Watched the 4th quarter and OT only because my wife and I were out with friends.... and boy am I glad I did get to watch that ending. Helluva comeback from an 0-17 4th quarter deficit for the Gamecocks..... so much so that in the post-game interview Spurrier tried to explain it but then just finally shrugged and said " I don't know how we did it"..... I was all ready to come on here and give Corey all his props and just be humbled..... but as it is..... even though Missouri proved how tough they can be.... .....
How tough? I often wonder if we're watching the same game. What you witnessed is known in the Big12 as 'The Pinkel pucker' even if it's not known by that name (I'm trademarking that btw) but their history of doing exactly that is well documented. It's Zoo football they appear to have it all locked down except for that one little thing (in this case, one more score.. FG TD whatever) and they just don't do it. You think 'No big deal, they are still in control.' Then they melt down in ways you've never imagined. Truth be told, Missouri had invented the "Clemson" long before Clemson ever pulled one. Clemson just perfected it.. which is actually the most Missouri thing ever. They can't even take credit for choking right. I watched that game gun to gun. Clowney was exposed horribly. I was going to start a subject on this and may still later. I'm wondering what game(s) these announcers are watching. They are so clearly busy rooting/pulling for one team that it just destroys any credibility. Josey (Missou's RB) literally carried Clowney like a cape on his back into the end zone. Missou ran successfully right at Clowney all night. In fact, the only time Clowney was a factor was when they ran away from him. Clowney is fast. He'll close down the LOS and make the play from behind. When they ran at him, they ran over him. Connor Shaw ain't pretty but he's a warrior. I thought SCAR continually embarrassed themselves with their conduct last night. This really appears to be a trait of Spurrier teams. You'll note I don't bitch about Florida's classless weekly antics anymore. That's because they really have toned that down under Muschamp. SCAR just looks like whining, prancing showboats which makes Shaw being their QB more than ironic. I've been out and busy all day, but I wonder if the 'fire Pinkel' crowd has fired up in CoMo today or are they giving him the day off because he's at Don James' funeral?
BWAHAHAHAHA!!! Corey, I swear we are brothers separated at birth! I was telling my boys earlier today about the "Pinkel Factor". Mizzou was always doing boneheaded things... mostly at Pinkel's direction while they were in the old league. Last year, it wasn't noticeable since Mizzou had so many other issues keeping them from being in a position to win a big game. But now it's exposed again. Mizzou was the better team in that game, no doubt. If they had rushed Connor Shaw aggressively, they almost certainly force him either into mistakes, or on the ground with his gimpy leg. Instead they were content to run both the prevent offense and defense. Sad for the folks in Columbia... but nothing they haven't seen before.
Yeah he was pretty flumoxed at the end of that game. I couldn't believe Missouri's end of game strategy myself.
Pat Forde wrote a strong article before this game about Missouri's long history of choking on the big one, or snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. This is something they were doing long before Pinkel, but Pinkel has really taken it to the next level. Bowden had a history of losing heart breaker games on a single play. That's too easy. Pinkel loses them in a suffocating fashion. It's like watching someone drown. Missou was running 15 yard clips right at Clowney. Their WRs could not be covered on a jump ball or slant route by SCAR's corners. If at any point in time in the late 3rd or the entire 4th quarter, Missou just runs those 3 plays over and over they win the game. What do they do? Everything but that. It isn't called the Zoo for nothing. I knew Scott had to be enjoying that one immensely. So let's say the Zoo wins out and then loses to A&M. How the hell does that sort out in the SEC East?!
RE: SEC East ... good question. Suppose either Florida or Georgia wins the rest of their SEC games after beating the other one and then consider that 2 loss team in either case has a loss to Mo. For UF to win the rest they would have to beat SC.... rendering SC a three loss team and out of head-to head comparisons with Mo if Mo. only loses once more. SC could win the east if they beat UF.... Mo. loses once more and UF or Auburn beats Georgia. So for UF to win the East Mo. has to lose twice.....which is a distinct possibility with games at Ole Miss and one with TexA&M. Georgia has already beaten SC and has two SEC losses so if they beat UF they also have to hope that MO. loses twice cause the Dawgs don't compare well with Mo. in a 2 loss head to head comparison having lost to the Tigers also. Doesn't seem to be much of a chance for a three way tie but if that happens I believe the team with the highest ranking in the polls wins the East when each team has beaten one of the others in a three way tie situation. In that case UF's chances would be slim beause FSU is bound to pound the Gators Thanksgiving weekend..... so much so that I just set up a fishing trip on that day so I won't have to watch the carnage. In 2003 there was such a three way tie in the SEC East and FSU's Swindle in the Swamp robbed UF of the chance to go to Atlanta because the subsequent drop in the polls sent UF ranked below Ga whom the Gators had beaten on the field a few weeks earlier. That miss on the SEC East Title just rubbed a little salt in the wound of having FSU steal one from the Gators in Gainesville while being aided severely by the refs..... but.... it helped to send Zook on his way the next season.... and allowed for Meyer to come in and lead UF to the two NCs. So.... in such a convoluted way it's possible that the FSU-Florida game has a direct bearing on who wins the SEC East...... Got it?
Lol, I am hoping the Canes keep it close this weekend, no more than a 50 point spread....I see the line is currently 21 pts..
Dave, Good answer. Thanks. It looks like a free for all. All, I think Ralph is slow playing us. Sure, on paper this is a total massacre. I like Miami's HC a lot more than I like ole Jimbo. If the Canes can find any way to make this close, I'll take the Canes. If it's a beating, I can see only one team doing that.
Lol, I am innocent I tell ya..... There are so many variables to this game I would personally keep my money in my pocket. Corey is correct, on paper this isn't even close. The post NCAA decision emotions evidently were a big factor in the Wake Forest game. Enough that Golden repeatedly mentioned it was the hardest 72 hours of his coaching career to just get the kids and coaching staff ready to play the game sandwiched between the NCAA and FSU. To date Boston College has done the best job against the Noles with physical play and pounding the inside. They just did not have the horses for all four quarters to get it done. I expect Miami to do exactly what BC did and be as physical as they were against Florida earlier in the year. We don't quite match up yet with talent against FSU but Miami has the most talent and speed the Noles have seen to this point and yes I did consider Clemson when saying this. If this game was in Miami and they did not have any miscues Miami has a chance. But its in Tally and our QB has done his best to disappoint so the offensive scheme has changed from where it was at in week 1. Just to piss off the world (And Nole fans) I would love to see Miami win because no one outside of their mommas gives them any chance. This is a rivalry game where these kids have played each other since pop warner...You never know what may happen....
It's hard because this seems like one of those weeks in which you want to bring in all the old legends and have them circle the wagons in a us vs them type of thing. There was a 20 year run in college football in which there was no one greater in that situation than the Canes.. But given all that NCAA stuff, that might not be best. Then again, Golden seems to have that Schnellenberger 'kiss my ass' element to him so who knows.. If you've got wagons, it's time to circle them. I agree with your assessment btw. If Golden can make this a game that takes place between the tackles, you've got a chance.