SB Nation User Blog: cocknfire

Sprints Will Take Your Ideas or $3 Billion, Either One // 11.12.09

cocknfire — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:15:32 -0000

'You have no idea how hard it is to deal with $3 billion.'

Help us. We should probably do some sort of a decade retrospective here, even if the decade doesn't technically end until Dec. 31, 2010. (For those who haven't already heard this: There was never a 0 A.D. or B.C., so the first ten years technically ran 1-10 and the second decade started with 11 A.D.) In any case, we're open to ideas about what categories you would suggest and what nominees you might have for those categories. Sure, there are the easy ones that you almost have to include -- best and worst game, team, player, etc. -- but we'd also like to have some original ones. We're also working on it, but any suggestions would be another example of what makes blogging rewarding: Interaction with others. Look for the series post-championship game in December.

It's so hard to make $3 billion nowadays ...
Mike Slive complains about officiating and media rights issues in an interview with the Associated Press.

Has it been difficult? Yes. Has it been painful? Yes. But this league has been a great league for 76 years. There have been different issues at different times. I fully understand the disappointment the fans feel when something happens that impacts their team.

Listen: You give me the $3 billion over the next 15 years and I'll handle the problems, OK?

That is, unless they take Tommy West's advice and shut down the program
Memphis is the latest job for which Charlie Strong will be considered and inexplicably not hired.

A.J. Green back for Georgia-Auburn game
He could break the 300-yard receiving mark in a single game, either in a winning or losing effort against the Tigers defense.

Cox nearly played for Duke
This would obviously have been a huge problem for Georgia this season had Joe Cox actually gone to Raleigh. Logan Gray would have to play quarterback, and then who would have fair-caught kicks?

'And there's a 20-yard sack by Integrity'
South Carolina will wear its special military-themed uniforms this weekend.

The Gators also have one
The special Nike Pro Combat uniforms for Florida have been unveiled -- apparently before Nike wanted them to be -- but will debut at a Gator home game.

Don't Bet On It!: Around the SEC
The Mayor takes his weekly trip around the league games.

Is the season now boring?
I didn't necessarily want to ask that question, as it seemed out of place in any discussion about our beloved sport. But Dr. Saturday makes some good points that are difficult to counter.

A good point
And The Valley Shook on why we shouldn't compare football to war:

It cheapens our understanding of actual combat and actual war. Not to disrespect what our linemen go through every week, and their preparation and the real dangers they face when they go out on the football field, it is not the same as getting shot at or walking through a literal minefield.

Not much that I could add to that.

Sprints Always Calls Its Own Plays // 11.11.09

cocknfire — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:39:29 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

We wish you a happy Veterans Day. Charlie Weis, though ...

Browse more photos »

Remember Veterans Day. And a thank you to all who serve, wherever you might be in these troubled times.

Team Speed Kills Now. Back then. The podcast of this week's show, for those who are interested but missed it.

I will call the plays in the future, just like I've been doing so far
The chaotic play-calling arrangement of South Carolina has been streamlined. Steve Spurrier will do it.

"I call most of the plays, and I may be the principle play-caller now with suggestions from the other coaches. That's about how we've been doing it," Spurrier said during his weekly news conference. "I still carry all the ball plays out there (on a play sheet). Some of you may say, 'Well, let somebody else call them, it's not working very well.' And some of you may say, 'Why don't you call them?' But it's all (dependent) on what's working or not."

He's also not going anywhere, despite all those golf course guides you've been sending him.

Well, you could just say it was Steve Martin ...
Bobby Johnson is not pleased with Mike Slive's fine-o-matic for criticizing officials.

"But I think we ought to have the opportunity to say 'I disagree with a call' and not be fined. You can't say, 'Well, I think he did it on purpose' or 'I think it's a conspiracy.' But if I think it was a bad call, I ought to be able to say it was a bad call. I guess I can't."

Johnson was asked what he thought of the officiating in Vanderbilt's 27-3 loss at Florida.

"It was wonderful," he said. "Best I've ever seen."

For some reason, I doubt he was being entirely honest there.

Steve Addazio Unplugged
Florida OC Steve Addazio might actually be insane.

Because we’ve got some tailbacks that can be explosive, and that’s what we’re talking about – explosives. And we’re constantly working on the red zone, especially the throw game down there in the red zone. ...

We didn’t just fall off the pickle boat and all of a sudden we showed up 9-0 now.

Yes, the Gators do need to work on the "throw game" in the end zone. This man is in charge of your national championship defending offense, Gator fans.

The whole thing is worth a read.

The South Will Not Rise Again at Ole Miss
Chancellor Dan Jones has pulled the plug on "From Dixie With Love" at Ole Miss to stop the chant of "The South will rise again!"

"Here at the University of Mississippi, there must be no doubt that this is a warm and welcoming place for all," Jones wrote in a letter to the Ole Miss community. "We cannot even appear to support those outside our community who advocate a revival of segregation. We cannot fail to respond."

Just for that, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is returning his tickets to next week's game.

Gus Malzahn has 'big dreams' at Auburn
And he'll have even bigger dreams at Memphis.

Because it worked so well the last time ...
I really don't understand Mark Richt's decision to rotate players out of the game based on penalties. First, anyone who's looked at the issue through statistics and not out of frustration has found that penalties don't cost a team the game -- poorly-timed penalties, perhaps, but not penalties in and of themselves. Second, you're willingly going to remove your first-string players because they commit a penalty? That makes sense how exactly?

Isn't any offense except South Carolina's really Willie Martinez's worst nightmare?
MaconDawg recounts the reasons why Dawg fans should be afraid of Auburn this weekend.

SEC Power Poll, Week 10

cocknfire — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:26:03 -0000

1. ALABAMA (12), 243
2. FLORIDA (9), 240
3. LSU, 207
4. TENNESSEE, 175
5. AUBURN, 169
6. OLE MISS, 132
7. GEORGIA, 118.5
8. ARKANSAS, 116.5
9. SOUTH CAROLINA, 103
10. MISSISSIPPI STATE, 64
11. KENTUCKY, 49
12. VANDERBILT, 21

If it's an even-numbered week, that means Alabama must be back in the lead, this time with a three-point and three first-place ballot edge on Florida, which is to be expected when they once again split all the first- and second-place votes in the polls. LSU doesn't lose any ground for a respectable and controversial (is there any other kind in the SEC this year?) loss to Alabama.

The rest of the Top 5 is the same, but South Carolina finally and resoundingly falls out of the top half of the league with its loss to Arkansas. The three-spot drop gives a boost to Ole Miss, Georgia and Arkansas. The Razorbacks, it should be noted, are gaining on the Dawgs.

Everything else is the same, a sign of the late-season stability that often sets in when there are no major upsets. Vanderbilt once again sweeps the last-place votes. All at once: Sorry, Vandy.

Voters?

ALABAMA

Another week, another tough game. This week a new hero rose up to save Alabama's season. This weeks game ball goes to SEC Replay official Gerald Hodges!--Orange and Blue Hue

Before the touchdown catch, Julio Jones was in danger of being on a Tuscaloosa milk carton after his penalty at the goalline.--The ACC & SEC Blog

Bama does not score to get style points. They use violence.--Alligator Army

FLORIDA

Vanderbilt also counts as a cupcake now; sorry Florida.--Red Cup Rebellion

Florida beat Vanderbilt, but not by as much as I imagined. I am sure that Urban wishes he could complain about that, but Mrs. Meyer needs a new pair of shoes.--Gate 21

I don't care if it is Tim Tebow, you cannot win a championship and allow 22 sacks. Part of the blame is on the offensive line and part is on Tebow for holding the ball.--Alligator Army

LSU

Les Miles toes the party line after the loss by not criticizing referees for injuring his staring RB and QB. Because we all know they did.--The ACC & SEC Blog

Even if Peterson has that pick called, Jarrett Lee wasn't going to win that game.--Red Cup Rebellion

I didn't much care who won that game last week, but I really, really wish they'd called it an interception just so we'd have all been able to go one d--- week talking about actual football.--War Blog Eagle

TENNESSEE

With Memphis down only Vandy stands between the Vols and TOTAL DOMINATION OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE!!! Behold the rise of the Kiffin Empire!--Orange and Blue Hue

All that talkin' Lane did -- well, now he is backin' it up.--Leftover Hot Dog

Wow, Jonathan Crompton's still getting people fired. At least it's someone else's coaches this year.--War Blog Eagle

AUBURN

The Furman Paladins played themselves while the Auburn Tigers played a giant, 3-headed, fire breathing dragon enjoying some Paladin flavored BBQ.--Orange and Blue Hue

Furman scored 28 points on AU in the second half ... is that an indictment of the Tigers' defensive depth, or am I really reaching for reasons to have hope for Georgia this weekend?--Hey Jenny Slater

Yes, the Plainsmen gave up 31 points to Furman, but they scored 63 and 28 of the Paladins' points came in the second half, after Auburn had built up a 42-3 halftime lead. Something tells me Saturday night's showdown between the hedges will not feature a scintillating display of rock-ribbed defensive prowess. Oh, goody . . . because high-scoring games against the Tigers in Athens worked out so well for the Bulldogs in 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2005! (I hate Auburn.)--Dawg Sports

OLE MISS

How is it fair that N. Arizona has to play Sacramento State and Ole Miss BACK TO BACK?!?! The schedule is not doing the Lumberjacks any favors this year.--Orange and Blue Hue

Perhaps more importantly than this year: if Snead doesn't finish strong, Nutt's going to get a bad rep as a QB killer.--Rocky Top Talk

So what happens when Houston Nutt runs out of Ed Orgeron's players?--The ACC & SEC Blog

GEORGIA

UGA's defense managed a shutout over Tennessee Tech. Hard to believe, even if it was against an FCS team.--Garnet And Black Attack

No one noticed the 38-0 shutout of Tennessee Tech because it shouldn't be noticed. But did anyone realize that Georgia is actually second in the SEC East? Talk about a weird mix of reality and standings.--Save the Shield

I never thought I would say ‘Georgia defense' and ‘shutout' in the same sentence for 2009.--The ACC & SEC Blog

ARKANSAS

Probably clinch bowl eligibility this week against Troy, with a shot at a seventh win against MSU the following week, which would be a big step forward for the program under Petrino.--Hey Jenny Slater

At this point in the season, the Hogs seem capable of an inspiring victory or embarrassing defeat against pretty much anybody. We like to keep it interesting.--Arkansas Expats

If Arkansas played every game at home at 11 a.m., they'd be undefeated.--War Blog Eagle

SOUTH CAROLINA

The Gamecocks have lost 3 of their last four and are on the verge of collapse. That can mean only one thing . . . THANKSGIVING IS ALMOST HERE!!!--Orange and Blue Hue

Spurrier answers the SOS; now what?--Leftover Hot Dog

How's the golfing in Shreveport?--War Blog Eagle

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Do the Bulldogs have a bowl-eligibility run in them?--Garnet And Black Attack

I don't think bowl eligibility is in the cards for the Dogs, but you have to be impressed with the job Mullen's done with the least talented squad in the conference this year.--Get the Picture

It's unfortunate that the NCAA requires a team to win six games to qualify for postseason play, because I'd like to see a bowl game pitting Mississippi State against Connecticut to settle the question of which is the best 4-5 team in America.--Dawg Sports

KENTUCKY

Struggled with Eastern Kentucky well into the third quarter, but Morgan Newton looks like a solid choice to be the Wildcats' QB of the future.--Hey Jenny Slater

Easy game could not have come at a better time for the traveling M.A.S.H. Unit that is the Kentucky Wildcats.--A Sea of Blue

When does the UK formula for reaching a bowl game start to include beating good teams?--Dawg Sports

VANDERBILT

Warren Norman and Zac Stacy are a legit threat at tailback for the Dores. Now if they can only fix their problems at WR, TE, LT, LG, C, RG, RT, TE, WR and QB, they might be able to beat a military academy.--Save the Shield

Bowl Vandy, we hardly knew ye.--Rocky Top Talk

At least with Spikes on the bench, the 'Dores didn't have to wear eye guards. But it didn't help their offense.--A Sea of Blue

Team Speed Kills Now. Soon.

cocknfire — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:42:54 -0000

The program tonight: Discussing the immediate and long-term future of Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina. Unveiling the SEC Power Poll. Assorted idiocy. Join us at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT, won't you?

Other Half of Power Poll Ballot and Overall Ballot for Week 10

cocknfire — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:41:54 -0000

Final overall ballot:

1 Alabama
2 Florida
3 LSU
4 Tennesee
5 Auburn
6t Arkansas
6t Georgia
8 Ole Miss
9 South Carolina
10 Mississippi State
11 Kentucky
12 Vanderbilt

C&F's ballot:

1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Subject to video review.

2. Florida Gators
Managed to defeat an inferior foe without officiating mistakes or an eye-gouging incident. Impressive.

3. LSU Tigers
The best of the rest.

4. Tennessee Volunteers
Lane Kiffin will be singing Rocky Top all night long after they win the Outback Bowl.

5. Arkansas Razorbacks
'Mr. Petrino? There's a caller from South Bend, Indiana for you on Line 1.'

6. Auburn Tigers
Watching this team from week to week is like taking a swig of hot coffee and washing it down with liquid nitrogen.

7. Georgia Bulldogs
Defeating Tennessee Tech means they might go to a bowl game after all.

8. South Carolina Gamecocks
Let's move on.

9. Mississippi Rebels
I still haven't figured out this team.

10. Mississippi St. Bulldogs
This might be too low, given the way the five teams immediately ahead of them have played.

11. Kentucky Wildcats
Would be higher if they had any players left.

12. Vanderbilt Commodores
Don't worry. South Carolina still has two games and a possible bowl to catch you.

The King of the West is Dead; Long Live the King of the West -- Alabama Clinches and Other Week 10 Action

cocknfire — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:35:17 -0000

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

Alabama has ended LSU's dynasty.

Browse more photos »

THE BALANCE OF POWER SHIFTS IN THE WEST
Alabama 24, LSU 15

Consider that before the beginning of last season, LSU had been to the SEC Championship Game in four of the last seven seasons while Alabama had not gone to Atlanta in early December since 1999. The Bayou Bengals won three of those appearances and used their 2003 and 2007 showings to launch LSU to national titles. LSU lost only nine SEC games from 2003-07, no more than two in any one season and none to Alabama.

Two years later, LSU is no longer the pre-eminent team in the SEC West; Alabama is. The Tide has defeated the Tigers in two consecutive seasons -- the first time Alabama has done that in a decade. The Tide has gone 14-0 in regular season SEC games over the same time frame and lost only to eventual national champion Florida in last year's SEC title bout.

And with a solid junior quarterback and superstar sophomore running back likely to return next year, there's little reason except defensive attrition to believe that Alabama won't at least be a strong favorite to repeat next season. After all, those offensive starters helped ring up 452 yards of total offense Saturday, including Greg McElroy's above-average outing (19-of-34, 276 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) and Mark Ingram's latest Heism@n statement (22 carries, 144 yards).

Meanwhile, LSU still seems adrift in some respects. QB Jordan Jefferson was OK before he left the game (10-of-17, 114 yards, 1 TD), and Charles Scott was having a solid day (13 rushes, 83 yards) before his likely college career-ending injury. Once both stars were out, the Tigers offense wasn't able to score enough to stave off Alabama's rally.

The unacknowledged interception near the end of the game -- and it was an interception -- will get a lot of attention after the previous officiating problems in the SEC, and it should. But that's not why LSU lost this game. The Tigers lost because Alabama is just a little better than they are right now. And that doesn't look to change anytime soon.

KO IN FAYETTEVILLE
Arkansas 33, South Carolina 16

If this was, as the announcers incessantly reminded us Saturday, a game between two of the up-and-coming teams in the SEC, give the first round to the Razorbacks by knock-out. Sure, Arkansas only outgained South Carolina by 25 yards and gained the same number of first downs (17) as did the Gamecocks, but after the Gamecocks scored 13 seconds into the third quarter to take a 16-10 lead, Arkansas blocked the ensuing extra point and proceeded to blow out the Gamecocks 23-0 for the rest of the game.

Ryan Mallett had no touchdowns or interceptions but still threw the ball for gobs of yards, going 23-of-27 for 329 yards against a Gamecocks defense that was one of the best in the league until twin demolitions against Tennessee and Arkansas. TE D.J. Williams, missing in action for the first eight games of the season, grabbed seven catches for 137 yards.

The defense for Arkansas wasn't sterling against one of the SEC's most anemic offenses, but they came up with the plays when needed: three of South Carolina's five first-half possessions ended in punts and the defense picked what would have been a go-ahead TD in the third quarter.

For South Carolina, the defense contributed mightily to losing this game by allowing 405 yards. The rushing numbers weren't quite as bad as they look; take out the two sacks for a loss of 16 yards and the 32-yard loss on a snap that shot over Stephen Garcia's head late in the game, and the Gamecocks rushers gained 101 yards on 23 carries during a game in which South Carolina trailed for the last 24:43. But when the best thing that can be said about your rushing attack during the 10th game of the season includes the phrase "take out ... the 32-yard loss on a snap," your football team has deeper issues. (In fairness to the Gamecocks, the normal center was out of the game at the time and a valiant effort to recover the snap by Garcia before it made its way into the end zone for a safety was in vain.)

One of those issues is an overreliance on Alshon Jeffery. The freshman and future star had another great day (5 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD). But the semi-regular throws to Jeffery in the end zone have become predictable, and one of those attempts led to Garcia's lone interception (overall: 20-of-34, third straight 300+ yard passing game with 327, 1 TD, 1 INT). And it's not like Moe Brown or Weslye Saunders are chopped liver; both are more than capable of taking some of the load off of Jeffery. So why did they only have three receptions between them? And why did the Gamecocks' other talented freshman, Tori Gurley, have one catch? At least, in the 10th game of the season, the South Carolina coaching staff figured out that Bryce Sherman might be someone they want to get the ball to. And it only took 117 all-purpose yards.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE YOU PEOPLE HAPPY?
Florida 27, Vanderbilt 3

There's not much for Florida to complain about in this performance: outgaining Vanderbilt by 176 yards and allowing just three points would count as a great game in most SEC teams' books. The Commodores are a trickier win than most non-SEC fans give them credit for being, and supposedly better teams have starting losing to Vanderbilt with frightening regularity over the last few years.

But this is Gainesville, and any victory over Vanderbilt that includes scoring fewer than 30 points isn't much of a victory at all -- meaning Steve Addazio is still one of the least popular coaches on a Top 5 team. Tim Tebow was an efficient 15-of-20 for 208 yards and 1 TD, but was allowed to stay in the game just late enough to draw criticism but not to make the game a complete laugher. (John Brantley in relief: 3-of-3, 19 yards.)

As for Vanderbilt: What's left to say about the Commodores? The hopes of back-to-back bowl games had already ended by the time they visited the Swamp and the 199 yards of offense proves that they still have just as far to go to catch the elite in the SEC East as they did before last season's breakthrough winning record. They still play disciplined football -- two penalties and one turnover -- but that's enough when the others guys make up one of the best teams in the country.

MR. WEST REQUESTS YOU REMOVE YOUR PLAYERS AFTER THE FIRST QUARTER
Tennessee 56, Memphis 28

By the time the Vols were leading 42-7 at the half, it was easily time to call off the dogs. Memphis head coach Tommy West, canned after the debacle on Rocky Top, probably wishes Lane Kiffin had done so earlier, but you can't blame the other team for running up the score in the first half.

Yardage-wise, this wasn't quite as thorough a shellacking by Tennessee as you might think. Tennessee outgained Memphis 566-403 and gained just two more first downs (29-27). But take those numbers into account with this grain of salt: Tennessee covered 367 yards with its first half drives; Memphis gained 84.

Jonathan Crompton continued his unexpected second-half resurgence -- or perhaps "surgence," since there's little for Crompton to "re-" -- going 21-of-27 for 331 yards and 5 TDs. The Vols ground game "only" picked up 137 yards and 2 TDs on 33 carries. But that's the only nit you can pick about a game where Tennessee did what it should to prove that the early-season predictions of gloom were overstated.

THEY WON THE FIRST HALF
Auburn 63, Furman 31

The good news for Auburn is that the halftime score was 42-3 and the 28-21 second-half advantage for Furman was largely the result of playing everyone except the first row against the Paladins. But that still means that, from all appearances, the non-starting portion of Auburn's roster isn't capable right now of defeating an FCS team. This does not bode well for the future. All that aside, Chris Todd showed he's still the No. 1 surprise quarterback of the year, going 17-of-18 -- that's right, he threw just one incompletion -- for 256 yards and 4 TDs. Were he a Florida quarterback, he might have gone 37-of-38 for 523 yards and 9 TDs. Neil Caudle also did well (10-of-12, 117 yards) in significant action as a signal-caller, while the rushing attack gained 282 yards and 5 TDs on 39 carries. And the defense did only allow 266 yards despite giving up so many points. Still, 31 points.

THAT WAS EASY. SORT OF
Georgia 38, Tennessee Tech 0

It's easy to be critical of an SEC team that decides to place an FCS cupcake on its schedule -- especially one from another state, where there's no historical or geographical reason for doing so -- but Georgia needed this one. The Dawgs' much-criticized defense limited Tennessee Tech to eight first downs and 55 yards, including -13 rushing on 31 carries. Georgia also rolled up 469 yards, including 304 rushing on 39 carries divided among nine Dawgs. But to nitpick: UGA still lost the turnover battle, with one interception from Logan Gray and no turnovers forced against an FCS offense. Granted, the Golden Eagles only had 47 offensive snaps in the game, but Georgia's problems in forcing the other team to give up the ball early continued. The Dawgs are dead last in FBS with six turnovers forced. That's two behind the four teams tied for 116th and 21 back of No. 1 Ohio.

WHEN GETTING THERE IS ALL THAT MATTERS
Kentucky 37, Eastern Kentucky 12

Kentucky's probably happy to outgain anyone by 180 yards this season, particularly given the fact that their starting lineup has begun to look like an Alamo movie after the Mexicans attack. But a 25-point win over a 5-4 FCS team is still not the kind of game you expect from an SEC East team with bowl aspirations. This is part of why Kentucky schedules games like these; the only way for a team like the Wildcats to make the postseason in one of the toughest divisions in college football is to load up on the empty carbs of cupcakes. But UK still allowed Eastern Kentucky to rush for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries. The win still counts -- which is more than some SEC teams can say about their confectionary victory this week -- and Kentucky will in all likelihood defeat Vanderbilt this weekend to clinch bowl eligibility. That doesn't make them a good team, and the results Saturday just prove that.

THEY ALL COUNT THE SAME. EXCEPT WHEN THEY DON'T
Ole Miss 38, Northern Arizona 14

This game literally doesn't count. Well, it technically does serve as Ole Miss' sixth victory on the year. But because the Rebels have already played one FCS team this year, they still need a seventh win to get to a bowl game. So why even go through the exercise? Was there not a single Sun Belt or MAC team willing to jettison some other game to play the Rebels after Ole Miss found themselves lacking a 12th opponent? In any case, Ole Miss might not want this game to count. It wasn't one of the team's finest hours. The Rebels only outgained the Lumberjacks 425-354, lost the time-of-possession battle by more than 10 minutes and were still tied with Northern Arizona late in the second quarter. Under normal circumstances, Ole Miss might be able to comfort itself by saying a win's a win. But what do you say when you can't even resort to that cliche?

Sprints Doesn't Have High Def, But He's Also Not a Replay Official // 11.10.09

cocknfire — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:40:26 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

'We are looking at the screen, coach, but we don't have HD.'

Browse more photos »

Team Speed Kills Now. Then. That's at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT. We'll have Doug from Hey Jenny Slater to talk Mark Richt and Auburn-Georgia; Flounder from Leftover Hot Dog to discuss South Carolina-Florida; and Truzenzuzex from A Sea of Blue on Kentucky-Vanderbilt. Plus the news and the weekly unveiling of the SEC Power Poll results. Join us here on the site or take part in the chat room at TalkShoe from the show's homepage.

OFFICIATING

A still shot
For those of you who were demanding that as proof that the interception was an interception.

This is stunning
Apparently, conferences making massive money on TV contracts can't spring for HD.

One of the problems that may be out there starting to surface is some of the monitors in the replay booths are nowhere near as sophisticated as those who have high-definition at home. (The replay official) is probably looking at a monitor that's 5 or 6 years old and doesn't have all the technical advantages that we purchase for ourselves.

I have no idea how to respond to this. The people at home, who have no impact on the game, have better equipment with which to review calls than those who ultimately control the outcome of the play. It's like they don't care. (HT: Blutrasky)

Was he twitching as he said it?
It's not hard to imagine Les Miles biting clean through his tongue while talking about hte play.

Well, in this instance in my opinion, two well-meaning officials were working like heck to make that call on the sideline, and they need that help (of instant replay). So it turns to the instant replay booth, and it's an interesting thing that's going on in college football across the board. ...

I looked at the television feed, and I do not know what the instant replay officials are looking at. I defer, and I'm going to understand that in fact these guys are doing everything they can to get it right. I'm going to figure if there's an issue, they'll get it fixed.

That should remain on the other side of the fine line for Mike Slive.

Nick Saban cares not at all for your 'complaints'
Saban on Refgate, Parts 1-307:

If I was an official, and I was making what I made officiating because I love the game and I love doing it, and I was getting criticized by the media -- including our announcers on TV -- like these guys are getting criticized, I'd step back and say, 'I think I'll go to the lake this weekend. You can have this.' That's what I'd do.

Actually, Nick Saban would walk up to the broadcast booth and pummel Gary Danielson. Then he'd go to the lake. But only if he had time for this accountability ...

No statement on the interception
The SEC office will remain mum on this mistake.

OTHER NEWS

Just when you thought this story was absolutely dead
No, Tim Tebow isn't at war with Steve Spurrier over the All-SEC snub.

"I just kind of laughed that off when it happened," Tebow said. "It kind of blew up into a big deal. That's not going to have any extra motivation."

Can we now please never ever hear about this again?

Tebow: I'm really absolutely completely totally healthy now
Really.

Safety Dorian Munroe is 'done'
A torn ACL. Our best wishes to Munroe.

He should have stayed on his yacht
Bill Martin apologizes for pushing students who were doing their jobs.

Kicking Off Week 11 With Late-Season Issues and Old Coaches // 11.09.09

cocknfire — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:24:12 -0000

GATOR HYPE-O-METER
On a scale of 1 to 100

A win over Vanderbilt provides no real reason to move them up or down. Don't let the man get you down, Urban.

UPS AND DOWNS
A look at who's going which way in college football

BCS
Iowa loses, leaving just Texas, Alabama and Florida undefeated in the power conferences. What? The Big East is still a BCS league?

WILLIE MARTINEZ
Just in time, coaches Georgia's first shutout in three years. Granted, it was against an FCS team that's only scored 24.3 ppg in its own subdivision, but baby steps.

STANFORD
And just in time -- that tree will create a lovely Christmas motif for the Holiday Bowl.

CHARLIE WEIS
Apparently, "decided schematic advantage" is Gaelic for "losing to Navy at home twice in a row."

BIG TEN
And now, controlling its own destiny in the conference race is ... Ohio State? You're kidding, right?

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
A few things to think about this week

The BCS and the polls
The BCS Standings are sadly about as bad as we've come to expect from the only rankings that really count -- though you can actually make the argument that some of the snubs are less egregious this week than in previous editions.

The worst might be that Southern Cal is ahead of Oregon. For those who might think this conflicts with my stance against ranking based solely on head-to-head, this is not based entirely on the game between the two teams. That factors into it but, as Dr. Saturday points out, it's only part of the picture.

This despite Oregon's a) Possessing an identical overall record (7-2) and a better Pac-10 record (5-1 to 4-2) than the Trojans, and still controlling their own destiny in the conference; b) Having not lost to a team with only two other wins on the season, as USC did in its still-inexplicable flop at Washington; and c) Having utterly humiliated the Trojans as no other team has in more than a decade just last week. Apparently voters were so impressed by USC's worst offensive output in more than five years in its narrow, 14-9 escape at Arizona State Saturday while remaining so utterly horrified at Oregon's lopsided loss to the Cardinal that everything preceding those results was discarded entirely.

The computers are more sane than the humans in this regard: they have Oregon 10th ahead of No. 11 Southern Cal. But the gap for the human voters is so large -- four spots via Harris and six according to the coaches -- that the chips have no hope of canceling them out.

The computers do get Oregon State into the rankings despite human resistance -- the No. 18 vote of the machines overwhelms the Beavers ranking 28th in both the Harris and coaches' marks.

Florida at 1, Alabama at 2 and LSU at No. 8 are still the only SEC teams in the BCS standings.

The AP race has gotten a bit more muddled. Florida picks up an additional first-place vote to carry 39 and Texas loses three No. 1 ballots and now holds 10, but somehow the Gators' lead over the Longhorns goes from 40 points to 37. Alabama picks up three first-place votes for a total of 11 and is within eight points of Texas. LSU is ninth and Auburn is hypothetical No. 28. Tennessee would be No. 31 and Ole Miss is somehow still getting votes and would be No. 37.

As for the coaches: Florida loses two first-place votes, apparently both to Alabama, and now has 48 to help with a 61-point lead over Texas, down from 68. Alabama's new No.1 votes, for a total of seven, don't help it gain on Texas, with the Longhorns' lead on the Tide increasing from five points to 10 despite Texas' holding just four first-place ballots. LSU is No. 11 and Auburn is 25th. The Vols are 38th and the Rebels are 39th.

Late season slide in Carolina?
Lest you think that the absolute collapse in November is anything new for the South Carolina Gamecocks, let's be clear: You can almost set your calendar by it. But it might not be as bad as it used to be.

After the winless season of 1999, Lou Holtz went 12-20 (.375) over his last five seasons with the Gamecocks in the last six regular season games and the bowl game, when South Carolina attended one. His record in November was even more abysmal: 3-14 (.176), including three winless seasons (0-2 in 2000, 0-4 in 2002 and 2003). Even when Holtz went a respectable 8-6 in the final stretches in 2000 and 2001, he was only a combined 2-3 in November.

Steve Spurrier, by contrast, was actually 13-14 (.481) in his last six regular season games and bowls during his first four years and 6-8 (.428) in November, even if you include the awful 1-5 end to the season in 2007 that included a winless (0-3) November. But the discontent in Columbia arises from the last two seasons: In 2007 and 2008, the Head Ball Coach went 4-9 (.307) down the stretch and 2-5 (.286) in November.

Recruitniks and other believers in "Jimmies and Joes" like to blame this on South Carolina's depth, and there's almost certainly some truth in that. But it also ignores the fact that South Carolina has one of the most horrendously backloaded schedules in the league: It almost always ends with the Orange Crush, a stretch that includes Tennessee, Florida and Clemson surrounding the interdivisional rivalry game with Arkansas. Even when they have a relatively good season, the Gamecocks almost always struggle with those four teams.

Unless Spurrier can find a way to end that tradition, or unless he plans on heading to the links after this year, he'll need to do what he and Holtz failed to do if he wants to be successful in Columbia. Find a way to win in November.

The (old) boss is back
Two teams face their former head coaches this week, with Florida heading to South Carolina to meet the Head Ball Coach and his Gamecocks while Ole Miss welcomes Tennessee, which includes former Rebels leader Ed Orgeron on its staff.

It's likely to be a more emotional game for the Ole Miss players who were recruited by Orgeron than for any of the players on Florida's roster. After all, none of them were even in high school when Spurrier last walked the sidelines in Gainesville. They might remember watching Spurrier coach their team on television during their chidhood, but that's hardly as much of a motivation as facing your old coach.

In the two games this year in which SEC teams faced their former leaders, the old coaches seem to have the edge. LSU lost to Nick Saban's Alabama, 24-15 and Houston Nutt's Ole Miss defeated Arkansas, 30-17.

SEC NEWS

'You're doing a heckuva job, reffies'
The head of SEC officiating either does not watch football or does not understand it.

"This is not broke," Rogers Redding said Saturday night while attending Florida’s home game against Vanderbilt. "It doesn’t need fixing. ... I think we’ve had a really good season so far."

Doesn't need fixing? Two games have been influenced by awful calls late in the game, two others have seen fairly obvious replays ignored. All of those games have had major implications for the SEC standings -- and it's doesn't need fixing?

It's going to take an obviously wrong call costing Florida or Alabama the SEC championship. That's the only thing that's going to make the conference officials figure out that the TV executives handing out billion-dollar contracts expect excellence and accountability, neither of which has been apparent in recent performances by the league's officials.

Please destroy the black helicopters
Matt Hayes meanwhile does damage to any hopes of changing things by donning his tinfoil hat.

Since Miles won't say anything, I will. This is beyond bad officiating. It's so undeniably awful, I'm beginning to believe conspiracy nuts who claim the SEC is protecting its heavyweight teams (Florida and Alabama) since, you know, every poor call in the last month has involved, uh, Florida and Alabama.

Ah, skillful wording makes points so much better than the actual facts. Hayes' use of "in the last month" conveniently omits the LSU-Georgia game (by four days) that featured some of the most egregious calls of the bunch and started the whole fracas. (It also ignores the bad call against apparently unimportant Mississippi State during the Houston game, though another conference helped on that one.)

The problem I have with the conspiracy theorists is that it's too easy for the league to brush them off as paranoid and move on. That's why they're actually hurting the cause of those who want to see the SEC reform officiating. Keeping things in perspective -- like the fact that LSU was the beneficiary of a blown call earlier this season -- is the first part of being taking seriously.

The Wiz has your evidence
It was a pick.

Vanderbilt has an SEC record
Warren Norman now holds the single-season mark for kickoff returns. Vandy's season is officially over.

Berry now just eight yards short of interception return record
Apparently they still think he has a Heism@n shot in Knoxville. Interesting.

That worked brilliantly
Mark Richt's strategy for dealing with penalties approaches comedy, as he pulls offensive linemen guilty of committing false starts.

"For a while, it got kinda crazy," quarterback Joe Cox said. "You looked over and there were like three guys running out, and it's like, 'What is going on?' That's tough, too, because some guys might get a little tight when there's something like that going on. But it's something we've gotta learn how to stop, and we've gotta stop it now."

Did it work? Six false start penalties would suggest a new strategy is needed. Dick Cheney might have some suggestions for you.

Win one for Coach O?
One hopes this is not the best that Tennessee's got.

Ed who?
Houston Nutt on the return of the Orgeron:

"I haven't heard that. We've just been trying to go through one game at a time ... (Tennessee) is starting play some really good football. They're doing a good job. ...

"So I'm not going to get together and see what our guys think about Ed coming back. I'm not really concerned about that."

Frightened of bodily injury might be the most likely reaction of most players anyway.

Cracks in Columbia?
Some are starting to show concerns about the play-calling at South Carolina. My guess would be that Spurrier will call more of the plays, at least against Florida, without saying anything about it. Much of this is about preserving Jr.'s chance at a head coaching job in the future.

And here we go again
You knew it was only a matter of time before this started.

Why would Urban Meyer leave? Because of you, Florida fans. Because if this is what it's like to coach the University of Florida during the best of times, what happens when, you know, everything changes? Why be rich and scrutinized at Florida when you can be even richer and scrutinized equally somewhere else? ...

Consider this scenario: Florida plays for the national championship on Jan. 7 and Notre Dame fires Charlie Weis the next day. Notre Dame then offers Meyer $6 million a year. Do you, Florida fans, actually think Meyer will ignore Notre Dame if the price is right? What about job security?

Yes, nothing says "job security" like your two immediate predecessors being fired with time left on their contracts. And the fans at Notre Dame have expectations that are so much more in line with reality than those in Gainesville.

Injury Report

Team (Kentucky)
Seriously. Fifteen players sat out practice on Sunday.

RB Charles Scott (LSU)
Broken collarbone, season

OTHER NEWS

Another concussion
That makes two in as many weeks for Jahvid Best. Again: These are serious things not to be taken lightly.

A fan's response
I'm not sure what the answer is here -- I certainly don't want to call for the end of football, not that I think it would do much good even if I were successful. But we have to find a way to protect these athletes. We owe them that much.

Tomahawk Nation: Ponder done for the year
Our FSU blog cites "sources" saying that Christian Ponder has played his last snap in 2009.

So let's make it even more meaningless!
Ah, it's time for the playoff supporters to start trotting out their arguments, which shift from season to season based on whatever fits their purposes at that moment. (The good thing about being in the opposition? You don't have to choose one argument and stick with it.)

One of the arguments against a playoff is that it could render late-season games meaningless because top teams would have already secured spots.

But if Alabama loses a close game to Auburn in its regular-season finale, then goes on to beat No. 1 Florida and earn a trip to the title game on Jan. 7 ahead of unbeaten Cincinnati — or maybe even unbeaten TCU — hasn’t the Iron Bowl been rendered, essentially, meaningless?

But I thought the whole argument was about fairness, and whether late-season games were meaningless really wasn't a factor. Oh, opponents are saving for later when it's more convenient. I see.

Will the Iron Bowl be meaningless this season? Well, not any more meaningless than it would be under a playoff system. Do you really think in that same scenario that Alabama would be left out of a playoff? In fact, you could argue that the SEC Championship Game would be meaningless in addition to the Iron Bowl, since in the 16-team field that many seem to favor, Alabama would likely be able to get into the playoffs with a loss to Auburn and a loss in Atlanta.

It really comes down to simple statistics: The more games you can lose and still be in the hunt for the national title, the less important each individual game becomes. The Iron Bowl would be even less meaningful under a playoff system and we would be devaluing the SEC Championship Game as well. That's a solution?

ESPN loves MWC
Despite no longer having the TV contract for the Rocky Mountain-area conference, College GameDay will once again broadcast from a Mountain West school: TCU. (HT: Block U)

Combined BlogPoll Draft for Week 10

cocknfire — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:39:01 -0000

Rank	Team	Delta

1	Alabama
2	Texas	1
3	Florida	1
4	TCU
5	Cincinnati
6	Georgia Tech	4
7	Boise State	1
8	Oregon	1
9	Iowa	3
10	LSU	1
11	Pittsburgh
12	Southern Cal	3
13	Virginia Tech	5
14	Miami (Florida)	1
15	Ohio State	1
16	Arizona	7
17	Clemson	4
18	Oklahoma State	1
19	Penn State	5
20	Oregon State
21	Stanford
22	Nebraska
23	Houston	11
24	Auburn
25	Boston College
Last week's ballot

Dropped Out: California (#19), Utah (#20), Oklahoma (#22), Notre Dame (#24), Brigham Young (#25).

Ties broken: Boise State-Oregon (even though I think the head-to-head is not decisive at this point because each team has played eight more games since then, I arranged them that way in a nod to the idea of listening to comments); Virginia Tech-Miami (we might as well be consistent if we're going to do that, though it would technically mean ranking Washington No. 11); Ohio State-Arizona and Stanford-Nebraska.

Tear it to shreds below if you're so inclined.

Half of the BlogPoll Draft Ballot Now Open for Debate, Week 10

cocknfire — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:19:50 -0000

This might not have been the best week to move Texas to No. 1, but the slow start by Alabama gave me enough justification to move the two teams. Arguments accepted below.

1 Texas
2 Alabama
3 Florida
4 TCU
5 Cincinnati

The other controversial move might be putting TCU ahead of Cincinnati. Those two are pretty much tied in my mind as the fourth- and fifth-best teams for now, with the chance to become No. 3 if one of the other teams loses or after the SEC Championship Game.

6 Georgia Tech
7 Oregon
8 Boise State
9 Iowa
10 Miami

Yes, Boise State still gets no respect from me, particularly after they were in a game with Louisiana Tech this year. Had it been last season, that might not bother me too much. But it's 2009 and Louisiana Tech is not very good. Georgia Tech zooms up as the best one-loss team and Oregon doesn't fall too much despite losing to Stanford. Iowa loses some more ground with its first actual loss.

11 Pittsburgh
12 LSU
13 Clemson
14 Virginia Tech
15 Southern Cal

That might be a bit harsh for LSU, but they haven't really impressed in either of their games against Top 5 opponents. I'm still open to putting them at No. 11 instead of No. 12, so argue away if you think that the Bengals are better than the Panthers. I hate Clemson. Virginia Tech and Southern Cal switch places after the Trojans' underwhelm against Arizona State.

16 Houston
17 Ohio State
18 Arizona
19 Oklahoma State
20 Oregon State

Houston's one-point win against Tulsa weakened their resume quite a bit, but Ohio State's win over Penn State wasn't quite enough for me to move the Buckeyes into the Top 15. Or 16, for that matter. Arizona has started to look pretty impressive, and don't forget Oklahoma State. Oregon State shows up as the Pac-10 looks strong.

21 Stanford
22 Auburn
23 Penn State
24 North Carolina
25 Wisconsin

The Cardinal deserve some respect after putting together a decent season so far. Auburn finds a way back in the poll simply by demolishing Furman. Penn State's loss to Ohio State nearly sends the Nittany Lions out of the Top 25 entirely. North Carolina and Wisconsin round things out.