SEC Nation

Week in Review

2009-12-18T10:01:00.002-05:00

Mark Ingram becomes the first Alabama football player to take the Heisman home. Well deserved for him.

Allegations increase in the Vols case as apparently the "hostesses" also served basketball recruits. Lane Kiffin says is good for the program.....huh?

UGA has some all-Americans in what has been a dreary season. Congrats to Drew Butler and Orson Charles

Pretty quiet week but continue to check in...

Week in Review

2009-12-11T08:41:00.002-05:00

Sorry for such the long delay between posts, the jobby job has had me locked down. Well, Bama destroyed Florida and now will play Texas for the National Champioship. The Tide looked very impressive on their way to the SEC title.

The Vols are in trouble agian with the NCAA....agian...

Florida DC Charlie Strong has taken the job at Louisville, well deserved and long overdue for him. Also, Florida loses recruting coordinator Billy Gonzales to LSU. Urban faces new adversity this offseason with replacing coaches and key players.

Is it me or or all the bowl games just seem boring?

Congrats to Drew Butler and Eric Berry for taking home some hardware last night from the ESPN CF awards.

Keep checking in as we will preview the SEC bowl games as the month goes along.

SEC Championship Prediction

2009-12-04T09:49:00.002-05:00

The time has come for these two teams to slug it out for a SEC crown but more importantly a trip to the National Championship. Let's do a little breaking down of the game..

Bama's oline vs the Gators D-line. Can Bama be able to handle the stunts and bull rushes of the best D-line in the nation? Can the Gators get over losing their best pass rusher? Bama's oline has to be able to pass protect for McElroy. Florida will put emphasis on shutting down Heisman hopeful Mark Ingram and making McElroy beat them with his arm. As for Florida, Jermaine Cunningham is as talented as Carlos Dunlap. Gator DC Charlie Strong will likely set up mismatches against the Bama oline.

Joe Haden vs Julio Jones- Julio has come on strong as of late and that's a good thing for Bama since they have struggled early in the passing game. Joe Haden is a very talented corner that will easily be a first round pick in the NFL. Look for Julio to try and get going on isolated coverage but Haden doesn't give up much if any yards.

Special Teams- This position may very well decide the game. The Gators don't give up any yards on punts. Literally, go look at the stats. However, like I mentioned earlier in the week Javier Arenas just isn't anybody. He has set NCAA records in punt returns. Look for Florida to kick away if they have to punt. The Gators have a dynamic returner in Brandon James and we know what he rings to the table.

Tim Tebow vs Rolando McClain- Two great competitors who have tremendous respect for each other will go head to head a few times. McClain will likely be a "spy" on third and short. We all know Tebow does his magic during this time and McClain knows first hand from last year's game.

Saban vs Meyer- Saban knows defense, Meyer knows offense. These two are the best in the business in what they do. It will be interesting to see what each has in store for one another. Saban usually gets revenge on the second shot and Meyer is just a big game coach in marquee games.

Final Prediction- Florida 24 Bama 20. I except another slugfest between this two. It hard to ignore the Tebow factor in big games. I think he again just wills the Gators to another SEC Championship......However, I will be glad to take my words back if Bama wins.

Have a good weekend!

Tebow factor

2009-12-03T10:07:00.003-05:00

Ivan Maisel writes a good articel about why the Tebow factor is hard to ignore when facing the Gators. He asks four coaches from the SEC who all went 0-2 in facing Bama and Florida this year, Whats they keys to beating either team.http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=4706117

Overhauled

2009-12-03T09:58:00.003-05:00

I will provide my thoughts a little later on in the coming days but it was a change that needed to happen. Here is a link from the ajc http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/richt-fires-martinez-two-222811.html

SEC Title thoughts

2009-12-02T08:41:00.005-05:00

-Florida took a big hit in the suspension of DE Carlos Dunlap for his DUI. Dunlap is their best pass rusher and is a huge mismatch for opposing offenses. Look for UF to get some work in from their younger guys such as Willie Green. Bama QB Greg McElroy can probably rest a little easy but the Gators D is still just as ramped.

-Bama was motivated all off season about the 4th quarter of last year's SEC championship game, just ask Terrence Cody. Bama won every part of that game except for the 4th quarter where Tebow does his magic on converting on clutch third downs. Should be interesting to see if Bama can finish.

-Watch out for the special teams in this one as it features the two most explosive returners in the game. Brandon James and Xavier Arenas can change the outcome of this game for either team. I don't see this game becoming a track meet but it can with this two head to head.

This game talent wise is probably better than last year. IMO, Bama has a better QB and RB than last time. Let's hope its another classic. Now, off to celebrate my birthday!

It's showtime!

2009-12-01T09:12:00.004-05:00

Let the hype begin! We have finally reached the game we have long waitied for. A rematch of epic proportions..haha..and all other phrases. take a look at Chris Lowe's blog to get ready for it all.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec

SEC Rewind Week 13

2009-12-01T09:03:00.003-05:00

So much for being an expert, guess that's why I just write a blog. I went 3 and 4 last week but as you know I'm all smiles with UGA beating GT. Congrats to the Gamecocks for beating Clemson also. Good Job ACC, you just let two middle of the pack SEC teams beat your "division champs". We beat GT and SC, so does that make us ACC champs? Anyway, lets recap.

-Florida rolled FSU as expected

-Bama needs a final drive to secure their second straight undefeated regular season.

-Miss st stuns Ole Miss by just beating the crap out of them. The Dogs look good under Mullen.

-LSU beats Arky in OT. The magic of the night lifts the Tigers to another win.

-UGA beats GT at their own game. Love it, GT in denial.

-Vols beat UK....again and again and again

SEC Championship is next and then bowl season begins.

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 13

2009-11-27T09:13:00.003-05:00

Well, we have arrived at the last week of regular season football in the SEC. It has been another short(or long depending on who your team is) season that has blinked before our eyes. The SEC championship game will wrap up this 2009 campaign with the game everyone has wanted to see. Florida and Bama will take on each other in a rematch of last year's game. December 5th is still a week away and will preview that game up and down. Let's get to these games first..

Today-

Alabama @ Auburn- Something tells me Auburn is gonna make this a close one. They have had a week off and Ol' Gus Manzhan will have a few tricks up his sleeve for the Bama D. The Tigers will give it there all but it won't be enough. Bama remains undefeated.

Ole Miss @ Miss. St- The Rebels started slow this year but are ending it on another hot streak. Dan Mullen will make the Bulldogs competitive in this but The Rebels have too many athletes on offense. Rebels win.

UGA @ GT- hurts me to make this pick but its hard to tell where the Bulldawgs are emotionally. Last week was rock bottom for the team on what has been an up and mostly down season. GT is a good team and they embarrassed the Dawgs D last year. The Dawgs haven't hit total rock bottom but after this game, it may happen. GT wins.

FSU @ UF- Well the day has finally come for all of Gator nation to say goodbye to their beloved Tim Tebow. The senior class of Gators have a 46-6 record with 2 NC'S. They haven't lost to FSU since 2003 and it won't stop here. Gators win big.

Arkansas @ LSU- The Hogs have the hottest QB in the SEC but have been injury riddled. LSU is coming off probably the worst clock management of all time against Ole Miss last week. Look for the Tigers to get back on track. Hogs make it close but the Tigers will win.

Vols @ Kentucky- Kentucky is coming off a big win for their program and the Vols squeaked by Vandy last week. I don't know what to expect in this one. Both teams have been either good or bad all year. Is this the year the Wildcats finally end the streak? All signs point to yes and I maybe drinking a little of the Kool-aid. Cats win.

Clemson @ South Carolina- Clemson is hot and South Carolina is cold as ice. Ill' take Clemson.

Well, I have picked two ACC teams to win this week. Pretty funny but the teams I chose will be taking each other on in the ACC championship game. Pretty hard for me to pick the Gators and Yellow Jackets but hey...it happens. Have a great weekend and Go Dawgs!

Rivalry week

2009-11-24T08:41:00.003-05:00

It's that time of the year.Rivalry week! This is where pride and bragging rights lay to claim at least till next year. Here is a look at the upcoming SEC rivalry games for the week.

Alabama @ Auburn- Iron Bowl

Clemson @ South Carolina-Battle in the Palmetto State

Ole Miss @ Miss. St- Egg Bowl

FSU @ Florida- Battle for Governor's cup

Vols @ Kentucky-??

UGA @ GT- Clean, old fashioned HATE!

Looks like some lopsided match ups but anything can happen in these games

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 12

2009-11-20T09:11:00.002-05:00

Not to hard of picks to make this week. As we start closing in on Championship weekend in two weeks, the two title contenders have put cupcakes on their list. Florida and Bama will when with ease. No need to try and dissect those games.

Miss St @ Arkansas- Ryan Mallet has come in and changed the way the Hogs play on offense. They will be to much on offense for the Bulldogs to handle. Dan Mullen has this team playing with confidence but alone from Anthony Dixon their isn't any offense on this squad.

Vandy @ Vols- Season will come to end for Vandy this week which has to be hard to take since they came off a history setting year. They have been plagued by injuries at key spots all year. The Vols can't seem to stay out of trouble off the field but after being embarrassed last week they will get it together and win.

Kentucky @ UGA- Randall Cobb well be a game time decision in this battle. He almost upset the Dawgs last year single handed as he just ran and threw over the defense. Its also huge because he is the backup QB due to Hartline being done for the year. This game will be close but I'm going with UGA. Senior day, at home and playing with a heavy heart due to the passing of Uga VII.

LSU @ Ole Miss- This game is intriguing to me. Ole Miss seems to have gotten it togehter on offense since the involvement of Dexter Mcluster. LSU hans't given up much on defense but the offense has been suspect all year long. Jordan Jefferson has been nicked up and having Jarrett Lee at QB doesn't scare anyone. Look for Ole Miss to win.

Have a great weekend and Go Dawgs!

UGA VII passes away

2009-11-20T08:57:00.002-05:00

Please visit this link as we recognize our beloved mascot Uga..http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/uga-vii-georgia-s-205602.html

Early look at week12

2009-11-16T08:32:00.002-05:00

This picture is being provided due to lack of excitement in this weeks game. Gonna be pretty quiet this week as we have some big miss matches.

-Florida takes on FIU
-Bama has Chattanooga
-Vandy takes on Tennessee
-Kentucky visits UGA
-Ole Miss hosts LSU
-Miss St plays Arkansas

Can't believe their are only 2 games left in the regular season. It has been joy for some or torcher for others. Either way, take in the last few games cause its gonna be another long off season.

SEC Week 11 review

2009-11-15T15:49:00.003-05:00

PERFECTION!

That's at least what I had this week as I was 7-0 in my picks this week. Let's take a quick recap over what happened in the SEC yesterday.

Florida continued to struggle on offense but the consistency of their defense prevails as there championship dreams live on after a 24-14 win at South Carolina. Their defense continues to make up for the lack of points they can't get on offense.

Alabama stuffs Miss. St 31-3. Tide offense looked good and the growing process of Greg Mcleroy is rising as he spread the ball around to several receivers. Also, Heisman front runner(imo)Mark Ingram just thrashed his way through the Bulldog defense.

Ole Miss manhandled the Vols 42-17. Dexter Mcluster set a school record of 283 yards in a game and just flat out embarrassed the Vols defense. He made great cuts and juking in open space in which made the Kiffin brigade pull its hair put.

UGA make a good comeback against Auburn 31-24,as they got down 14-0 in the first quarter. They lost there best all around play maker AJ Green to a shoulder injury but we able to run the rock as King and Ealey scored a total 3 rushing TDs. T King and Troupe filled the spot left void as AJ departed. The defense played hard and most important no penalties.

Arkansas and LSU beat their usual scrub opponents as Kentucky also became bowl eligible with a win over Vandy.

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 11

2009-11-13T09:47:00.002-05:00

This is short and sweet but I totally agreeded with ESPN's Chris Lowe on picks this week..

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec

scroll down to see them. Be safe and Go Dawgs!

Trouble on Rocky Top

2009-11-12T08:31:00.004-05:00

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/nov/12/two-football-players-face-armed-robbery-charges-tv/

Permission Granted

2009-11-10T08:53:00.003-05:00

The nation will get what it wanted as on December 5th, Alabama will take on Florida in a rematch which will decide who is king of the south and possibly the nation. It promises to be another great one as both teams maybe also searching for perfection. Personally, I would love to have a ticket in my hand for this one(anyone have a hook up?) I will be pulling for Bama but my gut tells me Florida is still the team to beat.

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 10

2009-11-05T09:02:00.004-05:00

A lot of easy games to pick on the slot this week(or so it seems) Lets waste no time....

South Carolina @ Arkansas- The Cocks are fading just like they always do at this time of thee year and the Hogs are still looking to find that complete game victory. This one is a toss up but I think Carolina will play some hard nosed defense after the shameful loss to the Vols last week and Garcia will make enough plays to win.

Eastern Kentucky @ Kentucky- Big mismatch on paper but Eastern took Indiana to the limit earlier this year so there capable of beating a DI team regardless of who it is. Maybe closer than what people think but I will take the Wildcats.

Tennessee Tech @ UGA- UGA has fallen on hard times this year and the program is starting to be questioned if its tough enough to compete with any one any more. Dawgs will win this game but they need to take care of the next three games at home. 5 and 7 and no bowl game could be a possibility.

Furman @ Auburn- Tigers continue to have confidence and win big in this one.

Memphis @ Tennessee- Vols notch another win in this one. Memphis is a program on the downfall won't compete much in this one.

LSU @ Alabama- So which LSU offense will we see and which Bama one for that matter? Both teams have been inconsistent at this side of the ball with Bama becoming recently. This game is a major toss up. Bama needs for Mcelroy to be on point. I can't see Bama winning if the just going to be one-dimisonal with just Ingram. The ball needs to be put in Julio Jones's hands...period. Look for LSU to sneak in Shepard. Jefferson has gained some confidence over the past few weeks. Both teams have terrific defenses. The have been both the staples for each team, the one constant. I like Bama since there at home but wouldn't be surprised to see LSU take this one.

Great week of football coming up. I will be in Athens to see what kind of die hards show up and how much of our fan base in bandwagon. Be safe this weekend and Go Dawgs!

Fading Fast

2009-11-04T10:39:00.003-05:00

Today, Chris Low from ESPN takes a look at the South Carolina struggles and where they plan on going from there http://espn.go.com/blog/sec

First class Jackass

2009-11-03T13:54:00.002-05:00

Let me begin by saying and clearing the air, Florida is a good team, no doubt. UGA probably had no shot(they tend to shoot themselves in the foot)to win this game but that doesn't give the excuse to act like a thug. Brandon Spikes has been on my radar since last year's game where he rolled around like he was being shot after Knowshon pushed his nasty looking ass away. To me he is a waste of talent and when he reaches the NFL, I would expect his name to show up in the docket book a few times. He is nothing but your prototyipcal thug ass player who uses eye gauging and shit talk to make his way be known. He had gold teeth and talks as if he has a third grade reading level. As for Urban Meyer suspending him for one half.....not shocking at all coming from him. His incident is way worse then any bullshit calls the SEC refs have made this year but it won't get reviewed. The SEC needs money so bashing the pretty boys wouldn't be smart. Plus it looks like Spikes has a bunch of spiders meeting on his head or a giant tarantula. Just a waste...and no more space to write about this piece of shit.

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 9

2009-10-31T08:02:00.005-04:00

Eastern Michigan @ Arky- Arkansas rolls, no doubt in my mind. Mallet goes off and the Hogs get back on the winning side.

Tulane @ LSU- This will be the last meeting between these two school as the Tigers would like to go beat up on someone else. Tigers roll and win as they get prepared for next weeks showdown at Alabama.

School located in Atlanta @ Vandy- Vandy has been down right awful on offense. With key injuries to major talent, it will be tough to win. School located in Atlanta wins again.

Miss. St @ Kentucky- This one will come down to the wire and the loser will have a hard time recovering from this one. The Wildcats get Micah Johnson back and look for more of Randall Cobb in the Wildcat formation. Cats win.

Ole Miss @ Auburn- Auburn has stumbled big time in SEC play as they have lost their past three games after winning the first five. Look for the Ole Miss Defense to play hard like they have all year and for Snead to get the ball rolling. Rebels win going away.

South Carolina @ Tenneesee- Lane Kiffin again will have to put up or shut up as he is remembered for saying that a SC commit would be pumping gas if he went there....real classy you freaking turd. Both teams have great defenses but their offenses have looked sluggish at times. I like Garcia better than Crapton. So Cocks pick up the W and Spurrier is familiar with winning at Tenneesee.

UGA vs Florida- In order for UGA to have any shot at winning this, the offense has to come out firing on all cylinders. People maybe falling in love with Alabama's D but UF has the #1 overall. Gators have a two-man rotation at every defensive position, that's why I think there better than Bama. UGA will hang in there with their own D but Cox and King have to play the game of their lives. As crazy as it sounds and you can rag me all you want but I'm picking UGA. Somehow, someway they get it done.

Another week in, have a great weekend, Happy Halloween and Go Dawgs!

WLOCP

2009-10-29T09:33:00.005-04:00

Its that time of year where Halloween has arrived, cool air has taken place and the annual WLOCP is upon us. I have to abbrivate due to the NCAA not calling it by that name anymore. Anywho, Georgia and Florida will meet once agian and this time their is no contraversy(for now) that follows it. We all know what has happend the past two meetings where in 2007 UGA rushed the field after scoring on the opening drive. Which in turn made Urban Meyer write a book and describe in third person how he was going to get revenge. The Gators just clowned the Dawgs last year and after the second quarter the game was pretty much won for UF. This year Florida comes in still ranked #1 despite playing some suspect football but lets not fool ourselves, Tebow is still around and for the proclaimed gator fans who say there tired of him? Let go of the crack pipe. UGA has had two weeks to prepare for this game which last time that happend, UGA rolled to a 42-30 "Gator Stomp" victory. However, the Dawgs are not quite the team they were back in '07. Its been an up and down year for the Dawgs with shaky play coming from about every position. Its hard to say what team will show up for this one. I do think they will come out with confidence and emotion but that can only take you so far. It should be another close game for both squads with two or three plays that will decide the outcome as it always has. Hopefully, their will be barking all night long on the Landing.

Illegal procedures

2009-10-28T09:03:00.002-04:00

This is an interesting article I thought I would share from Steve Patterson of UGAsports.com..enjoy!

I blame it all on Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs. After all, it is they, I believe, who angered Zebrus, the Greek God of Refs so much that teams in the Southeastern Conference are still paying for the Dawgs' celebration in Jacksonville in 2007. Many believed that penance had been paid when yellow flags rained down and the Dawgs drowned in a sea of points a year after the sin, but we now know that it was just the beginning.

Richt has a discussion with the officials in the 2008 Georgia-Florida game.Since the moment A.J. Green was called for excessive celebration in the final minutes of the LSU game, suspicious eyes have been on SEC officials. The call was so bad that the league office admitted the botched call a few days later. Not that the admission reversed a call that it could be argued cost Georgia the game by giving the Tigers 15 fewer yards to cover in the final minutes of the game.
Regardless, another event that took place after the game kicked off a conversation that at first seemed like something out of a conspiracy novel. When college football commentator Tim Brando suggested that there was more to the situation than just a bad call, a topic that otherwise would have been relegated to fan blogs and message boards suddenly entered the mainstream.
In case you missed it, here is what Brando said on the CBS's college football post game show: "There are more of these calls in the Southeastern Conference than any other league in America, and I am going to that because it is up to the discretion and judgment of the official that I think now that the politics of the community and of the area are going to be called into question. You don't want this to happen, because if we take this conversation where we could, it is not going to bode well for the Southeastern Conference." At the time, many believed Brando was alluding to some kind of racial issue involving the dynamics of the relationship between referees, who are largely older white guys, and players, who are largely young black guys, when he included the phrase "politics of the community and of the area". Considering the history of racial issues in the American South, the assumption that Brando was talking about race did not seem that farfetched, especially when other explanations are offered. Chief among them is this quote from Brando: "Rogers Redding, who is in charge of the SEC officials, had better tell his officials you 'had better cease and desist on calling them so quickly."
"So quickly"? What does that mean? Was Brando insinuating that the penalty was pre-ordained but executed in a manner that would raise suspicion? Whatever he meant by all of that, Redding quickly put out the fire by saying two days later that video evidence did not support calling the penalty and that it was a bad call. Case closed. Fire extinguished. Nothing to see here folks; move along. But while "so quickly" resonated in the minds of college football observers, another event occurred two weeks after the Georgia-LSU game that brought bad calls back to center stage.
With the No. 1 team in the country on the ropes in their own house, second year head coach Bobby Petrino was about to provide the "signature win" that would usher him in as an SEC coach, but then things began to go wrong. The two biggies were first a pass interference call that gave Florida a first down at the Arkansas 21 yard line, and then on the following play a personal foul was called on the Razorbacks that put the Gators at first and goal from the ten. While bad calls are one thing, and it is not like the problem is exclusive to the SEC, a penalty flag thrown by a referee who later admits he did not even see the play and only caught it out of the corner of his eye is quite another. Florida scored on the next play to tie the game at 20. They later added a field goal to win the game. Another chapter for the conspiracy theorists was in the books. Petrino was livid and blasted the officials publicly after the game. The SEC responded by saying "there was no evidence on the video to support the personal foul penalty" and suspended the officiating crew, which was the same crew that had botched the call against Green in the Georgia-LSU game, and then served Petrino a reprimand for violating league policies that prohibit "coaches, players and support personnel" from publicly criticizing referees.
What Petrino said to warrant the reprimand had another effect, and that was to provide even more fodder for the canons of conspiracy, and that was the notion that SEC was protecting its cash cows. After sharing his thoughts on how one of the plays should have been called, Petrino said: "Unfortunately, in Florida, they don't call it that way." What does that mean? Is he saying that the level of enforcement of rules varies by virtue of where the game is played or who is playing? Who knows? As was the case with Redding's admission of the bad call in the UGA-LSU game that did away with Brando comments, the SEC's successfully muzzled Petrino from elaborating. But there is more. Last Saturday, in games featuring Florida and Alabama, there were questionable calls late that benefitted the two unbeaten teams that sat atop both major polls in the number one and number two spots. After their game with the Gators, Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen said that officials had blown a call midway through the fourth quarter and called for disciplinary action against the crew by the league office. The play in question was a Florida interception that was returned for a touchdown in which the Gator defender appeared to lose control of the ball before crossing the goal line. While the play was reviewed, the replay official did not see any evidence to overturn the play. "He definitely lost control of the ball before the goal line," said Adam Gorney of GatorBait.net. Coach Mullen agreed and fired off this salvo at league officials after the game: "That's twice now that they've blown calls on the replay with our games, resulting in big plays, and I think that's inexcusable for that official. I hope he's severely punished if he ever works another SEC game again, because I think it's completely unacceptable." He received a nastygram from the league office shortly thereafter. Lucky for Mullen, he did not spout off after the famous goal line stand of undefeated LSU when they held Mississippi State out of the endzone in the final minute of their contest. My sources in Starkeville say that Mullen believes running back Anthony Dixon scored a touchdown on their second down play from the LSU one yard line. The good news is that if Mullen indeed has a problem with that call, he realized that anything he said publicly would not change the record books, which is pretty much the path Mark Richt took following the celebration call on Green. Meanwhile, in Tuscaloosa, the Alabama Crimson Tide was doing all they could to stay undefeated while Tennessee first year head coach Lane Kiffin was taking no chances. With the ball in Alabama territory and trailing 12-10 with 35 seconds remaining on the game, Kiffin opted to run the clock down to four seconds before attempting a field goal. What was odd is that he had his team attempt the kick on third down. Why didn't he try to move the ball closer for an easier field goal attempt? "I wasn't going to let the refs lose the game for us there and some magical flag appear," Kiffin said afterwards. What? Really? Did a Southeastern Conference head football coach just say that the course of action he choose was determined not only by down and distance, game clock, and the scoreboard, but also the likelihood of a bad call? With four seconds remaining in the game, Tennessee's kick was blocked by Alabama. Terrance Cody, the Crimson Tide player who blocked the kick, removed his helmet and ran down the field. Whether or not Cody should have been called for unsportsmanlike conduct is irrelevant, but it did generate a lot of "preferential treatment" talk on Internet message boards. When Kiffin said he ran out the clock for fear of bad calls from the refs, he ensured the game would be dragged into this conversation. He was later reprimanded by the league for his comments.
While the SEC is quick to reprimand coaches for their comments, it is not just the coaches who are saying things that make the league look bad. Why did the SEC choose to remind fans of the rules regarding noise making devises last week when they have not done so in quite some time? I may be wrong on how long it's been, but I don't remember the last time, and perception is everything. Mississippi State is the only school in the SEC with any kind added noise history beyond booster lungs. The cowbells of Starkeville are the only example of such a thing, and while the No. 1 team in the nation prepared to travel to the Magnolia State, the league office decided it was time to remind everyone to hush and be still.
Are conspiracies any easier to come up with? Did I mention that every one of these events involved something that benefited an undefeated team?
Can we add in here now the one about how the SEC is trying to ensure that its undefeated teams remain so on their way to the BCS jackpot? Designer championship anyone? At the very least, how about a No. 1 vs. No. 2 SEC Championship game? I do not believe in those types of things, but the actions of the past few weeks have left the SEC with some explaining to do. They are sitting ducks for the type of conspiracy theories mentioned here, and who knows what else someone is dreaming up out there in the wide world of sports. Perhaps it is time that the 12 head coaches call a "coaches only" meeting and demand more accountability on officiating. Perhaps start with giving teeth to College Football Officiating for more oversight on league employees officials. After all, unless these bad calls were by design, which is something any sane person scoffs at, a bad call could be on the way for any team at any time. The SEC needs to repair the public's perception of these issues. Zebrus should be satisfied by now; after all, this Saturday marks the two year anniversary of the celebration, which apparently, was excessive.
Post Script: Since this column ran, the AP has reported that Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin, whose reprimand mentioned above was his second this year, is pouting.
"I'm not gonna get into it . . ., " the AP reports he said Tuesday. "As hard as it is for me to do, I'm not gonna do that. I'd love to."
Call the coaches only meeting guys-don't fight this battle in the press.

Laying the law down

2009-10-27T09:54:00.002-04:00

The SEC has spoken and reprimanded Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin on Monday for comments he made criticizing the officials following Alabama’s 12-10 victory over the Vols. Kiffin was upset with the discrepancy in the number of penalties called in the game. The Vols had eight and the Crimson Tide just one. He also said Alabama’s Terrence Cody should have been penalized for taking his helmet off on the field after blocking Daniel Lincoln’s field goal, which Kiffin said would have moved the Vols closer and given them another shot at a field goal. In the SEC’s statement, it was pointed out that this was Kiffin’s second reprimand in this calendar year. He was also reprimanded back in February for comments he made about Florida’s Urban Meyer. “Coach Kiffin is on notice that for any further violations of SEC policies will subject him to additional penalties, including suspension,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive warned in his statement. Again, though, there’s a bigger issue at stake here. Coaches are starting to speak out more than ever before about the officiating, which only fans the flames out there of the nonsensical conspiracy theory that the SEC is trying to rig it where Alabama and Florida both meet unbeaten in the SEC championship game. Did you catch’s Kiffin’s jab on Sunday after practice? “I'm sure we'll get one of those letters that mean nothing, that Bobby [Petrino] got last week, but Florida and Alabama live on,” Kiffin said. Is he saying that Alabama and Florida play by a different set of rules? It sure sounds like it. If you’ve got a coach in the league suggesting as much publicly, then you’ve got a problem. A big problem. And it’s one that doesn’t seem to be getting any better. It’s to the point now where coaches are almost thumbing their noses at Slive and the league office as if to say, “Go ahead … reprimand me, fine me, do whatever. I don’t care.” The only reason the SEC announced last week that it had suspended the officiating crew from the LSU-Georgia and Florida-Arkansas games was because it was getting so much heat nationally. But the embers are glowing from within the conference, too. Just ask Kiffin or Petrino or Dan Mullen, who’s likely next on Slive’s hit list for some of his biting comments coming out of the Florida game.

SEC Rewind Week 8

2009-10-26T12:18:00.002-04:00

Two close games for the top teams in the land and more heat on SEC Refs..

Just to recap the Vols and Tide...Vol fans are thinking Bama is lucky after Cody blocked a game winning field goal. Please, you would think that all the money spent on the vols"all star coaching staff" to have someone go over special teams. Plus Kiffin didn't show any confidence in Crompton to at least get them in better position to make the kick. However, Bama did get away with what I felt should have been a dead ball personal foul when Cody took off his helmet.

Gators escaped another nail bitter when the had what should have been a touchback on a fumble by defensive end Dustin Doe as he high stepped in the endzone(where was the excessive celebration flag?) The SEC needs to start cracking down on garbage calls and officiating. Start visiting whats "excessive" and whats not. This is only going to get worse!

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 8

2009-10-23T09:15:00.001-04:00

Here are my picks for Week 8 in the SEC:

Kentucky 34, Louisiana-Monroe 14: Even with the injuries, Kentucky looks good to go for the stretch drive. Derrick Locke is banged up, but he’s been outstanding. And what can you say about Randall Cobb that hasn’t already been said? This is a team that persevered through the toughest part of its schedule and has a chance to take off from here.

South Carolina 24, Vanderbilt 9: The mere sight of black and gold causes South Carolina fans to cringe. The Commodores are riding a two-game winning streak over the Gamecocks, which hasn’t gone over well in Columbia. But South Carolina is too good on defense this season and Vanderbilt is too bad on offense for that streak to continue. The Commodores haven’t scored more than 10 points in an SEC game.

LSU 31, Auburn 21: Given the way Auburn has struggled on defense the past few weeks, Gene Chizik’s club just might be what the doctor ordered for LSU’s struggling offense. This is one of those games you don’t want to miss in the SEC. There’s always some type of thrilling finish, controversial play or memorable performance. It won’t be very memorable for Auburn, which will see its losing streak extend to three games.

Ole Miss 28, Arkansas 24: Both teams really need this game, and the winner has a chance to go on and have a big season. The Hogs look like they’re starting to settle into a groove. The Rebels have yet to prove much of anything this season. Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead is due, though, and gets it done Hotty Toddy style on Saturday.

Florida 34, Mississippi State 17: The Urban Meyer vs. Dan Mullen matchup will get a lot of the billing, but the No. 1 Gators can’t get caught up in anything other than playing their game. The Mississippi State community is jacked for this game, and the environment should be electric. The Gators don’t need a history lesson about the last time they visited Starkville. They lost 38-31 in 2004, and Ron Zook was fired two days later.

Alabama 24, Tennessee 13: The Third Saturday in October is taking place on the fourth Saturday in October this year. This is one of the classic rivalries in college football and filled with so much history. Even in those years when one team is clearly better and has more to play for, it’s usually a fourth-quarter game. With the way these two defenses have played this season, Saturday’s game shouldn’t be any different. But Mark Ingram and the Crimson Tide will wear down the Vols and pull away for their third straight win in the series.

Ref who cried wolf

2009-10-22T08:54:00.001-04:00

SEC official Marc Curles tells ESPN.com's Mike Fish that he knows he made a mistake and has beaten up on himself for the 15-yard personal foul penalty called against Arkansas' Malcolm Sheppard last weekend. Curles and his crew have been suspended by the SEC from working another game until Nov. 14. His crew was also the one that worked the Georgia-LSU game where A.J. Green was wrongly called for an excessive celebration penalty.

SEC Midseason review

2009-10-21T10:54:00.002-04:00

We’re right back where we ended the season a year ago in the SEC. Midway through, Florida and Alabama appear poised to square off in the SEC championship game for the right to play for what would be the league’s fourth straight national championship and fifth in the last seven years. Both the Gators and Crimson Tide are unbeaten, and they’re Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the first BCS standings that were released on Sunday. Even though the Gators are unbeaten, they’ve had a few bumps in the road getting here. The offense is completely reliant on Tim Tebow, who suffered a concussion in the Kentucky game, but hasn’t missed any game action. Tebow has been the heart and soul of the running game, and the downfield passing game hasn’t been very consistent.

Alabama’s Mark Ingram leads the SEC with 905 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns.The Crimson Tide had been much more diverse offensively until the last two games when quarterback Greg McElroy didn’t throw the ball nearly as consistently as he did in their first five games. The constant with both teams (and the league in general) has been defense. Big surprise there, huh? Alabama and Florida are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in total defense nationally. Tennessee (13th), South Carolina (19th), Ole Miss (23rd), Vanderbilt (24th) and LSU (35th) give the SEC seven of the top 35 defenses in the country. Auburn was the big story the first month of the season. The Tigers started out 5-0 under first-year coach Gene Chizik, but have lost their last two games and look like they might be running on empty with a defense that is hurting for numbers. After Alabama and Florida, it’s difficult to sort the teams out from there. They’re all pretty close. In other words, the third best team in this league isn’t appreciably better than the ninth best team. All but three teams already have two conference losses. The team that stands the best chance to break up what’s shaping up to be an Alabama-Florida rematch in the SEC championship game is LSU, which lost 13-3 at home to the Gators two weeks ago. But that was the Tigers’ only loss, and they still get a shot at the Crimson Tide in November. There are sure to be some other twists and turns along the way. There always are in the SEC. Just last week, both Alabama and Florida had to fight like crazy to survive at home. And even then, the Gators got a little help from the officials. So don’t write anything in ink just yet. Offensive MVP: Alabama RB Mark Ingram With Alabama’s passing game taking a turn for the worse the last two weeks, the Crimson Tide have really jumped on Ingram’s back. He obviously has wide shoulders even if he is built pretty low to the ground. The 5-foot-10, 212-pound sophomore has been a tackle-breaking machine and leads the SEC with 905 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, eight rushing and three receiving. He’s doing it all for the Tide -- running, catching and blocking -- and has also delivered several big plays. Defensive MVP: Alabama LB Rolando McClain Midway through, it’s one big Alabama party. McClain gets the nod over South Carolina outside linebacker Eric Norwood and Tennessee safety Eric Berry based on how versatile he’s been and his overall impact on the Alabama defense. Nick Saban says McClain is one of the smartest players he’s ever coached. He calls all the signals and makes sure everybody is where they’re supposed to be. He’s also plenty productive from his middle linebacker spot. He leads Alabama with 49 total tackles, including 6.5 for loss. Go back and look at how many game-changing plays he’s been involved in, whether it’s deflecting a pass that leads to an interception, forcing a fumble that leads to a touchdown or intercepting a pass himself. He’s the most complete middle linebacker in the country. Biggest surprise: South Carolina The Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2) are in position to have their best season under Steve Spurrier. There were a bunch of question marks entering the season, but quarterback Stephen Garcia has matured. The defense has overcome injuries and youth to be one of the better units in the SEC under Ellis Johnson and his staff, and even in their two losses, the Gamecocks have been right there. They played Alabama as well as anybody has this season. Now let’s see if they can finish the season, which has been a problem in Columbia. Biggest disappointment: Ole Miss There’s still time to make something of this season, but the Rebels’ hopes of playing in their first-ever SEC title game pretty much went down the drain before the month of September was over. They were awful offensively in their two biggest games to date, losing 16-10 to South Carolina and 22-3 to Alabama. It’s been a rough first half of the season for quarterback Jevan Snead, although he played better last week in the win over UAB. The best thing the Rebels have going for them is Tyrone Nix’s defense. They’ve been terrific on that side of the ball. Best game: LSU at Georgia, Oct. 3 In all honesty, the game wasn’t that great until the final few minutes. But the finish was thrilling and made up for everything else. The two teams combined for three touchdowns in the final 2:53, with Charles Scott breaking loose on a 33-yard touchdown run to win it for the Tigers with 33 seconds to play. Only seconds earlier, A.J. Green had put the Bulldogs ahead 13-12 after going up and over an LSU defender to wrestle away a spectacular 16-yard touchdown catch. As fate would have it, Green was hit with a bogus 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for celebrating, a penalty the SEC later said should have never been called, and LSU’s Trindon Holliday took advantage by taking the ensuing kickoff back 40 yards to the Georgia 38 -- setting up Scott’s run. Honorable mention would go to Georgia’s 41-37 win over South Carolina on Sept. 12, Georgia’s 52-41 win over Arkansas on Sept. 19 and Florida’s 23-20 win over Arkansas on Oct. 17. Best coach: Alabama’s Nick Saban Chizik looked like a runaway winner here until the last two weeks. He’s still done a nice job with an Auburn team that’s really hurting for depth. Spurrier deserves a few votes, too. But Saban gets the midseason award based on the fact that nobody saw the Crimson Tide being this dominant with everything they lost last year -- two All-American offensive linemen, a three-year starter at quarterback and their captain and best safety on defense. The Tide have just reloaded, though, and are trying to become the first Alabama team since 1973 and 1974 to go unbeaten in back-to-back regular seasons. Seems like old times at the Capstone.

Recruting tactics

2009-10-20T10:27:00.002-04:00

UT’s Kiffin just latest to use helicopters in recruiting

Tennessee coaches arrive at M.L. King-Stephenson game in a rented helicopter this past Friday. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin is neither the only coach nor the first coach to employ a helicopter in recruiting. In fact, lots of the schools are doing it these days, according to a recent article in The New York Times.Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans reported on Oct. 16 that swooping into high school games on a chopper is just the latest emerging trend in major college football recruiting. Cincinnati, Missouri, UCLA and Maryland are among those that have apparently been doing it for awhile. In fact, the Terrapins apparently were one of the first to employ the strategy but no longer do it due to budget constraints, the newspaper reported.But such grandiose tactics hadn’t been seen in these parts until Kiffin and assistant coach Ed Orgeron arrived at the nationally-televised M.L. King-Stephenson game this past Friday at Hallford Stadium in Clarkston in a small, rented helicopter. It was a carefully orchestrated ploy in which the pilot made sure that he landed at the adjoining soccer field precisely as the “Star Spangled Banner” was playing over the stadium loudspeakers and the 7,000-person crowd was standing at attention. Every player on both teams — there were as many as 20 Football Bowl Division prospects participating — turned and watched as the red chopper hovered longer than needed about 30 feet above the ground.All eyes now on them, Kiffin and Oregeron entered the stadium from a back gate and hobnobbed with coaches and administrators on the sidelines as the teams went through their final pregame paces, then watched the first half of the game. At halftime, they piled back into the tiny whirlybird, took off and headed north to Suwanee where they arrived during the first few minutes of the North Gwinnett-Northview game.The players seemed to appreciate the show.“That really felt good to me,” said Mike Thornton, a star defensive tackle at Stephenson and one of the Vols’ primary targets. “[Kiffin] told me he was going to come in and show off a little bit and, sure ‘nough, he did his thing.”It’s a two-fold strategy. One, it obviously has the potential to make a big impression on impressionable young recruits. Two, it’s a fast and nimble mode of transportation that can help coaches can avoid traffic and make multiple stops in one night.UCLA actually has its own helicopter, “Air Bruin,” which was donated by Larry Welk, the grandson of the late entertainer Lawrence Welk. Coach Rick Neuheisel told The Times it is invaluable for navigating over the infamously awful L.A. traffic and allows them to attend mutiple games in one night.Helicopters can also be rented (costs range from $1,000 an hour up). Judging from the size of the helicopter Kiffin and Orgeron were squeezing into, the Vols went the low-budget route.
Georgia Tech is of course located in downtown Atlanta and is surrounded by some of the worst traffic in the nation. But recruiting coordinator Giff Smith said he doesn’t see the Yellow Jackets resorting to such tactics.“We’ve never used it with Coach [Paul] Johnson and I don’t see us ever doing that, to be honest,” he said. “The head coach only gets one ‘drop-in’ and we think it’s important for him to sit down in the home with the parents and explain how he’s going to mentor their kid and help him achieve his goals academically and in football. I don’t know you can do that flying into a football game.”

Week 7: Preview and Predicitons

2009-10-16T08:36:00.003-04:00

Here are my picks for week 7:

Mississippi State @ Middle Tennessee What is Mississippi State doing playing at Middle Tennessee? Talk about a game where you have everything to lose and nothing to win. The Bulldogs are coming off three tough losses in a row, so they’re not going to be picky about the particulars. They need any win. It won’t be easy in Murfreesboro, Tenn., but Anthony Dixon and Co. will find a way to grind it out.

Ole Miss @ UAB The worse Ole Miss plays, the worse its schedule looks. This schedule wasn’t very flattering when you broke it down back in August. It really looks like a dud now. So far, the Rebels have beaten Memphis, Southeastern Louisiana and Vanderbilt. They get a chance to add UAB to that list on Saturday, which isn’t going to win the Rebels much love nationally. But more than anything, they just need a game where they play well on offense and get everybody going in the same direction.

Georgia @ Vanderbilt -Go back and check the recent history of this series. Vanderbilt always seems to play Georgia tough, and it beat the Bulldogs in Athens in 2006. Vanderbilt has really targeted the state of Georgia in its recruiting, too, so winning this game would give the Commodores even more legitimacy when they start knocking on doors in that state. Look for another second-half game, but Vanderbilt simply doesn’t have enough offense to pull off the upset.

Kentucky @ Auburn -The schedule has really worked out pretty nicely for Auburn to this point. The Tigers get to come back home after their first loss of the season and face an injury-riddled Kentucky team that will be playing without its starting quarterback and best defensive player. The Wildcats played valiantly last week at South Carolina, but you wonder if they’re about to hit that wall.

Arkansas @ Florida- This is the fourth straight week that Arkansas has faced an unbeaten team. The Hogs also get the pleasure of being the second team this season (joining Kentucky) to have faced both Alabama and Florida, the top two teams in the country. The Hogs have a better idea of what they’re getting into for this game than they did at Alabama and have improved on defense. This game will be closer than most people expect, but the Gators are too dialed in to stumble now.

South Carolina @ Alabama- Any time you get Steve Spurrier on one sideline and Nick Saban on the other sideline, it ought to be fun. Now, if Spurrier were still coaching some of those Florida teams from the 1990s, this would be one everybody would want to see. But he’s not. Anyway (as the Head Ball coach would say), the Gamecocks have been one of surprises in the SEC in the first half of the season and have hung in there despite some costly injuries on defense. Quarterback Stephen Garcia is getting better, and this could be one of Spurrier’s best teams at South Carolina. But that’s still a far cry from having a team that’s ready to go to Tuscaloosa and beat an Alabama team that might be the best in the country.

Trying to bounce back after last week. Peace and Go Dawgs!

Defenseless?

2009-10-15T09:53:00.002-04:00

Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has done some research on where the Georgia defensive starters ranked in some of the recruiting services coming out of high school, and the results are pretty telling. And not real pretty for the Bulldogs. As Towers notes, talent shouldn't be the problem right now for the Georgia defense, which has given up 37 or more points eight times in the last 15 games dating back to least season. According to Towers, the Georgia defensive starters had a higher average rating coming out of high school than even Alabama's defensive starters. Eight of Georgia's 11 defensive starters averaged at least 4 stars (out of 5) coming out of high school. hmmmm...so where does that blame fall?

Collison course

2009-10-13T09:06:00.002-04:00

While none of these beauitful girls have nothing to do with the actual football part of these school, we thought we would go ahead and give them apprication anyways.......Thanks ladies..cheers to you.

You can see it from a mile away. We’re not even to the midway point for some teams in the SEC, but you can see it coming. Alabama and Florida are on a collision course to meet again in the SEC Championship Game. And after the most anticipated Saturday of the season in the SEC, it’s hard to discern at this point who has the better team. They both made convincing arguments. Florida, playing with a Tim Tebow who wasn’t quite Tim Tebow, ruined what has become a national holiday in these parts, Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. The No. 1-ranked Gators rolled to a 13-3 victory over the No. 4-ranked Tigers to stay unbeaten and now have their toughest road game of the season out of the way. Nick Saban and Alabama are on course for another showdown with Florida.Do they stay No. 1? Does it really matter? Florida senior linebacker Ryan Stamper doesn’t feel the need to lobby, but he doesn’t think there’s a better overall team out there. “With our offense, defense and special teams clicking as one, I think we deserve that No. 1 spot right now,” Stamper said. The Gators (5-0, 3-0) have won 15 in a row dating back to last season, the nation’s longest winning streak. And while two of their three SEC wins this season were still close in the second half -- unlike their blitzkrieg through the SEC in October and November a year ago -- nobody seems too concerned about style points. “We don’t even talk about (being No. 1), really,” Florida tight end Aaron Hernandez said. “We just go out there every game like we’re the worst team in the country and come out and fight. “We try to grind every game. Every game is the same to us, come out with a victory.” Stamper admitted that he tuned in to part of Alabama’s 22-3 bludgeoning of Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon while hanging out at the team hotel. “The SEC championship will get here when it gets here,” Stamper said. “We’ve got to play every week.” Perhaps so, but the rest of us can start anticipating a rematch now. After all, the game last season in Atlanta was a classic. “Yeah, that would be a good rematch for the SEC championship,” Hill said. “But right now, we’re not looking that far down the road. We’re looking at Arkansas. We’ll take it one step at a time.” That’s certainly been Alabama’s mantra this season. Of course, it better be if you're going to play for Nick Saban. The No. 3-ranked Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0) haven’t had a close game in the second half since the season-opening win over Virginia Tech. They didn’t just beat the Rebels on Saturday. They beat them up. Between them, the Florida and Alabama defenses gave up just one third-down conversion Saturday. LSU was 1-of-9 against Florida, and Ole Miss was 0-of-9 against Alabama. And to this point, the Crimson Tide have been even more diverse offensively than the Gators. They’ve run it when they’ve needed to (See Mark Ingram’s career-high 172 rushing yards against the Rebels), and they’ve thrown it when they’ve needed to (See what Greg McElroy has done all season without throwing an interception since the opener). Granted, there’s still a lot of football left to be played. But a second straight No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in the SEC Championship Game doesn’t seem that far away.

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 6

2009-10-09T08:12:00.004-04:00

MONSTER weekend of SEC games this week. I'm just going to sit my little tush on the couch and just watch away....we live for games like these...LETS GO!

Vandy @ Army- This is the first of two option offenses the Commodores will see this month. Of course, defense hasn’t been the problem for the Commodores this season. They simply haven’t been able to score, totaling 19 points in their three SEC losses. Look for them to match that total at West Point, which should be enough to even their overall record at 3-3. Vandy wins

Auburn @ Arkansas- Gene Chizik has done a terrific job with the Tigers, who at 5-0 are the surprise team of the league. They’re extremely balanced on offense and playing with a purpose. The chinks have come on defense, which has given up more points and yards than anybody on the Plains would like. That will finally catch up with them in Fayetteville, where the Hogs will find themselves on the right end of a shootout this time. UPSET of the week, Hogs win a wild one.

UGA @ Tennessee- The Vols have been close enough to be dangerous in their two SEC losses. Their defense has given them a chance against both Florida and Auburn. Now, if only the offense would cooperate. The Bulldogs haven’t been able to run it the past two weeks, which doesn’t bode well for them against Monte Kiffin’s defense. Meanwhile, the Vols’ running game seems to be hitting its stride. However, rain may play a factor in this one and UGA will get that pass game going. Dawgs rebound and win.

Kentucky @ South Carolina- Too bad South Carolina can’t play Kentucky every week. The Gamecocks haven’t had many teams’ number in the SEC, but they’ve pretty much owned the Wildcats. South Carolina has won nine straight and 11 of the last 13 games in the series. History’s not the only thing working against the Wildcats, either. Both of their starting cornerbacks, including All-American Trevard Lindley, are out for this game. Cocks win big.

Houston @ Miss. St- The Bulldogs go from a run-happy offense last week to a pass-happy offense in Houston this week. The Cougars can score points with the best of them. They just can’t stop anybody. UTEP’s Donald Buckram ran for 262 yards and four touchdowns last week against a Houston defense that’s allowed 121 points in its last three games. Think Anthony Dixon is licking his chops? Dogs win.

Alabama @ Ole Miss- These teams always seem to play close games, and Alabama always seems to win. The Crimson Tide have won five straight and six of the last seven in the series. If the Rebels (and Jevan Snead) were playing better, it would be tempting to pick them at home. But Alabama’s defense is just too good, and the guy playing quarterback for the Crimson Tide hasn’t been what you’d call shabby. Bama wins.

Florida @ LSU- Will he, or won’t he? Picking this game without knowing the playing status of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is like trying to hear the signals in Tiger Stadium on a Saturday night. The place will be rocking for sure, and LSU’s defense will be ready for whatever quarterback Florida trots out there. Ultimately, though, the difference will be the Gators’ defense, which has only given up two touchdowns all season. The Tigers have had a hard time scoring touchdowns in the red zone, and you’re not going to beat Florida kicking field goals. Gators win.

Final thoughts- Well I have run my record to 26-3 in predicting these things. Hopefully my trend continues. Y'all be safe out there, peace and Go Dawgs!

Talent reigns

2009-10-08T09:21:00.004-04:00

Florida and LSU are two of the most talented teams in the country. That talent will be on display Saturday night in Tiger Stadium in the form of 27 draft-eligible players who have a chance to either be drafted or sign as free agents, according to Scouts Inc. analyst Todd McShay. McShay has Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap rated as the No. 1 overall prospect in college football right now. Florida cornerback Joe Haden and LSU receiver Brandon LaFell are also rated highly by McShay.

Bring the Ruckus
Death Valley is a wild place. LSU has a 32 night game win streak there and from every opposing player they say the ground shakes and Mike the Tiger greets you as soon as you get off the

bus just eating away at a piece of meat. The area will be set ablaze this weekend and it just gives you goosebumps thinking about it.

On call

2009-10-07T09:07:00.003-04:00

Two years after blowing up Tim Tebow’s cell phone with voice mails and text messages, the LSU students are at it again.This time, they’ve gotten hold of the cell phone numbers of No. 2 quarterback John Brantley and starting wide receiver Riley Cooper, and they’re wearing out their thumbs sending text messages to the two Florida players.“They’ve left a bunch of them,” Brantley said Monday. “There haven’t been any death threats or anything. I just ignore them.”Brantley said he also thinks the LSU students have Urban Meyer’s cell phone number.“Supposedly so,” Brantley said.Starting cornerback Joe Haden said Cooper also has been getting texted by some LSU students.“He was like, ‘They got it (Cooper’s cell number),’” Haden said.Haden said he hasn’t received any messages on his phone from Baton Rouge.Two years ago, Tebow received hundreds of messages on his cell phone the week leading up to the UF-LSU game. There even were some death threats.I don’t know where they’re getting the numbers from,” Haden said. By the way Tigers, ask Knowshon how he feels about having his phone blow up last year.....http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&source=hp&q=knowshon%20moreno&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#q=knowshon+moreno+vs+lsu&hl=en&emb=0

State of the Dawgs

2009-10-06T10:11:00.004-04:00

If you a die hard fan of the Dawgs like me, Saturday was probably the worst loss you have ever had to take. Sure, you can blame it on the worst penalty call in football history,which the SEC has apologized for, but Georgia still had plenty of chances to win the game. I have waited a couple days to pass before I made any comment on the game. The defense played very good, collecting 6 sacks and an interception. Made a huge stop on a 4th and 1 to prevent LSU from possibly going up 13-0 before halftime. They played like a unit that we have been looking for since 2007. Yet, again the offense was dreadful. They had no running attack and no blocking from the o-line to create holes. Alone from Washaun Ealey's runs, nothing was made from Richard Samuel and Caleb King. Cox looked tentative and missed receivers on what could have been big plays for the offense. Point is this program is way to talented not to put itself in contention to win these type of games. You look at this roster and it cries talent. Good enough to compete with anyone is this league. So , if its not talent then it has to be coaching. Don't get me wrong, Mark Richt is a very good coach but what prevents him from being a great one is who he has surrounded himself with. I'm a firm believer in that assistant coaches help define a head coach. The quick successes of Urban Meyer and Nick Saban is not due to them just walking in the locker room and demanding wins or just relying on good recruiting. Those two have surrounded themselves with experienced, fundamentally sound assistants. Guys who have come in with experience in there backround. Some in the NFL and some at other big programs in college. Which leads me to call out a few coaches in the UGA staff.

Mike Bobo- We all know his play calling has just been down right dreadful. Too many inconsistencies in the ability to either put games away or trying to make a comeback. Bobo was a great QB coach, where he lead David Greene, DJ Shockley, and Matthew Stafford. He became the OC back in the fall of 2006. The game totally changes when you have been put in position to make a choice on what your offense should do. With no experience at the helm, Bobo has struggled. In part of Georgia not being able to win big games lately is because the offense has sputtered. Big games against Florida, Alabama, and LSU the past two seasons have lead to critical losses.
Willie Martinez- He has received a lot of criticism throughout the fan base for having opponents run up and down on the defense far from Richt days of early. He has had experience but Central Florida, Grand Valley State(real school, don't ask me where) and Central Michigan are no where near the talent he sees in the SEC. He is a good recruiter for the team but again, game planning? not so much.
Jon Fabris- No problem with him as far as defensive ends but his ability in special teams is very puzzling. Saturday, he decided to kick to the fastest man in college football and tried a new kickoff formation that only gave LSU 5 more yards to the long run they had. Don't even get me started on kickoffs, it never fails that we at least kick a ball two or three times out of bounds a game. We need someone to coach special teams full time. Just ask Urban Meyer how important they are.

I'm not saying this is the end of Georgia football but I'm coming to a realization that if we continue with these same trends, were not gonna get anywhere. Mark Richt seriously needs to reevaluate what he is doing assistant wise before its too late. Get this team some emotion also, every big game we have played we look lethargic and play scared. Go out there with no fear of anyone or any team. Please change the mindset before its too late.To me, you demote Willie and Mike back to there old positions. Make Rodney Gardner the job he has wanted as defensive coordinator, hire a special teams coach full time and let Coach Richt go back to play calling. After all, he did win two national championships at FSU for that job. Just my honest opinion of things...but I will always be loyal to the Dawgs no matter what. GO DAWGS!

SEC Rewind Week 5

2009-10-05T09:29:00.004-04:00

It was a rough weekend, so were just gonna have a quick wrap up of the weekends game.

SC State @ SC- No Surpise here as the Gamecocks win 38-14. Next up, a home game vs Kentucky.

College located in Atlanta @ Miss St- Bulldogs turnover the ball to which the opponent capitalizes on. Dogs lose again. Next up a tough one vs Houston.

Arkansas @ Texas A&M- Razorback roll, Aggies never came close. Arkansas gets Auburn next

Alabama @ Kentucky- Bama sleepwalks through this one but was able to pull away. Bama heads to Ole Miss next.

Ole Miss @ Vandy- Rebels struggle again but picked up a win. Vandy heads to Army.

Auburn @ Tennessee- Tigers roll in this one. Vols could be in for another long season. Vols get set to host UGA next week.

LSU @ UGA- Tigers score late second touchdown to win in Athens. They host Florida in what could be the game of the year next week.

Later on I will be addressing my thoughts and concerns about the UGA football program. After two days of thinking about it, I still feel strong about it.

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 5

2009-10-02T09:03:00.004-04:00

Man o man, this is the type of weeks we live for. Got some good games on the dock and I'm looking to continue my streak. I hold a 20 and 3 record but the games are starting to be harder to predict starting this week. So here we go.....

South Carolina St. @ South Carolina : The Head Ball Coach has spent all week talking about how good South Carolina State is, even though he doesn’t know any of the players’ names. “We’re not a team that tries to learn all the names of the players we play against,” he explained. He just knows the FCS Bulldogs look good on tape. That may be, but the Gamecocks have come too far to lose one like this. They have a great chance to be 5-1 going into that Alabama game on Oct. 17. The only way I could see them losing is by having a Ole Miss "hangover". Gamecocks win.

College located in Atlanta @ Miss St- I will not refer to the school that the Bulldogs are playing Saturday night. You may say "There are alot of schools located there" but you know which one I speak of. Anyways, The No. 25-ranked "team" is coming off their most complete performance of the season in a 24-7 win over North Carolina, while the Bulldogs are trying to put a bitter 30-26 loss to No. 4-ranked LSU behind them. This is an improved Mississippi State football team under Dan Mullen, but taking on a second straight nationally ranked foe is too tall a task for the Bulldogs, especially going up against the "teams"triple-option offense. As bad I wanna say no, I think the college in Atlanta wins.....ugh....

Arkansas @ Texas A&M- Now that I have picked the worst game ever, we move to this one. I think the Hogs are in almost in a free fall after losing back to back games. A third one would definitely make a total free fall happen. I think they will bounce back and this maybe a game where whoever has the ball last wins. Hogs win it.

Alabama @ Kentucky- Even though Kentucky played Alabama within a field goal a year ago in Tuscaloosa, the Wildcats simply haven’t proven that they’re good enough on offense or disciplined enough across the board to beat a team the caliber of Alabama this season. Turnovers and mistakes have haunted the Wildcats. They turned the ball over on three straight possessions in the win over Louisville and then got off to a horrid start last week in the loss to Florida. Playing like that against the Crimson Tide is a recipe for a two- or three-touchdown loss. Tide rolls.

Ole Miss @ Vandy- The Rebels still have nightmares of the six turnovers they lost last season in the 23-17 home loss to the Commodores. If Ole Miss is for real, this is a game Houston Nutt’s club will find a way to win after last week’s disappointing loss at South Carolina. Nothing is ever easy against Vanderbilt, though, and the Commodores will certainly come after Jevan Snead. They just haven’t shown they can score enough points to pull out the win. Ole Miss wins a squeaker.

Auburn @ Tennessee- The Vols have been a difficult team to read this season. They looked average at best in the UCLA loss and lackluster win over Ohio last week, but played Florida straight up in a hard-fought loss in the Swamp. Going on the road for the first time won’t be easy for Auburn, which has played a pretty soft schedule to this point. But the Vols are so banged up in key spots, namely at middle linebacker and on the offensive line, that the Tigers should be able to capitalize and go to 5-0 on the season. Based on what we’ve seen so far, Tennessee is going to have a hard time scoring 20-plus points against anybody in the SEC. Tigers win

LSU @ UGA- This is the big daddy game of the week. These two teams combined for 90 points last season, and remember that two of Georgia’s touchdowns came on interception returns. Neither defense has played great this season. Both have had some key plays and some key stops, but the talent on both defenses is better than what they’ve shown to this point. LSU needs to find a way to revive its running game after being stopped in its tracks last week. But, then, Georgia hasn’t exactly stopped anybody’s passing game this season. The difference will be A.J. Green, who’s red hot. The Bulldogs are finding ways to get him the ball, and he’s delivering. Going up against Chad Jones will be Green's first big test this year as far as going up against an individual. Look for the X-factors of both squads. LSU has true frosh phenom QB Russell Shepard, while Les has used him sparingly through the year, he could be on showcase this week. For UGA, I think the TE's Aron White and Orson Charles will be key. Look for their numbers to be called especially since AJ will see the double and possibly triple team coverage. Should be another good one Between the Hedges. Dawgs win a close one.

Well there it is, tough games to chose on and I'm still trying to feel confident in all of them. Will see how it goes. Have a great weekend and Go Dawgs!

Top of the Tide

2009-10-01T08:53:00.003-04:00

Greg McElroy for Heisman? Barely a month into his career as a starter, No. 3 Alabama's quarterback is putting up strong enough numbers that Heisman Trophy talk is starting up. At least at his own Sunday night cookouts with buddies."They were giving me a hard time about it, saying 'Oh yeah, New York' and all that stuff," McElroy said.Playing for a national title contender helps any player's chances of getting to New York for the presentation.McElroy's numbers have been impressive if not dazzling, too. His 175.2 rating is third nationally in passing efficiency. Since a rough opening half in his first career start against Virginia Tech, McElroy has thrown for 844 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions while completing 76 percent of his passes.While he is flattered by the Heisman buzz, McElroy says that's not his focus."It's nice to get recognition for an award like that, but we're here to win championships not individual awards," McElroy said. "I think the only way that your name can get mentioned for a thing like that is having your team play well around you. ... It's not something I'm going to be thinking about or consciously worrying about." Such is life for the man they call "big bird", sure the heisman hype is probably out of control but if Alabama keeps rolling, he could be picking up a national championship trophy instead.

Player Profile: AJ Green

2009-09-30T08:54:00.003-04:00

This week we profile Georgia BullDawg phenom wideout AJ Green. You might be saying I'm just posting this because I'm a homer but in reality anyone who thinks he is overrated or says that Julio Jones is better, they should go check their temperature. Don't get me wrong Julio is a good player but AJ is a very special player. I'm talking about the special that can lead you to being one if not the greatest of all time in the program. The kid just has a cool and calm demeanor and all he wants to do is win. From day one, he has always been loyal to the red and black. He committed to UGA two years before he even stepped on campus. Never wavered or swayed to any other school. He played the majority of his freshman year with a groin injury but still was able to put up numbers that made him SEC freshman of the year. He has been compared to Randy Moss since high school and while he has a ways to go, he has not disappointed in the comparison. AJ has saved UGA in a couple of games including this past weeks against Arizona State, where he picked up SEC honors for offensive player of the week that included a TD catch where he side stepped the defender, which made the poor boy fall, a blocked field goal that would have put the Devils in front with 2 minutes left and a final catch that set up the game winning field goal. AJ is truly is amazing and I could write all day about him but I do have a job to do(which I prefer to be on here) I think when its all said and done Green will be up their with Herschel Walker..and maybe a little higher....maybe

I have to many videos to post so I figured, why not just see the whole page...Enjoy!

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&source=hp&q=aj%20green&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#

Tigers on the prowl?

2009-09-29T08:54:00.004-04:00

Much is still to be made of the 2009 Auburn Tigers but one can't help but notice that the War Eagles have made some serious strides in their quest to return to glory. First year head coach Gene Chizik has gotten the Plainsman offense rolling up yards on offense like the days of old.Only 27 teams in Auburn history have started a season 4-0. Eight of those occurred after 1974. Of the eight teams in the last 35 years that started 4-0, only two failed to win at least ten games. The 1994 Tigers reeled off nine before a closing with a tie and a loss. Auburn started 2000 with five consecutive wins before fading to 4-4 down the stretch.A lack of quality competition over the first four games is a valid criticism. None of the four teams Auburn defeated in 2009 were ranked at the time. That doesn't impact the trend, however. Of the eight Tiger teams that started 4-0 since 1974, only two beat a ranked opponent during the four-game streak. The 2009 Auburn Tigers have a long way to go before they can start considering double digit win totals. At some point during the SEC season, Auburn will run into a team that will put the clamps on the offense and the Tigers will need to lean on the defense to earn a win.

The Tiger stopping unit has so far shown no indication it is capable of holding up its end of the bargain. The next stop will be a visit to Tennessee this week, which we should get a better grasp of what both teams should be like for the rest of the year. Auburn has impressed me with the dual duo of running back Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb. As we know, the Tigers seem to have potent offenses when they have two legit backs(see Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams). Quarterback Chris Todd seems to have his confidence grow from week to week. He is coming off a 5 touchdown passes game and seems to really grasp the offense better than last year when he was benched in favor of Kodi Burns(who is now a wide receiver) The defense is still needing improvement as Ball State out up good numbers including 30 points. This seems to be the only factor of the Tigers really being back. The special teams have been terrific with a few blocks and touchdowns. All in all, we figure the Tigers to make it to a bowl this year and pull maybe one or two upsets along the way. We will be keeping check on the Tigers, Plainsman, and War Eagles.

Major contenders suffering from the injury bug

2009-09-28T12:11:00.006-04:00

Alabama and Florida seem to still be on a collision course for a rematch for the SEC Championship in December but both suffered some major blows in the injury department over the weekend. While both teams have looked the real deal in every game so far this year, Injuries can derail dreams of a title quickly. Just ask the Georgia Bulldogs who were succumb to there own last year.

The Gator nation is in somewhat of a frenzy due to the injury of quarterback Tim Tebow. As he fell backward, his helmet struck teammate Marcus Gilbert's leg, violently bending his neck forward.Teammates and trainers rushed to Tebow's side, but several minutes passed before the quarterback sat up with help and then slowly made his way off the field. He eventually was carted off. My question for this is why was he playing anyways? They were up 31-7 midway through the 3rd quarter. Jeff Brantley is the future anyway so he might as well be getting in some work. Also, middle linebacker Brandon Spikes has been bothered by a Achilles problem and wide receiver Deonte Thompson missed his second game with a hamstring pull. Florida will have a much needed week off to get rested up for probably their toughest game of the year at LSU.

Alabama was not also safe from the bug as head coach Nick Saban confirmed the injury of sophomore linebacker Dont'a Hightower, he will undergo knee surgery to repair ligament damage, and Hightower is expected to miss the remainder of the season. It's a big loss for the Crimson Tide, as Hightower had been extremely versatile. He was one of their best pass-rushers and was lining up at the hybrid jack linebacker spot on passing downs. After he was injured last Saturday in the Arkansas game, he was replaced in the lineup by sophomore Courtney Upshaw. Here is Saban's statement on Hightower's injury:
“Dont’a Hightower’s MRI confirmed that he has ligament damage in his knee that will require surgery. Dont’a is a fine young man, has been an outstanding player for us, and we are confident he will make a full recovery.”(How weird is it that I could find a picture of both Hightower and Tebow in the same game)

Anyways, the lesson here is if the Tide and Gators can hold on to the top spots in the division. These teams are extremely talented and well coached, so it will be a great challenge for both coaches. As usual, a championship never comes without adversity and so far it has arrived for both squads.

Lets see what there made of...

SEC Rewind: Week 4

2009-09-27T15:14:00.004-04:00

LSU @ Miss St.- Goaline stand at the 1 saves the tigers in this one. LSU agian didn't look impressive but made plays when needed. LSU heads to UGA next week.

Arkansas @ Alabama- Bama steam rolls the Razorbacks and look ready to hit the road at Kentcuky next week.

Florida @ Kentucky- Tebow suffers a serious concussion and leaves game. Wonder what Florida will look like. They get a bye next week, just in time for a injury riddles team.

Ohio @ Tennessee- Vols looked uninterested as they trailed at the half but got things together but agian the rushing was a non factor. Good test next week agianst Auburn.

Ball St. @ Auburn- Tigers put up big numbers agian on offense and roll along.

Arizona St. @ UGA- Dawgs need last second field goal for the win to make up for sloppy game.

Vandy @ Rice- Vandy puts out best performance of the season for a big win.

Sorry, for the short and to the point post, will have more later.

SEC Preview and Predictions Week 4

2009-09-25T09:10:00.005-04:00

Before we get started, lets talk about last nights game between Ole Miss and South Carolina. I have never seen a top ranked team play so scared like I did watching the Rebels last night. Snead turned in a horrid performance and as it seems, Ole Miss is still not ready for the big time. Give credit to the Cocks, as usual the defense stepped up and shut down the offense. The play of Stephen Garcia wasn't flashy but I think Spurrier has finally found himself a quarterback that can get it done. Garcia has put 3 games together of good play and has built himself some confidence. The relentless pressure they put on the Rebels on Defense was outstanding. Ole Miss looked unfocused and shaken. The o-line was mostly dominated giving Snead no time to throw and we he did have time, Snead didn't make good choices by throwing into double coverage. Ole Miss failed to connect on two fourth downs which pretty much made the game in doubt. Even, the touchdown they threw Snead was about to be sacked and the fullback ran into the back of him. All in all, the Rebels still have a shot at the SEC West, which in my opinion is wide open for the taking. They get Bama and LSU at home which seem to be their only tough games left. The big question out of all this is, how good is this South Carolina team? Remember, there only one play away from being defeated.

LSU @ Miss.St- This is a dangerous game for LSU. The Bulldogs are a confident bunch after winning at Vanderbilt last week, and senior running back Anthony Dixon is running like he means business. This is also Mississippi State’s first game back home after two straight games on the road, so the cowbells will be ringing with renewed vigor. The difference will be an LSU defense that hasn't allowed a touchdown in the past six quarters and appears to be rounding into shape under first-year coordinator John Chavis. Tigers win in a sneaky game.

Arkansas @ Alabama- Watching Ryan Mallett go up against Alabama’s defense will be a treat, although it might not seem that way to Mallett when he’s got Marcell Dareus, Dont’a Hightower and Rolando McClain chasing him. The Hogs’ passing game is the real deal, but so is Alabama’s defense. The Crimson Tide will get Mallett out of the pocket, where he didn’t look quite as effective throwing against Georgia last week. Tide wins going away.

Florida @ Kentucky- The Gators have scored at least 45 points in three of the four games in this series since Urban Meyer arrived in 2005. The Wildcats had serious problems hanging onto the ball last week in their win over Louisville. If you turn the ball over against Florida, what happens is what happened to the Wildcats last season when they were clobbered 63-5. It won’t be that bad this time around, but the Gators will still take out a little frustration after not having their "A" game last week against Tennessee. The flu-stricken Gators win.

Ohio @ Tennessee- Well, it’s a different day on Rocky Top. The Vols are trying to work their way back to elite status under Lane Kiffin and hope to build off their hard-fought 23-13 loss to the Gators. The best way to do that is play with the same pride, purpose and toughness they played with at the Swamp from here on out ... regardless of its Ohio.

Ball State @ Auburn- Ball State limps into Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 0-3 record, including a loss to the same North Texas team that was trounced last week by Alabama. Look for the Tigers to go to 4-0 and pour it on in this game, almost as hard as the rain poured last weekend on the Plains.

Arizona State @ UGA- This game scares me a bit(just like every other) but with more rain on the way just in time for kickoff makes me nervous. The Dawgs have had a hard time holding on to the ball at the running back position and throwing rain into the mix just doesn't make me feel comfortable. Arizona State has the best defense in the nation but have played two high school opponents(not true, but close enough) I'm going to pick an x-factor is this and this is going to send shock waves through my friends and family but I think Caleb King will be the difference. I say shock waves because I have done nothing but bash the kid since I saw him play in high school when he was at GAC. I was actually calmed by the fact he returned last weekend and he looked good. So, I will take the Dawgs in this one.

Vandy @ Rice- If the Commodores ever needed a win, they need one now. They were able to get by last season with a strong defense and key plays on special teams, which masked a limited offense. There’s been no masking that offense this season, but a simplified attack and a few big plays from sophomore quarterback Larry Smith should be enough to keep the Owls winless. They’ve given up 140 points in their first three games. Vandy wins in a close one....hopefully.

Well there are the picks. So far, I'm 13 and 3 for picks so lets hope we keep rolling. I will be in person for the UGA game so check back Sunday as I review everything. Peace, be safe and Go Dawgs!

Rebels with a cause

2009-09-24T08:41:00.005-04:00

Well, the time has come for Ole Miss to take its first big test in what is supposed to end with at least an SEC West title. The Ol' Ball coach has something to say about that so lets dig into this a little more.

With the school's highest ranking in nearly 40 years, Ole Miss opens SEC play with a trip to South Carolina. Jevan Snead, voted preseason first-team All-SEC by Steve Spurrier, is off to a so-so start with 5 TDs and 2 INTs. The Rebels are trying to win an SEC opener for the first time since 2003.Mississippi (2-0) has a short week to get ready for its SEC opener after defeating Southeastern Louisiana 52-6 on Saturday. The victory came after the team spent its bye week recovering from a case of the swine flu that affected more than a third of the roster."Jevan really came on (Saturday)." Nutt said. "I felt that he could have had five or six touchdown passes. He threw the ball very accurately."Mississippi, which expects to have star defensive end Greg Hardy(sprained left ankle) back this week, forced five turnovers Saturday and stopped Southeastern Louisiana on all 14 third-down attempts.Defensively you have to prove it every day," free safety Kendrick Lewis said. "What we did tonight doesn't mean anything at South Carolina."The Gamecocks (2-1, 0-1) are coming off their best offensive game of the season, but they haven't faced a defense as talented as Mississippi's.South Carolina compiled 516 total yards in Saturday's 38-16 win over Florida Atlantic. The Gamecocks led 17-16 at half, but scored on three straight possessions in the second half to break open the game.South Carolina's running game finally got on track, racking up 287 yards against the Owls after rushing for 222 in the first two games combined.The discovery of a running game meant quarterback Stephen Garcia didn't have to match the 53 passes and 313 yards he had in a 41-37 loss to then-No. 21 Georgia on Sept. 12."We run the ball like that, we're going to be pretty tough to beat," said Garcia, who completed 20 of 27 passes for 222 yards, throwing for one touchdown and running for another.
It likely won't be that easy to move the ball on the ground against a Mississippi team that limited Southeastern Louisiana to 86 rushing yards on 30 attempts."Things are going to get a lot tougher," running back Brian Maddox said.

This is becoming a tough choice to decide the winner but I still feel Ole Miss will pull this one out. I think they will make enough plays in the passing game to get it done. The Gamecock D struggles with the pass and tackling has become issue outside of Eric Norword. Should be fun! Plus the lovely Erin Andrews is on the sideline and that gives us plenty of joy.

Player profile: Eric Berry

2009-09-23T08:52:00.009-04:00

I thought about posting comments about the catfight that is still raging between Lane Kiffin and Urban Meyer but I'm done talking about those two. There now just acting like school girls as if they weren't before. So, with that said we begin a new segment in which we highlight special players around the league. This isn't your daddy's "player profile" where we tell you the favorite ice cream or book. We just let the video's do the talking. First up is Tennessee safety Mr. do-it-all aka headhunter aka soul destroyer aka beast. As I get carried away with nicknames, most of you know him as Eric Berry...aka Terminator...sorry. While I still feel a little torn about the fact he chose the Vols over the Dawgs(family connection) He simply is the best defensive player in the country to me. When quarterbacks line up on offense, the first thing they check to see is where is the predator? Here you can see Tebow didn't http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWij0BlWsD0. Tyler Donovan thinks he won't pay the price for this TD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvro9N3LKfI Berry was tied for the national lead in interceptions, with seven, and has already set the all-time career SEC record for interception return yards with 487 yards. Berry also set the single season SEC record interception yardage mark with 265 yards. The NCAA record for interception return yards is 501, set by Terrell Buckley of Florida State, which Berry only needs 15 return to tie the NCAA record. Here is one those picks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HPERvTwnfk

"The fifth dimension" is not shy about making contact either http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZKTaC9-jDQ and last but not least just watch this work he does here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw6s6ompZ7w.

I really enjoyed Berry never backing down on the mighty Tebow. 1 sack, 2 interceptions and a couple tackles on "superman"over his career.Alright already your probably saying and yeah, maybe we are over doing this but we should enjoy it, mainly Vol fans, because he will easily be a top 5 pick in the NFL draft come April.

SEC Rewind: Week 3

2009-09-22T08:39:00.003-04:00

After seeing the sun for a few days and having a much needed break, it was time for me to return to home or as I like to call it Water world. If you have been in GA for the past week you know what I mean. Anyways, its time for the rewind...

Louisville @ Kentucky- I was able to watch the second half of this one, in which the game itself was just a a typical see-saw battle. Both defenses weren't that impressive as they both gave up yards and big plays. However, Kentucky made the big play on defense when it needed to with a game sealing interception in the closing minutes. Derrick Lott looked good at running back and won SEC honors this week. Next up for the Wildcats is the mighty(or flu riddled)Florida Gators.

North Texas @ Alabama- Nothing much to say here, we pretty much summed it up in the preview. Bama got off to a quick start and never looked back. Trent Richardson played good as Mark Ingram. Next up for Bama is a visit from the Ar-Kansas Razorbacks.

Tennessee @ Florida- Well, this game to much surprise was closer than what folks expected. I give the Vols alot of credit of hanging in there and making the Gators earn this game. To me, not only did Tennessee give them a fight, I think they also set up a blueprint for future Gator opponents. Stop the run and make Tebow beat you with his arm. The running game for Florida is what makes them tick. If Demps and Rainey get going, it will be tough for any team to win. However, if you shut that phase of their game down, you have a chance. Tebow ran the ball himself over 20 times and took some shots(including Eric Berry's spine busting hit). As mighty as Tebow thinks he is, no QB likes to hit over and over. Which by the way, when he started to yell at his offense, did anybody get the feeling that his antics are getting old? I noticed some of his teammates just put their head down as he looked like an idiot. I'm getting off task but to pretty much some this one up, the Vols didn't have enough offense. Crompton was awful yet again but with Kiffin has recruited, this game is going to be fun for years to come. Florida will head to Kentucky as the Vols will head back to Rocky Top to face Ohio. I can't believe the Vols have only 4 road games this year, now 3. hmmmm....

Louisiana-Lafayette @ LSU- LSU won to no ones surprise but again, they didn't look good doing it. I don't want to take much away from this game but the offense looked sluggish once again. Charles Scott put in a decent day but everyone else was plain as day. Maybe things will start to change as they hit the road for the next two games. You can usually find out what team you have on the road. They begin their two game road stretch of playing Bulldogs or I call it Bulldawgs. First up is Miss. St.

Florida Atlantic @ South Carolina- The Gamecocks used a big second half to pull away in this one.They scored on three straight possessions in the second half to turn an uncomfortably close game at half into a rare blowout. Next up for them is Ole Miss on Thursday night...this game really has my attention.

Miss St @ Vandy- Ugly...only one way to describe this game. Not going to mention anything else...Miss. St takes on LSU this week, while Vandy travels to Rice.

Southeastern Louisiana @ Ole Miss- Blowout win for the Rebels as they get set to take on the Gamecocks Thursday night, should be fun.

UGA @ Arkansas- Love what I see from the UGA offense, not going to harp on them for now,but this is what is scaring me about this defense:

1) Last in the SEC in total defense
2) Last in the SEC in scoring defense
3) Last in the SEC in passing defense
4) Last in the SEC in interceptions
5) Second to last in SEC in sacks
6) Last in the SEC in allowing opponents 1st downs
7) Second to last in the SEC in allowing 4th down conversions
8) Last in the SEC in turnover margin

Has to be fixed, plain and simple. I blame both players and coaches for these problems. This is a great article from David Hale. Lengthy but real in depth http://dawg-extra.blogspot.com/2009/09/where-did-it-all-go-wrong.html

West Virginia @ Auburn- Auburn passed its first major test of the season, pulling out a 41-30 victory against West Virginia before a rain-soaked capacity crowd of 87,451 at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night. The Tigers (3-0) matched wits with the Mountaineers' high-powered offense, led by the passing duo of Chris Todd and Darvin Adams, who hooked up for three touchdown passes on the evening. Their third - a 17-yard strike with 12:07 left in the game - gave Auburn its first lead of the night at 34-30.Linebacker Craig Stevens sealed the win, tipping a screen pass from West Virginia quarterback Jarrett Brown to himself before dodging defenders for 15 yards on his way to the end zone with 3:41 to play. Auburn finished the game with five interceptions and six total takeaways. Auburn takes on Ball State this week.

Well, that's it, I'm going to get back in my raft as I hear more rain is on the way...Later!

SEC Previews and Predictions for Week 3

2009-09-17T09:08:00.007-04:00

Well, I'm off to a wedding this weekend,I hit the road tonight so I'm gonna go ahead and do this a day early. I will try to post the reviews on Sunday but if not it will be early in the week.

Louisville @ Kentucky- I will be honest with this one. I haven't seen Kentucky play at all this year and only read about the drubbing the gave to Miami of Ohio so I really can't form an honest opinion of the team. Randall Cobb is a major threat with his feet and can be with his arm with quick passes. He is quite the athlete, as most know he made the switch from wide receiver to quarterback towards the end of the season last year. Kentucky is pretty banged up heading into this one and Coach Brooks noted that senior fullback John Connor, who missed the Miami game because of an ankle sprain, appears ready to play Saturday. Junior wide receiver Kyrus Lanxter did not participate on Tuesday and is doubtful for the game. Redshirt freshman Cartier Rice remains questionable as he recovers from a strained hip.Brooks also announced that freshman linebacker Ridge Wilson has been suspended for at least one week, including Saturday's game, because of a violation of team rules. However, I do like the Wildcats in this one because Louisville is simply not that good from what I have seen. Indiana State? Please, Wildcats win and then get prepared for UF and Bama to make trips to Commonwealth Stadium.

North Texas @ Alabama- Another easy game for the Bammers. Look for much of the same from last week. Ingram and Upchurch got a little beat up last week so look for freshman running back Trent Richardson to carry the rock some more like he did last week. Julio Jones may not play in this one(knee problem) but Bama is too strong and they will roll once again. Crimson Tide win big.

Tennessee @ Florida- As much as I would like to see a plane crash into the stadium Saturday(kidding) it dreads me to pick this game. Florida is going to be gassed up for this one and the only legit shot the Vols have is if Bryce Brown pulls a Knowshon and gashes the D for 174 yards and 3tds(ha) but more importantly Crompton has to have the best game of his career and not turn the ball over 3 times. Florida has to have an off day for any upset chance. Too many things have to happen for the Vols so I'm taking Florida and big. I'm curious to see what the post game handshake is like between the two head coaches, won't surprise me if it doesn't even happen.

Louisiana-Lafayette @ LSU- The Tigers to me has been shaky so far this year, I really don't know what to expect or think of them yet. The barely escaped Washington and scraped by Vandy last week. This is a game where the Tigers can get out to a quick start and gain some much needed confidence. The Ragin Canjuns at times look to pull upsets as they did last week against Kansas St but LSU is to talented. They win easily.

Florida Atlantic @ South Carolina- After last weeks heartbreaking loss at Georgia, look for the Gamecocks to spread the ball some more as Garcia should have confidence after passing 54 times and completing over 30 of them. The Owls have had two weeks off since the beating they took against Nebraska. Rest won't help in this one. Gamecocks pick up a fairly easy victory.

Miss St @ Vandy- The Bulldogs were the first team to beat Vanderbilt last season after a 5-0 start, and things were never quite the same for Bobby Johnson’s club. The Commodores again look to be strong on defense, although they lost senior safety Ryan Hamilton last week to a season-ending injury. The Bulldogs are trying to prove they’re not as bad as they looked on defense in last week’s 49-24 loss to Auburn. Vanderbilt gets it done at home I think but this one will be close.

Southeastern Louisiana @ Ole Miss- It’s a good thing the Rebels haven’t had to play anybody to this point. The team was ravaged by the flu last week, and several players were affected in the opener against Memphis. Either way, Ole Miss gets another glorified scrimmage this week and would like to look a little sharper for all four quarters before hitting the road next Thursday for its first real test against South Carolina.

UGA @ Arkansas- This is a game the Hogs have been pointing to since the summer and a game that will shape their season one way or the other. My heart tells me the UGA defense will make things hard for the Razorbacks but I'm afraid if we can't get pressure from the Defensive ends the Hogs offense will put some points. A big play or two on special teams might determine this one. As I mentioned before Arkansas will pull out all the stops in this one but I'm not sold on teams opening up a game with emotion cause if you get down 7-0 all that goes out the window. I'll take the Dawgs in this one, I think there special teams will be the difference with Boykin ,Smith and Miller returning kicks and what no one seems to be talking about in Dawg Nation is the resurgence of Blair Walsh. He missed 6 of his last 11 FG attempts at the end of the season last year and he has already made all three FG attempts. They have come from 40-plus yards, with two from 50-plus, including a career-long 53. Dawgs win a close battle again.

West Virginia @ Auburn-You can feel the excitement on the Plains right now, but Auburn coach Gene Chizik is doing his best to keep everything in perspective. That said, a win over the Mountaineers probably means the Tigers go into the month of October unbeaten. Their running game has been what’s separated them in the first two games and will again be the difference Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Ben Tate, Onterio McCalebb and Co. roll it up for another 300-yard night on the ground. Tigers win a close battle.

Final thoughts-Should be another good week of games, I went 5 and 1 last week so will see how I fair. I'm trying to figure out how I can watch these games while I'm at a wedding reception so if anybody has any good ideas let me know because watching it on a phone doesn't really get me excited. Anyways, have a great weekend and Go Dawgs!

Arkansas uprising?

2009-09-16T09:52:00.004-04:00

For the second time in three weeks, The Georgia Bulldogs will be facing a team that is out to make that "key" win in their programs quest to make a run at a conference title. First it was Oklahoma State which you recall beat the Dawgs but only to fall to the Houston Cougars...ugh...now enter the Arkansas Razorbacks or as Les Miles calls them "Ar-kansas" (see video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBd3WOdVbBQ) As we all know, Bobby Petrino leads the Hogs after he flew the state of Georgia back in 2007 when he literally left the Falcons in the middle of the night. Although, clearly it has worked out for the better for both parties, The Razorbacks have takin the role of dark horse to win the SEC west this year. After a 5-7 season last year, many folks believe the Hogs could be that surprise team that no one is thinking about. With good talent on the roster such as running back Michael Smith(seen above) and tight end DJ Williams things could get surprising for them. Asked about this weeks game Petrino said "“For us to win a championship, we have to win all our home games,” Petrino added. “This is a game we’ve been looking forward to. We spent a lot of time in our preparation. We need to go out and play well and win the game.” Winning home games are huge in sports because the road is never a friendly place and this boads true for the Hogs. They are the only team in the league this season that has to play Alabama, Florida, LSU and Ole Miss on the road.....ouch. So expect Arkansas to pull out all the stops Saturday night, it should be another good game.

Rivalry reborn..

2009-09-15T09:07:00.004-04:00

Well, the time has come for Lane Kiffin to back up his words that he first mentioned when he was brought on as the Vols headcoach. As you recall, he stirred things up by saying he vowed to end the program's four-game losing streak against Florida and sing "Rocky Top" all night long.

Don't forget he threw Urban Meyer under the bus back in February when he falsely accused Meyer of a recruiting violation. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley rushed to Meyer's defense and called for an apology. SEC commissioner Mike Slive reprimanded Kiffin, who then issued an apology. Well of course this isn't acceptable to Timmy Tebow as yesterday he stated "I don't like anyone talking about coach [Urban] Meyer," Tebow said. "I try to not let it affect me, although I always have coach Meyer's back in anything because I know what type of person he is and I know what he believes in, I know what he stands for.
"But I don't think coach Meyer worried about it too much. I think we kind of dropped it or moved past it." While, Timmy sounds more like a 8 year old boy rushing to defend his daddy than his head coach, let it be known, Florida will be ready. This game is going to be fun..oh and by the way Florida has opened up as a 28.5 point favorite.

The Return of Verne....and Gary

2009-09-14T13:37:00.003-04:00

Ahh...yes....football commentating has become a lost art form over the past few years. It's hard for me to find anyone to listen to without putting the TV on mute. Then three years ago, a dynamic duo was born in the form of two guys who look like chairmans of a board than a broadcast team. Enter Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson...While this Saturday marks the return of the CBS, Tenneesee vs Florida if you have been living under a rock,we are extremely excited that Verne's "I just crapped my pants" type calls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wRfHpzdmg8 or Gary's love for Timmy Tebow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxWFDgQyZgo. We enjoy every moment! Gary is almost in the coaches head when he can correctly predict what play is coming or when these two decide to dance is even brilliant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qLkHr61Z2M&feature=related.... They don't however win the award for best sideline reporter, Tracy Wolfson is cute but Erin Andrews is better..ahhh.....but anyways if u can't tell were ready for the return of college football's best broadcast team.

SEC Rewind: Week 2

2009-09-13T19:47:00.008-04:00

What a WILD weekend it was...as I write this post, my voice is still recovering from last night I as was in person watching my Dawgs barely escape the scrappy gamecocks 41-37. It was close which was normal but not with all the high octane offenses that were on show.Anyways, some other games were played and I will touch on UGA a little later and while you have enjoyed ESPN showing the super bowl(the real USC vs oho state).. let's get started with SEC talk..

FIU @ Bama- Greg McElroy couldn't miss, Trent Richardson was running wild and the No. 4 Alabama defense was punishing Florida International physicallyDespite all that, the Crimson Tide (2-0) wasn't able to start feeling comfortable until the final 19 minutes of Saturday night's 40-14 victory.McElroy completed a school-record 14 consecutive passes before finishing 18-of-24 passing for 241 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown to Mike McCoy. Bama was half alseep in the first half but was able to close out. Look for much the same next week as the take on North Texas..

Miss. St @ Auburn- It seems like its been a long time since Auburn football was fun. New offensive coordinator Gus Malzhan is well on the road to changing that dynamic.In his first two games with the Tigers, Malzhan has helped shred the team's offensive record books, sent the scoreboard pinwheeling and put the Tigers at as solid a 2-0 as could have possibly been hoped for.The Tigers didn't quite get there, finishing with 589. Still, it was the second straight 500-plus yard outing for a Tiger offense that had difficulty gaining any yardage a year ago. Through two games, the Tigers have amassed a school-record 1,145 yards. Auburn didn't break the 1,100 yard mark as a team until the fourth game of 2008. Ben Tate and Onterrio McCalebb both topped the 100-yard mark for the second straight time. It's the first time in school history two backs have gone over 100 yards in consecutive games. Tate finished with 157 yards and didn't play a single snap in the first quarter. McCalebb added 115 on just 15 carries. Both Tate and McCalebb averaged more than seven yards per attempt. Whewwwwww...alot on that. Miss St wasnt too bad but the D was shredded..Auburn takes on West Virginia next week and the Bulldogs travel to Vandy.

Troy @ Florida- Not much to say, UF was asleep the first half but where still able to destroy Troy..ha..D was tough and able to cover for some of the early turnovers by the offense. Tebow lead the way and Hernandez impressed. Next up for the defending champs is the very humbled Vols, which also marks the return of CBS and Verne with Gary Danielson..we can't wait for that!

SC @ UGA- We learned something about these Bulldogs on Saturday night. We learned that they might not be as gifted or as polished as vintage Georgia teams, but we learned that they still have Bulldog-sized hearts.Yes, they played better — at least on offense and on special teams — than they had in Stillwater, but the revelation was that they played infinitely harder. They could never quite shake South Carolina, but if not for their resolve they wouldn’t have exited with a careening victory. They’d have left 0-2. The TE for SC was open all night like steak and shake and made the Dawgs pay.DeAngelo Tyson, blocked the automatic PAT, and Georgia still held the skinniest of leads. That’s the kind of play a defensive end doesn’t figure to make, a quick turnaround after the opposing D has just scored, but Tyson threw up his hand and kept the Bulldogs in front by being, not to put too fine a point on it, a bulldog.And that’s what Georgia fans could and should take from this one. This isn’t a great team by any measure, but it was never going to be. What was troubling about falling to 0-1 was how readily the Bulldogs succumbed to Oklahoma State (which just lost to Houston — hahah). What we needed to see this night wasn’t if Georgia was the nation’s most gifted assemblage — it isn’t — but if it still can play the full-tilt brand of football that made this program famous.It took a while, both literally and figuratively in a game that lasted four hours, but we have our answer. There’s still fight in these Dawgs. These 1-1 Dawgs.Cox looked good except for one play which should be blamed by Bobo but we still held on. UGA travels to Arkansas while SC plays home to Florida Atlantic

Vandy @ LSU- UGLY game...No. 11 LSU (2-0) appeared methodical at times offensively, but the Tigers turned in a much more solid defensive performance than they had in some time and a much better one than they did on the West Coast in the season opener against Washington.The solid turn defensively buttressed the predictions of several LSU players who had said throughout the week the Tigers faithful might be unduly alarmed by the opening-night game in Seattle in which the Huskies rolled up more than 470 yards.Vanderbilt, on the other hand, never established a running or a passing attack. Both teams contended with a steady downpour that began toward the end of the first quarter and intensified before petering out at halftime. The rain drove many of the 91,566 at Tiger Stadium home early.The Commodores (1-1) managed just 210 yards of offense compared to LSU's 326. LSU will play host to Louisiana-Lafayette, while Vandy will play host to Miss. St.

UCLA @ Rocky Top- The Vols were brought back down to earth with a very humbling 19-15 loss. Crompton looked like well...the Crompton of last year. UCLA played like an SEC defense and were able to manage enough offense (not much) to win. Where the Vols looking ahead to UF or are they just the Vols ust that bad..time will tell and their next stop is Gainesville where Urban and the boys have been waiting.

Ole miss returns to action with cupcake SE Lousiana(why does this state have so many crappy schools)

Kentucky will take on Louisville

SEC Previews and Predictions for Week 2

2009-09-11T09:27:00.010-04:00

Well, week 2 is upon us and some of SEC begins league play so lets not waste anytime and get to it.....

FIU at Bama- The usual cupcake game fitted right in for the home opener for Alabama after there very impressive win over VT last weekend. Look for the Bammers to get started quickly with a dose of Mark Ingram(which I'm starting to have a man crush on) and Roy Upchurch. Mix in that defense that just seems to play with a chip on its shoulder and it could get ugly quick. So, in a predictable manner, I like Bama big in this one.

Miss St. at Auburn- It can't get any uglier than the game last year between these two when the Tigers won 3-2...an yes I'm talking about football not baseball. Both schools are coming off wins from far less talented teams Jackson St and Louisiana Tech but both games showed promise for the two new head coaches Gene Chizk and Dan Mullen. Starting QB Chris Todd for Auburn looks healthy and productive after off season surgery and RB's Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb are good balances to the offense. I like Chris Relf for the Bulldogs along with the always dangerous Anthony Dixon but I think the War Eagles Defense will be too much. Tigers win.

Troy at Florida- Not much to say here, another cupcake, another win for the Gators.

South Carolina at Georgia- After last weeks disturbing offensive output by both teams, the outcome of this one will be by the smallest of margins, which is normal when these two rivals meet up. Last year UGA won 14-7 needing a last second pick to seal the deal. Not to mention the Dawgs had a better offense than now which is really scary. This game is huge and LB Rennie Curran has already stated to the media that this game puts the Dawgs reputation at stake. Stephen Garcia of the Gamecocks seems like the norm for Ol' ball coach which have had no good play from any QB's since he has arrived. However, the Cocks Defense looks good as always run by DC Ellis Johnson, who in my opinion is the top assistant in the SEC, Clifton Geathers and Eric Norwood are beasts of the defense.I like Georgia in this one, at home and that defense is finally laying out WR's like the days of old. I think with all the negative talk from the OSU game will have the offense going.

Vandy at LSU- Tigers are coming off a solid win agianst the Huskies and Vandy with a blowout of Western Carolina. I'm really impressed with the ability of Charles Scott, seems to have no drop off from his big year last season but I'm still not compeltely sold on Jordan Jefferson. Terrance Toliver looks like the next great recevier for the Bayou Bengals and looks to have a big year. Vandy QB Larry Smith looked good but left due to injury this week which makes the Tigers a lock for me because new DC John Chavis will have Mackenzi Adams, not so good QB, running around crazy.

UCLA at Tennessee- This was an ugly game last year as UCLA won 27-24 and what began the final year of Fat Phil in Rocky Top. First year head clown(err..coach) Lane Kiffin had an impressive opening win over W.Kentucky 63-7. Yes it was a cupcake but Tennesee has had trouble putting away cupcakes of late(see Northen Illinois,UAB, Wyoming, etc.) Bryce Brown was impressive as did Nu'keese Richardson. Crompton looked solid, However, I fear the Rocky Toppers will be looking ahead to next weeks showdown with Florida and in return making this a closer game than expected. As much as I wanna see Lane lose it probably won't be this week. Vols squeek one out.

Check back on Sunday as I cover on how everyone did and preview to some good games next week! Peace and Go Dawgs!

As the Dawg turns....

2009-09-10T15:46:00.003-04:00

Everyone knows the story on Joe Cox. 5th year senior from Charlotte, North Carolina. Played behind some good quarterbacks in his football career such as #1 draft pick Matthew Stafford, 2006 College National Champion Chris Leak,blah, blah,blah. It seems that the senior starting quarterback's final year at UGA is taking off at a weird and head scratching pace that seems to attract nothing but drama. Today, ESPN and Rivals reported that Joe would be benched in favor of Redshirt Sophmore Logan Gray because of a tired arm....with the way alot of his passes came out saturday against OSU ,that would make perfect sense. There was no zip and throws that were made at times made him look like a freshman in high school still. However, Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and Coach Richt have come out and said the story is false(which btw..thanks ESPN for proving that you suck as always when it comes to reporting anything thats not on the east coast) Still, this is weird due to the fact that ''dead arm" is likely to happen in baseball players than football. This also adds to the list of stories that seem to happen one or two days before kickoff..remember last week when people reported he had swine flu and would not make the trip to Oklahoma? Turns out he didn't have the piggie bug and was able to suit up. Whether he was 100% is another story in itself, which I will contuine to share my thoughts as we go along.Maybe Richt is pulling another "Celebration" or "Blackout" type gimmick not wanting the man in the visor to know his game plan. Guess will know when we kick it off Between the Hedges.....