SB Nation User Blog: outsidethesidelines

The Mississippi State Open Thread

outsidethesidelines — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:02:41 -0000

A bit of a late start this week, but nevertheless let's get things kicked off with the Mississippi State open thread. Here goes a few thoughts on the Bullies:

Alabama opened this game at around a 14-point favorite, but that line has now fallen to around 12 points. The last over / under I saw was around 44, so a 28-14 type game is expected from the boys in Vegas.
Is MSU one of the most underrated teams around? I think so. They have already gotten four wins, and while they won't likely make a bowl game, that has more to do with a incredibly difficult schedule than anything else. Drawing Georgia Tech (likely ACC champion) and Houston (likely C-USA champion) on the OOC schedule was terrible enough, but then you also get 'Bama, Florida, and LSU? That's just brutal. Based on how they have played, though, MSU would probably make a bowl game this year if they were lucky enough to have a schedule like Ole Miss or Kentucky has. And it should be pointed out that MSU actually beat Kentucky in Lexington, and that they may very well upset Ole Miss in Starkvegas if Colonel Reb doesn't start playing better.
And speaking of that murderer's row of a schedule, MSU has fought hard and kept things close. Florida only beat them by 10, and LSU needed a couple of miracles to escape Starkvegas with the victory. Houston won by only 7, and Georgia Tech had to fight to the very end, too. Combined, those teams have roughly a 33-4 record, and MSU has kept it close in each game. With that in mind, I wouldn't really expect a blowout here.
Tyson Lee is a decent spread option quarterback and has played pretty well. He's far from an elite athlete, but he does have decent enough mobility to be a running threat, and he has thrown the ball relatively well (60% completion percentage). The biggest problem with him -- and MSU in general offensively -- has been turnovers.
Anthony Dixon is probably one of the top two or three tailbacks in the SEC, even though he doesn't get the credit. He was a highly-touted recruit out of Jackson who could have basically gone anywhere, and it's been a lack of publicity hurting him more than anything else. He's already ran for over 1,000 yards this year, and he's the best power runner we'll face all year (Hardesty, Scott, and Tate included). Together with Christian Ducre they have a dang good 1-2 punch at tailback.
Wide receiver is a big issue for MSU. Chad Bumphis is probably their best player, many calling him a poor man's Percy Harvin. He's a good athlete that Saban himself recruited very hard, but any time a true freshman is easily your most productive receiver, that's bad news.
The MSU offensive line has been better than expected. It hasn't been great by any stretch, but not the trainwreck that many expected.
MSU spreads the field a good bit, and it's interesting as to what they do. They like to spread you out, but they mix in a tough power running game from Dixon. That forces a defense to make some tough choices in terms of what kind of personnel package they use to attack MSU. Do you try to stop a power running game with extra defensive backs so you can cover the spread, or do you load the box with linebackers and hope your skill guys can get it done in isolation?
Defensively, MSU hasn't stopped the run particularly well this year. Hopefully 'Bama takes advantage of that and gets a big day from both Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson.
The strength of MSU defensively comes at linebacker, and it's a good unit. Jamar Cheney at middle linebacker is probably the best defensive player you've never heard of, and K.J. Wright is a really good athlete alongside him. Chris White plays the weakside, and he's a good player too.
The MSU defensive backfield is really a rebuild this year with a lot of new faces. I'm not going to go out and say that they are a bad group because they are 37th in pass efficiency defense (not bad really) and they have improved over the course of the year. However, the past five SEC games against Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, and LSU have all seen the Tide face really good secondaries, and admittedly this one is a fairly big step down. This will be the weakest group of DB's we have seen since Arkansas left town.
MSU is dead last in the SEC in net punting, and something like 115th in the country in net punting. We need to take advantage of that and make them pay for it in the punt return game. After getting only one net return yard on eight punts against ROBO-PUNTER LSU, it'd be nice to see Arenas have another big game.
All in all, MSU isn't a bad team, and coming off a bye week will certainly help them. They've played a lot of good teams this year and have held their own each and every time, so a blowout shouldn't be expected. We've always played poorly in Starkvegas, and that might not change this year. Hopefully, though, we'll play well enough to avoid any major problems. This one could be a relatively close game, but we're clearly the better team and we're going to have to really shoot ourselves in the foot to give the Bullies a legitimate chance to get the victory.
I wonder if they'll have another cropduster flyover this year like they did on John Parker Wilson Day in 2007?

Continued chants "The South Shall Rise Again" today cost Ole Miss fans a favorite game tune, "From...

outsidethesidelines — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:18:56 -0000

Continued chants "The South Shall Rise Again" today cost Ole Miss fans a favorite game tune, "From Dixie With Love."

Chancellor Dan Jones banned the playing of the pep song medley because fans refused to stop the chant.

I'm hate to report it, but nevertheless it seems that "From Dixie With Love" is officially no more at Ole Miss. I really do hate to see this one go, no two ways about it. Of course I'm a 'Bama homer that loves his Yea Alabama as much as the next guy, but for my money there isn't a fight song out there better than this one. Hopefully the Ole Miss fan base will shut up and they can bring it back, but until that happens unfortunately this classic is no more.

Click here for a good live version of the song.

Alabama tight end Colin Peek and tailback Terry Grant practiced again today, having been cleared...

outsidethesidelines — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:05:28 -0000

Alabama tight end Colin Peek and tailback Terry Grant practiced again today, having been cleared for contact and being taken off what appears to be a dwindling list of injury concerns as the third-ranked Crimson Tide continues preparations for Saturday's 6 p.m. game at Mississippi State.

Gentry Estes: Tide looking healthier for Bulldogs

It's Meltdown Time...

outsidethesidelines — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:22:55 -0000

With us getting deeper and deeper into the football season, that only means that the stakes become higher and higher with each passing game week. And that, of course, simply means that the meltdowns become all the more epic as we go. This week we have great meltdown material from LSU, Notre Dame, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Auburn.

And I know what you are thinking, "But didn't Auburn beat Furman 63-31 on Saturday?" Yes, yes they did. But of course, as anyone who really knows much about Auburn is well aware of, a sizable portion of the Auburn fanbase really don't so much like their Tigers as they loathe Alabama with every fiber of their being, and oh that Patrick Peterson controversial incompletion / interception... well, let's just say you thought the LSU fans took it bad.

Anyways, we've got a lot of great material this week. We have conspiracy theories, championship game protests, Gerry Faust, toilet bowls, coaching wishes, guys going gay for the betterment of their team, Nuke Lalouche references, a trip to the Shoney's, and one guy who is afraid he might end up swimming with the fishes.

As always, the language can and does get rough, so if you don't like that then read the next piece on RBR. You've been warned, so don't come back crying later on.

And now, without further adeiu, it's meltdown time...

Is Les becoming this generation's Charlie Mac?

I am sick of the excuses Tiger fans come up with. Yes, we were the victim of a huge officials error, but Alabama is better. We have no discipline and our players are soft. They adjusted to everything we had success with earlier in the game and they played tougher. Crowton has taken us a far as he can on offense and our players need to take some pride in this team. Expect this trend to continue.

Is Les Miles becoming the Mark Richt of the West?

We're 7-7 in our last 14 SEC games...

LSU will NEVER win with JJ running the freaking option! Why cant Crowton get it through his head that it does not work!!!

How far is the SEC Office from the University of Alabama?!?!?!?!?!?!

It's not the team, it's coaching!!!!!!!!!!

Miles to Michigan? I'll pay his moving expenses.

Official petition for to never play in the state of AL. LSU just isn't going to get significant calls when playing a highly ranked Auburn or Alabama team in the state of Alabama

I'm not watching the SECCG in protest. For the first time ever I am not going to watch the SECCG and I think that the rest of the SEC fans (besides FLA/Bama of course) should do the same.

Miles needs to take the $30k hit and tell the stripes to kiss his ass.

Bama is gonna give us fits for years to come.

Let me start by saying I hate, absolutely hate Alabama. To see them dominate the west 2 years in a row upon Little Nicky's return is phucking scary. Their quaterback is a SEC caliber backup at best. Holy sheeeeet - if they actually get an all american signal caller they are going to blow the doors off the SEC.

We were outplayed and outplayed when it counted - in the 4th Q!

WE GOT SCREWED AND GOT NO DAMN SUGAR. THE GUMPS OL HELD ALL DAY AND NOTHING. JJ GETS HIT WITH A HELMET LEAD PLAYER AND NOTHING. WHY DO WE HAVE A PHUCKING REPLAY REF IF HE WONT MAKE THE RIGHT DAMN CALL...PP INT. I CHARTED THE PENALITIES LSU 9 FOR 55...GUMPS 3 FOR 20

We all knew we could not buy a call in Tuscalooser/Tuscacheaters. So what is the surprise.

LET'S ALL CONTACT THE SEC! DON'T CARE WHAT THE OUTCOME IS OR WOULD HAVE BEEN BUT MAYBE IT'S TIME TO START A CAMPAINGE AGAINST THIS KIND OF THEFT BY REFEREE'S. THE ONLY GAME THAT COMES CLOSE TO THIS WAS THE 1979 LSU GAME AGAINST USC. ALL THE REFS IN THIS GAME NEED TO BE SUSPENDED OR MAYBE EVEN BROUGHT UP ON CHARGES AND FINED LIKE THEY FINED MYERS JUST FOR SPEAKING UP. I SAY WE FIND OUT WHO TO CONTACT AT THE SEC TO LODGE OUR COMPLAINTS AND GET THESE THIEVES FIRED OR WORSE.

I'm not trying to start a fire Miles thread. I do not under any circumstance think he should be fired. However, I think there are at least 50 other coaches that given the talent he's had, could have done just as well if not better.

Miles has always had UNDISCPLINED teams . every game they make STUPID mental errors EVERY GAME how many false starts doe we have a game that COST US DEARLY . These are COACHING ERRORS not making your players discplined not having them focused . When we win we win with TALENT being better than the other team NEVER do we out coach the other team, in fact sometimes we lose to teams with inferior talent BECAUSE we are out coached

Chavis got absolutely outcoached in the second half. And it should be embarrassing to him.

Unfortunately the LSU defensive lines that we have all become accustomed to are gone. This line is a shadow of the former lines. Both lines for that matter.

Just goes to show you can have all of the skill positions in the world but championship teams live and die by the lines.

Les is such a puss. He never argues a call or gets on the refs. Folks he is just not a very good motivator. It won't get any easier in the years to come. It is just a matter of time.

Granted the non-interception was a bad call but we just got out coached and out played for the 2 year in a row. This is the 2nd of many years to come of butt whippings by Bama. It will be just like the Bear years.

You anti-Miles people are just plain damn stupid. he's no worldbeater but he's a good coach and generally does a pretty good job.
My issue is that i just cannot believe this shit with $aban. I thought he'd do pretty good at Bama but there is no way in a million years you could have convinced me he'd do what he has. This guy has them in national championship contention with Shula recruits and lines up back to back #1 recruiting classes. Unbelievable. And I honestly think he's the reason people go so nuts over Miles. They hate Saban so much and when they see him taking people to the woodshed a lot of that anger gets taken out on Miles, especially when we lose to them.

And you wanna know the sad thing about all of this? That fucker is doing this without a decent quarterback. He's 14-0 the past two years in conference play with a damn game manager at quarterback, and Mcelroy probably left 21 points on the field today. With a top end QB today they win in a blowout, and if that pisses you off then too bad b/c its true. If he ever gets a stud QB like Mauck or JaMarcus, the shit is going to hit the fan in the SEC West and its going to be the shit from all our butchered asses.

OH SHIT!!!!! Not good... Not fucking good at all...

How many recruits go if a coaching change???

who do you want as new coach?

My top choice right now would be to lure Mark Richt away from Georgia.

6-6 with this schedule? Imagine if we played in the SEC... 2-10.

Navy has how many 4-5 star recruits?

Is it too late to get Gruden here by next Saturday?

Cincinnatti is the #5 team in the country. When was the last time Notre Dame was ranked #5? Cincinnati has a better program, with less unrealistic expectations. They are on ESPN almost every week.

Why would Kelly leave for Notre Dame?

Every ND fan should root for Pitt this week!

Should Notre Dame have sacked Weis two years ago?

Finally! Bob Davie vindicated!

Fans need to revolt! This is horsecrap Uttter horsecrap. I dont care if we lose every Sentreal Henderson, Kyle Prater, Chris Martin, give me some damn kids who want to play and do not feel like playing Navy is "above them." I dont care if Clausen goes pro, Tate goes pro, Parris comes out of the closet and doesnt come back. WE suck

Anyone think NBC will pressure to ND to improve play or lose the contract?

We are ND!!!! And we are TOILET BOWL BOUND!!!!!!

CHARLIE--GET OUT. QUIT TONIGHT.

anybody heard who our new coach is yet ? wake me up when they make the announcement.

Nick Saban would come for $7,000,000 per year and recruit like no one has ever done at notre dame. he has no buy out at alabama. he is not a nice guy but would win a minimum of 10 games every year with the schedule that notre dame plays every year. why hire a guy like brian kelly and hope that it will work out when you could have a guarantee with saban. i don't understand why a program like notre dame keeps half-stepping with their coaching hires.

GOOD BYE CHARLIE FAT FUCK WEIS!!!!!

The end of an era. Arguably the worst coach in ND history.

Even Gerry Faust's teams beat Navy.

Michigan

I'm a die hard Michigan fan, but I would like nothing else than to see RR fired. Time to bring in Les Miles from LSU!!!!

bring back Gary moeller?

Snake oil indeed. Please list the reasons to believe RR will be successful at UM. I really can't find any. What top recruit will sign? The home crowd is booing like I've never heard. It Every week brings a new low to our storied program. Shame...

THIS IS AN EMBARESSMENt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

U of M football reminds me of the Holy Roman Empire. Once upon a time it was really big and important...but now it's just history.

The Buckeye will administer a stomping like we have never seen.

RR is appropriate initials. He is a trainwreck.

Who knew RRod was brining the spread defense as well as the spread offense to Ann Arbor?

Hey! 5-7 is an improvement on 3-9, right?

number 1 tune on RR's iPod: "Patience" by Guns and Roses

Worst...Michigan...football team...ever. RR keeps setting new marks for modern era mediocrity.

Unless we get hit with NCAA sanctions, be prepared for 2 or 3 more years of this crap. Unbelievable. In 2 years, this idiot has turned us into the joke of the B10.

The numbers don't lie...this is the worst coach in UM football history. It looks like Mary Sue is headed for the title of worst president of UM, as well.

Beat the Buckeyes? They will put the final nail in the coffin. I am not sure UM will be able to field a team in 2010 after that game. Remember Mcguffofie. It was his last game for UM. I think it will happen to several other players again.

Dead on Nine Zone. Dishonest. No character. No leadership. Snake Oil salesman.

Brace yourself for what is coming... I'm praying I'm wrong. But realistically, we will lose badly the next two weeks. Our defense just cannot stop anyone.

Put an end to this. This is not Michigan Football.

When I heard yesterday we had a 17 game, 43 year home winning streak against Purdue I got a sinking feeling. And sure enough...another streak broken. Unfrickin real. Let's just get it all out of the way and start fresh next year.

What would YOU be willing to do for a 7-5 record?

I'd be willing to get between Charlie Weis and a box of donuts.

At this point I would consider being gay with Charlie Weis.

If I was a big time recruit, I wouldn't give us a second look at this point.

Remember how Texas was always laughed at by us, and most of the nation early in this decade, with the best recruiting classes, talent overflowing, but they never produced? Always looked good, even dominating, until they played a quality team and were shown for what they really were? Always showing poorly in a bowl (usually the Holiday) making the Big 12 look overrated?

Sound familiar?

We didn't reload this year, we're not even sure where to put the bullets.

This team wont win in lubbock and they wont win against oklahoma state we will lose 6 games....my god how we have fallen

My prediction for next season: Its gonna be worse than this year.

yup, welcome back to john blake years

I expect Bob Stoops to possibly leave after next year. He has no intention of hanging around like Joe P of Penn State. He said as much not too long ago. I just hope he doesn't leave us in a lurch! Please get rid of Kevin Wilson before you leave.

I am for getting rid of the whole offensive staff except Heupel.

Landry Jones = Nuke LaLouche

6-6 is a very real possibility.

You know what is the most brutal part of tonight is looking at this team and their failures and not having any hope for the future.

I want the last 4 hours of my life back

Very possible this team won't win another game this season.

We might finish 6-6 and ot get into a bowl game because one of those wins was against 1AA TEAM.

Sun Bowl here we come!

I admire your optimism.

I say play the backups next week. We will be 30 point dogs at home next week with no business being on the same field as UF. Why not give them valuable experience, reduce the chance of any starter getting injured, and give Clemson nothing to gameplan?

I'M USED TO IT, SO THIS LOSS DOESNT HURT AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD. AT LEAST BASKETBALL SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

Didn't we hire SOS b/c he was an offensive coach?

We're done... Face the music guys...Vandy was the last WIN for us this year. I am sick and tired of our football team playing like this.

how many eggs can a rooster lay?

Wow, our first safety of the season, that's new.

I really want to believe in New Carolina, but this is really looking like Old Carolina.

This game has been a car wreck...blood and guts everywhere, but I can't turn and look away.

Maybe we need to start playing 8 game seasons?

This garbage about Spurrier Jr. calling plays is bullshit. No damn different than the BS at FSU all of those years where Bowden's daughter was calling the shots. Kid has never done anything but suck his daddy's hind tit and we have him performing a crucial duty.

1 team put up less points than we did against Arkansas.

FSU's kicker hits harder than anyone on our defense.

I guess we've been a "young" team for 115 years now...

ive had spurriers back all year. i have officially swaped sides. its time for a change.

Who will be dropping their Season Tickets next year???

Game management, worst ever?

What does SOS stand for? Same Ol' Shit or am I missing something?

Sleeping On The Sidelines

Since we can't vent without delete.... we should be #1 in the polls ! we are best team in history...none better than our wonder superstars. They should just hand us the crystal ball now!

Anyone want to post activities available in Shreveport???????

Friday Night -- "Shrimp Night" at Shoneys.

Go ahead and feel great about the fact that your games are fixed because bammer isn't good enough to win without help and the league office knows it.....

Honest question from an Auburn fan..

Does bammer pass out collection plates, like they do at church, to raise money for players and paying off refs?

or threaten to form a new conference sans Bama..................Bama alone doesn't not make the SEC the SEC.

You program has been on cheating since the 1920's,

bama just paid off the refs. INT was overturned

And no one is surprised. Even with obvious replay, these SEC refs are Bama homers to the core.

If anyone is going to beat bama, they'd better whip them badly enough the refs can't make themselves a factor.

It's DISGUSTING to watch!!!

and the IRS - they got Capone and the racket SPUAT is running is approaching Mafia

WOW THE WORDS HONEST AND BAMMA IN THE SAME SENTENCE. THAT IS RICH. GO HOME TURD THESE IDIOTS REALLY DONT GET IT THAT THEY ARE ALL RED NECK DELUIONAL NO CLASS SIDEWALKERS. PATHETIC THAT THEY REP THIS STATE IN NAME.

The bammer robbery job just happened. LSU's body isn't even cold yet; have some respect.

Roll Ref$$$ Roll!!

Black helicopter related question...

....and the fix is in. So pathetic.

If they win the MNC a couple of times some of the young Auburn folks will get a taste of the 70's.

RIP LSU and AU football

Someone did on another forum and historically Bama is the least penalized team and their competition is historically among the most penalized teams. I can't vouch for the accuracy but someone posted up some numbers and knowing the history that is a strong possiblity.

If Bo had played behind an offensive line that was allowed to blatantly hold on every play, he might've never been tackled.

Bama LURKERS - YOUR TEAM CHEAT$!

and in other breaking news, the sun came up this morning too.

The red elephant club is alive and well and the funds are flowing. Can I prove it? NO!!NO!!. But believe me they are alive and well!!!

$EC OWNED BY REC

I have officially reached my breaking point. The call at the end of the LSU-Bama game was perhaps the worst abortion officiating-wise of this already terrible year from a zebra standpoint.

Why not... STORM THE FIELD? After the very first ridiculous call against Auburn on November 27 (and there will be many) , why shouldn't our fans (I'd suggest those without any PRIORS come to the front of the line) just come over the hedge and take a seat on the AU logo at the 50? I mean, WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL?

The mob is connected in several southern cities due to it being much easier to buy into the local politics. Tusc is just one of these cities.

Seems a few years back there was some arrests of some frat boys down on the crapstone connected to a gambling ring. I mean like "big time" gambling ring. Bookie stuff? I have heard for years that "The Mob" was connected to Tuscaloosa. If there is some truth to that, I wouldn't be surprised at anything. There are people in that world that will do ANYHTING for the money.

If I disappear, please remember me.

Alabama opened up as a 14-point favorite over Mississippi State, and in the past couple of days in...

outsidethesidelines — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:41:26 -0000

Alabama opened up as a 14-point favorite over Mississippi State, and in the past couple of days in Vegas the consensus line has fallen to 13 points.

Vegas Insider: Las Vegas College Football Odds

"He had 15 rushing touchdowns, 11 receiving, three on punt returns, two on interceptions an one on...

outsidethesidelines — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:36:49 -0000

"He had 15 rushing touchdowns, 11 receiving, three on punt returns, two on interceptions an one on a kickoff, for a total of 32. For what it’s worth, he also had six two-point conversions.

"On defense, he was over 90 tackles with six interceptions—four of those went for touchdowns. He also had three tackles for loss, two caused fumbles, one recovered fumble and a sack."

"As good as he is, I like him better as a person than a player. Alabama is getting a player who will help their team, because he’s a team player first."

Stan Olson: Allen picks Crimson Tide over Clemson, Oregon

That quote comes from Northern Guilford head coach Johnny Roscoe regarding his star player, Alabama commitment Keenan Allen. Oh yes, I'm liking this one already...

Memphis fired football coach Tommy West on Monday, saying it wanted to go in a different direction...

outsidethesidelines — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:41:28 -0000

Memphis fired football coach Tommy West on Monday, saying it wanted to go in a different direction after the season.

Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson told West of his decision Monday morning. The school announced the coach's dismissal at an afternoon news conference.

ESPN.com: Memphis' West fired after 9 seasons

This move obviously doesn't shock anyone, but nevertheless the firing of West marks the official start to the coaching carousel this season. While it looks like be a slow year for the SEC in the silly season, around the country things look to be a lot more active. Notre Dame, Michigan, Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, and several other BCS conference schools look like they may very well be making coaching changes this year, so there will be plenty of news in mid-December.

Alabama's Nov. 21 home finale against UT-Chattanooga will kick off at 11:21 a.m. and be televised...

outsidethesidelines — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:29:42 -0000

Alabama's Nov. 21 home finale against UT-Chattanooga will kick off at 11:21 a.m. and be televised on a split basis by the SEC Network, UA officials announced this morning.

Gentry Estes: Alabama's game against UT-Chattanooga set for morning kickoff

As it turns out we'll have football for breakfast for the UTC game. Sounds good to me, really, and honestly I bet Saban likes this one too. He has spoken before about liking early kick-offs in games like these so you get an extra six hours of recovery time physically.

University of Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive...

outsidethesidelines — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:57:55 -0000

University of Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week following UA's 24-15 victory over LSU.

Tuscaloosa News: Arenas named SEC POW

"It's going to be electric," MSU athletics director Greg Byrne said. Byrne expects the largest...

outsidethesidelines — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:01:06 -0000

"It's going to be electric," MSU athletics director Greg Byrne said.

Byrne expects the largest crowd in the history of Davis Wade Stadium when third-ranked Alabama (9-0, 6-0 SEC) visits Mississippi State (4-5, 2-3) at 6 p.m. Saturday in a game to be televised nationally by ESPN. For this game only, the Bulldogs have brought in temporary seating and sold standing room-only tickets to match the demand.

Gentry Estes: Mississippi State massing for Alabama's visit