Matthew Stafford: Heart of A Lion!

Matthew Stafford became the youngest rookie quarterback to throw five touchdown passes in a single game yesterday. But it was his fifth one that showed what Stafford is made of. Running back on to the field after a shoulder injury on the previous play, Stafford drilled the game winner before leaving the field again in obvious pain. His Detroit Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns 38-37 for their second victory of the season. The Lions only managed one victory in the entire 2008 season. Stafford was matched up against his former Georgia Bulldog teammate, Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi. "Mo-Mass" had 5 receptions for 115 yards and one TD. When the Lions made Stafford their first selection in the NFL Draft, they knew he had the talent and ability they needed in a young quarterback to build a franchise around. Now they know he has the heart, desire and toughness. He will lead the Lions to many more comeback wins before it's all said and done. Here's hoping Matthew will be well enough to play in Detroit's traditional Thanksgiving Day game this Thursday.

Les Miles: Why Is Your Nose Getting Longer?

Les Miles said, "I do not know who told him to clock it." Yet Miles is shown on the LSU sideline frantically signalling his quarterback, Jordan Jefferson, to spike the ball and kill the clock. Ole Miss narrowly escaped with a 25-23 victory. The Tiger coaching staff had already botched the drive before it came down to the spike. They lost 17 seconds off the clock when they failed to properly get a time-out signalled to an official. They experienced confusion over which plays to run. And they confused their own players with their total disorganization. This will forever be known as "The Mississippi Meltdown", and it might further be known as "Les Lies".

Georgia Bulldogs: Football Logic 101

Football Logic 101, as taught to me by the 2009 Georgia Bulldogs: I have learned this year that it really does not matter how recruiting classes are rated, nor how many 5-Star and 4-Star recruits there are on a single team. If basic fundamentals of the game aren't ingrained in talented individuals, the talent becomes unproductive. I've been reminded that football is still a TEAM game. A successful team must have very good individual talent, but these individuals have to function within the framework of the team. When they do, it becomes a win-win situation. When they do not, the team experiences limited success. A team with no discipline has no direction. The physical aspect of the game can only lead to success when the mental aspect of the game is understood and carried out. I've also learned that a fifth-year senior with basically no playing experience is actually a freshman who possesses a little better understanding of a system. Much like a medical student who understands the procedure that has been taught to him but hasn't actually held that scalpel in his hand. This has also led me to believe that skills unused can lead to skills that erode. When you fail to polish brass it tarnishes. I've been shown that the prolonged success of a program can lead to stagnation, and that once a comfort level has been achieved complacency easily sets in. When things become taken for granted, the framework of disaster is laid. I've been reminded that loyalty is a fantastic quality. The world we live in is drastically short of that commodity. But, I've seen that loyalty to any individual at the expense of an entire body or group is neither fair nor wise to either party involved. On a football team this goes for players as well as coaches. And I've learned that it is painful to watch a team that one has a passion for perform at such a mediocre level week after week after week. I realize with certainty that good teams get better as the season progresses, and that the weak teams show no improvement and even digress in some scenarios. Having said all of this, I am reminded that the worst thing a team can do in the midst of dreadful circumstances is to do nothing at all.

Ben Jones: "Follow Me"

Before Georgia tailback Caleb King ran for two fourth quarter touchdowns against Auburn, center Ben Jones told him before each run: "Follow me". King listened, obeyed, and scored. Tomorrow against the Kentucky Wildcats, Jones will make his 21st consecutive start on the Bulldawgs offensive line. And as coach Mark Richt says,"He's like a pig in slop out there. He loves it." Lead on "Sixty-One".

Chance Veazey: He'll 'Homer' Again

Chance Veazey homered in his last at bat of Georgia's fall intrasquad games. He had three hits that day to elevate his average to an even .300. Two days later his scooter was hit by a car. Yesterday, the renowned Shepherd Center in Atlanta announced the diagnosis as paralysis below the waist. From everything we read and hear about Chance Veazey, although he has this diagnosis of being paralyzed, his will can never be stymied. His determination to overcome can not be halted. His dream may have been side-tracked, but his new challenge will be met full speed ahead. Chance will hit another homer, but probably not as a Bulldog second baseman. The next homerun won't even be in a baseball game. It will be in the game of life.

Uga VII: Headed to Bulldawg Heaven

Hey "Seven", you didn't stay around long enough for us to really get to know you. More heart problems, huh? Yea, they run in my family too. We knew you were just a pup compared to your dad, "Six". He liked to GATA, where you seemed to enjoy a good Saturday nap "Between the Hedges". I don't blame you though, that air conditioned Dawg House sure looks pretty inviting. We figured that spunk of your dad's would come out in you once you got a little older. But that's o.k, we liked you just the way you were. You were one of the Uga's, so you were special Little Guy. We'll miss you Saturday, so all the Dawgs at Sanford will take care of Kentucky just for you. Godspeed, "Seven", and tell your dad hello for us.

A.I.: Practice? Practice? Practice?...

With all the hype going on surrounding Allen Iverson's split with the Memphis Grizzlies, I couldn't help but take this chance to bring out the infamous "Practice" video. To me it's a classic, and he and the guys at the press conference just keep it going. That's partly because the press kind of baits Iverson to continue his use of the word 'practice' as it approaches hilarity. I love this part: "Not a game, not a game, not a game. We talkin' 'bout practice. Not a game..." Check out the counter on the YouTube as it tallies each time he uses the word.

The "Heidi Bowl" Revisited

I'm sure most of the readers who come across An Opinion On Sports are waaay too young to have a clue about the AFL's infamous 'Heidi' game. Well forty one years ago today(1968), the New york Jets, led by Joe Willie Namath, played the Oakland Raiders in Oakland. The Jets appeared to have the game won 32-29 with 1:05 left on the game clock. With this in mind, the network left the game to begin televising the children's special Heidi. While off the air the Raiders scored twice in the final 42 seconds to pull off an unbelievable 43-32 victory. Afterwards, NBC was besieged with irate callers who were denied seeing the game in its entirety. In fact the calls were of such volume, they blew out the network's switchboards. Never again has a network left a close football game to go to the airing of another show. Who said football doesn't rule?

Brian McCann: A Silver Slugger Again

Atlanta's Brian McCann has captured his second consecutive Sliver Slugger Award and his third in four seasons as the National League's top hitting catcher. This year's award is special to the Braves catcher because he had to overcome early season vision problems at the plate. In fact he was hitting a paltry .195 before going on the DL with blurred vision after playing in only thirteen games. Sports glasses alleviated the problem enough for him to finish the campaign with a .281 batting average, an .835 slugging percentage, 21 homers, and 94 RBIs. Just last month he had Lasik eye surgery to hopefully correct his sight deficiencies. McCann is also a four time All-Star catcher, having been named to the National League squad in each of his first four Major League seasons.

Willie Martinez: DC For the New Decade

The only way for Willie Martinez not to continue to be Georgia's defensive coordinator in 2010 is for another school to hire him away from the Bulldogs. Namely, the Memphis Tigers. I think Willie would look good in blue myself, but I obviously don't have a vote in the matter. To all of my UGA counterparts who believe a change is needed at Georgia on the defensive side of the ball, we can all forget it. Head coach Mark Richt is not going to fire Willie Martinez. Not of his own volition, and probably not if pressure were to be put on him to make the termination. Richt would choose to go down with the ship rather than fire his old college roommate. For that matter, I would not be surprised if Martinez isn't given a little bump-up in his salary before next season. I'm serious. The defensive recovery Georgia made after giving up 14 easy points to Auburn last Saturday night solidified the jobs of the entire defensive staff for next year. All other transgressions have been forgiven. Only a colossal collapse against Kentucky this Saturday would reverse that. The soft zone that the Bulldogs play, which features defensive backs out of position very often, will continue "Between the Hedges". Yep, we're gonna play it again in 2010! Come on and pick up that phone Memphis. Make that call.

Roy Williams: Hard Work: A Life's Story

Roy Williams new book, Hard Work: A life On and Off the Court, has a very realistic chance to make the New York Times Best Seller List. This short excerpt is one of the reasons why: "They say that Michigan State winning is going to fix the nation's economy, well then, I say, hell, let's all stay poor a while longer. All that stuff is B.S. This is a basketball game. That's all it is. We are better than they are. Now let's go play. Tonight somebody is going to win the national championship. Why not let it be us?" I've already put it on my Christmas list!

Lundquist & Danielson: We Need A Break

The CBS duo of Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson are not the worst announcing partners I've ever heard. They both bring positives to the table with insightful commentary and knowledge of the game. But on the other hand, I wish the network would shake up this crew if only for the sake of change. To me, their act is getting a little old and stale. They own that privileged SEC 3:30 PM time slot, and it's time for a new tandem in the booth. Let Verne and Gary work a 12:00 noon slot for a change. I'm sure they won't mind since their beloved Tim Tebow will have moved on from the college ranks anyway. That's one thing I'm trying to point out. They seem to overstate the positives for one opponent, and also harp heavily on the other team's negatives. If one team is outclassed, they will quickly point it out. Perhaps that is the way it is supposed to be Maybe they're just doing their jobs. But they tend to give it a little "homer" aspect. Nevertheless, I think their methods are wearing a bit thin. Try a new combo next season CBS. Just a suggestion...