Yeah I was trying to avoid the non-call on the PI out of respect for Kes. That was terrible. I still can't believe what I watched with the Zona-Cal game. That was an incredible come back. I've said this before and I'll say it again. Kiff Vader is still a young guy by coach standards and he has some experiences that guys his age won't have for another decade or more. He's a douchebag to be sure, but in the blind hatred of him (which I support btw, because it's fun) people seem to ignore the realities. USC was absolutely crippled by a brutal NCAA punishment (which was deserved btw). He didn't get the love fest that O'B got at Pedo State. He didn't have people making excuses for him. They wanted him to produce no matter what. At Tennessee, he inherited a (sorry Tom and Cindy) VERY BAD FOOTBALL TEAM/PROGRAM that had officially gone off the rails. He had a bad team playing quite competitively in a very tough SEC that year. He was a blocked FG away from beating Alabama. There are Vol fans who would sell their soul to be that close to Bama again. The problem is, he's not complete. He wasn't ready for any of these jobs starting with the Raiders gig. Being a parent obviously changed my perspective on a great many things. One of them is that kids are essentially idiots, and selfish assholes out of the womb. It's up to the parents to groom them along and not all children come along at the same rate. The problem, as I see it, was that this guy clearly has a maturity issue but he's continually given/gifted opportunities long before he's ready to take on that actual task. In a sense, he's literally raising himself on the job. Being the OC at USC, the HC of the Raiders, USC and Tennessee are not jobs to be learning on the go.. Saban may not like his play calling (I think that seems obvious at times) but the truth is Alabama's OL is just not where they need to be for whatever reason. They're a bit green there. He's opening up the defense and loosening the box by utilizing Alabama's speed/skill and then pounding away with the RBs once they have the lead. That GD RB James is a monster. One thing I've noticed even going back to his days at USC and UT, was that his scheme is always solid. The execution sometimes doesn't pan out, but the scheme is there. Now, execution will often fall back on coaching as well but you can't rule out lack of talent as well. He absolutely made a joke of Muschamp yesterday. The defensive legend was simply outclassed. If Alabama doesn't make several stupid turn overs, that game would have been far worse than it was... and that's unreal because Florida has a very good defense.
Well OU has moved up to #1, and granted both Alabama and OU have both played West Virginia and have had similar results, OU scoring more points and giving up more points than Alabama. Still Alabama looks to me like the # team in the country. Oh and I'm talking about the ESPN Power Poll.
Observations from games I at least saw part of... Nebraska looks pretty good to me, their RB Ameer Abdullah is not big like those Alabama backs but he has a high motor and really hits his holes hard. Neb has a trip to East Lansing on Oct 4th that will tell us a lot about those guys. Miami just too young at QB, Duke Johnson is a great back, again not big like those Alabama backs but he's good. If Golden stays and there is stability in the program then I think he can get Miami back to being a top 10 type of team. Alabama, more of the same...sure maybe they have some inexperience in some places but that's college football you have to always replace starters with guys who have never started. But lord is their roster loaded with talent, due to Saban leading the country in recruiting since he arrived in Tuscaloosa. Anybody who beat's Alabama this year willl have to upset them they will not be the underdog in any game. Fla..Gators offense is bad, defense looks to me that if they got or get support from the offense that they will be very good. That game in Knoxville vs a young Vol team will tell us a lot about them going forward. Clemson as always a lot of talent and as always come up short in big games. FSU another team that is loaded, esp on defense. LSU...is there any fanbase that bails on their team faster than those guys? That was a compelling game with a tremendous end of game situation but there really weren't any LSU fans still in the stadium to watch it. Even in the down years, ND fans don't leave in droves like that. MSU...hard to tell about them, but they have a few games coming up that will allow them to be pretenders or contenders. Is there any school who should be more embarassed by their opponent than North Carolina State who played Presbyterian College. I'm shocked PC has a football team. Didn't see the Mich game so I don't know if Utah is much better than anybody thought or is UM in serious trouble. They go to Michigan State in late October. I doubt Hoke can survive losing to Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State, but maybe he won't lose to MSU and OSU. I wonder if they will continue with Devin Gardner or go to Shane Morris and build for the future. Lane Kiffin, so if he continues to build on what happened this past weekend will somebody give him another shot as a HC after this year? Oh yeah, but I was disgusted by the coverage of Jameis Winston last night, given all he has done they treated him like he was some poor misuderstood hero. I mean how many times did they comment on how he's their for his teammates, supporting them not sulking or anything. He's a battling through, yeaaaaaaaaa!! IMHO he shouldn't have been on the sidelines and the TV should have ignored him instead of making him a feature of their coverage, making him a tragi-hero.
Was I watching a different Florida game? In the one I was viewing the Gators surrendered 650 yards including 450 yards passing. They gave up 28 first downs and every pass Bama threw averaged almost 13 yards per completion. What did you see that that makes you thinks their defense will be very good? Statistically, that was a worse beat down than they gave the Irish and we all know how helpless we felt after that.
I'm kinda with George. I was watching this one in spurts... and while the turnovers UF got were a bright spot... the rest was an old fashioned beat down.
I want to say congratulations to AJ and the Nebraska Cornhuskers on their victory over Miami. While it was not a surprise to me I held out hope that a possible close game may be possible but we are just not deep enough yet it seems to make that happen for four quarters....
:idea: re: Hoke I watched the Michigan/Utah game and that too was a beat-down. The Wolvies were easily beaten by a much better team and yes, they have no chance against MSU or Ohio State. The Big House was the Big Empty House at the final gun. Hoke is toast. JO'Co's Top 4: 1. Texas A&M 2. Alabama 3. Oklahoma 4. Oregon
Tip of the hat Ralph. Miami looked pretty friggin good to me. NU had no answer for the passing attack until they could tighten up in the RedZone. They (UM) seem to be gettin that team speed of yesteryear back, and that annoying swagger. Of course that did them no good on that double penalty that lead to a score, or that was gonna be a nail biting game. I expect a tough outing next year in Miami. And Doc's right, we''l see what this team has in 2 weeks when they go to East Lansing.
I don't know I just thought the Gator defense played hard and got ZERO support from their offense. Kiffin made them pay with Sims and their WR's ...but they won't face another team like Alabama till the last game of the season. I won't be shocked if they get on a run starting in Knoxville.
The Gator Nation.... including Emmitt Smith.... and me..... is questioning Jeff Driskel right now. His inaccuracy it turns out is pretty hard to correct it would seem. Treon Harris came in the first game and threw a couple of ropes that went for TDs. I watched the LSU true frosh Qb the other night almost lead the Tigers back to a W. I believe the only way we will have success going forward is to devise a two QB system with the true freshman Harris and Driskel with Jeff running the ball much more frequently. Maybe we will see this vs. Tenn.
Here is an article today over on Gatorsports..... with several comments supporting it made by ex-Gator players including Emmitt Smith: http://editorsdesk.blogs.gatorsports.com/10805/muschamp-must-stop-coddling-driskel/?tc=cr I agree the hook would have already come from Spurrier. He does not tolerate such shoddy Qb play.
So this is just embarrassing. Tyrone Swoopes, Texas QB, talking about how the Longhorns have the talent to make the Final Four this year! Love the positive thinking though!
As always when Spurrier speaks the truth comes out!! Worth a watch! <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CRHWT1aI8yA" frameborder="0"></iframe>