VOTE on Tuesday

I won't get too political here on An Opinion On Sports, but if you haven't early-voted by now, please make it by the polls tomorrow and cast your ballot. This could perhaps be one of this country's most critical presidential elections in our lifetimes. Please exercise your right, your duty and your privilege to vote.

Identifying the "Mike" Linebacker

 

I've often wondered why the quarterback identifies the Mike linebacker, so I checked it out. By doing so, the QB sets up the protection for the center and backs. Usually, the offensive guards and tackles block the defensive tackles and ends, so the center and backs have to figure out who is left unaccounted for to block. Once the Mike is positioned, the center has his assignment and the backs will know who to block. On some teams, the center calls out the Mike himself. There is a chance that if the Mike linebacker is not identified, the center and/or backs may be late figuring out who to block. Now I know what's going on.

Joker Phillips: The First Domino Has Fallen

The University of Kentucky has announced that Joker Phillips has been relieved of his head coaching responsibilities effective at the end of the current season. Phillips, who is 49, has a combined three year record of 12-23 while leading the Wildcat program. Officials at UK have stated that the search of Phillips' replacement will begin immediately. With Kentucky's expected decision now made, it will be interesting to see where the SEC coaching axe will fall next and how quickly it will land. The domino effect may have begun.

Zach Mettenberger: The Light Has Come On

 It might have taken him nine games, but Zach Mettenberger has arrived as a top tier SEC quarterback. He gets it now. He understands how to let that strong arm work for him now. He stood in the pocket last night and took everything that Alabama threw at him. He made clutch throw after clutch throw. He led his Bengal Tigers to a late fourth quarter lead, only to see the game lost in the Tide's successful late game drive. He displayed poise under pressure. He performed better than admirably, he performed like the kid signed out of high school by UGA was supposed to look all along. He played well enough for his team to win. He deserved to be the winning quarterback. However, the efforts of Mettenberger and his team fell just a little short against the number one team in the country. LSU might have lost the game, but they found there quarterback. He was there all along, but now they don't have to worry about him any more. Number '8' was just a little bit late. Zach Mettenberger IS the quarterback of Louisiana State University. No doubt about it.

Alabama 21 - LSU 17: When Les Really Was Less

LSU head coach Les Miles has made risky, unorthodox calls his entire career as the Bengal Tigers boss. He has developed the reputation as an "anytime, anywhere, any situation, any play call" kind of guy. Until last night, his uncanny ability to pull unlikely victory out of his "Mad Hat" has reaped tremendous benefits for LSU. But not last night against Alabama. He faked a field goal when he should have gone for the points; he attempted a long field goal when he should have punted; he tried an on-sides kickoff just when his team had stolen momentum, and he went for it on fourth down when he should have gone for the three points. I guess that just about covers it. Not to say any of that isn't normal for Miles, just to say it's odd to see it backfire on him so often in the same game. A big game. A crucial game. A winner-take-all game. I don't know if that was just 'Les being Les', or if it was Les not having full confidence in his team to win the game on their own merit. They definitely could have. This one's on you Les.

Georgia 37 - Ole Miss 10: "We're Pumped"!

Georgia trailed Ole Miss 10-0 before tallying 37 unanswered points to dominate an improving Rebel team Saturday afternoon. When someone finally let the Dawgs out late in the first half, the rout was on and a visibly superior Georgia team continued to exert its authority the rest of the game. UGA now finds itself only a victory over Auburn this weekend away from the SEC Eastern Division title. A title, by the way, that was predicted to be theirs in preseason, but had claims laid to it by both South Carolina and Florida not that long ago. Now the Gamecocks and Gators find themselves on the outside looking in for the second year in a row. Offensive coordinator said the Dawgs are "pumped" about their position in the division race. Pumped sure sounds better than dumped. Just ask Spurrier and Muschamp. Just sayin...

Mississippi State: Exposed. Period.

Mississippi State was 7-0 and sailing along with delusions of grandeur. They could win the SEC West, the SEC outright and eventually hold up the Crystal Ball. Then the world of realty rained down on the Bulldog program. First a lopsided loss to Alabama, followed by another embarrassing showing against Texas A&M yesterday. Head coach Dan Mullen called it State's worst performance since he's been there. I call it Mississippi State's poor imitation of a contender. They can ring all the cowbells they want to in Starkville, but all they'll ring up is more mediocrity for a mediocre program. So much for the "Hail State" jerseys, unless they change the spelling.  Just sayin...

Vandy vs Kentucky: The "Who Cares" Bowl

Vanderbilt beat Kentucky Saturday 40-0 and no one cared except all of Vandy and some of Kentucky. The Wildcats made it into the red zone only once the entire game, scored no points, and were dominated by the Commodores in every phase of the game. It was the largest margin of victory for Vandy over Kentucky in 96 years. It also might have been the first time in that many years that Vanderbilt dominated anyone in football, including a controlled scrimmage. On final point on this futile topic; instead of wondering if Alabama could beat a professional team, how about pondering the possibility that there are high school teams that could defeat Kentucky. Just sayin...

The SEC: Coaching Vacancies Are 'Looming Large"!

If you think you want to be a head football coach in the Southeastern Conference, then this year could present you with your big opportunity. No less than four vacancies for head coaching jobs are expected to be open in the next several weeks. Arkansas will definitely have a new coach for the 2013 season. They have always said John L. Smith was basically a one year interim coach. It appears that Kentucky's Joker Phillips is finishing up his last campaign as the Wildcat's leader. It's really bad when the ineptitude of its football coach can't be tolerated at a full-fledged basketball school. Phillips should have never been put in that position in the first place because he is an assistant coach and always should be. You never know what to expect out of Knoxville. You hear Derek Dooley is gone, then you hear he'll be given one more year. So this one's still up for grabs. I personally think Dooley is in over his head at Tennessee. Louisiana Tech was a good spot for him and he should still be there. Now to the program that's getting the most ink, and that is Auburn. The latest word I get from the Plains is that the influential alumni have already arranged to cover the $7.5 million  buyout of Gene Chizik's contract, as well as another $2 million for assistant's contracts. I don't think there is any doubt now that Chizik is coaching his last few games as a War Eagle. I don't know why Auburn people are surprised at their situation now. Chizik did not have a winning record when he came to Auburn, and if he hadn't gone out and paid Cam Newton to play for the Tigers, he wouldn't have any kind of numbers there either. So there you have it. Now for the really interesting part. If in fact all of the four positions become open for hire, who will be the first school to be in a position to hire a replacement? In other words, who will move more swiftly to fire and hire? But then it might not matter if they all are going after different coaches. Who knows? But you can take this to the bank, they all already know who they would like to be their next head coach, and those coaches might know as well. Just sayin...

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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