Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Les Miles: The Yogi Berra of College Football



Win, lose or draw on Saturday night against Alabama, chances are very good that Less Miles will deliver a memorable quote before the night is over. The "Mad Hatter" gives the best interviews in all of college football. He's never met a microphone he didn't like, and when he's behind one you'd better get the camera rolling. He has the uncanny ability of dodging a direct question, while making you think he answered it in his own wacky way all along. Got that? Me either. Nevertheless, it all translates into the fact that Miles is really a funny guy. Try wrapping your mind around these:
  • I was running  full speed or slower than full speed, but generally in the upper quadrant of speed.
  • When I wake up in the morning and I turn that film on, it's like reading a book and it's exciting. I don't read books, but if I read books it would be like reading a book.
  • This is a game that has been looming on the horizon for some time.
  • The only thing that I can tell you is that I am relatively honest and somewhat deceptive.
  • They recognize that he throws a ball that they'd like to put their hands on.
  • Those people that sign their name 'Slick Willie' don't necessarily have legitimate opinions.
  • I think achievement is something that can be measured with improvement.
Les Miles will call any play at any time in any game at any point on the field. He will also make any quote at any time behind any microphone in any setting. It sure is a lot more fun listening to him as opposed to Spurrier, but not as much as Yogi. After all, it ain't over 'til it's over. Just sayin..


 

 

 
 
 

Georgia Bulldogs: Just How Good Can They Be?


Just how good can this Georgia Bulldog football team become? If they were to play each week with the same intensity, effort and aggression that they showcased against Florida, how good could they really be? Could they achieve greatness? Could they become relevant in the national picture of elite teams? I understand it's tough to get up for every single opponent each week. There are just some games that you naturally peak for, while there are others that you catch yourself  'playing down to the competition'. But I would really like to see how good this team could be, or already is. It would be great to see the Bulldogs play the rest of this season's schedule "hell bent for leather". Take no prisoners, regardless of the caliber of the opponent. Play 60 minutes of complete football. That would be fantastic to see, would it not? I don't know the answer to all the questions I have proposed to you, but I would like to see the Dawgs, in the words of the U.S Army, "Be All You Can Be". How 'bout it guys, give it a try. Make Georgia Saturdays really 'Ford Tough'!

Jason Heyward: The Man With The "Golden Glove"



The Atlanta Braves had not had a player to win a Gold Glove in five years. That all changed yesterday when Jason Heyward was named the best defensive National League right fielder for the 2012 season. The 6' 5" Heyward, who is only 23 years old, won his first Gold Glove in his third Major League season. The last Braves to win the award were also outfielders, Andruw Jones and Jeff Francoeur in 2007. This was his first Gold Glove, but it positively will not be his last. His unbelievable talent, combined with size, speed, quickness and agility should keep Heyward at the head of his position for many years to come. He is the total package. And by the way, I'm sure a Silver Slugger Award is just a matter of time.




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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Hutson Mason: A Dawg "On Hold"


Hutson Mason seriously considered transferring from the University of Georgia. He had accepted the fact there that would be no significant playing time for him as long as Aaron Murray was around. To make matters even worse, he and Murray were on the same eligibility run. The only way Mason figured he could realistically remain a Bulldog would be to red-shirt this season and give himself a season without Murray around (2014).  So the deal was made, and Hutson Mason is still a Dawg waiting for his chance to be Georgia's starting quarterback. However, in making that deal, the UGA coaching staff left itself with no options beyond Murray. Even though there was a condition to the deal concerning the availability of Murray early in the season, there was not an actual line drawn in the sand as far as a cutoff time for this.With no disrespect toward backup Christian LeMay, the Bulldog depth chart at the position directly behind center is basically one. No resting Murray, no spotting Murray when he's having an 'off day', no replacement for Murray in case of an injury of any kind. If this was a deal made with the devil, then so far Satin is holding up his end of the deal. The devil wouldn't dare tempt Mark Richt's hand would he? Just sayin...

Alabama at LSU: Whose Dreams Will Die in Death Valley?

For the third time in two years, the LSU Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide meet again on the gridiron. It isn't No. 1 against No. 2 as it was last year, but nevertheless it is a big ball game. Where last year's contests were virtually toss-ups, 'Bama enters the game as a solid 9 1/2 point favorite over their division rival. I don't look for the Tigers to get steam-rolled by Alabama as Mississippi State did last week, but I don't see the Tide losing either. Death Valley is a tough venue for opposing teams, but the 12th man theory won't be enough to pull the home team through this time. Les Miles said opposing teams dreams come to die in Death Valley, but there will be no tragedy inflicted on Alabama dreams Saturday night.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Georgia -vs- Ole Miss: 1980


I read a review of the 1980 UGA-Ole Miss game and the quote in the write up that really caught my eye was: "Rarely is Georgia-Ole Miss easy." In '80, the Dawgs jumped out in front of the Rebels 17-0, and it did indeed appear to be easy. However, the guys from Oxford fought back to within three at 14-17 in the third quarter. The game ended up as a 28-21 Georgia victory, though hardly an easy one to be sure. Even though Ole Miss came to Athens that day with a record of 1-4, they pushed an undefeated Georgia team until the final gun sounded. The Rebels return to Sanford Stadium again as an underdog, but also as a revamping program that is playing quite well. Defeating a heavily favored UGA team 'Between the Hedges' would be Ole Miss' signature win for the season. I don't see it happening, but I don't see it being a cake walk for Georgia either. After all, rarely is anything easy in the Southeastern Conference.

Tennessee Volunteers: A Touch of Class


I've given Tennessee a rough time on this bog in the past, and being a Georgia fan, I'm sure I will again in the future. However, I need to give credit where it is due. I was very impressed with the Volunteer football team for the way they responded to the Marcus Lattimore injury Saturday in their game with South Carolina. Most of the Tennessee players gathered at midfield opposite the Gamecock team to show respect for the kind of player and person Lattimore is. Football is a tough game and the SEC is a tough, physical conference. I imagine that the punishment is hard to withstand week end and week out over the course of a full season. Regardless of one's distaste for another school, I don't think anyone likes to see a kid get seriously injured. Ever. Well done Tennessee.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Pittsburgh Steelers: Very Fitting For Halloween

The Pittsburgh Steelers wore 1934 throw-back uniforms Sunday in their games with the Washington Redskins. Could it have been a typo and they meant throw-up uniforms? Ugh! And to think, Pittsburgh actually won the game. Just sayin...

Marcus Lattimore: A 'Robert Edwards Type' Knee Injury?



This is an unconfirmed report:
News is leaking out about Marcus Lattimore's tragic knee injury, and it doesn't look good. The South Carolina running back reportedly broke his femur and patella and tore four ligaments in his right knee -- his ACL, MCL, PCL and LCL according to Brian VanOchten of WDGM. Lattimore tore a ligament in his left knee in 2011, and had finally made a full comeback from that injury.
I wonder if it compares to this:
After four hours of surgery on Tuesday, when surgeons discovered he had injuries to all four ligaments in his left knee as well as nerve damage, the Patriots' orthopedist, Bertram Zarins, said he was ''pessimistic'' that Edwards would play again.
I'm sure everyone, and especially Robert Edwards, hopes this is not the case.
UPDATE

Georgia -vs- Florida: "Stagger Lee" Style


"The night was clear and the moon was yellow, and the leaves came tumbling down.
I was standing on the corner when I heard my Bulldawg bark,
he was barkin' at two men who were gamblin' in the dark. "
 
Georgia 17 - Florida 9
 

Malcolm Mitchell: "The Mouth of the South"



I love Malcolm Mitchell. There is absolutely no question he has unbelievable football talent. His skill level in all three phases of the game is off the charts. But sometimes he plays the game from the shoulder pads up like a chump and not a champ. He's been in the face of opponent's all year long, pounding his chest and talking trash. I remember back in the Missouri game, he did that after he knocked a receiver out of bounds who had just caught a pass in front of him. I wondered then what that was all about because he really did nothing exceptional on the play. He made the game wining touchdown yesterday against Florida with great down-field running, but his play came after he cost his Bulldogs 15 critical yards for 'unnecessary running off at the mouth'. He admitted later he had been doing that the entire game but just got called for it on that particular play. The bottom line is that he doesn't need all that trash talk as part of his game; his game speaks volumes by itself. Come on Malcolm, let your talent do the talking. Please.

Jarvis Jones: "That's A Beast Right There"


Jarvis Jones is a beast; that’s a beast right there,” senior linebacker Mike Gilliard said. “He’s a hard worker; he’s a passionate, passionate guy; he loves this sport. He came out here and showed up like we knew he would. Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.”
Just let these numbers soak in with you: 13 tackles, 3 sacks,2 forced fumbles & 2 fumble recoveries. All of that in just one game. All of that on a bum ankle and a chronic sore groin. All of that. Period. Enough said.


Friday, October 26, 2012

Jarvis Jones: Jacked About Jacksonville


When Georgia defeated Florida last year 24-20, Jarvis Jones had four sacks, five tackles, and just for good measure, a forced fumble. That performance propelled the Bulldog junior to All-American honors. Now he returns to Jacksonville as healthy as he has been since the Missouri game when he suffered a groin injury. He has missed to games for Georgia, and his practice regimen until this week has consisted mainly of treatments and rehab. He is ready, willing, able and excited to be back on the field again. His return could not be more timely for the Dawgs, and his presence back on Georgia's defense could not be more untimely for the Gators.











Mississippi State at Alabama: Perception & Respect


Let's face it. No one expects Mississippi State to defeat Alabama on national TV Saturday night. Even though both teams have unblemished records this season, the number 1 ranked Crimson Tide really has no equals in the SEC this year. You certainly would not expect that to change with 'Bama playing host to the Bulldogs from Starkville. But the question most purists have is whether or not State can play with Alabama? Can they be competitive with the Tide for four quarters? Can the Bulldogs stand toe-to-toe with the boys from Tuscaloosa? And is Alabama 23 point superior to Mississippi State as the line indicates? State desperately wants to change the perception of their program. If they walk in to Bryant-Denny Stadium and play four physical quarters and make Alabama work for everything they get, then they will walk out with the respect their program seeks.The perception of the Bulldog program will have changed, and Vegas might have to eat those 23 points. Just sayin...

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Honey Badger: How'd That Rehab Work For Ya?



Tyrann Mathieu was dismissed from the LSU football team back in August for failing a drug test. He underwent two weeks of rehab under the tutelage of former NBA player John Lucas, and enrolled for fall classes at LSU in hopes of being reinstated back on the Tiger football squad at some point. Today, the "Honey Badger" was arrested, along with three others, at his apartment and charged with simple possession of marijuana. I suppose the rehab didn't go so well. I wonder if there is any such thing as an 'invincible complex'? Evidently there is, because some kids just keep making the same mistake over and over, as if they're immune to the consequences. It's sad, it's frustrating, and it's hard to understand. I don't get it. Just sayin...






Georgia Bulldogs: The Monkey or Mojo?


By beating Florida last year, did Georgia get the proverbial monkey off of its back regarding their series in Jacksonville? Or was the win last year merely the Bulldogs token victory that they are allowed to experience every few years against the Gators? Has the monkey been replaced by Mojo? This year Georgia faces a very good Florida team. Not a great Gator bunch, but a good one.Georgia is a good team as well, with the potential to be a very good one. They just have to show up and play to that potential. There is no talent shortage on either side of the field. A win Saturday against the rival Gators would prove that the monkey is finally off the back of the Bulldogs. It would also remove the mantra "Georgia can't win a big game" once and for all. So I guess the big question as we close in on the weekend is "Where's the monkey?" Maybe he's gone, because Mojo is always better than the monkey.

Ole Miss at Arkansas: Hotty Toddy or Wooooooo, Pig! Sooie!



If you're not connected  somehow to either Ole Miss or Arkansas, then their game Saturday won't matter to you in the least. Ole Miss is 4-3, while Arkansas comes in at 3-4. However, this is a big game for both of these schools. The main reason is that they both aspire to become bowl eligible. The winner Saturday takes a huge step in that direction. Ole Miss feels they have their program headed in the right direction as they attempt to rebuild and become competitive in the SEC again. Arkansas believes they have put their early season failures behind them and are ready to finish strong. The Razorbacks are coming off of a bye week, and both teams have recently enjoyed a victory over a very weak Auburn squad. If Ole Miss doesn't self destruct in the 4th quarter, they could give the home team more than they bargained for. Don't be surprised if the Rebels are the ones playing in a bowl, rather that the Hogs. And who would have ever thought that back in August?

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

World Series 2012


Once college football kicks into gear, I have a hard time staying into baseball.  I love the sport, but going from the fast pace of football back to the slow pace of baseball is tough to do. Now it's World series time again, and I find that my interest level in the Fall Classic is not what it has been before. From what I've read, it should be a competitive series with the scales tipped slightly in favor of Detroit, mainly because of Justin Verlander. He's pitching lights out right now. Not to mention the Tigers have the first American League Triple Crown Winner since 1967 in Miguel Cabrera. On the other hand, San Francisco seems to be one of those teams that just won't quit. The Giants feel they are never out of a ballgame, and when they get up early, they have the ability to pour it on you. It should be an interesting and competitive series. I just can't let it get in the way of college football. Just sayin...

Ozzie Guillen: Just Stay Fired


Ozzie Guillen is out of Major League Baseball. At least for now. Guillen was fired this week by the Miami Marlins for a losing record on the field and for being a loser off the field. He is not good for baseball, and it is good for baseball that he no longer has a team to manage. He has no class at all, and if you took the 'F' word out of his vocabulary, it would be impossible for him to complete a sentence. Here's hoping no one hires him any time soon. Stay fired Ozzie Guillen. The only league he belongs in is the 'Bush' League, because that's exactly what he is. Just sayin...

Tennessee at South Carolina: Who Can Stop the Bleeding?


The wolves are howling, the 'Vol'chers are circling, and the "Hot Seat" is in flames. Things are not at all copacetic in Knoxville, Tennessee these days. The Volunteers (3-4) desperately need a win for their embattled head Coach Derek Dooley. They travel to Columbia, S.C. to take on the 17th ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (6-2) Saturday afternoon. Both teams are on multiple game losing streaks, Tennessee 3 straight losses and Carolina 2 straight defeats. They both lost last week by 30+ point margins, Carolina to Florida and Tennessee to Alabama. One team will leave the field Saturday after having finally won a football game. The 'Cocks are favored by 14 at home. Steve Spurrier said he hopes Florida beats Georgia Saturday, so I hope Tennessee prevails over his Gamecocks. Nothing complicated about that. Just sayin...

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Georgia-Florida 1985: "Four Days, Four Days"!



In 1985 seventeenth ranked Georgia defeated top-ranked Florida 24-3 in a game that was supposed to be a Gator run-away victory. Dawg tailbacks Keith Henderson (above) and Tim Worley led a vicious ground game as Georgia knocked Florida out of the nation's top spot. UGA students chanted "Four Days, Four Days", which indicated the full extent of the Gators hold on #1. After the game, fan bedlam broke out on the floor of the Gator Bowl, resulting in 65 arrests. One of the funniest stories resulting form this was when one UGA student was called before the judge to answer for his actions. When asked by the judge what his major was at the University of Georgia, the young student answered "criminal justice". As the courtroom erupted in uncontrollable laughter, the judge banged his gavel and said "Fifty dollars for disorderly conduct. Pay the bailiff." Ain't it great to be a Georgia Bulldog! Just sayin...

Todd Grantham: Is He Really Coaching "Soft"?



How does a defense that has a fiery, emotional, former NFL assistant coach as its coordinator get accused of "playing soft?" And the bottom line of the accusation is that it is the truth.  I don't get it. Something is missing here. Maybe everything in Athens is just hunky-dory, but I'm not seeing it that way. Again, something is missing here. Whatever it is, I hope it gets 'fixed' in a hurry. Just sayin...

Mack Brown: Sounds Kinda Like Selling Your Soul...


Texas head coach Mack Brown is not happy with the Longhorn Network. That's the network that the University of Texas and ESPN collaborated on and partnered with on a 20 year, $300 million deal. And yes, that's the same deal that nearly caused the Big 12 to split up over. It actually was a factor in Texas A&M and Missouri leaving for the SEC because they maintained that the network created an unfair advantage financially and in recruiting. Speaking of unfair, that's what Brown thinks the network is to his football team. Summing it up in a nutshell, he feels that the network tapes too much of his Longhorn's practices, thus giving his opponents an advantage. Well Mack, sometimes greed has a way of coming back and smacking you square in the face. Just sayin...



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Shakeel Rashad: Late Hit or Early Hit?



North Carolina's freshman linebacker Shakeel Rashad leveled Duke's Conner Vernon while running onto the field between downs. Strangely, there were no penalty flags thrown on the play. However, Atlantic Coast Conference officials intervened and levied a one game suspension for Rashad and two of the game officials. We've all seen late hit penalties before, but I don't think I can recall a dead-ball foul on the defense before a play is even run. Rashad acted as if the ball was already in play. Strange...

Shawn Williams: Just Telling It Like It Is...



Shawn Williams said Monday night what everybody already knew. After practice, the senior strong safety said this of Georgia's defensive unit: "We're playing too soft as a defense." He ripped into teammates for their lack of emotion, and their attitude in general. He even went so for as to say the coaching staff might be playing the wrong personnel. Whether or not you agree with Williams going public with this or not, you certainly can't argue him being dead on in his assessment. I particularly liked one statement he made when he wondered how his Bulldogs would react once Florida punches 'em in the mouth. Will they give in, or will they fight back? We'll all know the answer to that on Saturday afternoon.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Rory McIlroy: Nike's $250 Million Man?

It has been reported that Rory McIlroy's net worth is $20 million. This accumulation has occurred in only five years since turning professional in 2007. The 23 year old (yes you read that right, 23) has more than $15.5 in career earnings. Want more? The latest unofficial word is that Nike plans to sign McIlroy to a ten year endorsement contract worth a hefty $250 million. His current deals with Titleist/FootJoy end at the close of this year. If you recall, Nike signed Tiger Woods to a $20 million per year deal back in 2001. However, as Woods closes in on age 37, the foot giant might feel the need for a new face of their future. With Rory easily being among the top two or three marketable athletes in the world, Nike might not want to be guilty of waiting too late to go after the young phenom. It must be nice to be on top of the world. Just sayin...





Will Muschamp: I-N-T-E-N-S-E

This is the reaction a player gets when he commits a costly mistake that adversely affects the Gators. Whether you like his style or not, Will Muschamp can never be accused of being too easy-going. He definitely has a fire, a compassion, and an intensity for his job and his football team. As a rival fan, I personally think he goes a little overboard with his demeanor and sometimes he comes across as a real jerk, but it's hard to argue his results It's also hard to imagine the player in the above photo making that same mistake twice. Now in his second year as the head man at Florida, his players are beginning to inherit some of that passion and fire. I have to admit, I did not think Muschamp could bring the Gators back into prominence as quickly as he has. I'm still not willing to concede anything to him yet, but as Tom Cruise said in Top Gun, "it's looking good so far." I suppose that "looking good" depends a lot on one's perspective. Just sayin...

Steve Spurrier: The Same Old South Carolina?


The 'Old Ball Coach' was fresh out of one-liners Saturday evening after his Gamecocks were drummed 44-11 by the Florida Gators. He was reminded that two weeks ago South Carolina handled Georgia 35-7 and seemed ready to take over the college football world. All Steve Spurrier could muster up in response to that was "Two weeks ago was two weeks ago. We're embarrassed". Carolina Tailback Marcus Lattimore had proclaimed then,"This is not the old South Carolina. We can play with ya'll. We can play with anybody." But just as the Gamecock ship was ready to sail into uncharted  championship territory, the winds of LSU and the tides of Florida knocked the vessel off course. Now Spurrier has no clue where his ship is headed. Hold on Marcus, maybe you are still the same old South Carolina. Just sayin...

Georgia -vs- Florida: Fish or Cut Bait


There is an old saying in the south that refers to those who fish and those who cut bait. That's what this year's Georgia-Florida contest is all about. The real players are the ones who fish; the 'wanna-be's' cut bait. All the talk and rhetoric will mean absolutely nothing once game time gets here Saturday afternoon. I'm sure this is one of those games that both teams talked about over the off-season. It's a "mark-it-on-your-calendar" kind of clash. This year all the marbles are on the table. It's winner take all; punch your ticket to Atlanta. What you have been and what you are up to this point does not matter anymore. South Carolina was a big game for both Georgia and Florida, but those two games pale in comparison to the drama building for this year's edition of the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party". It's a second chance for Georgia to prove that they can show up and play in a big game. They've also been given a second chance to control their own destiny in the SEC Eastern Division. They have another opportunity to win back the confidence of the Bulldog Nation. Both schools want to win the division and Florida wants to remain in the chase for the BCS Championship, but I think more is riding on this game for the Dawgs as opposed to the Gators. Which team can man-up and take care of business? This is for sure: When it is all said and done on Saturday, we will then know who can fish and who can just cut bait.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

David Cutcliffe: Damn Good Job


The North Carolina Tarheels had defeated the Duke Blue Devils 21 out of the past 22 games. Yesterday, those same Tarheels fell to those same Blue Devils 33-30. But the win was more than just retaliation on an arch rival. It was a culmination to a long process which began when Duke hired David Cutcliffe to become its head football coach five years ago. You see, the victory over Carolina was Duke's sixth win of the season, and for the first time since 1994, the Blue Devils are bowl eligible. Duke's record is now 6-2 for the season. David Cutcliffe was hired to bring respectability to the program. Cutcliffe has done just that. Duke is respectable. Nice job, Coach Cutcliffe!





Saturday, October 20, 2012

Georgia Bulldogs: A Win Is An Unimpressive Win


Georgia defeated Kentucky Saturday night by the score of 29-24. The Bulldogs survived to play another day, or to play Florida next Saturday in Jacksonville. Georgia was unimpressive in victory, especially considering they were coming off of a bye week. They allowed the Wildcats to score their first first-quarter touchdown in 20 games. This came on Kentucky's opening possession of the game, and it was a 'Cat and Dawg fight the rest of the night. Even though Georgia out gained Kentucky 504-329 yards and Aaron Murray was 30 of 38 for 427 yards and four touchdowns, the Bulldogs cannot beat the impressive Gators with this same effort. Their performance against one of the SEC's worst teams was lackluster. If not for a tremendous play by Connor Norman recovering a Kentucky onside kick, the night might not have finished with the same score, or with the same winner. Georgia must play with more intensity, discipline and determination against Florida. After all, the Eastern Division title hangs in the balance. How much more motivation can you need? Just sayin...





South Carolina Gamecocks: Somewhere In The Middle...


South Carolina lost to Florida today by the lopsided score of 44-11. Two weeks ago they dominated Georgia to the tune of 35-7. I don't think they were as good as they showed against the Bulldogs, and perhaps they aren't as bad as they appeared to be today. I'll go as far as to say they're maybe somewhere in the middle of those two performances. They played their game of the year against Georgia. They pointed to that game, peaked for it, played to an emotional crescendo, and enjoyed all the fruits of a great win. But I think that win was all they had in their emotional tank. They haven't played even close to that level since then, and I don't think they will again this season. The Gators beat them today like a snare drum, but the Gamecock defense played well enough in the first half for the score to better than it was. Having said all of that, you can stick a fork in the 'Cocks, 'cause they are done.

Auburn Tigers: The Fate of Eight Straight...



The Auburn Tigers remain winless in the Southeastern Conference this season. The 1-6 Tigers lost on the road at Vanderbilt Saturday afternoon by the score of 17-13. This inauspicious start is Auburn's worst since 1952 when they lost six of their first seven games. To top that off, the Tigers have not scored a fourth quarter touchdown in eight straight games. Auburn plays host to Texas A&M next Saturday as they seek not only their first conference victory of the season, but their first fourth quarter touchdown as well.





Friday, October 19, 2012

Washington State Prep Player Boots a 68 Yard Field Goal!




Austin Rehkow kicked a 67 yard field goal as time expired to help send his team into overtime Thursday night. Rehkow, a senior at Central Valley High in Spokane, Washington, set a new state record and tied the mark for the second longest 3-pointer in a high school game. The record is 68 yards, set in 1985 by a Reno, Nevada prep player. Keep in mind that the NFL record is 63 yards, and the collegiate record is 69 yards. By the way, Central Valley went on to win the game 62-55.



Jared Lorenzen: He Threw 58 Times Against UGA





Tomorrow night in Lexington, Kentucky there will not be a game like there was in 2000 when Wildcat freshman quarterback Jared Lorenzen threw for 528 yards. Kentucky doesn't have anyone who can throw the ball 58 times as Lorenzen did against Georgia then, much less put up 30 points on the board. The Bulldogs defeated the Wildcats that Saturday in October 34-30, with back-up quarterback Cory Phillips more than filling in for an injured Quincy Carter. All Phillips did was tie a Bulldog school record for touchdown passes in a game (4) in his very first start. This year's game should see the Dawgs light up the scoreboard with more than those 34, and have a much easier night than their counterparts did 12 years ago. With a week off having to live with the debacle in South Carolina, I expect the Bulldogs to take out some of their frustrations on the Wildcats. I further expect a lot of good vibes to come out of this game to carry over into next week's showdown  in Jacksonville.            

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Star Spangled Banner: It Will Rock Your World!



I don't like it when artists try to put their own twist to our National Anthem, but these guys do a great job of knocking your socks off with this rendition. A Navy veteran sings the lead, and the drummer does a heck of a job as well. Never thought I would want to hear a rock group blast out the anthem, but Madison Rising has had me listening to this more than once.  Please check out the link, and take the time to listen and enjoy!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Phil Mickelson: No $Million$ On Monday Night Football




Phil Mickelson failed on his attempt to win $1 million for charity. At halftime of Monday Night Football, Mickelson's wedge shot of 100 yards airmailed the make-shift green, missing the prized target. The San Diego native still earned First Book $50,000, so it was not a lost cause. It's almost unbelievable that the popular golfer left the stadium to a chorus of boos after trying to accomplish something positive. Perhaps it is only fitting that the home town Chargers blew a 24 point halftime lead and lost to the Denver Broncos on national television. I'll take Mikelson's career over that of Philip Rivers any day. Just sayin...


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Collegiate Licensed Products: 2012 Sales Leaders




The University of Texas tops the list of top selling licensed products for the period ranging from July 1, 2011 thru June 30, 2012. Rounding out the top 5 were Alabama, Kentucky, Florida and Michigan. Georgia was listed at number 8 for collegiate merchandise sales. Other SEC schools of note were LSU at #6, Auburn at #11, Arkansas at #14, Tennessee at #16, South Carolina at #18, and Ole Miss at #45. College licensed merchandise sells totaled an estimated $4.6 billion on the retail market. Royalties generated from the sale of officially licenses products are paid back to the respective universities. The managing body for the collegiate licensing industry is the Collegiate Licensing Company, or CLC.


Monday, October 15, 2012

South Carolina Visits "The Swamp"


Arguably the second and third best teams in the SEC do battle Saturday in Gainesville, Florida. And actually, the Florida Gators and the South Carolina Gamecocks are two very similar teams. They both are very physical and quick on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, the two teams each feature quarterbacks who can hurt you with their running, as well as passing abilities. The Gators and the Gamecocks both feature top tier tailbacks who carry the bulk of their respective ground games. The game is bigger than huge. The loser will be behind the eight ball in the quest to be the Eastern  Division representative in the conference championship game. Subsequently, depending on who wins and who loses Saturday, it could make the Georgia - Florida contest in two weekends just as or more important for all three of those teams. Florida has been a team that seems to get better each Saturday, and Carolina is coming off a tough road loss at LSU. If the game were to be played in Columbia, I would give the nod to the Gamecocks.  But it isn't.  I think playing in "The Swamp" will make the difference in this game.


Felix Baumgartner: Who Said The Sky Is The Limit?


Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner jumped from a small ledge of a hot-air balloon 24 miles above the earth. It was the highest skydive ever. In achieving 730+ miles per hour during the descent, he also became the first skydiver to break the sound barrier. His flight earthward took nine minutes, with about 4 1/2 minutes of free falling before opening his parachute. At one point during the flight, his body began spinning wildly out of control. Baumgartner, however, was able to regain control and landed in the New Mexico desert safely.
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Auburn: A 7 Point Dog to Vandy - Wow


This jumped out at me as being so strange that I had to post it here. Auburn is listed as a 7 point underdog to Vanderbilt this weekend. This isn't a shocker due to the way Auburn has been playing lately, especially considering the huge loss to Ole Miss last weekend. It's a shocker just to see it in writing because it probably has never been the case before. My how things have changed, and my how the mighty AU has fallen. It was said last week that a loss to the Rebels would probably seal Gene Chizik's fate on The Plains, so I guess a loss to the Commodores would pretty much drive the nails on in the proverbial coffin. Just Sayin...

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Alabama Football: NCAA or WWE



Alabama's LaMichael Fanning literally flipped Missouri running back Russell Hansbrough completely over in their SEC contest Saturday. This play happened in the closing moments of the Tigers lopsided loss to the Crimson Tide when Mizzou was pretty much just running out the clock. Credit Hansbrough for also carrying the ball on the next two plays. Discredit Fanning for his shoddy tactics after he already had the ball carrier stopped on the play. Alabama was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness.  But Alabama and Nick Saban are above any ridicule. If you don't believe me, just ask Paul Finebaum. Just sayin...

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Les Miles: The "Mad Hatter" Talks About Death Valley

Gotta be one of the best quotes of the weekend; when L.S.U. head coach Les Miles was asked about the atmosphere and the crowd at Tiger Stadium after his Tigers defeated South Carolina Saturday night he answered, "Death Valley, where opponents dreams come to die". To put Carolina's plight in perspective, the late Beano Cook once said; "Dracula and LSU football are at their best after the sun goes down." The sun definitely went down on the Gamecocks last night.



Saturday, October 13, 2012

Ole Miss: Put the "Freeze" on Auburn



Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze is up and coming in the SEC. On the other hand, Auburn's Gene Chizik is down and maybe out. Saturday, Ole Miss snapped their 16 game Southeastern Conference losing streak and kept Auburn winless in the conference and 1-5 on the season. The Tigers have lost six consecutive SEC encounters. The Rebels tallied 451 yards of total offense in the 41-20 Homecoming smack-down of Auburn. Ole Miss now stands at 4-3 on the season, while Auburn falls to 1-5. The Rebels seek two more victories to become bowl eligible, and the Tigers seek anything positive to try and save their coach's job.



 


Atlanta Braves: Just Get In...

 
The St. Louis Cardinals are living proof that it doesn't matter how you get in the playoffs, just get in. A team does not have to win their division to get in and compete in the post season. The Cardinals were the Wild Card team last year and ended up being World Champions. Last night, they defeated Eastern Division champs Washington to advance to the National League Championship Series. This year, as well as last, the Atlanta Braves could have been in the Cardinal's place. The Braves blew a more than adequate wild card lead in September 2011, and lost a one game play-in to the Cardinals in 2012. There are really no great, stand alone teams in the post season this year. It would have been a very good time for Atlanta to make a run at a World Series. But first you have to get in the dance. Atlanta has been on the outside looking in for a while now, so all they have is coulda, woulda, shoulda. That's just no good. Come on Atlanta, just get in the playoffs for a change.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Georgia Football: After the Bye Week...



One half of Georgia' football schedule is logged in the books. The devastating loss to South Carolina puts the Dawgs sitting at 5-1 with six contests left to be played. We've all heard the rhetoric about it's only one  loss, still a lot of football to be played, still a lot to play for, etc, etc, etc. But where do we go from here? We play one school out of division in Georgia Southern, one team that is formidable in Florida, one team that stands at .500 for the season in Ole Miss, and three teams with losing records in Kentucky, Auburn, and Georgia Tech. The Kentucky and Auburn games are on the road, the Ole Miss, Georgia Southern, and Georgia Tech games are in Athens, and the annual showdown with Florida is always in Jacksonville.Now let's cut to the chase. Florida is the only game that matters in this second half of the season. Going on talent level alone, the other five games should be victories. We're either playing 'Between the Hedges' where we should win, or playing weak teams on the road where we should win as well. I don't want to hear about any "trap game", because if that comes about it just means we not prepared and ready to play. To heck with total victories in the season and all of that, because if we lose to the Gators these other five don't even matter.They are games Georgia should not lose. Some of them we shouldn't ever lose to, and none of them should we lose to this year. So that brings us back to the game in Jacksonville. If the Bulldogs beat the Gators, some of the sting of the Carolina loss goes away; lose and that loss is only magnified and the season cannot be considered a success regardless of the final record. Georgia has to prove it can win a big game, and Florida is now a bigger game than South Carolina was. Georgia must defeat Florida.  After this bye week, all roads lead to Jacksonville. And that's the bottom line.

Duke Football: 100 Years of Frustration...& Counting

Duke University is celebrating 100 years of college football futility. It hasn't been that long since they had a winning record, but you do have to go back to 1994 to discover an 8-4 season and a bowl eligible team. I suppose 18 years can seem like a hundred at times, depending on one's perspective. But wait, the Blue Devils now find themselves 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They are winning in October and it's not basketball! But "not so fast my friends", as Lee Corso would say. Duke was 5-3 in 2009 and failed to win another game. Just last year they found themselves 3-2, and then found themselves 0-7 in their next/last seven games. Will this year be any different? They begin that quest to find out and to become bowl eligible at Virginia Tech Saturday. Here's to a winning season for Duke Blue Devil Football. Or not. Just sayin...

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Ohio State: Get 'Em Out of the Polls



Ohio State is on a three year probation period imposed by the NCAA. Along with that they are banned from post-season play this year. The Buckeyes are currently undefeated and ranked #8 in the AP pole. Now people are beginning to ask what if OSU stays undefeated, climbs the charts and becomes number one? They have a cushy schedule remaining and teams in front of them could possibly suffer a loss. But with a bowl ban they obviously can't compete outright for the mythical National Championship. I wonder why they're even ranked in the polls in the first place. Not being allowed to be ranked should be part of the probation. Think about it; the reason you're on probation has a lot to do with your ability to be ranked in the first place. You cheated to gain an advantage. Then you got caught. You should be denied the right to be recognized by conference standings, polls and rankings. I'm not just saying Ohio State, this should be part of the probation for any school under these circumstances. Don't commit the crime if you can't do the time. Just sayin...

NASCAR: It's Just A Matter of Time...

It happens every time there is a restrictor plate race. It doesn't happen some of the time, it happens all of the time. It is never a matter of 'if' the big pile-up will occur, it's a matter of 'when'. It will happen; it always does. I know it, you know it, the drivers know it, and NASCAR knows it. They just won't implement any changes to prevent it. The latest incident at Talladega Sunday involved 25 cars. Miraculously, not a single driver was seriously injured. But sooner or later that will change. Regardless of how safe these stock cars are, and they are very safe, some driver will be seriously hurt if these multi-car pile-ups continue to occur on super speedways like Daytona and Talladega. NASCAR is one of the most controlling bodies in all of sports, except maybe for the WWE, so they could assemble a team of engineers to solve this situation if they so desired. They just don't want to, and I just don't get it.

A-Rod: Too Rich to Hit..




Alex Rodriguez salary for 2012 is $29,000,000. This $29 million dollar man was pulled from the Yankees line-up in the bottom of the ninth for pinch hitter Raul Ibanez  New York trailed Baltimore at that point 2-1.To make a long story short. Ibanez homers in that at-bat to tie the game, then homers again in the 12th to secure a 3-2 walk-off playoff win for the Yanks. Incidentally, Raul Ibanez salary for this year is $1.1 million.
A-Rod is 1 for 9 with 5 strikeouts in these playoffs. The proverbial "Mendoza Line" (.200 avg.) looks sweet to him as he hovers around .111. It just struck me as ironic that the highest paid player on your roster would be pulled from a crucial point in a crucial game for a pinch hitter. I understand the human element in the equation, but I always thought players like Rodriguez were paid the big bucks to perform and come through in the clutch But A-Rod has never been clutch in the post-season. It's your dime, Yankees. Just sayin...