. But Crompton completed his next four on the following drive, including two third down conversions.

Tennessee scored on a 39-yard run from Montario Hardesty, but Crompton bounced back from the interception and put them in position to score the final 21 points of the game after Georgia cut the lead to 24-19.

My only quibble with the quarterbacking today? I thought Kiffin should have brought Crompton in for one of the final series, allowed him to hand off, and then brought him out of the game so he could receive a justified round of applause.

9. The only flaw all day? Tennessee jumped the gun on announcing Eric Berry breaking the NCAA interception return yardage record

Berry actually returned a fumble instead of picking off a pass. As usual it was a breathtaking return that brought the crowd to fits of pandemonium, but it wasn't a new record.

Not yet, anyway.

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10. It's a shame Georgia can't use its special teams more frequently

I'm halfway expecting for Martinez to debut the punt coverage defensive formation for Vanderbilt's opening snap next week.

In typical Georgia fashion, they scored on a touchdown and a blocked punt. And they drilled a 52-yarder that would have been good from 60.

Also, Willie Martinez might want to point out that his defense scored more points than Georgia's offense on Saturday.

11. Josh McNeil played center for Tennessee today late in the fourth quarter

If you haven't read this story, read it now. Josh McNeil is a warrior. I don't know if anyone mentioned him being on the field, but it deserves to be noted.

12. Tennessee doused Lane Kiffin in Gatorade.

Papa Smirk looked upset that his team dunked him. I think he expected to win this game and didn't think the dousing was necessary. As he and Richt met at midfield to shake hands, beneath the gray skies of an autumn afternoon, the moment had the feel of two programs passing one another. I'm not sure where Kiffin is headed, but he's got his signature win in 2009. As for Richt, in 2001, he brought a hobnailed boot with him to Neyland Stadium. In 2009, he brought Willie Martinez.

And that made all the difference.

Kiffin Officially Arrives at Tennessee, Brings Crompton With Him originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Clay TravisSat, 10 Oct 2009 21:20:00 EST LSU Fans Have John Brantley's Numberhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/lsu-fans-have-john-brantleys-number/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/lsu-fans-have-john-brantleys-number/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/lsu-fans-have-john-brantleys-number/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Florida hasn't hit the field to play LSU, but already the Tigers have Gator quarterback John Brantley's number. His cell phone number, in fact. Yes, those crazy Cajuns have struck again, discovering the phone number of projected Gators starting quarterback John Brantley and doing pesky things with it like you'd expect an amateur fan base to do.

This is sort of old hat for LSU, as its fans also figured out how to reach out and touch opponents such as Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson and Georgia back Knowshon Moreno. They're rumored to have also discovered the numbers for several other Florida players and even coach Urban Meyer. At this rate they're probably not to far from reaching President Barack Obama with a different kind of 3 AM call if his health care push upsets them too much.
Actually, they could probably take a lesson the president is fast learning -- sometimes the more you're seen, the less effective you are as prestige diminishes. After the stunt's initial victory over Tebow's Gators in 2007, they've dropped the last two such crank call games, the targeted players defiantly making on field 'call me' gestures. They could definitely lose on Saturday, leaving a smoldering mess of the perceived effectiveness of the phone stalk.

This is one of those rare times I'm with Dr. Saturday and calling for an end to this silly stuff. It was funny if outrageous the first time, increasingly desperate, depraved and amateur once escalated.

LSU Fans Have John Brantley's Number originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Barack ObamaJohn BrantleyJohn Parker WilsonKnowshon MorenoUrban MeyerBrian GrummellTue, 06 Oct 2009 16:15:00 EST A.J. Green Hero, Goat for Bulldogshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/a-j-green-hero-goat-for-bulldogs/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/a-j-green-hero-goat-for-bulldogs/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/a-j-green-hero-goat-for-bulldogs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for the nearly unstoppable force that is Georgia receiver A.J. Green. After scorching Arkansas (137 yards, two touchdowns) and Arizona State (153 yards, touchdown) in consecutive weeks, Green mixed in a third consecutive dose of awesome (99 yards, touchdown) in catching a leaping touchdown to give Georgia a 13-12 lead over LSU with just over a minute left on Saturday. Then, while being mobbed by teammates he somehow drew a celebration penalty, going 'Locker 2.0' on his teammates.

The penalty was crucial, contributing to a lengthy kick return by LSU's superfast dwarf, Trindon Holliday. Holliday took the kick to the Bulldogs' 42 yard line, almost into field goal position. LSU back Charles Scott did him one better, shedding several tackles on the way to a 33-yard touchdown run several plays later for the eventual 20-13 margin. Effectively, that was ballgame despite Georgia thoroughly dominating the second half in escaping the hole of a nearly game-long 6-0 deficit.

For good measure, Scott's equally mundane celebration -- he dropped the ball in the end zone and pointed both arms into the stands -- also netted a celebration flag. Whatever, the damage was already done. Neither celebration, from what was presented on television, merited such a dire penalty especially given the game atmosphere.

This writeup commenced with the opening line from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and well, the game was a tale of two halves. LSU dominated the first half in building a 6-0 lead while dismantling the Dawgs' offense. However, Georgia opened the second half snagging three consecutive sacks to throttle LSU's first possession. They later took the game over with an 18-play, 60-yard, seven-minute touchdown drive spanning into the fourth quarter that gave them a shocking 7-6 lead. Georgia converted several consecutive third downs on the drive, frustrating the Tigers' defense while eating up the clock.

In the end it was wasted motion, Green's soaring catch (redemption after having two similar 50/50 balls broken up earlier in the game) being the high water mark that quickly sewed their demise.

Of little consolation but perhaps major future dividends for Georgia, the appearance of freshman back Washaun Ealey sporting Knowshon Moreno's No. 24, seemed to spark the offense. His numbers were pedestrian (4.1 yards/carry, 33 yards) but he ran hard and the offense responded to his style. Established veterans Caleb King and Richard Samuel have been uninspiring, leaving Ealey a window from which to build a case he should be the team's lead back.

Meanwhile, LSU earned the victory and remain undefeated but confirmed many peoples' suspicion that as of right now, they're not a top-five team. The date with Florida next Saturday will go a long way to confirm or deny those suspicions, but for this week, they earn a slight downgrade if folks are being honest about the Tigers.
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A.J. Green Hero, Goat for Bulldogs originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>A.J. GreenCaleb KingCharles ScottJake LockerKnowshon MorenoRichard SamuelTrindon HollidayWashaun EaleyBrian GrummellSat, 03 Oct 2009 20:42:00 EST LSU Beats Georgia in Stunning Finishhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/lsu-beats-uga-with-last-minute-drive/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/lsu-beats-uga-with-last-minute-drive/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/lsu-beats-uga-with-last-minute-drive/#commentsFiled under: ,

ATHENS, Ga.(AP) -- Charles Scott scored on a 33-yard run with 46 seconds remaining to cap a wild finish that gave No. 4 LSU a 20-13 victory over 18th-ranked Georgia on Saturday.

Neither team reached the end zone through the first three quarters, but the teams traded touchdowns back and forth over the final three minutes before the Tigers (5-0, 3-0 SEC) came out on top in their second straight close call.

With Georgia (3-2, 2-1 SEC) ahead 7-6 after finally scoring in the opening minute of the fourth period, LSU reclaimed the lead, 12-7, on Scott's 2-yard run with 2:53 remaining. The Bulldogs bounced back on Joe Randle 16-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 1:09 left, going up 13-12 before missing a 2-point conversion.

But LSU, starting in good field position after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Georgia, was already in field goal range when Scott broke two tackles at the line and went all the way to the end zone.

Next week, LSU hosts top-ranked Florida.

No one could have expected such a finish after the teams settled into a defensive struggle, Georgia weathering a dominating performance by LSU in the first half to only trail 6-0.

Georgia dominated the third quarter, sparked by a hard-rushing defense that sacked Jordan Jefferson six times, and the hard running of freshman Washaun Ealey, who gained 33 yards on eight carries in his first college appearance.

Cox hooked up with Orson Charles on a 22-yard reception, and Georgia recovered even after Charles was dubiously flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for pumping his right fist after making the big catch.

The Bulldogs got it to the 1 on a pass to Michael Moore, who came up just short of the goal line. On fourth-and-inches, Georgia decided to go. Cox faked a handoff to Caleb King, then spotted fullback Shaun Chapas, who made the touchdown catch while falling backward to give Georgia its first lead of the game.
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But that catch was overshadowed by the ending.

Jefferson completed a 16-yard pass on third down to Rueben Randle, hit Scott on a screen for another 16 yards, and got loose down the sideline for a 27-yard run that set up Scott's first TD. LSU went for the 2-point conversion, but Jefferson was sacked again.

Trailing 12-7, Georgia quickly drove downfield. Tavarres King got loose behind the secondary and hauled in a 46-yard pass from Cox. One play later, the senior quarterback threw it for grabs in the end zone and Green reached over cornerback Chris Hawkins to snatch the ball before tumbling into Sanford Stadium's famous hedge.

But, with the crowd going nuts, Georgia was flagged again for excessive celebration. The Bulldogs missed their 2-point try, then had to kick off from their 15. Trindon Holliday returned it to the Georgia 43, and a 5-yard penalty for an illegal formation pushed LSU even closer.

Two plays later, Scott appeared stopped at the line by Rennie Curran and Marcus Dowtin. But the LSU runner stayed on his feet and didn't stop until he was in the end zone.

Scott rushed for 95 yards on 19 carries, while Jefferson was 18 of 27 for 212 yards. Cox completed 18 of 34 for 229 yards, including five passes for 99 yards to Green.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

LSU Beats Georgia in Stunning Finish originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>charles scottgeorgiaFanHouse NewswireSat, 03 Oct 2009 19:23:00 EST Is NCAA Guilty of Excessive Sportsmanship?http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/is-ncaa-guilty-of-excessive-sportsmanship/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/is-ncaa-guilty-of-excessive-sportsmanship/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/03/is-ncaa-guilty-of-excessive-sportsmanship/#commentsFiled under: ,

AJ GreenA.J. Green's voice was flat as he explained exactly what had happened after he momentarily turned the gravity off in Sanford Stadium to rise over LSU cornerback Chris Hawkins and catch what, in a world ruled by common sense, might've been the game winning touchdown.

"I was just trying to celebrate with my team," Green said of his reaction after putting Georgia ahead 13-12 with 1:09 left. "Then I guess they threw a flag."

Georgia's star wide receiver wasn't so much upset as he was deadpan as he apologized for an error he never made.

Fortunately for Green, there were no SEC referees lurking in the locker room. He might've been penalized for excessive sadness. Or perhaps excessive apologizing. Either would've been just as ridiculous as the celebration penalty.

"I don't know what happened," Georgia coach Mark Richt said after the game. "I can't hardly make a comment. I'm sad that it happened. I hope our boys weren't taunting anybody. I guess you can't get too excited too long or they throw a rag on you."

Perhaps this will help, Coach; the SEC later released a statement clarifying the referee's decision.

''Following a brief team celebration," the statement said, "Green made a gesture to the crowd calling attention to himself.''

Which is important. Certainly, the 6-foot-4 wide receiver that went up a cornerback's posterior like had a ladder attached to his cleats and then hovered like a subject from the Absent Minded Professor's flubber experiment would've been missed otherwise.

New law, officials: If you can cheat the rules of physics, you should be allowed to cheat the laws of sportsmanship. At least temporarily.

Of course, that's exactly what was so galling about the penalty. It wasn't excessive. Green didn't Riverdance his way out of Chad Ochocinco's playbook or turn and trash talk his opponents.

He just celebrated, exactly what you would expect a kid to do after making the grab of a career. And everyone in the stadium knew it. At least everyone not wearing stripes.

"I don't know about the excessive celebration for Georgia," LSU coach Les Miles said. "I have always instructed my team to turn their backs on someone if they were to celebrate."

The flag led to Georgia kicking off from its own 15, which led to Trindon Holliday's Roadrunner act on the kick return, which then allowed LSU to run the ball in the final minute rather than pass it, which was fortunate for the Tigers considering Georgia already had half a dozen sacks. And so, two plays later, Charles Scott crashed through a tackle at the line of scrimmage and ran 33 more yards without a hand on him for the game-winning touchdown.

Then Miss Manners, er, the referees struck again. After Scott scored, he -- cover your children's ears -- pointed at the crowd.

Fifteen yards. Excessive makeup call.

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Of course, people have celebrated an extra checkout line opening at the supermarket more emphatically than Scott celebrated his touchdown. If that's excessive, then every player that scores a touchdown should be required to trade the ball for a Xanax.

The game would end three plays later when Joe Cox threw an interception.

The Bulldogs didn't lose because of a bad call. The field position likely altered LSU's playcalling, but Scott's run would've scored from 33 yards out or 330 yards out. No, Georgia lost because they didn't have Holliday running back the kickoff into field goal range. They lost because they didn't have a backfield threat as good as Scott. The lost because they only had Green. And even though he might be the best player in the SEC, he wasn't enough to help Georgia past a superior opponent.

But that doesn't make the referee's decision any saner, nor does it mean Richt shouldn't be on the phone tearing into the SEC's head of officials ears like he was a telemarketer that called during dinner time.

If anyone even cares. In a sport already riddled with controversy -- the BCS, Big Six cronyism, Notre Dame's most favored program status - this is just another problem to add to the long list.

In college football, it's always about the controversy and never about the answer. It's a designed chaos to keep people on the edge of their seats and tuning in every week. There is no grand conspiracy here, of course. SEC referees made a bad call. But no one connected to the business side of college football is pausing reflectively over their martini to weep for Georgia.

More controversy. More interest. That's college football.

But this controversy needs to end here. And so does the NCAA's drive to become the great paragon of sportsmanship first and a competitive athletic association second. From the syrupy sportsmanship commercials to the over-the-top full-team handshakes before games in Week 1 (which, by the way, preceded the game in which LeGarrette Blount sucker-punched his way into infamy), the NCAA has gone so far beyond the pale to where nothing could be worse than a celebration. The idea is laudable. Sportsmanship absolutely is important, but so too is understanding that not every player has the personality and temperament of Barry Sanders. So too, by the way, is winning football games, something these players prepare for year round, rather than being a billboard.

Football is a game of passion in which guys like Scott have to gear themselves up to run into men the size of Kias that want nothing more than to make SportsCenter for dislodging as many of your bones as possible.

So when they're a little fired up at the end of the game, is it too much to ask to cut them a little slack? Sure, they might violate the letter of the law in a rule book, but ask a defensive lineman how many times they call holding exactly as it's written in the book. It's not just knowing the rules that makes a good official, It's knowing how to apply them.

Will it really corrupt the moral fiber of youth football if Green celebrates with his teammates after they've finally fought and clawed for the lead?

This, of course, isn't the first time that high spirits have gotten a team in trouble.

Last year, Washington's Jake Locker tried to put a football in orbit after scoring -- straight into the air and without any mockery of BYU, unless they were deniers of the axiom that everything goes up must come down -- but was flagged and the ensuing long-range extra point was blocked. BYU held on for the win. As it turned out for winless Washington, they probably should've been allowed to do anything short of animal sacrifice on the field for winning a game last year.

But they lost. Not because they didn't play hard enough or well enough. But because in a moment of great personal triumph, Locker celebrated by tossing the ball. He didn't trash talk. He didn't show up his opponents. He merely got caught up in the moment.

Why can't anyone think of the children?

The lesson: Always be afraid to let your emotions show, young ones, lest you be punished for making someone feel bad.
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Miami's Joel Figueroa (61) and Travis Benjamin celebrate after Benjamin scored the second touchdown of the third quarter against Oklahoma during NCAA college football action Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 in Miami. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
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    South Carolina's Stephen Garcia looks on from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against South Carolina State in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. Garcia threw two touchdown passes and scored a touchdown as South Carolina defeated South Carolina State 38-14. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

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    Miami's Dedrick Epps (18) celebrates as he scores a third-quarter touchdown against Oklahoma during NCAA college football action Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 in Miami. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

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    South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery(1) and Moe Brown (9) celebrate Jeffery's touchdown as South Carolina defeated South Carolina State 38-14 in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

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    TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 03: Wide receiver James Rodgers #8 of the Oregon State Beavers runs with the ball after a reception past Terell Carr #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Tempe, Arizona. The Beavers defeated the Sun Devils 28-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** James Rodgers;Terell Carr

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    TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 03: Wide receiver Damola Adeniji #80 of the Oregon State Beavers runs with the ball after a reception past Terell Carr #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Tempe, Arizona. The Beavers defeated the Sun Devils 28-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Damola Adeniji;Terell Carr

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    TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Dennis Erickson talks with quarterback Danny Sullivan #15 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the college football game against the Oregon State Beavers at Sun Devil Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Tempe, Arizona. The Beavers defeated the Sun Devils 28-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danny Sullivan;Dennis Erickson

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    TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 03: Runningback Dimitri Nance #31 of the Arizona State Sun Devils rushes the ball against the Oregon State Beavers during the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Tempe, Arizona. The Beavers defeated the Sun Devils 28-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dimitri Nance

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    TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 03: The Arizona State Sun Devils and the Oregon State Beavers compete in the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Tempe, Arizona. The Beavers defeated the Sun Devils 28-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Yet when Notre Dame played Michigan State, Irish receiver Golden Tate dove into the Spartan band like he was the opening act at Lollapalooza and wasn't flagged for excessive celebration. Perhaps the referees rightly ruled that a little exuberance is part of competitive sports, as they should've Saturday for Green and Scott. Or perhaps they realized that a high-speed collision with cement is more penalty than any flag.

Why even punish the team on the field for an act that gains no advantage and doesnt' detract from the game? If it's not a glaring sportsmanship issue that demands immediate punishment, why not settle it during the week? Force the player to do community service, spend Tuesdays listening to Joe Paterno's stories of the old days, or heck, do some real good for the world and get them on a letter writing campaign to eradicate Cotton-Eyed Joe from sports stadiums everywhere.

When did the NCAA get so caught up in forcing kids to be role models that it forget to let its players be kids every once in a while?

There's a difference between throat slashing or debating the less than wholesome ways someone's mother may make a living -- actions that deserve an immediate and severe penalty -- and just celebrating because you made the play of the season. This wasn't Kentucky dancing over a kayoed Tim Tebow or even these same Bulldogs doing a team dance in the end zone against Florida two years ago.

This was a kid who just made the play of his team's season and just wanted to celebrate a little.

And had common sense instead of college football ruled, everybody in the stadium would've known it.

Is NCAA Guilty of Excessive Sportsmanship? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>aj greenRay HollomanSat, 03 Oct 2009 18:42:00 EST SEC Notebook: LSU a Tale of 2 Tigershttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/sec-notebook-lsus-season-a-tale-of-two-tigers/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/sec-notebook-lsus-season-a-tale-of-two-tigers/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/sec-notebook-lsus-season-a-tale-of-two-tigers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LSUWill the real LSU please stand up?

Fourth-ranked LSU is between the hedges Saturday at No. 18 Georgia in a pivotal SEC showdown. Not only are the Tigers looking for their first victory in Athens, Ga., since 1986, they are facing their first ranked opponent of the season. Both challenges expect to test a LSU team still in search of its identity a month into the season.

"We're fortunate to be 4-0; we'd like to be 5-0, and only the next opponent stands between us and that goal," said LSU coach Les Miles, who will be making his first trip to Athens.

"I've never been to Athens, and I've never played between the hedges. I talked to (defensive coordinator) John Chavis about it, and he said it's a great environment. It's very much like any of the great SEC venues. It's loud and fun, and you'll really enjoy it. I really can't wait."

Georgia has won three straight and six of the last eight against the Tigers, tabbed a three-point underdog.

LSU's offense has played well this season behind quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who has passed for 708 yards and seven touchdowns. Although the Tigers have a talented group of running backs, paced by Keiland Williams and Charles Scott, who have combined for 363 rushing yards, LSU's ground game has been hit and miss. Mississippi State stacked the box and held the Tigers to just 35 rushing yards last week.

"I still want to run the football. It's too fundamental to me not to be important, and I want that," Miles said.

"I want it for Charles Scott and that offensive line and Keiland Williams, and I want to be able to come off the football. But again, the defense can choose to play everybody inside, and that makes it a much more difficult position to run the football."

LSU, which has upcoming home games against top-ranked Florida and Auburn, is also looking to avoid becoming the country's fourth consecutive team in the Top 5 to lose. But there is good news, too.

For the second consecutive week the SEC has three of the top four teams in the country -- No. 1 Florida , No. 3 Alabama and the Tigers. The last conference to have three of the top four in the AP poll was the Big Eight in 1971, when Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado were Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Georgia, meanwhile, is determined to take better care of the rock.

The Bulldogs have a total of 12 fumbles and interceptions through their first four games, but they've managed to win three times. Only five teams in the NCAA's top division have a worst turnover ratio than Georgia, which has recovered one fumble and made two interceptions for a whopping minus-9. The Tigers have the country's fifth-best turnover ratio (plus-7).

"Every time you throw, you're taking a chance. Every time you run it, you're risking a fumble," Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. "We've just got to play ball and work on the fundamentals, things like ball security and making good decisions. The better we block, the better chance we'll have of not having turnovers. It all works together."

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The defense isn't doing its part, either. Georgia has forced fewer turnovers than any team in the SEC.

Three in a Row?

 LSU has recorded a goal-line stand in back-to-back games.

Last week against Mississippi State, the Tiger defense turned back the Bulldogs at the goal line with just over a minute left in the game to preserve the victory. The Bulldogs had four shots at the Tigers, three coming at the 1-yard line, but LSU turned them away each time.

The big plays came on third down when LSU safety Chad Jones tipped away a pass and then on fourth down when Jones stopped Mississippi State quarterback Tyson Lee shy of the end zone. A week earlier, UL-Lafayette was turned back after three tries from the 1-yard line. UL-Lafayette's last attempt from the 1-yard line resulted in a fumble, which was recovered by Perry Riley.

Not First Rodeo

If Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is cleared medically to play against LSU Oct. 10, following last week's concussion suffered against Kentucky, look for the Gators to take extra steps to protect their quarterback in the pocket.

Even so, head coach Urban Meyer admits that's a challenge because Tebow is "not your typical quarterback."

"Typical quarterbacks, when they get in the open field, they run out of bounds or slide," Meyer said.

"A lot of the runs are not designed runs. If something is not there a lot of quarterbacks throw it away. You don't see Tim do that very often. He's going to try to get positive yards. It's not like this is our first rodeo. We're very well aware of the pounding he takes. We're going to be very conscious of it for the right reasons. We always have been. He is a little more than he ever has been, conscious of it."

Blocked Correctly

UF offensive coordinator Steve Addazio has accepted blame for the play call and blocking scheme that saw Tebow get tattooed by Kentucky defensive end Taylor Wyndham.

While it's still unclear whether that's just coach-speak or left tackle Matt Patchan missed an assignment -- Wyndham came off the edge unblocked -- UF lineman Mike Pouncey says the blocking was correct.

"We blocked it right," Pouncey said.

"It was a no-deep call so we run blocked to the right and the backside end comes free and Tebow has to get the ball out fast and he didn't get the ball out fast. He knew he was coming. Tebow takes those hits all the time. I don't think it was the hit hat really knocked him out. His head hit someone (Florida lineman Marcus Gilbert's knee).

Nope, Addazio said. It's his responsibility to get players in correct positions.

"Ultimately on that play right there, where everything didn't exactly go to plan, it should go on one guy's shoulders - mine," Addazio said.

"That's it. No one else's. There's a fine line in there. To say this guy didn't do that, it's not an accurate statement at all. It goes on me. It's not on any player. I have to be in a better scheme."

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In this Sept. 26, 2009 photo, Virginia Tech tailback Ryan Williams, carries a flag on to the field prior to the start of the Miami-Virginia Tech NCAA college football game at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
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    In this Sept. 26, 2009 photo, Virginia Tech tailback Ryan Williams, carries a flag on to the field prior to the start of the Miami-Virginia Tech NCAA college football game at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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    In this Sept. 19, 2009 photo, Virginia Tech tail back Ryan Williams powers forward for extra yardage during the first half of the Nebraska Virginia Tech NCAA college football game at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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    In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, photo, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark walks the sideline during the second half of an college football game against Syracuse in State College, Pa. Penn State won 28-7. Penn State takes on Illinois on Saturday Oct. 3, 2009 in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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    In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen (7) pitches the football as guard Chris Stewart (59) and center Eric Olsen (55) block during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game against Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. Notre Dame won 24-21. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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    In this photo taken on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, Notre Dame guard Chris Stewart (59), offensive tackle Paul Duncan (72) and guard Trevor Robinson (78) react following a touchdown by Notre Dame during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game against Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. Notre Dame won 24-21. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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    Dan Beebe, left, Big 12 Conference commissioner, listens as John Marinatto, Big East Conference commissioner, speaks at a press conference, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in New York. The NCAA college football conferences and the New York Yankees announced on Wednesday that they have agreed to a four-year deal to play the first bowl in the Bronx since 1962. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

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    New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, speaks, as New York Yankees' managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner left, and Yankees' president Randy Levine, right, listen during a news conference, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Big East and Big 12 NCAA college football conferences and the Yankees announced on Wednesday that they have agreed to a four-year deal to play the first bowl in the Bronx since 1962.(AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

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    New York Yankees' managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, right, receives a football and helmet from Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe, second from left, as Big East commissioner John Marinatto, second from right, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, look on, during a news conference, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York. The NCAA college football conferences and the New York Yankees announced on Wednesday that they have agreed to a four-year deal to play the first bowl in the Bronx since 1962. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

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    A poster depicting how the football field will be situated stands on an easel during a press conference, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Big East and Big 12 NCAA college football conferences and the New York Yankees announced on Wednesday that they have agreed to a four-year deal to play the first bowl in the Bronx since 1962.(AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

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    Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops answers a question during a news conference in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. Oklahoma takes on No. 17 Miami in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 3 in Miami. (AP Photo)

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In Hand

When is the game in hand?

That question has been debated often this week following Tebow's injury. Tebow was TKO'd late in the third quarter with the Gators leading the Wildcats by 24 points.

"That's always a tough question because the issue is you want to finish the game in a sound, solid fashion (as) how you started it," LSU coach Les Miles said. "It's something where the coach weighs the responsibility of getting your starters out before they get hurt."

Alabama coach Nick Saban didn't think the UF-Kentucky game as out of reach.

"I think it's the game, I think it's team you're playing," Saban said. "We didn't take our starters out until we were ahead of Arkansas 35-7 halfway through the fourth quarter."

No Love

South Carolina failed to crack the national rankings this week following last Thursday's victory over then-No. 4 Ole Miss.

Don't look for Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier, one of 59 coaches to vote in the USA Today poll, to fling his visor in disgust.

"I haven't paid a lot of attention to that, and I don't think it's a big deal," Spurrier said.

SEC Notebook: LSU a Tale of 2 Tigers originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>tim tebowTimTebowJim HenryThu, 01 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST SEC Notebook: Ole Miss Is Ready for the Ol' Ball Coachhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/24/sec-notebook-ole-miss-is-ready-for-the-ol-ball-coach/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/24/sec-notebook-ole-miss-is-ready-for-the-ol-ball-coach/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/24/sec-notebook-ole-miss-is-ready-for-the-ol-ball-coach/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Many are skeptical of Mississippi's No. 4 ranking in the AP Top-25 poll because its wins so far have been against Memphis and Southeastern Louisiana. For trivia buffs, however, the Rebels last reached No. 4 in the rankings on Oct. 12, 1970.

Of course, the country will get a better idea about Ole Miss on Thursday night when it visits the Ol' Ball Coach and South Carolina in its SEC opener on national television.

The Gamecocks and Alabama were the last two teams to beat the Rebels, who are riding their longest win streak in nearly 37 years at eight straight games. (They also have the prestige of being the last team to have beaten defending national champion Florida).

Ole Miss has been counting down the days to this game against the Gamecocks.

"No question about it. You are ready to play a game like this," Rebels head coach Houston Nutt said. "It is going to be a great atmosphere. Our guys are looking forward to it. I know as coaches, we are. I think our players are even more so."

After struggling to a 3-4 start in 2008, Nutt's first year at Ole Miss, the Rebels finally got accustomed to each other and to Nutt's system. After losing to South Carolina 31-24 and Alabama 24-20, they reeled off six straight wins to finish the year, including an impressive Cotton Bowl victory over Texas Tech that got the buzz started about 2009.

The buzz has only increased.

Not only are the Rebels, who breezed through their first two games by a combined score of 97-20, shooting for a 3-0 start for the first time since 1989, they are seeking to snap a five-game skid in SEC openers.

"There is nothing like winning," Nutt said.

"The next game is always the biggest game of the year," Nutt added. "This is the biggest game of the year -- it is the next game and the first conference game. We've got to improve, and our guys know that. Our guys know that we are in for a real battle and everybody has to improve -- special teams, defense and offense. Any set of 11 that we send on the field have to be at their best -- starting with this game here."

For the Gamecocks, this is another chance for coach Steve Spurrier to record that breakthrough win that has been so elusive for him in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina is 1-31 all-time against Top-5 teams.

The Gamecocks' only win came in 1981 at No. 3 North Carolina, they have never beaten a Top-5 team at Williams-Brice Stadium, and, under Spurrier in five seasons, they are just 1-7 against Top-10 opponents and 5-13 against Top-25 foes.

"We're looking to try and pull it together on offense, defense and special teams," Spurrier said. "We haven't done it yet this season, and we hope to Thursday night."

OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
LSU coach Les Miles is searching for more production from its offense in Saturday's game against Mississippi State.

LSU is 12th out of 12 teams in the SEC and 90th nationally with 325.7 yards a game in total offense. The running game is also 10th in the SEC and 48th nationally with 163.7 yards a game. The Tigers did not get more than 100 yards rushing in a 31-3 win over Louisiana-Lafayette last Saturday until deep into the second half.

"I think we're looking for the best recipe in whatever we do, and I don't think we've hit it just yet," Miles said. "I can tell you that I think we are on things and making strides, but I don't know if we've hit our pace just yet, and we're working at it. I think we have good players, and it will be the offensive staff's task to get the ball in the hands of the play makers. I think we're doing that. We're doing it with a little difficulty, but we're doing it.

"The pace quickens as we go to Mississippi State. We have to get better on offense."

TAKING EVERY PRECAUTION
Florida head coach Urban Meyer has voiced his concerns this week about the flu bug hitting the Gators' football team.

All possible precautions are being taken. Florida spokesperson Steve McClain told reporters Sunday that players received a nasal spray vaccine over the weekend, not flu shots. Hand sanitizers are everywhere -- from meeting rooms to the cafeteria and one was even seen sitting on top of a cabinet during Monday's news conference.

Wide receiver David Nelson told the media there are hand-sanitizer bottles in everyone's locker, that players are constantly being told to wash their hands, take showers and drink fluids.

"We knew it was a problem," Nelson said. "There are Purell bottles probably in everybody's locker, everywhere you turn they're telling you to wash your hands, take a shower. We knew there was something going on and a few players were getting sick but we didn't know the extent of it."

ANOTHER OPINION ON TEBOW
Veteran Kentucky coach Rich Brooks has seen his share of great players. If you are wondering what he thinks about Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, well, here it is:

"Well, to me, he's just one of the all-time great college football players," Brooks said. "I think at quarterback, he's a hybrid. He's a single-wing, tailback quarterback. And there aren't many guys like that playing anymore, and that's why he's so unique right now. I mean, you just don't find that combination.

"Let's face it, he carried the ball what, 25 times last week against Tennessee? How many quarterbacks are doing that in the country? And he can throw it; he can kill you with his arm, he can kill you with his legs. He is extremely unique. There used to be players like that. I played with one, by the name of Terry Baker. He did not weigh 235 or 240 pounds, but he ran the ball and he threw the ball. He won the Heisman Trophy. Those kinds of players in today's football are very unique at that position."

ENOUGH -- AGAIN
For the second time in five months, SEC commissioner Mike Slive has ordered head coaches Urban Meyer of UF and Lane Kiffin of Tennessee to stop bickering at each other.

Slive admonished the coaches at the SEC Spring Meetings in May after Kiffin falsely accused Meyer of cheating in recruiting and numerous coaches needled each other on various recruiting topics. The pair has been at it again following last Saturday's UF-UT matchup in The Swamp.

Meyer said Sunday he didn't think Tennessee was "going after the win" and had "no urgency" in a 23-13 loss. Kiffin pointed out Monday that Meyer "feels he doesn't need to follow" Slive's warning before taking a jab at Meyer mentioning sick players after the game.

RAIN NOT A CONCERN
Storms have pounded Atlanta and surrounding areas, dropping 15 to 20 inches of rain over three days, causing nine deaths and an estimated $250 million in damage. But fans looking forward to Saturday's games won't have to worry about weather being an issue.

Athens, Ga., home of the University of Georgia Bulldogs, has not been damaged by the storms. The Bulldogs are set to host Arizona State Saturday.

STAYING IN JACKSONVILLE
The University of Georgia's Athletic Association Board of Directors voted to negotiate a six-year extension to keep the annual Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville until 2016, the school announced Wednesday.

The current contract expires in 2010 and Georgia fans had pushed for the game to alternate between Jacksonville and Atlanta.

"An extraordinary amount of study has been done on the various options available and a great deal of input has been gathered," Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans said in a release. "After all the fact-gathering and evaluation of those factors, I'm convinced that moving forward with discussions on extending the contract in Jacksonville is the appropriate way to go. I'm delighted the Board feels the same way."

SEC Notebook: Ole Miss Is Ready for the Ol' Ball Coach originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>steve spurrierSteveSpurriertim tebowTimTebowurban meyerUrbanMeyerJim HenryThu, 24 Sep 2009 09:09:00 EST Starting 11: Willie Martinez Editionhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/starting-11-willie-martinez-edition/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/starting-11-willie-martinez-edition/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/starting-11-willie-martinez-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez has to go at Georgia.

Bulldog football fans know it, Mark Richt has to know it, anyone with a semblance of intelligence about sports knows it. My favorite part of watching Saturday's games was seeing Willie Martinez on the sideline after Georgia's defenders gave up one big play after another to Arkansas. Often, you could just see him in the background, arms raised, a puzzled, crestfallen look on his face. My favorite shot was in the third quarter after a Georgia defensive back stood flat-footed and didn't move as a wide receiver ran right by him.

The camera caught Martinez in the background with a pained look on his face. He looked like he'd just stepped in Uga's dog poo while barefoot. Or been forced to coach in red pants. Which would be awful. But what's even worse is that you know every single Georgia fan on earth looked the exact same sitting in front of their television. Without further ado, let's hit the ClayNation Starting 11.

1. The Charlie Weis era came down to Michigan State's quarterback Kirk Cousins missing a wide open receiver in the back corner of the end zone.

Doesn't it seem like 40 years ago when Weis almost upset USC with Ty Willingham's players? Anyone else see the irony of Steve Sarkisian beating USC with Willingham's players? Logic dictates that the best way to beat USC is to fire Tyrone Willingham the season before you play them.

But back to Charlie Weis -- have Notre Dame's football fortunes fallen so far that all it takes is a home victory over Michigan State -- Michigan State! -- to get Irish eyes smiling again? Right now, Notre Dame still controls their own destiny towards a BCS bowl game whipping. Which, honestly, tells us more about the BCS than anything else.

2. Landry Jones threw six touchdown passes for Oklahoma.

I've asked this question before, but in light of the fact that a guy like Landry Jones can come in and lead the offense with such precision, isn't it time Heisman voters start considering Oklahoma signal callers "system quarterbacks?" I think the "system quarterback" argument is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard, because it only gets applied to schools with strong quarterbacks that aren't traditional powers.

At least if the media is going to be consistent about applying the label, they ought to make Oklahoma quarterbacks wear the badge as well. For instance, every Texas Tech quarterback, running a very similar offense to Oklahoma's, is called a "system quarterback" which, as used, is a pejorative designation that serves to disqualify Mike Leach's signal callers from winning a Heisman.

Why isn't the same true for schools like Oklahoma? It's the same system. If running it disqualifies Graham Harrell shouldn't it also disqualify Sam Bradford? Otherwise, let's just ditch the system quarterback cliche for good.

3. Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez can't even get his metaphors correct.

The sideline reporter, Erin Andrews, reported that Willie Martinez was telling his players not to worry about the Arkansas offense because they were just throwing grenades.

A perplexed Todd Blackledge then delivered the line of the night: "But grenades hurt when they explode."

4. Best new analogy I've thought of for going for it on 4th down, like moving a baby inside the house after they fall asleep in the car.

This is one of the most difficult calls I have to make. If my son is asleep in the car, do I go get a newspaper and sit in the car while he sleeps, i.e. punting on third down, or do I try to move him inside, i.e. go for it on fourth down, and transfer him to a bed knowing that if he wakes up, the nap is over and dad's back on the hook for playtime?

Honestly, this is such a difficult decision. I consider time of day, likelihood of ambient noise that could wake him up and weather conditions (Could the sunlight wake him? Is it raining?). I'm going to do a whole column on this at some point. Every parent turns into a head coach in this situation, you want the drive, i.e. the nap, to continue, but is it worth the risk?
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5. Brian Kelly continues to write his own check for the next job.

Cincinnati beat Oregon State Saturday night. But you didn't even notice because the game happened so late. Look at this schedule and tell me they aren't going to be favored to win every game for the rest of the season. In fact, if you had to look at remaining schedules, Florida, Texas, and Cincinnati are probably the only three teams in America that will be favored to win all of their games.

Now that doesn't mean it will happen for the Bearcats, but it does mean that they're sitting pretty and you should be paying attention to them. If only so you can go on the message boards and argue that Brian Kelly should be hired to replace your present coach.

6. Trooper Taylor's hypnotic towel-waving at Auburn.

Last week I talked about Auburn's offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, this week I want to talk about assistant head coach Trooper Taylor. You might remember Taylor from previous stops at Baylor, Tennessee, and Oklahoma State. Taylor is incredibly popular with players yet his public persona seems to consist of three traits: A.) wears hat backward B.) jumps around a lot on the sideline and congratulates players with bear hugs and jumping backside bounces C.) waves a towel.

The towel is the most important, his go-to move: If you took away Trooper's towel, you'd strip away 75 percent of his coaching ability.

And, I'm not going to lie, the towel-waving is hypnotic. So much so that Auburn fans are now selling official Trooper Towels on the Internet. They only cost $5. That, and your masculinity. Pompoms are bad enough, but combining the two?

Who knew that all it took to get your team to perform to its highest level was waving a towel maniacally on the sideline?

7. Tyrod Taylor's touchdown pass for Virginia Tech against Nebraska was unexpected.

Raise your hand if you're a Virginia Tech fan and you had any confidence at all that one of his final passes was going to be caught for a touchdown? Even when he threw that pass while scrambling right, you were screaming, throw it away, throw it away!

And be even more honest, you expected Taylor to get sacked on a scramble and for time to run out.

It's okay, you can be honest with me, I won't tell anyone.

8. The hit that Texas Tech's quarterback Taylor Potts took from Texas's Sergio Kindle would have killed you or me.



Couple of things:

A.) The hit was illegal.

B.) Is this the least likely quarterback name and defensive end name to end in a sack-fumble combo on the year? First, even though he threw for 420 yards, Taylor Potts sounds like the androgynous kid who was born after his parents turned 40. Second, Sergio Kindle? Seriously, Sergio Kindle.

Right after the sack, Kirk Herbstreit says, "Well, for all the people who have been wondering where Sergio Kindle has been..." And I was like, he's been on a beach in Ibiza. Clearly. That's the only place where you can ever find people named Sergio Kindle.

Having said all that, he wasn't flagged for the hit, and if I was a Texas fan this video would play in endless loops on my computer. I don't think I would work for a week. It takes that to get over the Crabtree reception last year.

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Allyson Duckworth of Oxford, Miss., sets up an open spread of eats at her tent at "The Grove," Ole Miss' famous tailgating site, outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, hours prior to the school's home opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Swine flu is swirling through the nation's campuses, but despite all the warnings, flu kits and prominently displayed jugs of hand sanitizer, many students just aren't that worried. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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    An Ole Miss decorated dispenser of hand sanitizer rest next to football themed napkins and an almost empty tray of crackers and dip, at the tailgate setup of the Deaton family of Booneville, outside the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., Saturday Sept. 19, 2009, prior to the home opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana. Lori Deaton, who works as a medical technician, said her concern about Swine Flu led her to bringing the hand sanitizer. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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    Two University of South Florida students take turns drinking from a cup during a college football game Saturday Sept. 19, 2009 in Tampa, Fla. Swine flu is swirling through the nation's campuses, but despite all the warnings, flu kits and prominently displayed jugs of hand sanitizer, many students just aren't that worried. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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    Thousands of Mississippi fans mill around "The Grove," a tented tailgate site outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, prior to the home season opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana. The threat of both seasonal flu and Swine Flu virus being spread, is especially great among such type gatherings with open food and drink being served and a lack of available hand sanitizing dispensers at each tent. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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    Allyson Duckworth of Oxford, Miss., sets up an open spread of eats at her tent at "The Grove," Ole Miss' famous tailgating site, outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, hours prior to the school's home opener NCAA college football game against Southeastern Louisiana in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Swine flu is swirling through the nation's campuses, but despite all the warnings, flu kits and prominently displayed jugs of hand sanitizer, many students just aren't that worried. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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    In this Aug. 5, 2008 photo, North Carolina Central head coach Mose Rison, center, calls a play for the offense during the team's NCAA college football practice. North Carolina Central and Duke will meet this week for the first time in football, as the schools hope to bridge a gap that has stretched beyond the five miles that separate the campuses. (AP Photo/The News & Observer, Jason Arthurs)

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    Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini reflects on last week's 15-16 loss to Virginia Tech during his weekly news conference, in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. With the exception of a few unguarded moments, Pelini refused to let his weekly news conference turn into a pity party. Pelini said that he and his Cornhuskers are going to turn the fallout from last week's crushing 16-15 loss into positive energy. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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    Penn State football coach Joe Paterno answers a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Iowa in an NCAA college football game on Saturday in State College. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

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    In this Sept. 19, 2009 photo Mississippi tailback Brandon Bolden sprints past a Southeastern Louisiana defender on his way to a 44-yard run in an NCAA football game in Oxford, Miss. The fourth-ranked Rebels will need as much as they can get out from Bolden as they head into Southeastern Conference play. Their first big challenge of the season comes Thursday night against South Carolina and the SEC's No. 2 rushing defense. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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    Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee talks about his bandaged thumb, due to a splinter fracture, during a news conference in Lincoln, Neb., on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Nebraska takes on Louisiana-Lafayette in an NCAA college football game on Saturday in Lincoln. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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    Penn State football coach Joe Paterno listens to a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Iowa in an NCAA college football game on Saturday in State College. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

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9. Florida State putting up 54 on BYU has to be one of the most shocking results of the year.

I still don't have any idea what happened in this game. Imagine all that BYU lost on Saturday. With the USC loss, BYU would have surged into the top five in the country. The BCS bid would be a foregone conclusion. All they would have needed to do is hang around and it's very likely they would have been playing in the BCS title game.

Now?

Their season is effectively over. A loss would have been one thing, but an utter embarrassment at home?

Wow.

10. My boys at Roundtable Radio in Birmingham, Ala., ran an online poll. If you could only take two people on a modern day ark, who would you take first? The winner? Nick Saban.

He beat out several hot women, including Megan Fox. Which two people would I take? Sienna Miller, her turn as the Baroness still keeps me up nights, and Megan Fox. Unless my wife is reading this. Then I would take my wife and son.

But Nick Saban?

You know the Crimson Tide love affair is intense, but what is he going to do on the ark? Get the giraffes excited to play a game?

11. Jake Locker and Washington beat USC.

If there was ever any doubt about how much college football has become like the NFL, Jake Locker should stand as exhibit A in any argument. And I don't know that there even needs to be an exhibit B. Last year Washington went winless without Locker. This year they've already played a competitive game against LSU and knocked off USC.

All because of Locker.

In major college football the days of a place-holder quarterback are over. Look across the scope of the country, if a team is going to be successful, they're only as good as their quarterback is. Think about what this means for year-to-year variety in college football.

In the NFL if you find a guy who is a stud and plug him in at quarterback, you've basically got a decade's worth of playoff appearances scheduled. College football? You've got to scramble every couple of years to find the right guy or your team and season can go off the tracks in a heartbeat. This is really the story of college football in the modern era, the quest for competent quarterbacks is becoming every bit as important in college as the pros. Only you can't rest on your laurels in college once you find your man, it's already time to replace him.

Starting 11: Willie Martinez Edition originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Clay TravisWed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST SEC Notebook: Joe Cox's Many Maladieshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/16/sec-notebook-many-maladies-of-joe-cox/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/16/sec-notebook-many-maladies-of-joe-cox/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/16/sec-notebook-many-maladies-of-joe-cox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Joe CoxWeek 1 was the flu. Week 2 was shoulder soreness. OK, what's going on in Week 3?

The health of Georgia quarterback Joe Cox has been discussed, dissected and debated so much this young season that he could be a regular on General Hospital. Despite a jammed finger on his left non-throwing hand this week, Cox is in one piece -- and in good spirits. The rumors were so rampant last week that some believed Cox wouldn't start against South Carolina.

"It's definitely been interesting to see how crazy it can get just based off of what somebody says, but it hasn't been something that has been a distraction," said Cox, who injured his finger on an attempted tackle following an interception in the Bulldogs' win over South Carolina last Saturday.

"It's honestly something that we've all kind of laughed about."

While Georgia coach Mark Richt joked that Cox needed to wear an eye patch to meet with the media on Tuesday -- let's start another rumor -- Cox and the Bulldogs have been all business in their preparation for Saturday's SEC game at Arkansas. The Bulldogs have won the last five meetings against the Razorbacks, including all three in Fayetteville, Ark., and are on a five-game road SEC winning streak.

After losing its season-opener to Oklahoma State, Georgia rebounded with a dramatic 41-37 win at home over the Gamecocks. Arkansas was idle last week.

"It's like that old song," Richt said.

"You have to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and don't mess with mister in between. That's what we are trying to do. We are trying to really look at the positive things and build off of them, eliminate the negative things and we'll be OK. We'll keep getting better if that happens."

One positive has been Georgia's production in the red zone. The Bulldogs are a perfect 6-for-6 inside their opponent's 20-yard line, scoring four touchdowns (one rushing, three passing) and connecting on a pair of field goals. Another has been the play from junior linebacker Rennie Curran, who leads the SEC with 23 tackles in two games.

And let's not forget Cox, who was slowed by a flu virus in the opening week -- he lost 10 pounds -- and last week Georgia revealed that nerve damage in Cox's right shoulder prevents him from throwing one day each week in practice. While the throwing schedule gives backup Logan Gray valuable time with the first-team offense, Cox finished with a career-high 201 yards passing and two touchdowns in the win over South Carolina.

"Everybody kind of understands that's the way it is," Richt said of Cox's throwing schedule.

"Nobody really gets too bent out of shape. It's always nice to get your second team guy a lot of work. A lot of coaches won't do that, but we've always done a pretty good job of letting our second team and our third team getting a little work, but it's even more so this year because of that situation. It's definitely helping Logan (Gray)."

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Bluegrass Fever

Kentucky has held the upper hand in the state, beating rival Louisville the past two years for the Governor's Cup and winning three consecutive bowl games. Kentucky looks to make it three straight over the Cardinals on Saturday.

The Wildcats enter the home game on a streak of 15 consecutive non-conference wins. It's the second-longest non-conference win streak in the nation and the longest for UK since a 17-game non-conference win stretch from 1954-60. Since mid-season 2006, the Wildcats have won 21 of their last 33 games overall.

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks is well aware how a victory over Louisville makes life so much easier.

"Well, you have to live in a vacuum to not hear about it all year long in this state," Brooks said.

"Any football fan, you hear it on the talk radio, you see it on the message boards, just everywhere and you hear it when you're out in public. You get constantly reminded of what side of that equation you're on but like the last two years we've been fortunate enough to win the game - that really doesn't count - what counts is what happens this year. This Saturday is what is really going to count."

A Familiar Face

Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy will face off against his old high school Saturday in North Texas' Tom Dodge, who coached McElroy at Southlake Carroll High just outside Dallas.North Texas starting quarterback Riley Dodge -- the son of coach Tom Dodge and McElroy's backup in high school -- will miss the game with a separated shoulder, however. Dodge was injured in the third quarter of Saturday's double-overtime loss to Ohio.

"That is disappointing," McElroy said.

"Riley has had a little run of bad luck. I wish I could be playing against him, but they've got to do what's best for them and their season. If holding them out against us will allow them to be more successful down the road this year, then I totally understand why they're doing it."

A Popular Dude

Branden Smith, a freshman cornerback at Georgia, played every position while at Washington-Atlanta and committed to Georgia to play cornerback. Smith also ran the fifth-fastest 100 meters (10.64 seconds) in Georgia high school history. Naturally, his speed and athleticism made Smith an easy candidate to see time on offense.

The first time Smith touched the ball against South Carolina, on a kickoff return in the first quarter, Smith fumbled. The second time, he was gone -- untouched for a touchdown on a 61-yard reverse on offense. Smith was stunned to discover he was an instant hero on campus.

"It has been hard walking around campus and people asking for autographs and everything," Smith said. "But right now I am just trying to stay focused on schoolwork. It has been a little weird that no one before asked me for my autographs, but I had a good game Saturday and now they ask me for autographs. It felt a little good."

Quick Impressions

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen wasn't a happy camper following his team's 49-24 defeat to Auburn. The Bulldogs allowed 598 yards of total offense, including 390 on the ground. Mississippi State travels to Vanderbilt on Saturday.

"Not winning is not acceptable. I don't like using the 'L-word,'" Mullen said. "That is not acceptable for us and, when you don't come out on top, that is extremely disappointing."

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Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno answers a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Temple at home on Saturday. (AP Photo/Pat Little)
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    Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno gestures as he answers a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Temple at home on Saturday. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

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    Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno answers a question during his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Temple at home on Saturday. (AP Photo/Pat Little)

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    Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy speaks during a news conference in Stillwater, Okla., Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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    Wisconsin head football coach Bret Bielema screams during the second half of an NCAA football game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, in Madison, Wis. It took two overtimes for a flu-ravaged Wisconsin team to defeat Fresno State. As the Badgers look toward Wofford this week, Bielema gives an update on how his team is handling the flu outbreak that affected 40 players last week. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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    In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, photo, Northwestern's Stefan Demos celebrates after kicking the game-winning 49-yard field goal against Eastern Michigan in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern won 27-24. (AP Photo/David Banks)

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    In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, photo Penn State linebacker Sean Lee, left, walks away after sacking Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus, right, during the second half of their NCAA college football game in State College, Pa. Lee was so active against Syracuse, it seemed like the Penn State linebacker spent all day leveling opponents behind the line of scrimmage. Any lingering doubts about the health of his surgically-repaired right knee were erased in a dominating performance against the Orange. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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    In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, photo, Penn State linebacker Sean Lee (45) stands with assistant coach Tom Bradley on the sideline during the second half of their college football game against Syracuse in State College, Pa. Lee was so active against Syracuse, it seemed like the Penn State linebacker spent all day leveling opponents behind the line of scrimmage. Any lingering doubts about the health of his surgically-repaired right knee were erased in a dominating performance against the Orange. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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    Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers rushes for a key fourth quarter gain on the wiining drive of the Beavers 23-21 win over UNLV in an NCAA college football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2009 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Daniel Gluskoter)

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    COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Running back Stafon Johnson #13 of the USC Trojans celebrates in the end zone with teammate Jarvis Jones #10 after scoring a two yard touchdown in the fourth quarter over the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on September 12, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. USC won the game 18-15. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stafon Johnson; Jarvis Jones

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    COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Running back Stafon Johnson #13 of the USC Trojans celebrates in the end zone after scoring a two yard touchdown in the fourth quarter over the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on September 12, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. USC won the game 18-15. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stafon Johnson

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Improvement must come quickly. Mississippi State is in the middle of a tough stretch. After Saturday's game in Nashville, the Bulldogs come home to host LSU, Georgia Tech and Houston, which just knocked off Oklahoma State.

"Last week, I was disappointed in our coaching staff as far as not putting our players in better positions to make plays," Mullen said. "There were a couple times we did do a good job and we made some plays and missed some plays, but we still have to be in better position to make plays when it comes to game time. We have a lot of things to still improve on."

Ol' Bully

Steve Spurrier, the Ol' Ball Coach, hasn't been able to elevate South Carolina's program to where he wants it -- yet. The Gamecocks lost an SEC heart-breaker at Georgia last Saturday, and they will be looking to rebound in their home-opener on Saturday against Florida Atlantic.

It shouldn't be a problem.

Spurrier is 36-0 against teams outside the six major BCS conferences. The Owls visited Columbia, S.C., in 2006, losing 45-6. The 39-point margin is the second biggest win for the Gamecocks under Spurrier.

Spurrier, the gracious host, pointed out that the Owls have been to bowl games the past two years, beating Memphis in 2007 and Central Michigan in 2008. But he didn't mention that Florida Atlantic opened its season with a 49-3 loss to Nebraska. And, case if you are wondering, Spurrier wasn't in the mood to talk about the Georgia game either.

"That game is history," he said.

"A lot of guys played well; a lot did not play very well. We're trying to get it behind us, that's all we can do now. We lost as a team. We were a play short. Wherever it was, it didn't work out. We're trying to correct a lot of mistakes we had in that game. We had a lot of mistakes in the first game. I still believe we have a pretty good team here. We're trying to put it all together."

By the Numbers ... Trent Richardson ran for 118 yards and two scores, leading the Crimson Tide to an easy 40-14 win over Florida International last Saturday. McElroy threw for 241 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-24 completions. ...Tim Tebow threw for 237 yards and tied a career high with four touchdown passes against Troy. The Gators also tied a school record with its 12th straight win. ... Georgia's kickoff return team set a record with 252 return yards. Brandon Boykin had four returns for 187 yards and a score. ... LSU outgained Vandy, 326-210, in total offense in its victory ... Anthony Dixon paced Mississippi State with 92 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, but he wasn't able to keep pace with the Auburn backs in defeat. ... Stephen Garcia went 31-for-53 with 313 yards, two scores and an interception and added 42 yards on 10 carries in South Carolina's defeat against Georgia.. ... Vanderbilt scored on a safety for the first time since 2004 in its game against LSU.

SEC Notebook: Joe Cox's Many Maladies originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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