SB Nation User Blog: mlmintampa

Classic Moments In Championship Mode: LSU @ Florida, 2006

mlmintampa — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:37:06 -0000

It's hard to remember now, but The Legend of Tim Tebow began with a play-action pass against LSU in 2006.

One of my worst losses as a student was the 2002 LSU-UF game when I realized Ron Zook did not have the mental capacity to coach in the SEC and the Gators lost 36-7. But since that game, the series has been extremely close, defined not by the offensive stars on each side, but whose defense steps up. Last season, if the Gators defense makes one stand, UF doesn't blow a 10 point 4th quarter lead and lose 28-24. In 2006, Tebow's jump pass made youtube, but it was the Gator defense with back-breaking takeaways, including one inside the UF 3-yard line. In '05 and '04, the game turned when LSU was able to keep the Gators scoreless late in the game.

We all know that the SEC is a league of offensive innovation (Fun 'n Gun, Spread, Wild Hog/Rebel, the Feature Back, Track team as wideouts), but it is the defense that wins games. So what does this all mean for you?

Wait, what does this mean for me? Uh?

Yes, you see, Championship Mode is very important in this game. By the time this game happens Saturday night, we will know if Tennessee pulled off the unthinkable and defeated Georgia. While that won't change anything (unless Vandy loses at Miss. State), it gives UF a psychological advantage. The Ole Miss loss is still around this team's neck. If the fans show up half-assed and more interested in hooking up or getting wasted, they will not be in Championship Mode nor will the team be in Championship Mode. I feel very strongly about this. Defense in college football is carried by the fans. You think they wave their arms to keep their pits cool? No jackass. They want you involved in the game. And stand up, you go to Florida, not Miami. I don't care if it's a replay review.

Maybe when you go to Bucs or Dolphins games (no one goes to Jags games), you can text your girl or worry about thinks like, "Brah, did that dude 8 rows away look at me funny? Because I will totally punch him!" You go to Florida. You are there to drive the team to victory. I do not care how cute she looks in that sundress. (Besides, a victory will make it a lot easier to get that girl.) And a victory only arrives if you embrace Championship Mode. I trust that you will make the right decision and lead the Gators back on the right track to a SEC Championship.

(By the way, this is a great Championship Mode weekend; LSU vs. UF and Red Sox vs. Rays. Enjoy yourselves.)

Tim Tebow and the NFL

mlmintampa — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:11:21 -0000

Tuesday's entry about Tebow considering the NFL isn't really groundbreaking, but it is our first sense as to what he thinks. For an athlete that is so beloved and studied by media and opponents, we really don't know where he is on playing all four years. We always assume he will play his senior season, using his idol Danny Wuerffel as the guide. Plus, Tebow only has won titles as a backup, even if it was in a featured role. But that season was more about Chris Leak fulfilling a promise made by Ron Zook that the QB would win a title. Tebow was no more of a contributor than Percy Harvin or Jarvis Moss.Percy might leave next season too, which likely factors into Tebow's decision. You don't think Tebow is smart enough to look around and wonder if the window to success is closing on this particular class of players?

I don't think Tebow is pressured by his parents or family. If anything, there is more pressure to stay because he lives in comfort and doesn't have a sick mother or a girlfriend with a baby to care for. There is no need to leave. He might also think he cannot take the punishment that the Meyer/Mullen system has put him under. The kid is built like a tank, but you can only take so much mortar fire before you start struggling. In the NFL, he won't be plunging ahead from 5 yards behind the line, expected to get that 4th and 2. Who knows? Maybe he fears injury like Cornelius Ingram?

Of course, if he left and the Bucs picked him, I'd forgive him immediately.

Timmy Tebow In 2009: Maybe?

mlmintampa — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:55:47 -0000

From this week's Sporting News on newsstands Thursday;

On whether he can say for certain he’ll be back at Florida in 2009: “I can’t say for sure, no.”

On whether he’s leaning one way or another: “Obviously, my lean would be coming back. But if the season ends up going good and I’m blessed to have an opportunity to go play in the NFL pretty early, I think that’s something, just trying to be prudent and wise about it, it’s something you have to look at. (Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks) Coach (Dan) Mullen and Coach (Urban) Meyer would tell me the exact same thing. You need to be wise and look at it … because that’s the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s not only a blessing financially, but it would be a blessing for so many other people because with the money you can make in something like that, you can do so many great things for your communities, for helping people, for my family, for everything. So I think that would be maybe even selfish to say I wouldn’t look at it because of all the things that money could do.”

I'll have more on this later. Hopefully this doesn't upset your prep for Championship Mode on Saturday.

Game Five: Florida @ Arkansas

mlmintampa — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:47:13 -0000

Following Saturday's loss, my friend Natalie and I broke down Tim Tebow;

mlmintampa: "I thought we'd get it," Tebow said. "I thought I'd will myself to the first down. We just didn't do it."

nataliza: wow

mlmintampa: it's Year 3 of Timmy Tebow, people are figuring him out

nataliza: that he runs on faith? well that and you can't run up the middle

mlmintampa: no, on sheer determination, but you make a good point, seriously, like profound

nataliza: give me credit on alligator army

And it is with that we swing our attention to today's game at Arkansas and the psyche of a team bruised by not meeting expectations. Great teams do not underestimate opponents. Good teams do and think that sheer will, a talent advantage or praying harder will be the ultimate edge. With Urban Meyer, Dan Mullen and Tim Tebow, you have all of those things.

Like Billy Donovan last season, there have been points this season where Urban has looked frustrated because the Gators were not crushing like they should be. It was evidenced against Ole Miss when was seen 10 yards on the field, waving his arms to get his team excited and the muted student section who saw the writing on the wall. College students are keenly aware of a peer not being able to meet a particular challenge, despite their talent, because they know the same feeling. Saturday's game was a lesson for Urban and it made him realize that this is still a young team who sometimes cannot rise to the occasion.

Florida clearly has one of the most talented offenses in the country. How many schools have two legit Heisman guys (Tebow, Harvin), the US high school 100-m dash record holder (Jeff Demps), and a USC transfer (Emmanuel Moody) which is the equivalent of a blockbuster NFL free agency signing. The problem is for Mullen is that drawing lines on paper, creating plays that work fantastically against 180 pound d-ends on the scout team, is not working as it should in game play. Ole Miss realized it didn't take much to throw UF off stride. A few well timed blitzes and Mullen did not know what to do. After all, that two yard sneak from a shotgun formation always works in practice.

For Tim Tebow, this season has been painful. Not because of the Ole Miss loss, but because the same tricks and moves don't work anymore. I don't know if Tebow thinks he would have gotten that last first down because he's just more powerful or has God backing him up. At this point, that doesn't matter. Because Tebow has to start thinking about the game. Quarterbacks are beloved for being unique. But unique quarterbacks don't win. Running around the pocket or assuming your frozen rope will get between the corner's hands or that your tight end runs fast enough to get under that ball does not win games. It didn't last year and it won't this season. He needs to start thinking like Chris Leak or Danny Wuerffel. Both of those guys would take what the defense would give them, then hit the bomb. Tebow wasn't doing that consistently until the fourth quarter last week. And don't get me wrong; this isn't spread vs. pro-style. It's intelligence vs. intensity.

Today's game against Arkansas is the Gators' first step in washing the stench of the crap fest that was the Ole Miss game. If the Gators do not come out with guns blazing and dominate the worst team in the SEC, Colonel Reb will haunt this team all the way to the Capital One Bowl.

SEC Power Poll Week Five

mlmintampa — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:02:24 -0000

Full tally at Garnet and Black Attack.

1. Alabama- Happy now Bama fans? Yes, I was incredibly wrong here. Also, Bama now has the two best wins by an SEC team this season; Clemson and Georgia.

2. LSU- Will the Tide and Tigers stay undefeated before November 8?

3. Georgia- I cannot drop them lower than this because they have too much talent and were less horrific than teams 4 and 5.

4. Auburn- They have officially submitted a request to join the Big Ten after the MSU and Tenn. performances.

5. Florida- sigh.

6. Ole Miss- Big week for Colonel Reb; a black Presidential candidate debates at the once (still?) racially divided campus and they beat the Gators in Gainesville.

7. Vandy- They get Auburn and GameDay this weekend. If they play USF for a national championship, the world is broken.

8. Kentucky- After winning the 5A District championship, Kentucky begins SEC play at Bama this week.

9. South Carolina

10. Tennessee

11. Miss. State

12. Arkansas

Embarassing

mlmintampa — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:59:22 -0000

My head is literally fuming. I feel heat coming off my head right now. The blood of this loss is on everyone's hands; Tebow, Dan Mullen, Charlie Strong, both the defensive and o-lines (nice tackle by Mike Pouncey of Tebow on the sneak), and most of all Urban Meyer.(I'm playing with fire by going after Tebow because he looked sick on the field. I would not be surprised if he was injured or ill.)

You can forget about dreams of sugarplum faries and BCS titles because it's the Capital One Bowl for these guys. Hate to bring down the room more than it is, but that's the way it is. When Ole Miss exposes you, it's time to reassess your priorities. Sure mistakes were made, but great teams over come them, not add to them (see: kick, blocked).

Normally I'd suggest you get a DD tonight, but not even heavy drinking will erase the stain of this game.

Game Four: Ole Miss @ Florida

mlmintampa — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:45:04 -0000

Firmly in the thicket of SEC play, today's game offers UF a chance to start breaking open their playbook and letting some imagination creep in. Urban Meyer made the point this week how much the clock rules prevent an offense from building momentum. But it also ties into play calling. If Dan Mullen only gets 24 plays in the first half, as they did at Tennessee, can you really take chances? Can you see if Emmanuel Moody is able to handle some of Tebow's carries?

Last week, Moody did get nine carries, three less than Tebow, so the Gators are moving towards trusting the transfer. While he will not be the bulldozer Tebow is in short yardage, a still shaky o-line leaves Tebow open to more punishment. It makes sense to let Moody be the inside man until the line gets solid.

It is hard looking at UF's offensive numbers and coming to any sort of conclusion. But, including the last quarter of the Miami game, the Gators have now scored 40 offensive points in their last five quarters. So, the question leading into today's game; is 8 points a quarter good enough?

Alligator Army Notebook: Sept. 25

mlmintampa — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:46:22 -0000

- The Tim Tebow you and I know and love is no longer. While he still has a plurality of carries (34 of 104, Rainey is next with 18), he only has five scores, all throwing. That is as many as UF's rushing TDs and one less than defense/special teams. This either means defenses are locking down or when the offense starts rolling, this team could be an even bigger force.

- Orlando Sentinel "Tim Tebow must chase Daniel if he wants another Heisman Trophy." I know what they mean, but the only thing Mizzou QB Chase Daniel would have over Tebow is a slice of pizza.

- Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but looking for the next Tebow is absurd and he sure as hell is not at UConn.

- The TV networks got what they wanted with the clock rules, cutting 14 minutes in game length. If they really wanted to cut time, they should go to a running clock when a team is losing by 28, similar to Pop Warner football. The length of a competitive game like LSU-Auburn isn't a problem. It's the length of Florida-Tennessee.

- And finally from the Miss Lindsey collection; homemade hatred.

Oh, and Florida plays Ole Miss Saturday. I'm not worried.

SEC Power Poll Week Four

mlmintampa — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:00:50 -0000

1. Georgia- As if Knowshon Moreno wasn't scary enough, now AJ Green is becoming equally as frightening. On the brightside (for everyone else) the psychological tool of the Black Jersey is being used this week against Bama. If the Dogs pulled those out in Jax, they will incite a riot.

2. Florida- You see how I'm preoccupied with Florida-Georgia in Jax? It is because I think the Gators have about a 75% chance to be undefeated coming into that game.

3. LSU- If the defense can keep them afloat, a serviceable QB corps will be enough to win the West.

4. Alabama- Sorry, they are getting their asses kicked this weekend.

5. Auburn- They need to figure out this offense. I know they are in a transitional phase, but 1.9 ypc against LSU is awful, I don't care how good LSU might be up front.

6. Vanderbilt- Only the Tampa Bay Rays making the playoffs would prevent this from being the most absurd sports story of the week.

7. Kentucky- How bad does Tennessee suck? I just put them behind Kentucky, who will play Louisville and three high school teams before SEC play begins.

8. Tennessee- From Timmy C, who was in Knoxville, "I like kicking their ass, but I kind of felt embarrassed for them...It wasn't even like a road game." It's a long season, and Tennessee could win the SEC East again, but it does not look good.

9. Ole Miss- Jevon Snead was clearly distracted by me jumping on his bandwagon. The four ints against Vandy lost his team a winnable game. Also, after week one, I said Ole Miss could be undefeated when McCain and Obama square off in Oxford. I am an idiot.

10. South Carolina- A 10-point win over Wofford? Isn't Wofford an English soccer team? (No, that's Watford.) Seriously, I think Spurrier has been coach long enough to earn the lifetime membership to Augusta National. He can stop coaching.

11. Mississippi State- The good news is MSU more than tripled their scoring output from the Auburn game. The bad news is they scored 7 and allowed 38.

12. Arkansas- They get Texas in the Hurricane Ike Bowl Saturday. They should have just canceled the game to give Petrino time to work on his resume. And no, that joke will not get old.

Breakfast With Alligator Army: Florida @ Tennessee

mlmintampa — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:26:51 -0000

Florida Gators defeat Tennessee Volunteers 30-6.

- Dooley is ready to end the Fulmer Era at Tennessee with this devastating line.

And who would have thought it would be Urban Meyer and not Steve Spurrier who would run Phillip Fulmer out of the SEC.

- Speaking of Mr. Fulmer, Miss Lindsey was sitting behind the Gator band as the Florida fans in that section chanted "Keep Phil Fulmer clap clap clapclapclap" . Timmy C texted to say the stadium cleared out in the third quarter. At this point, Fulmer looks as good as Zook 2005.

- The most damning thing you can ever say about a team is, "They were unprepared." Well, for the second straight year, the Vols were unprepared against the Gators. Fulmer admits as much.

"As I told our team in the locker room, that loss is on me," Fulmer said.

"I've got big shoulders, and I take responsibility. That wasn't us."

- Tennessee apologist, ESPN writer and anti-Tebow scribe Chris Low thinks Tennessee is mearly an average football team now. Florida was once average too. And that got Ron Zook sent to the Big Ten where 8-5 is a great season.

- The Gators pulled off a few of my favorite plays today; the jump pass (really a goal line play action pass to the TE, which almost always works, college or pro), Cold Blooded Brandon James punt return TD (after a great KO return to set up the first score), and the end zone INT (always the worst possible turnover). The thing is though, you don't pull these off unless your team is focused and crisp. Next week we'll know if it was a fluke because of the previous bye week or these guys really are that focused.

- With the loss of Auburn, there is a Gang of Four with Alabama and LSU in the West, Florida and Georgia in the East. The first set of games between the Gang are Alabama and UGA this week, Florida and LSU in three weeks. With the way everyone has played so far, each of these games will be Ali-Foreman-Frazier-Norton level. Who's who? How's this;

Muhammad Ali- Florida Gators (Hated as much as loved. But, I am biased here.)

George Foreman- LSU Tigers (Scary power, but can be outsmarted. Enjoys grilling.)

Joe Frazier- Georgia Bulldogs (Great team overshadowed by others.)

Ken Norton- Alabama Crimson Tide (More noted for other things (breaking Ali's jaw, Nick Saban) than actual success)