SB Nation - Tulane Green Wave

Saturday NFL Draft watch notes

Mocking Dan — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:00:10 -0000

by Mary Ann Chastain - AP

• Ohio State junior guard Justin Boren has turned into one of the more dominant interior linemen in college football. He's a very strong in the run game and is quick off the snap. Playing against Michigan, the team which he transferred from following the 2007 season, look for Boren to play with a lot of heart and tenacity.

• The run-stuffing ability of Ndamukong Suh will be on full display Saturday. Kansas State likes to run the ball and Suh can have yet another banner day. Not that Suh needs to do anything else to improve his stock, but don't be surprised if he gets at least two tackles for a loss and collapses the pocket all day.

• There might be no hotter player in the nation than Stanford running back Toby Gerhart. Against USC last week, he made highly touted safety Taylor Mays look downright silly jumping over him and breaking his tackles. Gerhart may have a hard time breaking the tackles of Cal's Tyson Alualu, one of the most aggressive interior linemen in the country.

• Florida State might not be as good on defense this year, but the Seminoles still do a good job of pressuring opposing quarterbacks. That means Maryland left tackle Bruce Campbell could do well for his draft stock by having a dominant day. The junior is one of the more athletic tackles in the nation but has been injured parts of this season.

• Earlier this week we talked about underrated Tulane wide receiver Jeremy Williams, but he's not the only solid Green Wave prospect. Don't forget about running back Andre Anderson. He's one of the most consistent running backs in the country, but possibly not a No. 1 running back. What he is, though, is a quick and strong back.

• C.J. Spiller is asserting himself as the best running back in the nation. The Tigers have won five-straight games and Spiller is the big reason. In those games, he's rushing for 95.2 yards per game. He's an all-around threat and unbelievably fast. Spiller is looking like the next Chris Johnson, but more on that next week.

Jeremy Williams is the best receiver you might not know

Mocking Dan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:27 -0000

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

2 months ago: Tulane wide receiver Jeremy Williams (20) catches a second quarter touchdown in front of Army defenders Donovan Travis and Antuan Aaron (3) during an NCAA college football game in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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He plays for a team that is consistently one of the most mediocre in the nation. He's rarely on television but always among the nation's top stat men.

He is Tulane wide receiver Jeremy Williams. But just how good is Williams?

Well, he's good enough to get invitations to both the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game. He's good enough to average nearly 100 yards receiving a game on the nation's 94th best offense.

In 10 games this season, Williams has 1,555 all-purpose yards with 992 receiving, 156 rushing and 407 on kick-off returns. His all-purpose average of 155.5 yards a game is good for 16th nationally and he has six total touchdowns.

Williams is 11th in the nation in receptions per game with 7.2 a contest. Williams first and foremost makes his name with good hands.

The big question about Williams, and what could drop him in the draft, his a balky knee. He played in only five games in 2008 because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament. It's the same injury he suffered as a freshman. He also had a hand injury last season.

But the knee injury hasn't seemed to slow Williams much. He's still good in and out of his cuts and reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in the low 4.5 range.

His leaping ability is at the pro level and he does a really nice job of catching the ball at its highest point.

Williams' agility is evident. Otherwise, he wouldn't be asked to return kicks. His quickness is excellent and it helps him get off the line with ease.

"We are really pleased for Jeremy because he has worked extremely hard to put himself in position to receive invitations to both the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game," Tulane coach Bob Toledo told reporters Tuesday. "He worked very hard rehabbing during the offseason to overcome the two injuries he suffered last year and he did a great job of preparing himself for a really good senior season. I think he will have a great career in the NFL."

Williams compares favorably in his playing style to Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason. He's just a heady player who knows how to read a defense and get open.

To top things off, Williams gives a great effort as a blocker. That's what could get him on the field immediately at the next level.

At the very least, it makes him one of the best hidden gems in the nation.

Week 9 Preview -- World Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party Gets Motivated

cocknfire — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:01:32 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Can Georgia regain its balance against Florida?

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Weekend Open Thread begins at 11 a.m. ET

LOWERING EXPECTATIONS
World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party: Georgia vs. No. 2 Florida (Jacksonville), 3:30 p.m .ET, CBS

It's been a month since Florida looked like the juggernaut that everyone expected at the beginning of the season; 10-point margins of victory or less against three straight teams, two of them unranked, will do that to anybody. And while Kentucky doesn't exactly look like a terrible team this year, there are still questions about whether the Wildcats are the kind of upper-half SEC team that has given Florida fits this year. UK remains the only SEC to lose to the Gators by more than 10.

It seems like's it been a month since Georgia has played a game that was regarded as relevant before kickoff. After all, the back-to-back trips to Tennessee were supposed to be uneventual, even if the showdown with the Vols in Knoxville ended up being one of the swing games of the season as far as our perceptions. Then the Dawgs took a week off, probably a welcome development given how the season was going to that point, before emerging for what is almost universally recognized as the most important game of the season and one of the more momentous of the Mark Richt Era. Not because of its impact on the standings; almost everyone expects the Gators to win the division sooner or later. But Richt's critics are growing, even if they remain on the fringe of the Georgia fan base, and nothing will shut them up like a victory against Florida.

If Florida has looked unimpressive against every above-average SEC team they've played, though, Georgia has looked uneven against almost every SEC team they've played period. Only the 34-10 win over dreadful Vanderbilt, a team that consistently scares any team ahead of it in the league standings, looks even moderately impressive. Either the offense or defense has disappeared or failed in each of the team's six other games, and both melted down in the shelling in Knoxville.

And the results don't lie; aside from passing yardage, rushing defense and sacks on both sides of the ball, Georgia fails to rank in the top half of the conference in any major stastistical category. Their passing defense has been eviscerated and the running game has fallen to last in the league. Pair that with the 112th-ranked turnover margin in the nation and you can see why the Bulldog faithful are downtrodden this season.

By comparison, Florida's problems seem rather tame. The Gators rank first or second in the SEC in nine of the 13 offensive or defensive categories tracked by the NCAA. Only passing yardage and sacks allowed rank outside of the top three in the league. No, the offense hasn't been quite as explosive in terms of points as some of the Gator faithful would prefer, but the handwringing seems a bit overwrought.

How do you factor in the various motivational ploys attempted by the two teams in the run-up to the game? That seems to be the million-dollar question. If the Dawgs do take umbrage at Urban Meyer's prodigious use of timeouts to get playing time for the eighth string last year, the question is whether they can turn that into enough of a psychological edge to overcome the gaping statistical disadvantage they face. The Gators have tried to counter by dredging up the memories of the Riot by the River in 2007. But if Lane Kiffin's comments and the return of the wounded Tim Tebow weren't enough to spur the offense to great things, why should we expect a two-year old incident to do the job?

All of which makes this as mysterious and intriguing a game as any this week and maybe any in the season to this point. A cold-blooded view of this game demands the selection of the Gators, but nobody's winning this one by 16 points.

Florida 24, Georgia 13

THE EAST UNDERCARD
No. 21 South Carolina at Tennessee, 7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN / ESPN360.com

If by some bizarre series of events one of the teams in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party doesn't win the East, the winner of this game is the likeliest bet to do it. More probable is that these teams are playing for second place in the division and a chance at the Capital One Bowl or a bid in the Outback depending on where the other players are headed when the season is done.

Not that either of these teams would walk away from that possibility. The Gamecocks' best seasons since entering the SEC have ended in Tampa and a visit to Orlando would be gravy. Even playing in Florida would have to be considered an accomplishment for Lane Kiffin in his first season and maybe an indication that the hopes Tennessee fans have pinned on him aren't just the dreams of homers.

Setting up the implications of the game are important, if for no other reason than that it promises to be less than scintillating football on the field. Both teams are defined by mediocre offense and solid defense in combinations that lead to ugly wins that please fans far more than impartial observers. The Vols' 45-19 win against Georgia is the best win on either team's slate by miles, and Tennessee has shown little evidence that it can reproduce that kind of sustained success on both sides of the ball.

South Carolina, for its part, has mastered the art of winning without any bells and whistles. The 16-10 win against Ole Miss looks better than it did a couple of weeks ago, but the Gamecocks spent last weekend trailing Vanerbilt before ending up with a 14-10 win. So is the 6-2 record a mirage built on smoke and mirrors or some sort of lower-quality version of 2006 Florida?

Tennessee has outscored South Carolina by almost 6 ppg this season, but only outgains them by 19 ppg. If the Gamecocks can turn up their red-zone scoring a bit, they can wipe out that advantage and maybe reverse it. But South Carolina fans have been waiting for that to happen for several weeks now; a Monte Kiffin defense is less than an ideal place for it to start. This might seem like a homer pick. If so, fine; I'm thoroughly confused by this game.

South Carolina 18, Tennessee 16

LIKE TWO PINE BOXES PASSING IN THE NIGHT
No. 25 Ole Miss at Auburn, 12:21 p.m. ET, SEC Network / ESPN360.com

Well, Tommy Tuberville finally did leave one of these programs in a pine box, but it was a metaphorical pine box and the program he was leaving was located in the Greater Opelika Area and not in Oxford. So perhaps there's not as much personal animosity in this rivalry this year, but it's still an important game in the SEC West. Ole Miss needs to win out to have a credible shot at going to Atlanta, and even that might not be enough.

The Rebels come in having won their last two games by a combined score of 78-30, a feat that seems somewhat less impressive when you consider that the opponents were UAB and Arkansas. But for a team that couldn't score points against any competent defense for the first half of the season, even blowing out Arkansas' suspect defense was something of an accomplishment. If QB Jevan Snead can keep progressing and the defense keeps up its solid play, Ole Miss will have a great shot at a good season.

Auburn is moving in the other direction. The Tigers have lost their last three in a row, scoring 23, 14 and 10 in outings against Arkansas, Kentucky and LSU respectively. It seems that Gene Chizik's rebuilding project will take more than one year after all.

Ole Miss 23, Auburn 9

DON'T CALL IT AN UPSET
Mississippi State at Kentucky, 7 p.m. ET, FSN / ESPN360.com

Kentucky is still something of a mystery this season, though we at least have a reason after the Auburn game to think that the Wildcats are a decent team. Aside from that victory, though, indicators are few and far between. UK lost to three of what are generally regarded as the four best teams in the conference and have so far swept through a nonconference schedule packed with cupcakes so sweet diabetics were advised not to watch the games.

Quick: Which of these teams has the better offense statistically? If you said Mississippi State, you're correct. Not only that, but the Western Division Bulldogs are only allowing 5 ypg more than the Wildcats. These are actually two fairly evenly matched teams. If anything, you might have to give the advantage on paper to State.

Not that this game should sneak up on Kentucky by any stretch of the imagination. After last week's heavyweight bout with Louisiana-Monroe, UK goes from playing Mississippi State this week to facing scary FCS foe Eastern Kentucky next week. The Wildcats will be reminded this week why they build schedules like they're afraid of playing real teams.

Mississippi State 17, Kentucky 14

NERD BOWL
No. 11 Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m. ET, CSS / ESPN360.com

Since when did Georgia Tech rejoin the SEC? All three of the Yellow Jackets' FBS nonconference games feature SEC opponents: at Mississippi State, at Vanderbilt and vs. Georgia. This is by far the most lopsided of those three games, though it's not the biggest advantage Georgia Tech has ever had on an opponent.

You know all about Georgia Tech's vaunted flexbone system: 291.6 ypg, second in the nation only to Nevada. The defense has been mediocre, but when you can score 32.6 ppg on offense that doesn't catch up to you much; Tech's only loss was at Miami.

Vanderbilt comes in at 2-6 with wins over a bad FBS team and an FCS team and almost nothing working on either side of the ball. But they somehow keep the other team from scoring large numbers of points. That won't be enough against Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech 27, Vanderbilt 6

WAVE GOODBYE
Tulane at No. 10 LSU, 8 p.m. ET, PPV / ESPN360.com

If it weren't for the Razorback's entry this week for worst game in the history of the conference, this would be the least watchable matchup this week. Tulane has won twice this year, against FCS's McNeese state (by 10!) and at Army. Those also happen to be the only two games the Green Wave has lost by less than three touchdowns. But it is the last game in this series for the foreseeable future. So there's that.

LSU 42, Tulane 14

THIS IS BAD EVEN FOR A CUPCAKE
Eastern Michigan at Arkansas, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

If Arkansas was going to play an FBS team this weekend, it could hardly choose an easier one than Eastern Michigan. The Eagles are ranked 181st in Division I by Jeff Sagarin; there are only 120 teams in the FBS, and according to his rankings they are the worst of the bunch and worse than 61 FCS teams. These are the games you almost want the home team to lose.

Arkansas 58, Eastern Michigan 3

BYE: No. 1 Alabama

Don't Bet On It!: Around the SEC

T Kyle King — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:27:16 -0000

In straight-up wins and losses, I was 5-1 in last week’s SEC predictions, although I misread the final margins by which the top two teams in the league would emerge victorious while nailing precisely the sort of game the Palmetto State Poultry would play. The upshot is that I am 47-7 in league forecasts this autumn, so a stumble is inevitable and you are cautioned, as always . . . Don’t Bet On It!

Here are this week’s SEC tilts, all of which will be played on Saturday because this ain’t the Big East, brother:

Eastern Michigan Eagles at Arkansas Razorbacks: Way to man up on the non-conference schedule, Hogs. "So, who do you want to play?" "Let’s play a team from Michigan!" "Great! How about Michigan?" "No . . . too tough." "How about Michigan State?" "No . . . too tough." "How about Central Michigan?" "No . . . too tough." "How about Western Michigan?" "No . . . too tough." "How about Eastern Michigan?" "The third-best directional MAC school in Michigan? Perfect!" I had to look up Eastern Michigan’s nickname---seriously, if the abbreviation of your university is "EMU," you need to call yourselves the "EMU Emu" and let Jimmy Clausen be your sideline mascot, sans costume---and the rule still holds: if I have to look up your nickname, you aren’t beating an SEC team. Arkansas wins.

Tulane Green Wave at LSU Tigers: I would make fun of Louisiana State for continuing to play an in-state rival that used to belong to the SEC and has been bad more often than good for most of the last several decades, but, then, we still play Georgia Tech, so I don’t have much room to criticize. The Bayou Bengals are going to steamroll the Green Wave into the asphalt of the parking lot and use whatever is left over to pave small highways in the Pelican State. (Why small highways? Because it isn’t called Fourlane University. Think like a Louisianan.) LSU keeps the good times rolling.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Vanderbilt Commodores: If the Engineers are favored by 24 or fewer points, bet on the Ramblin’ Wreck. You may rest assured that Paul Johnson and his charges know that the Red and Black beat the Music City Sailors by 24 points and the Golden Tornado’s mission this weekend will be to defeat the ‘Dores by more. The Yellow Jackets will run right over Vandy and all seventeen of the Georgia Tech students who make the trip to Nashville will take full advantage of their only opportunity to tell an opposing fan base, "Give us your lunch money, nerds!"

Mississippi St. Bulldogs at Kentucky Wildcats: Evidently, UK fans are still a bit touchy about their school’s reputation as a roundball power only. (If it’s any consolation, we currently suck at everything except women’s gymnastics, and even that program is apt to take a step back this season.) This weekend, the ‘Cats have an opportunity to prove themselves in the Commonwealth. I don’t think they’ll do it. Dan Mullen has the MSU players believing in their ability to play toe-to-toe with the best in the league. That hasn’t translated to many victories yet, but the Western Division Bulldogs are ready to go on the road and beat a bowl contender in conference play.

Mississippi Rebels at Auburn Tigers: Will the real parvenu please stand? Fans of both schools are staring wistfully at their 2009 teams and hearing Rod Stewart’s "Reason to Believe" running through their heads. (The acoustic version from the MTV special, not the original single that was released with "Maggie May" as the B-side.) This will be the first season since 1994 in which these two teams meet without either of them being coached by Tommy Tuberville and I’m going to let my heart make this pick, because my head says to go with the Plainsmen and I hate Auburn, so I’m opting for Ole Miss, even though I’m pretty sure I’m going to regret that call.

South Carolina Gamecocks at the rich man’s South Carolina Gamecocks: Who knew a decade ago that there would ever come a day when two SEC teams were facing one another, one of them was coached by Steve Spurrier, and I’d say, "I hope that obnoxious SOB gets his tail handed to him on Saturday" . . . and I’d be referring to the other guy? I know better than to predict that even the Evil Genius is going to ring up half a hundred on the Big Orange---so far, Lane Kiffin’s mouth is writing checks Monte Kiffin’s defense can cash, at least against pro-style offenses---but this is liable to be the kind of game Darth Visor’s Big Chickens have specialized in winning: low-scoring and butt-ugly. There’ll be a safety in there somewhere and the winning team will not score more than 16 points, but I believe vengeful will get the better of stupid as Lane Kiffin tallies another moral victory and South Carolina strikes a blow for waiting until you’ve actually accomplished something before you start running your smart mouth.

You may feel free to run your smart mouth in the comments below, but, whatever you do, please be sure to heed the most important piece of advice you will get all week: Don’t Bet On It!

Coming Soon: National Games of Interest.

Go ‘Dawgs!

Home and Home Jerseys for Tennessee / South Carolina: the Biggest Halloween Party in the Country

Hooper — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:15:31 -0000

More photos » by Mary Ann Chastain - AP

Bring 'em! Just without the camouflage sleeves, please. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

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UPDATE: Ok, this was intended to be a plea to have this happen. This is NOT a breaking report that this has actually happened. But hey, I'm glad that Gamecock fans are on board with the idea! --Hooper

So we tried to get home and home jersey going for the Third Saturday in October, and somebody down south didn't like the idea. Moving on. This week, we have a rare night game. At home. On Halloween. With the home team sporting orange and the away team carrying an alternate all-black home uniform.

Please make this happen.

We haven't seen a home-and-home game yet in the SEC, and there obviously aren't many schools willing to do it. Tennessee has already shown interest in the idea, and now they can take it one step further by granting it on their home turf. This would make for one awesome party in Neyland Stadium as both teams take the field in Orange and Black.

This is the ESPN Game of the Night.

Not to be confused with GameDay, but it's kind of a big deal. Televisions will have it on nationally. And take a look at the games that will be on at the same time:

Eastern Michigan Eagles (0-7) at Arkansas Razorbacks (3-4) ESPNU
Mississippi St. Bulldogs (3-5) at Kentucky Wildcats (4-3) ESPN GamePlan
Kansas St. Wildcats (5-3) at Oklahoma Sooners (4-3) Regional
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (4-3) at Troy Trojans (5-2) Regional
New Mexico Lobos (0-7) at San Diego St. Aztecs (3-4) Regional
Washington St. Cougars (1-6) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-2) NBC, natch.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-1) at Vanderbilt Commodores (2-6) ESPN GamePlan
South Carolina Gamecocks (6-2) at Tennessee Volunteers (3-4) ESPN
Tulane Green Wave (2-5) at LSU Tigers (6-1) ESPN GamePlan
Michigan St. Spartans (4-4) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-4) Big Ten Network
Texas Longhorns (7-0) at Oklahoma St. Cowboys (6-1) Regional
Wyoming Cowboys (4-3) at Utah Utes (6-1) Regional
USC Trojans (6-1) at Oregon Ducks (6-1) Regional

Thanks to the ESPN/SEC contract, the only two games of national interest (Texas/OSU and USC/Oregon) are regional coverages (as of the typing of this post). Even if one or both of those get picked up on national broadcasts, the Tennessee / South Carolina game is one of the better ones available.

It's great for recruiting.

This will be fun. Tennessee should have a lot of recruits on official visits. Show them that the team and the stadium are all about having a great time (along with competing to win, of course).

It will sell.

Advertise Neyland Stadium as the biggest Halloween party in the country - maybe even the world. You'll be accurate.

Just please: do it.

Poll

Do you want Tennessee in Orange and South Carolina in Black on Halloween?

Yes! UT Orange and SC Black, head to toe!

617 votes

Yes! UT Orange and SC Black, but no orange pants!

129 votes

No!

45 votes

791 votes | Poll has closed

Sprints Bids Farewell to Myles Brand, a Good Man // 09.17.09

cocknfire — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:11:29 -0000

More photos » by Eric Gay - AP

A sincere advocate for academics in athletics.

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RIP: Myles Brand, NCAA president, 67
I might not have always agreed with Brand on some issues -- the fight against Native American mascots went too far -- but his focus on academics is to be applauded. And no one can deny that college football, in particular, thrived while he was at the helm. Thoughts and prayers, of course, to his family and all who knew him.

TENNESSEE-FLORIDA

'Dude, are you really this stupid?'
That is the not altogether unreasonable response from one Gators beat writer after Boy Wonder's latest remarks about Florida, this time about the Gators' spread offense.

"You see some kids that don't want to play in that system because a lot of times it hurts them going to the next level for their draft status," Kiffin said.

I'm sure the recruits are flocking to Tennessee's door after seeing how Jonathan Crompton thrived in Kiffin's system during the UCLA game. Urban Meyer responds after gameplanning to score another 10 points on Saturday.

"Last year we had two (Louis Murphy, Percy Harvin) and I think they are both starting. C.I. (Cornelius Ingram) would have started and Bubba Caldwell is starting. So we’ve done a good job developing NFL talented (receivers). Billy Gonzales has done a great job developing them.'' ...

Also of note: Florida has had six wide receivers selected in the NFL Draft during Meyer's tenure from 2006-09, tied for the most of any school in the nation along with LSU and Ohio State. Southern Cal has had three, Florida State 2, and Miami, Georgia and Tennessee one each.

Facts are apparently not part of The Plan.

He also accused Tebow of being involved in dogfighting
Or maybe I'm misreading this.

No, really it's not
There's such a thing as being counterintuitive just to be counterintuitive.

It is hard to imagine Urban Meyer, the Florida football coach, retaliating against Tennessee and Lane Kiffin on Saturday in Gainesville considering Monte Kiffin sat down with the Florida staff and discussed defense after the Gators’ four-loss season in 2007.

At least they don't buy into The Plan.

Tebow to Jacksonville?
It's actually not a ridiculous idea for him or for the team.

Fulmer not happy about his 'resignation'
Not that it's really a surprise to hear that, but I think this might be his most direct comments yet.

"I'm still PO'd to say the least. There's probably a couple of people there that I'm not going to invite to Christmas dinner any time soon," Fulmer said. "I've chosen the best I can to take the high road. I really love Tennessee, so let there be no doubt about that. It's very much a part of me."

He's still planning to coach again somewhere.

OTHER NEWS

Schedule shuffle. ESPN undertakes a game of musical chairs to arrange for an LSU-North Carolina matchup for the kickoff classic next year, and forgive me if I think South Carolina ends up the only one worse off because it will pay $850,000 to go from playing an up-and-coming ACC program to an above-average Conference USA team. Meanwhile, Southern Miss gets a better team to start the season and the kind of national exposure C-USA teams don't get very often while LSU and UNC get perhaps the game of the first weekend.

South Carolina fans are not impressed. One really has to wonder if this is what the folks in Columbia thought they would be getting when ESPN promised a "suitable opponent" in return for North Carolina. I'm not saying this to rip Southern Miss to shreds. There's no doubt that they are a quality mid-major program. But the Tar Heels are a regional BCS opponent with some history of playing the Gamecocks and are located in a state South Carolina regularly recruits in. That in addition to the perception that they are a team on the verge of contending for ACC titles. Southern Miss is none of those things.

Southern Miss is as pleased as you would expect them to be, even if the move rips through their future schedule like a tornado.

Southern Miss was scheduled to open next season against Southeastern Louisiana but that game will move to a later date during the season or another year.

"This is a huge opportunity to be the first nationally televised game of the year that signals the start of the 2010 season," USM athletics director Richard Giannini said in a news release. "This game generates a tremendous amount of attention and it gives us a chance to showcase our football program to the nation."

In other changes, USM's game at LSU has moved from 2010 to 2011 and a trip to Knoxville to play Tennessee was pushed back from 2011 to 2017.

Tulane could also be counted as a loser, depending on how "voluntary" their agreement to cancel the rest of their LSU series is. Then again, the Green Wave's coaching staff might very well be giddy to remove that particular game from the schedule.

Is there any part of Joe Cox that isn't broken?
He jammed his finger against South Carolina.

Caleb King 'very probable' for Arkansas game
But Richard Samuel is still your starter.

Maurice Langston back on team at Mississippi State
He remains on something called "team probation," which might sound more ominous than it actually is.

RIP: Dave Fuller, former Florida baseball coach, 94
Thoughts and prayers.

Proof that 1915 was a long, long time ago
Well, perhaps in some ways not. They were, after all, coming off of a 2-8 season.

Mountain West Conference week two power rankings

JazzyUte — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:58:02 -0000

It's still unclear who the best team in the conference is and I'm not so sure we'll know after this week. However, we might start getting an idea as both Utah & BYU play BCS opponents.

Team of the Week: TCU. It's always impressive when you go on the road and dominate a BCS foe. Of course, Virginia is terrible and might be one of the worst teams on the Frogs' schedule. However, they did have a bye week to start the season and yet, even with that delay, they didn't look all that rusty.

Team of the Weak: New Mexico. For the second straight week, the Lobos put out the worst performance for the conference. They almost lucked out with Colorado State's near-loss to Weber State, but it didn't materialize. With their second consecutive blowout - this time at home to Tulsa - you've got to wonder if they'll win more than two games this season.

Week Two Rankings
Rank	Team	Comments
1		It took a bit for BYU to wake up against Tulane, but once they did, the game was never close. It's hard to judge the Cougars on this one win, since the Green Wave may be one of the worst teams in football this season, but they avoided the dreaded trap game after beating OU. So that's got to count for something. This week gets harder with Florida State coming to Provo. Yet you can't help but think that game lost some of its luster after the Seminoles were beat by Miami in week one and nearly lost to FCS Jacksonville State last Saturday.
2		TCU opened the season with an impressive victory over what may be one of the worst BCS teams in the country. It's a good start, but they still have a lot to prove. Unfortunately, that won't come this week - they host FCS Texas State.
3		It was a lackluster performance over a fairly unimpressive San Jose State team, but Utah won. They'll need to play a lot better this week if they're going to beat Oregon on the road. A win there might possibly get Utah back into the BCS talks. We'll see, though.
4		The Rebels move up after a loss because it was to a top-25 team in the final seconds of the game. They should have won. That and the rest of the teams below them looked rather mediocre in either victory or defeat. UNLV hosts Hawaii this Saturday and should be able to push their record to 2-1. A fast start is needed if they're going to contend for a bowl berth.
5		Air Force stayed with Minnesota for much of the game, but could never really push further than that. It was a tough loss for a game that was so winnable and suggests maybe the Falcons might struggle a bit this season. This week they play New Mexico on the road, which is pretty much a must-win if they're going to have any hope of playing in a bowl game this season.
6		Colorado State looked so good in their opener against Colorado and then so bad last week against Weber State. They did win, but after the Buffs got destroyed against Toledo, maybe the Rams aren't as good as first thought.
7		Nothing cures early season struggles like a bad FCS team. It wasn't a great victory, but for Brady Hoke, it's about baby steps and a win is a win. Things aren't much harder this week, as they travel up to Idaho to take on the Vandals.
8		If only the Wyoming-Texas game had ended at the half. The Cowboys would've still lost, but it would've been the most impressive loss of the season by any team in the country. Of course, it didn't and because of that, Wyoming lost in a blowout. This week the Cowboys take on Colorado - a much easier Big 12 opponent. Yet it might be too much to expect, or hope, for a victory.
9

Agree or not?

Recap: BYU Over Tulane

sroufe — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:09:43 -0000

More photos » by Patrick Semansky - AP

3 months ago: Tulane running back Andre Anderson (32) is tackled by Brigham Young defenders Coleby Clawson and Matt Bauman (35) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. Closing in are Brett Denney (92) and Jan Jorgensen (84). (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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That first half didn't quite cause me to be concerned. Concerned just seems like the wrong word. "Relatively cautious" might be more accurate. Really I think after Bryan Kariya's second touchdown, just before halftime, I was able to almost completely relax. Of course, the second half made me feel much better.

Not sure what it was - probably a combination of the emotional carryover from last weekend, mixed with travel and the hesitant return of Harvey Unga to the offense - but it led to some minor miscues on both sides of the ball by the Cougars and consequently Tulane was able to hang in there for awhile.

Speaking of Unga (3 carries for 17 yards and 1 reception). I felt that the amount of reps he received was approriate even before his hamstring "flare-up." Hopefully it wasn't serious because he seriously needs to get healthy. That shot of him grimacing on the sideline made me a little perturbed. That late block he made wasn't too smart either but oh well. At least in general the team improved dramatically in the penalties department.

The other injury I'm most concerned about is Braden Hansen. Dude was in severe pain and his leg was bent back in a terrifying way. BYU cannot afford to lose another O-lineman, especially one that has proved as versatile as Hansen. The injury to Scott Johnson, could be extreme as well - watching him on the bench reminded me of this. In all seriousness, Johnson also suffered a concussion less than a month ago so he'd better be careful. He might not even play for a few weeks. In other concussion-related news, it was good to see Matt Bauman return to action and record three tackles.

I felt that the defensive player of the game was a toss-up between Terrance Hooks and Grant Nelson. Obviously Jordan Pendleton, Brian Logan, Shawn Doman, Shiloah Te'o, Craig Bills and others made key plays as well. Hooks led the team with four unassisted tackles and also forced the fumble with a viscious hit that led to Pendleton's touchdown. Nelson had two sacks early in the game that set the tone for the defense as a whole moving forward. Generally, the defense was wonderful for a second consecutive Saturday.

On the offensive side of the ball several players were sensational as well. The offensive line was dominant. Terance Brown inparticular blew me away. I commented in the game thread that his block on a DB (during the screen leading to Kariya's TD) was like a Killer Whale playing with some helpless penguin. Hall played well (170.49 passer rating) minus the interception. Jacobson, Pitta, Chambers and Ashworth all had some great contributions. Kariya was fantastic with 2 TD's and averaging over five yards a carry. It was good to see QB Riley Nelson get some playing time as well.

But I thought the best was J.J. DiLuigi: 12 carries for 79 yards (5.9/carry), 2 receptions and 2 second half TD's to match Kariya. Easily his best game at BYU thus far. On one play I distinctly remember him breaking safety Alex Lauricella's (#17) ankles so badly that it was laughable. DiLuigi looked like he had had done him with a Deron Williams crossover.

Overall, an impressive game for the Cougars. Forget about the tentative start, injuries to Hansen, Johnson (and Unga), and Hall's interception, and the game was perfect. Okay, so maybe that's a lot to forget. BYU better not be so tentative next week against the Seminoles. However, I think finally playing at home will get them energized next Saturday. Hopefully the injuries aren't too serious and all three players return ASAP. If BYU is going to compete for a BCS bowl they'll need all three. As for Hall's interception? I think his efficiency will improve at Edwards Stadium as well.

Now, let's get ready for Florida State. Go Cougars!!

BYU Explodes on Offense for 54 points against Tulane

Jeremy Mauss — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:40:11 -0000

Final - 9.12.2009	1	2	3	4	Total
BYU Cougars	3	17	14	20	54
Tulane Green Wave	0	3	0	0	3

Complete Coverage >

After a slow --and might I add boring first half-- BYU took off in the second half to blow out Tulane to improve to 2-0. The big news in the game was that RB Harvey Unga who has been nursing a hamstring injury entered the game and had a few carries.

The first half started off slow with BYU unabable to get in the end zone but made two field goals to get an early 6-0 lead. Tulane then got on the board with their own field goal which was their only points for a while in the game.

Then BYU got serious by getting up 20-3 to end the half with two touchdowns by RB Bryan Kairya one receving and one rushing the ball. BYU was eventualy able to just run the ball at will with Kairya and JJ DiLuigi who had two touchdowns himself.

Max Hall had 309 yard game throwing the ball, a touchdown pass, however he did have a pick that was pretty sloppy and was similar to one of his picks last week against Oklahoma and last year. The pass was intended for Denis Pitta across the middle, but the safety stepped up and took the ball that hit him in the numbers.

The BYU defense started off slow by allowing Tulane to methodically drive down the field, but looking at the stats at the end of the game Tulane was held under 200 yards for the game. Also, BYU was able to get four takeaways, and the BYU defense is improved from last year by not allowing big plays and shutting down the offense.

Tulane QB Joe Kemp was all right with 14-19 passes for 105 yards and a pick, but once the game out of hand the backups entered the game to avoid injury.

From midway from the first quarter it was all BYU and they just moved down the field and spread the ball to everyone. Backup QB Riley Nelson got in the game and scored a rushing touchdown late in the game. The only complaints about this game would be that BYU started off slow. That is something that can not happen against Florida State next week.

A few downsides that RB Harvey Unga tweaked his hamstring again which is a huge concern especialy with Florida State coming up next week. He should not have played at all in this game and just rest that injury. Also, the kicking game was a mess by kicking the ball out of bounds and missing an extra point.

These finite things are what need to be fixed since BYU is a top 10 team and need to be perfect when they play better opponents. However it is hard to complain with a 54-3 win.

BYU Cougars @ Tulane Green Wave

Jeremy Mauss — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:25:15 -0000

Next Game

BYU Cougars
@ Tulane Green Wave

Saturday, Sep 12, 2009, 12:30 PM PDT
Louisiana Superdome

TV:ESPN2

Radio:KSL Radio

Complete Coverage >

BYU is coming of one of their biggest wins in school history, by defeating Oklahoma and immediately puts BYU in the front runner spot for the BCS and an outside shot of the BCS title game. The biggest concern is a let down because Tulane is basically in the opposite spectrum then Oklahoma.

What BYU needs to do is to prevent a TCU like let down in 2005. That year TCU beat Oklahoma in Norman and then they lost the following week to SMU. BYU should not let this happen, because last year BYU had the opposite schedule that was soft and then built up to tough opponents when they face TCU and Utah. Prior to that they were not tested and it showed.

This could be a trap game, just because next week BYU plays Florida State in Provo and Tulane is a pretty weak team. However, that seems unlikely because BYU's offense has not yet broken out --in the point category-- and should against Tulane who gave up 37 to Tulsa last week.

Tulsa and BYU are similar in that they both have a high powered offense, so expect BYU to score a minimum of thirty points on Saturday. A concern BYU has is that RB Harvey Unga who suffered a hamstring injury in camp sat out the Oklahoma game, and may sit out against Tulane. There is no need for Harvey to play in this game unless he is 100 percent, because if he aggrivates the injury then he most likely will be out against Florida State. Even if Harvey Unga does not play BYU will use Manse Tonga, Bryan Kariya, or J.J. DiLuigi to share the running load.

One thing to consider is that this game is in the New Orleans Superdome which is the home of Tulane, and they do not draw all that well. I honestly expect that there will be at worst 40 percent of BYU fans, and a crowd of around 40,000 because of the BYU contigency.

BYU should have no problem passing the ball to Dennis Pita, McKay Jacobson, O'Neill Chambers, and the other wide outs when moving the ball. This pass offense has more experience then the Tulsa quarterback and will eat alive the Tulane defense.

Tulane is not a good team last year they only went 2-10 with wins over Louisiana-Monroe and SMU and this year looks to have the same record on the horizon. Bob Toledo -- former UCLA -- is the head man in Tulane and has a 6-18 record over all and has not done too much in improving the team; or even having them competitive.

The Greenwave might be more pumped since BYU is a top 10 team and bring the extra effort, but they were manhandled by Tulsa who is not ranked in the top 25. Tulane will need to try to bring pressure on Max Hall, because the Cougar line is still inexperienced and getting pressure is possibly a way for Tulane to stay in the game.

Offensively for Tulane they need quarterback GJ Kinne to improve off of his 15-20 and 211 yard performance against BYU. He had zero picks, but the problem was that drives were stalling and unable to get points. BYU does however need to stop Tulane's top receiver's: Jeremy Williams who had five catches for 139 yards and Casey Robottom who had six for 82. BYU's corners will be tested by these two wide outs and will need to keep these to receviers in front of the coverage and not get beat.

The rushing game was non-existant for Tulane and that can be a problem if they are passing most of the game then they will become one-dimensional. Also, by not being able to rush the ball Tulane will not be able to hold onto possessions longer and keeping the ball away from BYU's potent offense. Tulane's best chance to keep this game low scoring -- which is also their best chance to win-- is to rush the ball with consistency and to have extended drives.

There will be no let down and expect BYU to win this game by a couple of touchdowns.