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We were sitting in the car a few days ago (we spend about 80% of our time sitting in the car) when Glenn made a comment that piqued my interest. It was just after the Florida-Georgia game, during which we saw Matthew Stafford of UGA and Tim Tebow of UF. Both are freshmen, and both will be making big impacts in the future.
Glenn said something to the effect of, "With those two guys and Mustain, the SEC is going to have some pretty darn good quarterbacks next year."
Very true, Glenn.
Those three freshmen will improve and should be fun to watch in 2007, but what about the rest of the conference? The SEC is set up remarkably well at that position next year. Let's take a team-by-team look.
Alabama: Current QB is John Parker Wilson, a sophomore. He's thrown for 201 yards per game (5th in the conference), 12 TDs, and 5 INTs.
Arkansas: Current QB is Mitch Mustain, a freshman. The numbers are not great for Mustain. Only 853 yards, 10 TDs, and 7 INTs, but the talent is there and the wins keep on coming.
Auburn: Current QB is Brandon Cox, a junior. It's been a bit of a disappointing season for Cox, who averages 184.9 yards per game. He has avoided turnovers, with 9 TDs to just 3 INTs. His numbers could be better, but Auburn is a running team.
Florida: Current QB is Chris Leak, a senior. They'll replace him with Tim Tebow, the freshman. The problem is, can Tebow throw the ball? Will UF become an option team? That seems unlikely. Maybe there is another QB who will platoon with Tebow, but at least the Gators will have one accomplished QB starting next year.
Georgia: Current QB is Matthew Stafford, a freshman. He's throwing interceptions at an alarming rate. He has only 3 TDs and 9 INTs, but the talent is obvious. He has a great arm. He's mobile. He'll be a good QB.
Kentucky: Current QB is Andre' Woodson, a junior. Woodson's numbers are as good as almost any SEC quarterback's. He has the second most yards per game, 240.1. Woodson has thrown 18 TDs and only 5 INTs.
LSU: Current QB is JaMarcus Russell, a junior. He's averaging 238.8 yards per game with 9 TDs and 4 INTs. If he leaves early for the NFL, Matt Flynn proved his capability during last year's Peach Bowl and Ryan Perrilloux was one of the best recruits in the nation two years ago.
Mississippi: Current QB is Brent Schaeffer, a junior. He's only thrown for 118.2 yards per game, but two of his last three outings have been solid. He nearly led his team to an upset of Auburn.
Mississippi State: Current QB is Michael Henig, a sophomore. He has started the last four games and threw for 384 yards and three TDs last week against Kentucky. He's getting better by the game.
South Carolina: Current QB is Syvelle Newton, a senior. He'll have to be replaced, and a candidate will be Blake Mitchell. Mitchell began the season as the starting QB, so Steve Spurrier may not have to worry about experience.
Tennessee: Current QB is Erik Ainge, a junior. Ainge is arguably the best QB in the conference. He leads the SEC in yards per game, and his junior year has been so good that many could see him leaving early for the NFL. If that happens, the backup right now is Jonathan Crompton. He is a freshman with very little experience.
Vanderbilt: Current QB is Chris Nickson, a sophomore. He does not throw for a great deal of yards, but he is a dual threat who averages 5.3 yards per carry. He's thrown 11 TD passes and 8 INTs.
Only two teams, UF and South Carolina, will have their starting quarterbacks graduate. It's possible to see Ainge and Russell depart after their junior years, but for the most part, the SEC will be loaded with quarterbacks next season.
As much as the Tennessee Volunteers (7-1, 3-1 SEC) would love to get excited about their recent success, there's no time for that in the SEC.
A team that has won five in a row, including road wins against Georgia and South Carolina, now faces back to back games vs. LSU and at Arkansas.
The media wants to make a big deal out of the eighth-ranked Vols. Coach Phillip Fulmer won't let it be a distraction.
"They remember what you do in November," Fulmer has told his team.
Everything else the Volunteers have accomplished doesn't mean much heading into this weekend's matchup against #13 LSU (6-2, 2-2). The Tigers have two losses this year, but they are perhaps the best two-loss team in the country.
"It starts with the quarterback," Fulmer said. "He's a special player."
Fulmer is referring to LSU's gigantic QB JaMarcus Russell. Russell has thrown for 238.8 yards per game. He has 15 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. He's big, but also fast, and does well both in and out of the pocket.
"He's a big guy. He's a load," defensive end Xavier Mitchell said. "But he's a quarterback so it doesn't really matter to me... we're just gonna go back there and try to hit him as hard as we can."
While Russell moves the Tigers offense through the air, it's a healthy stable of running backs - such as Jacob Hester, Charles Scott, and Justin Vincent - that wear out opponents on the ground. The Volunteers we spoke to today indicated that stopping the run would be the most important task. After they do that, it's time to get after the quarterback and force turnovers.
None of that might matter at all if Erik Ainge can't play on Saturday. Ainge is banged up, and Fulmer indicated he wouldn't know much more about the status of his star quarterback until he saw him later in the day.
"He says he's going to be there, and I hope that he is," Fulmer said. Although he added that the team will prepare as if Ainge will be unavailable.
Wide receiver Jayson Swain seemed confident that the junior QB would be ready to roll come Saturday.
"I think Erik's gonna play," Swain said.
UT will need Ainge this weekend against the best defense in the country. Ainge has thrown 16 touchdowns this year and eight interceptions, while averaging 276.6 yards per game. His backup, Jonathan Crompton, has thrown only four passes this season, completing all of them. If Crompton does get the call, his mobility is better than Ainge's, so expect to see the Vols use that to their advantage as often as possible.
LSU's defense, anchored by a deep defensive line and two terrific, ball hawking safeties, allows only 211 yards per game and 8.25 points per game. The Tigers have given up just six TDs in eight games.
"It's gonna be fun to be challenged the way we will be Saturday," Swain said. "They're physical. They're the number one defense in the country for a reason. We've definitely got our work cut out for us."
In each of Tennessee's last three games, the Volunteers have trailed heading into the fourth quarter. Each time, they've erased the deficit and pulled out the victory. The players credit that to preparation in practice. Coach Fulmer credits, among other things, his players' conditioning.
"We really take the fourth quarter to heart," LB Jerod Mayo said.
But while Mayo enjoys the wins, he'd rather not have to rely on another late comeback this weekend.
"I'm getting too old for this. I'm 20 years old."
Tennessee is a great team, but no team is good enough to fall behind against LSU and rely on making up ground late in the game. That would be a perfect scenario for LSU Coach Les Miles and his #1 ranked defense. Obviously, Ainge needs to be healthy for the Volunteers to have a good chance to win. With Ainge in the game, the Vols have one of the best passing attacks in the country. Receivers Robert Meachem, Bret Smith, and Swain are as good as an any trio around. Regardless of whether or not Ainge is in the lineup, it's tough to see the Vols putting up a lot of points against LSU, so Tennessee's defense must rise to the occasion.
It should be a great battle between two future NFL quarterbacks on Saturday. Expect a hard-hitting defensive struggle in front of a loud and optimistic crowd. In Tennessee's dismal season a year ago, they defeated LSU 30-27 in overtime. You can assume the Tigers circled this game on their calendars. You can assume SEC football fans circled it too.
Driving through Macon, Georgia this afternoon, we cruised down Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and headed towards the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Inside was a collection of this state's greatest sports moments.
Sid bream sliding into home plate.
Lindsay Scott's famous catch and run down the sidelines.
Moments from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
So much more, and of course, that Herschel Walker guy.
"Herschel Walker was a man among boys," Ed Grisamore said. Grisamore, now a columnist for the Macon Telegraph, was privileged enough to cover Walker for the Telegraph in 1979-80, Walker's final year of high school. He watched the bruising running back captivate the small town of Wrightsville, GA and eventually captivate the nation as a Bulldog and a Heisman Trophy winner.
We walked through the Hall of Fame with Grisamore to find out about the man who means so much to the state of Georgia, and more specifically, to the town of Wrightsville and Johnson County High School.
"It was phenomenal to watch," Grisamore said. "He was out there. He had this rare combination of size, strength, and speed."
Grisamore told stories about Walker the player and Walker the person, both remarkable in their own ways. As a person, Herschel made a special connection with Wrightsville and Johnson County High School. He makes guest appearances on occasion, though he lives a relatively private life, and his old high school football field has been named in his honor.
"Not only was he a great athlete, but he's done lots of good things," Grisamore said. "I mean, just a great ambassador for his hometown, for his family, for his school."
As a player, Herschel Walker was an unstoppable force of nature. He plowed over defenders in a Jim Brown-like manner and instilled fear in his opponents.
"I can remember a high school coach telling me he sure would be glad when Herschel Walker graduated because he said, 'I'm awful tired of him hurting all my players.' I had another high school coach tell me, 'fear is having Herschel Walker turn the corner and all you've got between him and the goal line is a 165-pound cornerback.' He dominated every game he played. If he didn't run past you, he'd run through you."
Grisamore wasn't out of stories.
"One man told me about his son (who) played on the team with Herschel, and he said his son came home from practice one day and lifted up his shirt and there was all these marks on his chest. He said, 'What's that?' It was cleat marks that Herschel had run through him, run over him, and left his cleat mark imprint on his chest."
Yeah...I think that would have been a good sign that it's time to quit the team, or at least not show up for practice.
Walker was a Renaissance man of sorts; he could do a little bit of everything. He was an accomplished track star, wrote poetry, danced ballet, dreamed of being an FBI agent, rescued a woman from a burning car, starred in an exercise video for children, earned a black belt in Tai Kwon Do, and even competed in the 1992 Olympics as a bobsledder.
His Olympic jacket and his martial arts gui were in the Hall of Fame as well.
But football is what he'll always be remembered for, beginning with his domination during his junior year at Johnson County High School. After our Hall of Fame visit, we took the one hour drive from Macon to Wrightsville and met up with the Defensive Backs Coach on Walker's high school team, Curtis Dixon.
Dixon is now the principal of the school, and he knows the Walker family very well, having gone to school with Herschel's older brother.
"I really wish we had more like him because he was never a troubled child," Dixon said. "He never had a problem. If you asked him to do something he always did it. He always tried to do his best."
I'm guessing Walker didn't have to try too hard on the football field. He was in a world of his own. Grisamore told some entertaining and astonishing stories, but Dixon might have actually outdone him with this story about the State Championship Game:
"There was a play just before halftime, a toss sweep, basically what Herschel ran. And it was Herschel and the one little defensive back, and Herschel actually scared him, the boy had to go to the bathroom."
Our mouths dropped after we heard that one.
Dixon was the Defensive Backs Coach, so what advice would he give his players if Walker was about to plow them over?
"Not to try to hit him high. Just grab a leg and hold on."
In college, Walker shined as a Bulldog. He won a Heisman Trophy, but there was some controversy. The controversy wasn't about him winning the award, it was about how many times he should have won the award.
"Everyone said he should have won it his freshman year," Grisamore said. "He truly should have won it his sophomore year. That was probably his best year. He did win it as a junior."
I asked Dixon how many Walker should have won.
"At least two. At least."
The story of Herschel Walker is a story about a polite young boy who always said "Yes Sir" and "Yes Ma'am" but terrorized opponents on the gridiron. He is a hometown hero for Wrightsville, Georgia, a place you probably never would hear about if not for Herschel Walker.
And if you mention number 34 (actually he wore 43 in high school), people around Wrightsville and Johnson County High School will know exactly who you are referring to.
"I think he's one of those individuals that you can just say his first name and everyone knows who you're talking about," Grisamore said.
Part of Walker's legacy is playing in the NFL. Part of it is winning the most prestigious sports award in the nation. Part of it is putting a small town on a map. But, as Principal Dixon explains, there's more to Herschel Walker than just cleats, pads, and a helmet.
"Other than just being a great football player, Herschel is a great human being. And if we had more people like Herschel, the world would be a better place today."
Here are the players who caught my eye in Florida's 21-14 win over Georgia:
Florida WR Andre Caldwell: Caldwell set the tone early during the game's opening, and maybe most important drive. He caught two third down passes to convert for first downs, and finished off the drive with a 12 yard touchdown run. Final stats: 8 catches, 88 yards receiving, 1 receiving TD. 5 carries, 28 yards rushing, 1 rushing TD.
Florida DE Derrick Harvey: A rising star. Late in the first quarter, Harvey blew past OL Michael Tuner for a sack, and he recovered a fumble later in the game. With Ray McDonald, Jarvis Moss, and Marcus Thomas, Harvey gives the Gators one of the deepest and most talented defensive lines in the country.
Florida LB Earl Everett: On Georgia's second play from scrimmage, Everett stepped into the backfield to bust up a running play, creating a two yard loss. That was an indication of the type of game Everett would have. He finished with 9 tackles. Two were for a loss. He also recorded a sack.
Georgia QB Matthew Stafford: While his numbers (13 of 33, 151 yards, 2 interceptions) were horrible, Stafford made me believe that he will be an outstanding quarterback one day. He had a typical game for a freshman quarterback against a talented defense. He made a few terrible decisions, including two interceptions, but he also was a victim of dropped passes and poor pass protection. Stafford showed his mobility, strong arm, and ability to make something out of nothing. He'll be a star for the Bulldogs eventually.
THESE GUYS GOTTA STEP IT UP...
Georgia DE Quentin Moses: Finally Moses had a big game last week against Mississippi State. He did absolutely nothing against the Gators. Moses was neutralized the entire game until late in the fourth quarter when he nearly made a terrific defensive play. With about 2:50 left in the game, the Bulldogs were down by seven, and it was third down and three for UF. UF ran a reverse (the same play they scored a TD on in the game's opening drive), and Moses played it perfectly. It looked like his tackle would force a punt, but Moses was flagged for a facemask, and the drive continued. UF ran out the clock.
George TE Martrez Milner: Milner dropped four passes yesterday. All four were drive-killers. All four were for substantial gains. Tough day for a guy who had no problems getting open, but couldn't hang on.
Florida K Chris Hetland: UF could easily lose a close game that they have no business losing this year unless Hetland (1 for 7 on FGs this season) improves or Urban Meyer picks someone else for the job. Hetland missed two field goals yesterday, one from 39 yards and one from 42 yards. Either one would have iced the game.
You just never know what will happen in a rivalry game. The Gators came in as heavy favorites and left with a 21-14 victory. UF will certainly move up in the polls, especially with USC's loss (and depending on what Tennessee and Texas do tonight). What an absolute joke it would be if the Gators don't jump the Trojans, considering the way USC has been playing lately and the difficulty of UF's schedule.
Now the Gators are set up to win the SEC East. Their remaining games are: at Vanderbilt, vs. South Carolina, vs. Western Carolina, and at Florida State. All four are winnable games, but the Gators must look back at today's win in Jacksonville as a warning sign. If the Gators play this poorly again against either SC or FSU, they will not run the table.
UF's defense was terrific, can't take away anything that unit did. Georgia gained just 215 total yards today. The Gators came into the game struggling defensively on third down, but Georgia converted just 3 out of 13. LBs Brandon Siler and Earl Everett were everywhere. Siler had an especially big sack on Matthew Stafford after Georgia took over first and 10 at their own 38 in the fourth quarter. DE Derrick Harvey continues to climb the SEC leader board in sacks, and he recovered a fumble today too. The defense limited the Georgia ground game to 2.5 yards per carry and forced two Stafford interceptions. Neither play was a very good decision by Stafford, but that's what UF does - they capitalize on quarterbacks' mistakes.
The other two areas of football - offense and special teams - are a huge concern. Why is the UF offense failing to score at least 30 points every game? We keep hearing about the receivers, but Urban Meyer seems afraid of having a downfield passing game. We saw countless WR screens and handoffs to just about everyone on the field. One of the few times UF did throw deep, Andre Caldwell hauled in a 40 yard touchdown pass. Speaking of Caldwell, what an amazing game he had. Huge third down catches, two scores, and 88 total yards receiving. Don't forget his 28 rushing yards either. UF has players that can dominate the game, so let them make plays. Open up the offense and let Leak air it out.
Leak threw a bad interception to Georgia linebacker Tony Taylor in the third quarter. It was Taylor's fourth INT of the year, and it set up Georgia's first touchdown. That interception completely changed the game and let the Bulldogs back into it. Then, when it seemed UF was in control in the fourth quarter, Tim Tebow coughed up the football. It was recovered at the UF 14, and it led to the second and final Georgia touchdown.
The Gators had a chance to ice the game on special teams twice. Chris Hetland hit the right upright from 39 yards away in the third quarter, and he missed a 42 yard kick early in the fourth. The punt coverage was spectacular, but a UF punt return for a touchdown was brought back because of an illegal block.
Speaking of penalties...
The Gators must clean up that area of the game. Drives stalled because of untimely penalties, like holding calls on wide receivers and false starts on linemen. In total, there were 10 UF penalties for 75 yards. Also, UF dropped four first half passes. Some were for significant gains. This was not a very clean offensive game by any means.
That being said, good teams find ways to win even when they don't play well. UF did that today. They did it behind a dominant defensive performance and some clutch running at the end of the game by DeShawn Wynn (8 carries, 36 yards). The Gators today proved that if they can cut down on the mistakes, they can compete with anyone in the nation. Had UF not dropped so many passes, missed two field goals, had so many penalties, and fumbled deep in their own territory, this would have been a blowout.
UF is capable of playing that type of game.
I don't know if Urban Meyer has enough confidence in Chris Leak. Example: UF ball, fourth quarter, leading 21-14. Second down and 20 at their own 11 yard line with about six minutes remaining. Handoff to Percy Harvin. In that situation, a senior quarterback should throw the ball instead of having a freshman WR run it, but Leak is turnover prone and I think Meyer was playing it safe, protecting the lead. You can't really think about the clock in that situation, considering Georgia had all three timeouts. I don't know if UF is going to be able to survive without Leak stepping up and providing the Gators with a downfield passing game.
It was difficult to take away many positives from this game, but think of it like this. Maybe the Gators got their bad, sloppy game out of their system. Maybe it's only going to get better the rest of the way. And UF proved that they can play a sloppy game and still win because the Gators defense is good enough to overcome the problems on offense and special teams.
UF might have the best defense in the country. It will keep them in every game, but the Gators still need to improve. Meanwhile, any win against your biggest rival is reason to celebrate.
I had heard so much hype about the Greatest Outdoor Party that is Georgia-Florida. When I pulled into downtown Jacksonville this morning, I was expecting shouting matches and extreme drunkenness. I guess I was expecting the worst, considering the Georgia and Florida fans staying in our hotel have been screaming at each other regularly at 2:00 AM the past two nights. (If I make any typos, you'll have to excuse me. I haven't been getting much sleep.)
But it wasn't like that at all. Not only are the fans well-behaved, they're actually friends with each other too. Sure, every now and then you find some trash talking and cursing, but most of it was just in good fun and good taste. Florida and Georgia fans are not really separated before the game. Everyone is right on top of each other, and they get along very well.
This doesn't compare to games we've seen on campus. It was a much milder atmosphere during pregame because I think the fans here were making an effort to be classy and respectful. On campuses, there seems to be a crazier mood, maybe because the students show up in larger numbers.
Don't get me wrong, it was very exciting this morning. The Georgia fans were definitely louder and crazier than the Florida fans, but that's because UF's contingent was more confident. It seems like the Bulldogs fans knew they had to be a factor today to pull out an upset, which fell just short.
Once the game started, it was just like any other SEC football game. I am a believer that the underdog's fans are usually louder, and I think that was the case today. But don't take away from the people in orange and blue. They made their voices heard when they had to.
Jacksonville does a great job hosting this event. Almost every fan we've spoken to loves being here in North Florida, at a neutral site.
Georgia (6-2, 3-2 SEC) and ninth-ranked Florida (6-1, 4-1) renew one of college football's best rivalries on Saturday in Jacksonville. It's the 84th meeting between the two schools in a match up that has been dominated by UF lately. The Gators have won 14 of the last 16. Coming off a bye, they are heavy favorites this weekend...Do the Bulldogs have a chance? Most people say no. I say yes.
GEORGIA OFFENSE VS. FLORIDA DEFENSE
The Bulldogs have finally settled on a quarterback, and it's the freshman Matt Stafford. Stafford is 3-0 as a starter, but this will be his toughest test, by far. In last week's 27-24 win against Mississippi State, Stafford completed 20 passes in 32 attempts for 267 yards and two touchdowns. That's the good news. The bad news is he threw three interceptions. That's what you can expect when you're starting a young quarterback, and statistically speaking, the turnovers are only likely to increase against the Gators and their ball hawking secondary. CB Ryan Smith and S Reggie Nelson have four interceptions each. The Gators are stingy against the run. They force you to pass, and then they take the ball away. Stafford's best option could be emerging WR Mohamed Massoquoi, but Stafford will suffer if injured TE Martrez Milner can't play. It doesn't appear that he will.
The battle at the line of scrimmage will be interesting. With DT Marcus Thomas in the lineup, UF is much, much stronger. As far as the passing game goes, Stafford will be protected by an offensive line that has allowed nine sacks in eight games, pretty good numbers. But UF's defensive ends, including a healthy DE Ray McDonald and the red hot Derrick Harvey (six sacks this year) will cause problems. The Bulldogs offensive line must keep Harvey out of the backfield and off of Stafford if Georgia is going to survive.
With an inexperienced quarterback, the onus often falls on the running backs to carry the load. RB Thomas Brown, maybe Georgia's fastest player, is out for the year, so Kregg Lumpkin and Danny Ware will be called upon. Lumpkin averaged 5.3 yards per attempt last week, and Ware is an inconsistent running back who usually saves his best games for the Gators. But the Gators are one of the best defenses in the nation against the run. They allow SEC opponents an average of 2.4 yards per carry thanks to the talented defensive line and the great play of their linebackers, especially Brandon Siler.
The key will be passing the ball. This game might be entirely about Stafford. It's hard to see Lumpkin and Ware doing much on the ground, so Georgia must be able to throw the ball. Stafford has proven he can throw it, but he hasn't proven he can avoid throwing it to the wrong team. As is often the case, the game might be decided by turnovers. One note: Running against UF is not impossible. Just ask Auburn. Kenny Irons and Brad Lester torched the Gators defense, but I don't see it happening this week.
The Gators defense definitely holds an advantage over the Georgia offense.
FLORIDA OFFENSE VS. GEORGIA DEFENSE
UF Coach Urban Meyer insists he will get Tim Tebow more involved. Tebow played only four snaps against Auburn in Florida's only loss this year. Tebow matches up well against Georgia because he is speedy and shifty, and the Bulldogs have had trouble tackling. Even though Meyer will play his talented freshman QB, the senior Chris Leak will still be the main man. Leak, who has never thrown an interception against the Bulldogs, has yet to silence his critics, who claim he makes too many mistakes with games on the line.
When Auburn beat Florida, the Tigers secondary did a solid job taking away the big plays that UF's receivers typically make. Georgia DB Tra Battle is the key for the Bulldogs. He is the most experienced player in the Bulldogs secondary, and he must have a big game. UF throws out maybe the deepest receivers unit in the country with Dallas Baker, Jemalle Cornelius, Percy Harvin, and Andre Caldwell. Florida has 41 plays this year of 20 yards or more after producing just 32 of those plays last season. The key for Georgia will be stopping the Gators receivers from getting behind them. Let UF pick up small chunks of yards at a time, force longer drives, and hope to get a turnover.
Coming off a bye is huge for UF. RB DeShawn Wynn claims to be 100 percent for the first time in a long time. He and Kestahn Moore will team up and run against the Bulldogs defense, which is reeling. The Dawgs have given up 51, 24, and 24 points in their last three games. UF should be able to run the ball well against the Bulldogs, considering Georgia's tackling problems and the fact that just about every player on offense is capable of taking a handoff. Expect to see the receivers get carries on several occasions.
While the Gators have a lot of talent, the offense has underachieved this season. In fact, UF was producing more points under Ron Zook than they are under Meyer. The good news for Georgia is the play of DE Quentin Moses and DE Charles Johnson. Both are coming off their best games of the year. Moses is considered one of the best ends in the country, but he has had a disappointing season (three sacks). Maybe last week's game can get him going. The Gators offensive line has given up 13 sacks through seven games, which is much better than what they allowed through seven games last year - 27 sacks.
Give the edge to the UF offense.
SPECIAL TEAMS
I think just about any team in the SEC has a special teams edge over Florida. That's because UF's place kicker, Chris Hetland, is 1-5 this year on field goals. Special teams killed UF against Auburn, but it was a punt block and a punt returned for a TD that hurt them. The Gators are actually a very good team in punt coverage, ranking 13th nationally.
Georgia is hurt by the loss of Brown, who is a blazing-fast kick returner. The Bulldogs return game is slowing a bit, but PR Mikey Henderson has scored two touchdowns this season. He remains a constant threat. Kicker Brandon Coutu, a standout, is out for the year. So Andy Bailey has taken his place, and he is 5-6 on FG attempts, but his longest make is only 34 yards. Punter Gordon Ely-Kelso is a weapon for the Bulldogs.
Georgia holds a slight advantage over UF, just because the Gators do not want to see it come down to a UF field goal attempt.
PREDICTION
There is no logical reason to pick the Bulldogs. The Gators are more talented, deeper, playing better, healthier, and well-rested. The Bulldogs are banged up, unranked, and struggling to beat Mississippi State (after a loss to Vanderbilt).
There is one intangible that plays into Georgia's favor: This is Georgia-Florida. Everything that happens in other SEC games means nothing this weekend. Georgia is out of national title contention, so this is their National Championship. A win against Florida would make the Dawgs' two losses irrelevant.
Call it a gut-feeling, but I like Georgia in this one. The key will be keeping it close by halftime. Florida's defense is terrific in the second half, so Georgia can't assume they can come back from a large deficit. Georgia's defense is better than it has been playing. It's going to take a season-defining performance from Quentin Moses for Georgia to get a season-defining win. UF's offensive line has overachieved all year. This might be the game it stops. Some fans are comparing this game to the 1997 contest. The Bulldogs were heavy underdogs. They blew UF away.
I predict Georgia wins this game as Florida makes critical mistakes, doesn't take advantage of opportunities, and the Gators end up beating themselves in a frustrating loss.
Georgia 16
Florida 14
In the 1973 edition of Georgia-Florida, the Gators had no business beating the Georgia Bulldogs. UF entered the game as underdogs, and they trailed by seven points late in the fourth quarter, 80 yards away from the end zone. The Gators needed a hero, so they called upon receiver Lee McGriff.
McGriff caught a touchdown pass on fourth down, and after a two-point conversion, the Gators had upset the Bulldogs, 11-10.
There ought to be a place in history for a guy like McGriff.
Luckily enough, he played in a rivalry so unique and intense that it has its own Hall of Fame, and today McGriff was honored as part of the 11th class of Florida-Georgia Hall of Famers.
He didn't come alone. Former Gator Ike Hilliard and former Bulldogs Rodney Hampton and Willie McClendon joined him in this Hall of Fame class.
Over 100 fans gathered under a tent just outside of Alltel Stadium to enjoy lunch and the ceremony. Just like we'll see on Saturday, half the place was filled with Georgia fans, and half the place was filled with Florida fans. Florida sat on the right side. Georgia, the left side.
Up on stage, a contingent of representatives from Georgia, Florida, and the city of Jacksonville joined the inductees. Ike Hilliard, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver, could not be there in person.
One by one, the players were introduced with a video tribute and an explanation of why they are part of this elite group.
McGriff told the story of when he initially got a phone call telling him he would be a Hall of Famer.
"My first reaction was, 'Who is this?' Because I've got friends that are capable of making a call like that," McGriff joked. "(UF Athletic Director) Jeremy Foley is capable of making a call like that."
Before McGriff entertained the audience members, Hampton warmed them up.
"It's a great honor for me going in with Willie McClendon because he was my Running Backs Coach my junior year," Hampton said. "He got me prepared for the National Football League."
Hampton, a star for the New York Giants, was honored for his play during the 1989 game. Georgia trailed at halftime 7-3, and turned to the elusive tailback in the second half, during which Hampton scored the next two touchdowns of the game en route to a Bulldogs victory. In his three games against UF, Hampton carried 62 times for 288 yards.
"Since I'm a Hall of Famer," Hampton said, "I think I should get two tickets every year. So I need to find out who I need to talk to."
McClendon dazzled as a Georgia running back a decade before Hampton did. The Gators didn't like seeing much of McClendon. In three games, he had 46 carries, 276 yards, and three touchdowns. Even in his only loss to UF, McClendon rushed 10 times for 162 yards.
Then there was Ike Hilliard, who is remembered for his performance in one of the most forgettable games for Georgia fans in this historic series. In 1995, the game was played in Athens due to the construction of a stadium in Jacksonville for the Jaguars. Hilliard and the rest of the Fun-N-Gunners lit up the Dawgs in a 52-17 romp. Hilliard caught two touchdown passes that game. He finished his UF career with 20 TD catches, second all-time for a Gator.
Hilliard played in three different stadiums against the Bulldogs.
"One was at our home. One was at their home, and one was at Jacksonville," he said through a recorded video message. "But it was three really hard-fought games. We were fortunate enough to win all of them, and not to discredit those guys, but we were just pretty good at that time."
Hilliard said something that all four new Hall of Famers agreed with.
"I can only say that there's not a rivalry in college football like it. Even though there's so many great rivalries, ours is definitely one of the best."
"I can tell you from a player's point of view and a coach's point of view, there's an aura about this game that just doesn't exist (elsewhere)," McGriff said to the crowd. "Georgia and Florida both play other great games... huge games, great atmospheres. But this is unlike any other. The bands never stop playing. People never stop cheering. It's intense. It's got 84 years behind it. Players know that."
Four busts, one for each player, sat just in front of the stage. A large and attentive crowd watched on and applauded each of the four former standouts. After the ceremony, several fans formed a line at the stage to get autographs from Hampton, McClendon, and McGriff.
The unique part was that, even though these teams will go back to hating each other on Saturday, the Georgia fans cheered just as loudly for Hilliard and McGriff as they did for Hampton and McClendon, and the Gators fans did the same. These fans came to show pride in the accomplishments of Georgia-Florida. They temporarily forgot which guy played for which team.
We caught up with the Hall of Famers after they left the stage to ask them about their favorite memories of playing in the rivalry and how they prepared for the games.
McGriff told us about getting ready for the contest when it was played at the Gator Bowl, and the stands were made of metal.
"You could literally feel the crowd while you got dressed," he said. "I mean, you could hear, you could feel the pounding of feet. You could feel that crowd out there getting ready."
"I just had to blindfold myself," McClendon said. "Get the room dark as you can and just concentrate."
Hampton admitted to being anxious before the games.
"Before the game you're extremely nervous, but being a ball player, once the game starts, all the butterflies go away after the first play."
It'll be 50/50 at Alltel tomorrow. Half black and red. Half blue and orange. Everyone will be waiting to see which player rises above and becomes the next legend in the epic rivalry of Georgia and Florida.
The Georgia-Florida rivalry is alive and kicking at Alltel Stadium. Outside Alltel, the fans are out-tailgating each other, displaying school pride, and exchanging verbal jabs.
But inside the stadium, in the locker room of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the intensity of Bulldogs-Gators exists amongst the players who shined in the annual event several years ago.
We sat down with four Jaguars - two representatives from UF and two from Georgia. Nine-year veteran RB Fred Taylor and third-year DE Bobby McCray spoke on behalf of the Gators.
The Bulldogs were represented by sixth-year DT Marcus Stroud and four-year veteran LB Tony Gilbert.
The trash talk started early in the week, and it's heating up as the days go by.
"I've been hearing it all week," Stroud said.
"They never beat us. Never do. Never will," McCray said. "Just a waste of time. I don't know why they always get up and amp it up. We just whoop 'em and send them home. It's just a proven fact."
Another fact is that Alltel Stadium will be rocking on Saturday for what these players consider the best rivalry in the SEC. Even better than UF-Tennessee or Auburn-Alabama.
"The best," Taylor said. "The creme de la creme."
"I think it's the top," Gilbert agreed.
"I was coming in Monday, the day after our (Jaguars) game," Taylor said. "And the RVs were setting up...this is Monday. The game isn't until Saturday!"
"We've got other rivals like Tennessee, but none of them as big as this one right here," McCray said.
McCray was the biggest talker of the bunch. He was booming with confidence and predicting a 28-14 UF victory. And why wouldn't he be? With Georgia coming off two shaky performances in a row, the Gators can feel good about this game.
But don't tell that to Stroud or Gilbert.
"Georgia defense is gonna wake up this week..." Stroud said. "And we're gonna win by a field goal, 24-21. You heard it here first."
Gilbert was even more optimistic, borderline unrealistic.
"I predict Georgia to win. Maybe 24-6," he said.
The game is unique because of its location at a neutral site. Well... is it a neutral site? Jacksonville is about four or five hours closer to Gainesville than it is to Athens. We couldn't help but laugh when we watched McCray and Stroud debate about playing the game in Jacksonville. Here is the abridged version:
Stroud: "That's why we have the game here in Jacksonville so you guys can continue to do all that cheating you do."
McCray: "How are we cheating? It's a neutral site!"
Stroud: "How are you gonna be neutral an hour away from Gainesville?"
McCray: "You don't want it in Gainesville. Let's just go to The Swamp."
Stroud: "Oh, y'all don't want to come between The Hedges."
McCray: "Hedges?"
Stroud: "Swamp?"
McCray: "Tennessee chopped them things down!"
Gilbert and Taylor weighed in on the discussion of neutrality as well.
"I think it is (neutral)," Gilbert said, "and when you get in the stadium you see half red and black, half blue and orange. I mean, it's just a - it gives you chills a little bit."
"We're closer to our friends," Taylor responded. "If anything goes down we can just walk around the corner and get backup. I'm biased so, yeah, I'll say it's a neutral site, but really I don't think it is."
Another reason why the Georgia-Florida rivalry is special is that it showcases the future of the NFL. Former rivals now share the same locker rooms all over the country. On the Jaguars, Stroud and Taylor once played against each other in this rivalry. So did McCray and Gilbert.
"The best memory I have of Stroud is he was a young recruit coming out of high school," Taylor said. "We brought him in to UF, and my best friend from high school was his host. Showed him a great time. Next thing you know, he's on the cover of Sports Illustrated ripping off a Gators T-shirt with a Georgia Bulldogs T-shirt underneath. But the time I did play against him he had a pretty - he had an okay game."
"Fred burned us one year, but I wasn't playing," Stroud said. "I was young. I was a redshirt freshman that year. But the next year we came back. He probably had 17 carries for 47 yards. Something like that. We busted his butt every time he touched the ball."
McCray heard Stroud brag about his win over the Gators.
"I've got a question you can ask him," McCray said to me. "What's his overall record against Florida?"
So I asked.
"One and three," Stroud said.
I asked McCray his overall record against Georgia.
"Let me see. I was in Gainesville for five years. Uh, I don't think we ever lost to Georgia," he said mockingly.
And don't get McCray and Stroud started on Uga, Georgia's mascot for 50 years. I was worried I would have to sit in between the two of them at one point.
"Oh that little mutt," McCray said.
"We have the best mascot in college football," Stroud responded adamantly.
"That little bulldog? He can't even chase nobody," McCray said.
Of course they were kidding, but watching them go back and forth at each other gives you a pretty good idea of how intense the football game will be on Saturday afternoon. Sure, these Jaguars have more important things to worry about, like Sunday's game against the Eagles in Philadelphia. But they'll be paying close attention to their alma maters.
"My prediction is just win the game," Taylor said. "We've got to win by more than six, of course, because I gave (Gilbert) six points."
"Tebow is gonna be a non-factor this week," Gilbert responded. "Chris Leak, he's already scared because he thinks Tebow is gonna take his job."
"There's no money in that bank..." Taylor said. "Don't take that guarantee."
The game is about the players. The game is about the hatred, yet respect, that the two schools have for each other. But the game is also about the fans. According to the guys who played in front of these fans, the rest of the country just doesn't quite compare to the SEC.
"They're just loyal to the game," McCray said. "They show up at every game."
"They're crazy," Stroud added. "They enjoy the game. They have a good time, and that's what distinguishes our fans between any other fans."
"Just the tradition," Gilbert said. "You think back to all of the old coaches. Vince Dooley, Bear Bryant, Coach Spurrier. You've got first, second, third generation Florida fans, Georgia fans, Alabama fans. I mean, it's just great."
"They're getting the opportunity to watch the future of the NFL," Taylor said. "The SEC produces so many athletes, and, first of all, it's the best conference in college football by far. I mean, I'm sure I can get a lot more people to agree with me on that. And then the games, they're just intense."
Georgia-Florida might be the most intense of them all.
Let the games begin.
It may only be Thursday afternoon, but that hasn't stopped Florida and Georgia fans from setting up shop in lot E, just outside of Alltel Stadium.
Six rows of parking spaces are lined with massive RVs. More RVs are parallel parked on the sides of the lot. Georgia and Florida flags are raised high on flagpoles. The grills, smokers, lawn chairs, and satellite dishes are all out there.
People have brought their babies, dogs, Halloween decorations, televisions, and enough food and beverages to feed us Road Trippers for weeks (hopefully they'll share some of that on Saturday).
And there's still 48 hours before kickoff.
Georgia fan Bob Samples was working the grill when we caught up with him, preparing chicken and beef. Pork and ribs will be on tomorrow's menu. He's been in Jacksonville since Tuesday, and he's been coming to the event for 25 years now. Samples doesn't exclude Gators fans from his tailgates.
"We've got as many Florida fans as we do Georgia fans," he said.
But, he also said Georgia fans tailgate better than Florida fans.
"No way. No way," UF fan Dan DaMato said.
DaMato arrived yesterday afternoon at 4:00. He's been tailgating in Jacksonville all his life. Outside his RV, he has a tombstone that says "RIP Bulldogs."
"It's a good rivalry every year between the tailgaters."
Thursday afternoon was quite fun. Saturday afternoon is going to be insane.
Excluding the Georgia-Florida game, which I will predict on Friday, here are my SEC picks for the week.
Tennessee at South Carolina:
"We are one game better than we were this time last year, but Tennessee (is stronger than) they were last year," - USC Head Coach Steve Spurrier.
This should be a great contest. The Gamecocks are coming off a dominating performance at Vanderbilt, and the Volunteers struggled mightily vs Alabama. It's a night game, which makes it much tougher for the visiting team. When it's all said and done, this could be the best SEC game of the week.
Key to the game for Tennessee: Run the ball, and do it well. Foster and Coker had poor games last week, and SC's secondary is too good to assume Erik Ainge will be able to throw all over them.
Key to the game for South Carolina: Force turnovers. Ainge threw three interceptions last week. That's why the score was so close.
Prediction: Tennessee will pull out a close win behind another great second half performance from Ainge.
Auburn at Ole Miss:
"We're probably as healthy as our football team has been since the first part of the season... Kenny Irons is healthy. Carl Stewart is another guy who is. Brad Lester is 100 percent. Our center Jason Bosley is back after getting hurt last week." - Auburn Head Coach Tommy Tuberville.
Key to the game for Auburn: Don't mess up. Only Auburn can beat Auburn in this game.
Key to the game for Ole Miss: BJ Green-Ellis. The running back has gained 706 yards this year, and he'll need a big game to knock off the Tigers.
Prediction: Though Ole Miss can keep things close at home, Auburn should win by two touchdowns.
Kentucky at Mississippi State:
"I don't think there is any doubt this is a pivotal game coming off a bye and coming off our worst game of the year at LSU. We have five games left and want to get into postseason play so we have to win three of the five." - Kentucky Head Coach Rich Brooks
"This is a big game both for us and for them. We're very concerned about Kentucky. They're much stronger than they were when we saw them last year." - Miss St Head Coach Sylvester Croom
It may not be a battle of top 10 teams, but it should be a close, hard-fought game.
Key to the game for Kentucky: Stop the run, please! Opponents average 209 yards per game against the Wildcats!
Key to the game for Mississippi State: Avoid 3rd and long. When the Bulldogs struggle, they are almost always struggling to convert on third downs.
Prediction: Tough one to call. I will take Mississippi State by a field goal.
Vanderbilt at Duke:
"They have an exciting young team. They are playing a lot of young guys and you can see them getting better with each game." - Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson
Duke almost beat Miami last week, so maybe this won't be as easy as you might think.
Key to the game for Vanderbilt: Get WR Earl Bennett involved. Just look at his numbers in the win vs. Georgia. Then look at his numbers in the loss to South Carolina. He's very important to the team.
Key to the game for Duke: Stop Cassen Jackson-Garrison and make the quarterback, Chris Nickson beat you. He struggled mightily against SC.
Prediction: Vanderbilt by 14.
Florida International at Alabama:
"We want to get that winning feeling back. We have to prove to ourselves that we can play better." - Alabama Head Coach Mike Shula
Key to the game for Alabama: Forget about last week's game. Avoid the hangover effect.
Key to the game for FIU: Pray.
Prediction: This game doesn't need a prediction, but I'll take (drum roll please) Alabama.
Louisiana-Monroe at Arkansas:
"Louisiana-Monroe is a team, that if you watched them play Alabama, they play really hard. They were in the ball game for two or three quarters and then they were down because of depth. You've got to be ready to play on any given Saturday." - Arkansas Head Coach Houston Nutt
Key to the game for Louisiana-Monroe: Do what you do best: force turnovers. Coach Nutt pointed out that they are second in the nation in forcing turnovers. The best way to do that is to try and slow down Darren McFadden and force Mitch Mustain to throw.
Key to the game for Arkansas: Make this game about Mustain. This is a lay-up for the Razorbacks against a team with one win. It will benefit them down the road to let Mustain try and be the man this Saturday, even if it means only winning by three touchdowns instead of four.
Prediction: Arkansas keeps on rolling.
A decade ago, the Florida Gators ruled the college football world, winning the 1996 National Championship behind the arm of Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel and the hands of All-American receiver Reidel Anthony.
We've already caught up with Weurffel, who is now the Executive Director of the Desire Street Ministries. Today we met his favorite target, Anthony, a Receivers Coach at Division II powerhouse Valdosta State.
Anthony's Wildcats have a big game with 3rd-ranked North Alabama this weekend, so he'll be concentrating on that, but I'm sure the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will be on his mind.
"I experienced it from a fan's standpoint about three years ago, and just to enjoy it," Anthony said. "I was staying downtown, so I just walked to the game, and, I mean, I walked about three, four miles, and there were just people lined up out there tailgating and just getting ready for the game, having a good time. It's an experience."
Florida faces Georgia on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fl to continue the tradition of playing the big game at a neutral site. Half the stadium will wear blue and orange. Half will wear black and red. There is no home team, but Jacksonville has been a home for this rivalry every year since 1933.
With two exceptions, 1994 and 1995. Those were Anthony's freshman and sophomore seasons. Interestingly enough, he is one of only a handful of players since 1933 to play in this game at three different stadiums. The Gators won in '94, '95, and in their '96 National Championship season as well.
Winning that title is Anthony's proudest memory.
"That was one of the better days of my life," Anthony said.
Not bad beating your archrival, Florida State, to win it all, is it?
"We hung 52 up on 'em," he said.
After five productive NFL seasons with the Buccaneers, he has ended up in a small Southern Georgia town working under one of the bright young coaches in football, Chris Hatcher.
"I actually was looking around for a place to start my coaching career, and I got in contact with Coach (Sean) Bostick, which is our O-line Coach, first, and talked to Coach Hatcher," Anthony said. "And my interview consisted of coming to their golf tournament. And then he asked me, would I like to come work, and I said, 'sure.'"
Not many people get to interview for jobs on a golf course. Then again, not many people are NFL wide receivers with a National Championship ring. So he's taken the knowledge he has gained over the years, and brought it to Valdosta Sate to teach young pass catchers the fundamentals of football.
"Same old stuff that their middle school coach taught them, and same thing that their high school coach taught them," he said. "But now it's a little bit more advanced."
You can't talk to a former Florida Gator without asking him about Steve Spurrier. Outsiders might see him as a coach with a bit of a temper. I know I'd be scared to screw up around Spurrier. But Anthony painted a different picture of the Ol' Ball Coach.
"He's a players' coach," Anthony said. "You love to play for him. He's gonna, especially on the offensive side of the ball, he's gonna get you the ball, and that's one of the reasons you will attend the University of Florida and now at South Carolina."
Anthony isn't worried about Spurrier's return to The Swamp.
"They'll welcome him," he said of the Gators fans. "Won't welcome the team, but they'll probably welcome him...They love Steve Spurrier. He's a Florida guy first and a Gamecock second."
Speaking of Florida fans, they'll be making half the noise at Alltel Stadium on Saturday, cheering for guys like Dallas Baker and Percy Harvin. Receivers who were in elementary school when Anthony, Ike Hilliard, and Jacques Green dominated The Swamp.
"One thing I'll say to Florida," Anthony said, "we live and die football."
Anthony lives football now in a much milder environment. Instead of playing in front of more than 80,000 fans in The Swamp, he now coaches in front of a little more than 10,000 at a high school stadium in Valdosta, albeit a beautiful high school stadium for one of the best high school teams in the country. Anthony hopes to maybe become a Head Coach, though he acknowledges he has a lot to learn, such as defensive fronts and coverages, before taking that step.
Watching him today on the practice field, joking around with his receivers, yelling, "Nice. Good job," to his guys, he seemed content to be where he is right now.
"This has always been a dream of mine. I always knew if I was successful at football and had a chance to play pro, that once I was finished, I know I can't see myself doing 9 to 5 with a suit and tie on every day. I'm an outdoors guy. So I knew I was going to get into coaching."
Picking the top player in the SEC is tough enough, so I'm going to limit this to the SEC's best offensive player. I am also going to call it the Most Valuable Player, rather than Most Outstanding Player. So my selection reflects which SEC offensive player I think is most valuable to his team.
That player is Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.
McFadden is on a 6-1 team that is 4-0 in the SEC. This is a team that knocked off previously unbeaten Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium. When McFadden lines up, everyone knows the Razorbacks are going to run the football. Quarterback Mitch Mustain is developing, but he isn't much of a threat just yet.
The fact that McFadden has been able to average 5.6 yards per carry is remarkable considering Mustain throws for only 111.7 yards per game. Let's take a look at Arkansas' double overtime win over Alabama. In that game, Mustain was 7-22 for 97 yards. He threw one touchdown and three interceptions. How do you win a game when your quarterback struggles like that? By having your running back gain 112 yards on 25 carries and score one TD.
A week later against Auburn, Mustain threw the ball only 10 times. He completed seven passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. But the Razorbacks defeated Auburn on the road because McFadden rushed 28 times for 145 yards. He scored once also.
McFadden has put up good numbers in every game this year except for the Razorbacks' win over Vanderbilt. He has been able to carry the ball over 20 times per game when needed. He can break off a big run when he has to. And he has taken a one-dimensional offense to a 6-1 record.
What hurts McFadden's cause is that Arkansas has a crowded backfield that features two other guys capable of carrying the ball effectively. But McFadden is the guy, and I get the sense that he could be a one-man show if he needed to be.
There are other candidates such as JaMarcus Russell, Erik Ainge, Dallas Baker, Kenny Irons, Chris Leak, and Robert Meachem (and I'm sure there are others I'm leaving off the list).
But I can't imagine where the Razorbacks would be without McFadden. He has been the MVP of the SEC so far.
On our road trip, we've been privileged enough to meet some popular players, coaches, Heisman winners, and fans. But today we met arguably the most popular sports icon in the Southeast.
He didn't say much, just grunted at us a lot. He didn't do too much either, just walked around for a while before sprinting onto his favorite golf cart.
Yes, today we hung out with Uga VI, the beloved bulldog mascot of the University of Georgia, and his owners, Sonny and Cecelia Seiler in their Savannah home. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Ugas serving as the Georgia mascot. In all 50 years there has been one constant, the Seilers.
"It's been very rewarding," Sonny Seiler said. "It's been a lot of work. They've sort of grown with us and on us, and so even though it's a lot of work, it's not all that much trouble anymore because we know how to do it."
What exactly do the Seilers do?
Each week, they prepare Uga VI, an eight year old pure white English bulldog who took over for Uga V in 1999, for the upcoming game, traveling with the team for road games.
"It starts with him getting a bath the afternoon before, and getting his bag packed which has two or three jerseys in it, and leashes and collars. And getting food ready to go just like you would for a child," Sonny said.
This is one famous child. Sports Illustrated named Uga the most popular mascot in the country. Last year, he received a trophy from Turner South honoring Uga as the best mascot in the South. He received a similar award from Sports South.
"He's collected his share of trophies," Sonny said.
I thought our crew got to see some great places on this trip, but we haven't seen anything compared to this bulldog.
"He's been to just about every major stadium in the South. He's been to a lot of major Bowl Games," Sonny said. "Uga IV went to New York with Herschel Walker for the Heisman Trophy Banquet. This dog went to the Congressional Room last year in Washington to meet a lot of Senators and Congressmen."
Uga VI was sitting quietly inside the house when we first arrived. Cecelia came over to him and put his customary spiked collar around his massive neck, then we walked around outside. Uga behaved very well until the golf cart came around.
"The back up sound (on the golf cart) is what gets him," Cecilia explained.
So Sonny pulled the cart around. Uga took off at full speed and then leaped triumphantly onto the golf cart. Not only is he bigger than the other Ugas, he's wilder than his predecessors too, according to his owners.
"This one is very, very anxious to go any place, any time," Sonny said. "To the point where he'll start barking on Friday mornings if he hears the ice machine open and us throwing the ice in the cooler. That's a clue to him that it's game time. "
Bulldogs tend to overheat, so Uga sits on a block of ice in his dog house at Sanford Stadium.
If you don't know where to find him during games, just listen for the music. Uga VI sits right next to the band, and although Sonny said Uga is not aware of the score of the games, "He knows that there's a game out there, and if you turned him loose, he'd probably run out there and try to get involved."
You might have to be a Bulldogs fan to truly understand how special Uga is to the Georgia community. The Seilers are constantly flooded with presents for Uga such as chew toys and treats. But Uga doesn't mess around with those types of things, so the Seilers always end up sending them to the Humane Society.
There has only been one gift that Uga VI has embraced. It's a green alligator doll given to Uga in Jacksonville, where he'll be this Saturday for UF-Georgia. Uga VI has no problem chewing on that toy, much to the delight of Gator Haters.
So over the last 50 years, Uga has become a symbol of Georgia athletics. Each Uga has been awarded a Varsity letter, just like the players get. The previous five Ugas are all buried in marble vaults near the South stands of Sanford Stadium. The fans love Uga, and so does the football team.
"Coach Richt started a policy when he got there," Sonny said. "Every September, he has (Uga's) picture made individually with each freshman player. And then Coach Richt sends a print of that picture to the player's parents, and one to his high school, which is a nice touch."
In the world of college football, players change every four years. Coaches change as soon as they stop winning. The student section changes constantly as well.
But you know if you go to a Georgia game, there will always be one constant - the big bulldog on the sideline.
"I don't know what I would be like going to a game without an Uga," Sonny Seiler said. "I would feel like I didn't have my pants on or something."
Southeastern Conference sports fans think they are passionate about their teams.
Turns out, they put their money where their mouths are.
"The SEC, in general, is the most rabid fan base you'll find out there."
That's according to Heath Price, the Director of University Services for the Collegiate Licensing Company.
"I think from a licensing standpoint, that holds true," Price said. "The SEC fans, as a whole, generate more royalties for our consortium of schools than any other conference."
The CLC represents more than 70 percent of all Division 1A football playing institutions. Other than Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, every SEC school goes through the CLC when selling products with their brand name.
"We work with our programs with the schools in the conference...putting together licensing programs on products, promotions, and other opportunities to generate revenues using the brands of the universities," Price said.
And there is plenty of revenue to be generated.
The folks at the CLC greeted us on Monday afternoon by decorating the lobby with SEC merchandise. There was the Georgia Wheaties Box, the University of Florida Crocs, a pair of orange Tennessee sandals, and most notably, an enormous inflatable Kentucky Wildcat mascot.
Then there was the for-the-ladies merchandise, like a pink Georgia jacket and a purse with the Auburn logo. No, Emily did not run out of the building with it, though it was a concern.
"Two categories that have seen a lot of growth have been the kids' collectibles category and now also the women's category," Price told us. "More products that are meant for the female consumer."
These days, a consumer can get just about anything he/she wants. Price took us on a tour of the offices, leading us to a wall of "Unique Products." Here we saw a University of Miami-themed coffin for those Canes fans that live and die UM football. There was a bag of Penn State Sourdough pretzels, a Texas hammer with a football grip, Washington Huskies Gourmet Cocoa Mix (they're "Dawg Gone Good" according to the label), and then a few SEC items.
If you want an Auburn napkin holder, believe it or not, that exists.
If you still eat Pez, you can get your University of Alabama Pez Dispenser.
Next to the "Unique Products" were the "One Hit Wonders." A BYU Barbie was interesting, but not as interesting as an LSU-themed coconut. Here's the story behind that:
A New Orleans native, who had access to a lot of coconuts, was watching the 2004 BCS National Championship game, LSU defeating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. He heard the broadcaster mention that LSU would be splitting the National Championship with USC, and that comment drew his ire.
"He felt very strongly that, obviously, LSU was in the championship game and the winner should be the champion," Price said. "And so he came up with this slogan, 'Not Half, but the Whole Nut.'"
He wrote that on the coconut, put the score on it, and noted LSU was the champion. He painted it purple and it became a licensed product.
"I don't think he sold many of these, but he was one of the most passionate licensees I think we've ever dealt with."
In the 2005-2006 fiscal year, nine SEC teams finished in the top 10 in royalties for the CLC. Those teams were:
#4 Georgia
#6 Florida
#8 Tennessee
#9 Alabama
#12 LSU
#13 Auburn
#14 Kentucky
#19 Arkansas
#20 South Carolina
Obviously, the SEC fans have no problem spending some cash to get shirts, hats, sweaters, purses, dolls, sandals...you get the point...with their team's logos. But why are the SEC folks spending more than anyone else?
"A big part of it is kind of the culture and heritage of where the SEC originates from," Price said. "Football is really in the blood of many SEC fans."
Football is in their blood, and so, quite obviously, is school spirit.
It's time for Georgia-Florida, but before we get to that classic rivalry, here's a look back at our weekend in Vanderbilt.
- Saturday's sloppy effort by Vanderbilt was disappointing. The team was coming off one of the biggest wins in program history, and it was Homecoming for VU. Yet the Commodores played maybe their worst game of the year. I know Vanderbilt is a better team than what we saw on Saturday. The turnovers hurt, and I think Coach Bobby Johnson expects more from his team.
- As each week goes by, it becomes more and more clear that special teams can decide games. South Carolina stole some momentum with a 55 yard field goal early in the game. Vanderbilt missed one field goal in Saturday's 31-13 loss, and poor punting hurt Vanderbilt in the field position battle. Looking back at Auburn-UF, a punt block was the difference in that game, and Tennessee blocked a punt and returned one for a touchdown three Saturdays ago in its win at Georgia.
- South Carolina RB Cory Boyd may not be a spectacular running back, but he is solid and dependable. He'll give you a good yards per carry, and he is becoming a work horse.
- To understand why Vanderbilt hasn't produced a successful football program, you have to understand the way that the Athletic Department is set up there.
"We're the only fully integrated Division 1A Athletic Department," Vanderbilt Chancellor Gordon Gee said. "By that I mean we do not have an Athletic Director, we do not have an Athletic Department. We have an Athletic Program, which is part of our student programming here, just the same way that theatre, or debate, or any other thing is.
"The reason for that is the fact that we do not want to have a separate or segregated relationship with our student athletes. We want to make sure that they succeed in life, in the classroom, and as athletes."
That's a very admirable approach to athletics, one that no other 1A school in the nation has taken. There is, however, an obvious negative to that. Football and sports in general, in my opinion, are not just about athletes going out and competing to win games. It's about pride, passion, and bringing different people together to share the same experience. Sports can define and unite communities. The Nashville community does not seem to unite around Vanderbilt football the same way that, for example, the Gainesville community unites around UF.
I am not, by any means, criticizing Vanderbilt. In fact, I applaud the school for realizing that academics are more important than athletics. I am, however, pointing out that the spirit and passion for SEC football is not nearly as tangible at Vanderbilt as it has been at other SEC universities. But Vandy seems perfectly content to focus on the classroom, rather than the football field. Unfortunately, no other schools seem to do that, and it puts Vanderbilt athletics at a major disadvantage.
Other than South Carolina QB Syvelle Newton, here are some players who stood out to me during today's game:
South Carolina WR Sidney Rice: Rice has come under some fire lately for his lackluster performances heading into this weekend. He scored five TDs against FAU, but he hasn't done much since. Today he caught seven passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. With the score tied 3-3 early in the second quarter, the Gamecocks were faced with a 3rd down deep in Vanderbilt territory. They called a Wide Receiver Screen for Rice, and even though Vandy was all over it, Rice managed to make a great move and pick up the first down. A few plays later on second and goal, he caught a ball behind the line of scrimmage and exploded for two yards into the endzone.
South Carolina defenders (J/C)asper Brinkley: You can choose the consonant, but the Brinkley brothers, Jasper and Casper, were awesome today. Jasper, a linebacker, chased down defenders, put nasty hits on the quarterback, and broke up big plays before they could get going. The game was scoreless. First quarter. Vanderbilt had first and goal on the five. Handoff to Cassen Jackson-Garrison. Big stop for no gain by Jasper Brinkley. The Commodores had to settle for a field goal. Casper wasn't much worse. The defensive lineman did a nice job getting into the backfield and setting the tone defensively.
South Carolina DB Carlos Thomas: Fred Bennett will get the publicity most of the time, but Thomas was just as good today. Thomas was matched up with WR Earl Bennett a lot, and he locked him down every time. He also defended a pass at the goal line that would have put Vanderbilt up 7-0, but Thomas' coverage was good enough to force the field goal.
Vanderbilt LB Curtis Gatewood: Gatewood forced a fumble and intercepted a pass today. Just before the end of the first half, Gatewood came off the edge for a blitz, blew past the left tackle, and knocked the ball away from Newton. Just a few plays into the second half, he intercepted an underthrown ball by Newton. His two forced turnovers led to 10 Vanderbilt points.
While a 31-13 victory over Vanderbilt doesn't exactly say, "We're legit," the overall effort of South Carolina today does give Gamecocks fans reason to believe. USC is already a good team, but as each week passes by, the Gamecocks are taking another step toward greatness. And it all starts with the quarterback, Syvelle Newton.
Newton's first quarter statistics looked like this: 1-4, -2 yards passing, 8 yards rushing.
Newton's final statistics looked like this: 11-18, 133 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, and 40 yards rushing with a rushing touchdown.
"Obviously Syvelle throws the ball almost exactly (the way) we're asking him to now," Coach Steve Spurrier said after the game, pointing out Newton's steady improvement.
South Carolina now has stability at the quarterback position, and it's put them only one win away from bowl eligibility and still in the race for the SEC East crown.
Behind an improving offensive line, the Gamecocks put up 327 total yards today against Vanderbilt. Spurrier made a change at left tackle early in the game, inserting Jamon Meredith to replace Hutch Eckerson temporarily. Spurrier pushed the right button, and the much-maligned O-line gave Newton time to establish a downfield passing game. That benefited the entire offense, especially receiver Sidney Rice. Rice broke out from his slump with 89 yards and a touchdown.
The Gamecocks have now won five straight SEC road games dating back to last season, a school record. The common theme has been stellar defensive efforts. Today, the tone was set early in each half when the Gamecocks defense held Vanderbilt to FGs when the Commodores should have had touchdowns. On the game's third possession, Vanderbilt had first and goal at the five yard line, but settled for three points. In the third quarter, trailing 17-10, Vanderbilt intercepted Newton and took over with good field position. The drive ended at the ten yard line with a 27 yard field goal. Spurrier said that with a new defensive coordinator this year, his players are a lot more organized and playing better. The defense was not tested often today, but when it was, the unit responded nicely.
USC dominated on special teams. A 55 yard field goal by Ryan Succop in the first quarter boosted the Gamecocks, but USC also won the field position battle because Vanderbilt's punter Brett Upson averaged only 28.7 yards per punt.
Aside from at the QB position, the game was really decided in the South Carolina secondary. Vanderbilt quarterback Chris Nickson was 4-15 with 2 interceptions and no touchdowns in the air, though he did run one in. The backup QB Richard Kovalcheck threw for 44 yards in garbage time. The Gamecocks defensive backfield absolutely smothered Earl Bennett and the rest of the Vandy receivers.
"Captain (Munnerlyn) and Carlos (Thomas) and Fred Bennett, I think, are three good cover guys as there is around," Spurrier said.
It was a thorough domination by the Gamecocks, but some holding penalties, fumbles, and an interception leave room for improvement. Expect that improvement to be made. USC is getting better and better every game. They have proven they can compete in the tough SEC, and don't be surprised to see them beat Tennessee next week. If the offensive line plays this well again, USC can beat just about anyone. Obviously, South Carolina is not the elite team in the conference, but with Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, and Clemson still left on the schedule, don't expect USC to limp into a bowl game.
"Without the turnovers and the penalties," Spurrier said, "we had the chance for our best game since I've been here."
South Carolina is getting close. They'll be a very good team soon.
A week's worth of cheering, chanting, and chilling with the Chancellor culminated with this morning's Homecoming Parade hours before kickoff for Vanderbilt and South Carolina. Hundreds gathered on 24th Ave, as 20 student organizations drove their Las Vegas-themed floats down the street.
First, the Commodore mascot rode on the back of a car, throwing candy to little children in the crowd. I actually got a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, so I knew it was going to be a good day.
Then came the floats that we saw as a work in progress yesterday afternoon. One came by with a "Welcome to Nash Vegas" sign proudly displayed. Then another one drove by, sporting a banner that read, "Come Morning We Won't Remember This."
That pretty much sounds like Vegas.
My personal favorite was the "Nash Vegas Chapel of Luv and Luck" which featured two students exchanging vows and tying the knot. A Vegas wedding might not make their parents happy, but the Vanderbilt community seemed content today.
The highlight of the afternoon was watching Jonathan Schaub, a former Vanderbilt Safety, ride triumphantly down 24th Ave. Schaub is a somewhat intelligent guy (he only scored 1600 on his SATs) who went to Russia after graduation to learn Russian and teach English. He came back to the United States, lived in New York briefly, and was hit by a truck one tragic evening.
Schaub was supposed to bleed to death. But he didn't.
Schaub was never supposed to walk again. But he's walking.
Today he was honored by Vanderbilt as the Grand Marshal of Homecoming. It was great for the fans to see a guy who gave so much on the field come back and be recognized.
Homecoming was emotional and exciting, and it was a perfect appetizer for what should be a good game this afternoon.
Homecoming was really nothing special where I went to school, the University of Miami.
We didn't build floats, at least I don't think we did. I don't remember any Hold 'Em tournaments, and I certainly don't recall any chicken eating contests, because I would have been all over that if it existed.
So the experience at Vanderbilt this week has been a lot of fun for me. It's like being part of a Homecoming for the first time since high school, and my high school didn't even have a football team. A Homecoming basketball game? Not nearly as cool.
Let's just say I thoroughly enjoyed the experience today. It was quite an eventful day that started around noon with Tie One On. If you're an NBA buff, you might be aware that Miami Heat Assistant Coach Keith Askins wears a bow tie to games. I was under the impression that he was the only man on the face of the Earth that regularly wore bow ties, but then I met Vanderbilt Chancellor Gordon Gee.
Chancellor Gee is a celebrity amongst Vandy students. Today on Alumni Lawn, he ran the Tie One On competition. Gee has been an avid bow tie wearer since he was 15, and today he showed 20 contestants, representing various organizations throughout campus, the correct way to tie one on.
"Long ties are out," Gee told the crowd. "Bow ties are in."
Then, the competition began.
The contestants competed, five at a time, to see who could tie a bow tie the fastest. They were judged by a panel of six judges who made sure the bow ties were tied correctly. The winner of each round moved on to the finals, where four people, two guys and two girls, competed for a $1,000 prize that went toward a new laptop.
The final round began, and in the end, it took Aziz Malik (last year's champion) about 16 seconds to defend his title.
"It feels good, especially to win a laptop two years in a row," Malik said.
What are you gonna do with the bow tie, Aziz?
"Add it to the collection. Wear it to the game tomorrow."
We took a lunch break and returned to campus a few hours later to check out the floats. 20 organizations lined Kensington Place near the Fraternity houses, working diligently to complete their Homecoming floats for tomorrow's parade.
In staying with this year's Homecoming theme, "Vandy Takes Vegas," students built floats with slot machines, playing cards, and other casino-style decorations.
"Everyone's doing Vegas-themed things," Student Government member Neily Todd told me in front of her "High Rollers" float. "We have a poker table and different casino decoartions."
The Vegas idea goes back to Thursday night's event, Fight Night.
"We just wanted to relate it to boxing and relate it back to the game," Homecoming Chair Breanne Hataway said. "The game is a showdown, which goes back to the whole Fight Night idea."
What happens at Vanderbilt Homecoming, stays at Vanderbilt Homecoming.
Back to the hotel for a little power nap. There wasn't much time to waste before we headed to Memorial Gymnasium on campus to check out Quake, the pep rally to end all pep rallies the night before the big game. And after the pep rally, it was time for Ludacris to perform for the Vandy fans. Not a bad way to spend a Friday night.
The band, the cheerleaders, a handful of non-football athletes, Vanderbilt students, and the surrounding community showed up for Quake. The crowd piled in, and as 8:00 rolled around, it was time to get pumped up for Vanderbilt-South Carolina. What would a pep rally be without a few words from your Chancellor, Gordon Gee?
"Who you with?" Gee asked.
"VU!" the fans screamed back.
"Who you with?" Gee repeated.
"VU!"
It was a little unexpected to hear a guy wearing a bow tie scream, "Beat the hell out of those Gamecocks!" But it happened, and it was great.
Shortly after, a video message from Coach Bobby Johnson and two football players appeared. It was followed by a performance from a Vanderbilt hip hop dance group. The crowd was on its feet, cheering for the most impressive moves. If this is how they reacted to hip hop dancing, I can't wait to see them tomorrow at the game.
At the center of it all was the Chancellor who reaches out to students as well as any university President in the nation.
"He's like a Dad," Hataway said. "He cares about all of us, and we all really love him."
They love their Chancellor. They love their Commodores. And, it's official... I love Homecoming. Go 'Dores!
Vanderbilt (3-4 overall, 1-3 SEC) and South Carolina (4-2, 2-2) meet up on Saturday for the 16th time in series history, with the Gamecocks holding a 13-2 advantage. It is Homecoming for the Commodores, who are coming off one of the biggest wins in program history - a 24-22 victory in Georgia. This game could be one that reveals whether or not last week was a fluke, or if, in fact, the Commodores are ready to take the next step toward gaining respect on the football field.
VANDERBILT OFFENSE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA DEFENSE
Earl Bennett. Earl Bennett. Earl Bennett. Vandy needs the sophomore wide receiver to have another big game, following his eight-catch, 89 yard effort last week, to have success against South Carolina's 18th ranked defense. But more importantly, the Commodores will have to run the ball effectively. They have two players to carry the load: RB Cassen Jackson-Garrison and QB Chris Nickson. They have run for 430 yards and 344 yards, respectively, this season. Nickson is a classic dual-threat QB who will likely find more success with his legs tomorrow than he will with his arm.
While the Gamecocks allow only 14.2 points per game, their run defense has been spotty, at best. The unit gives up 149 yards on the ground per contest. LB Jasper Brinkley leads the way with 44 tackles, but expect a lot of yards from Jackson-Garrison and Nickson.
Passing the ball will be more difficult for Vanderbilt. The South Carolina secondary is solid. The intriguing match up is WR Earl Bennett vs. CB Fred Bennett. Fred Bennett is South Carolina's All-American candidate who leads the SEC in passes defended. He also has two interceptions this season. Last year, Earl Bennett torched South Carolina, catching 16 passes for 204 yards. Earl is currently the SEC's leader in receptions. Look out for the Bennetts tomorrow.
The Vanderbilt offensive line took a huge hit when starting right guard Brian Stamper was lost for the year. That caused Head Coach Bobby Johnson to shake up the line a little, and it could mean a long day for Nickson. That's why it's so imperative for the Commodores to be able to establish the run. On passing downs, keep an eye on SC defensive end Eric Norwood. The true freshman has 5.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks. Also, it should be noted that while Earl Bennett gets much of the publicity on offense, there are other Vandy receivers, such as Marlon White, capable of carrying the load. That is a deep and underrated unit.
SOUTH CAROLINA OFFENSE VS. VANDERBILT DEFENSE
On paper, South Carolina seems to have an advantage here. Of course, the game is not played on paper, and one of the story lines of this game will be how passionate and hungry Vanderbilt is after beating Georgia. Expect to see a team fired up for Homecoming and looking to gain respect. They should be hard-hitting and ferocious, but it will take more than that to slow down Gamecocks QB Syvelle Newton, who was recruited heavily by Vanderbilt several years ago.
While Earl Bennett is the most-talked about player offensively for Vanderbilt, SC's star receiver, Sidney Rice, is often under the microscope as well. He might be the most talented player on USC, but he is struggling somewhat this year. Rice has five touchdown receptions, all in one game vs. FAU. Since then, he has five catches in two ball games. Vanderbilt's defense does well against the pass, so Rice might need to step up. He abused the Commodores last year to the tune of eight catches, 132 yards, and a touchdown. The good news for USC has been the play of WR Kenny McKinley. The sophomore has emerged when Rice has been quieted.
It hasn't been all Rice's fault. The USC offensive line, which looks to start the same unit for only the third straight game, has allowed too many sacks, and that has hampered the downfield passing game. Vanderbilt must take advantage of this with talented defensive tackle Theo Horrocks getting in Newton's face and breaking up his rhythm. The Vanderbilt secondary is very young, but freshman cornerback D.J. Moore has given the coaches more than they could have expected, and he has helped stabilize the defense.
South Carolina should be able to run the ball all day against the 79th ranked rush defense of Vandy. Junior Cory Boyd had 113 yards on 25 carries against Kentucky. In a conference filled with great RBs, Boyd, who averages 5.2 yards per carry, does not get enough attention. Add Newton's 278 rushing yards to the mix, and Carolina has a dangerous RB/QB rushing duo, much like Vanderbilt. For the Commodores, LB Jonathan Goff had a huge day against Georgia, and he must come up big again to force USC to throw the ball. Vanderbilt's defense is opportunistic. They have forced 15 turnovers this season, which is one more than they forced all of last year.
Basically, Vanderbilt must find a way to stop South Carolina's running game and force Newton to pass. That is the Commodore's only chance for victory. Newton only averages 146.2 passing yards per game, and he is under pressure a lot.
SPECIAL TEAMS
South Carolina has a special teams advantage by a fairly large margin. SC's punter/kicker is Ryan Succop. He averages a terrific 45.1 yards per punt, and he has connected on 8-9 field goals, missing only a 51 yarder off an upright. SC has not returned any kicks for TDs this year.
Vanderbilt relies on a decent FG kicker, Bryant Hahnfeldt. Hahnfeldt, I'm told, is better than his numbers would indicate, but he is still only 5-9 this year, including 3-6 from 40 yards or less. Punter Brett Upson averages only 38 yards per attempt, but about 1/3 of his punts have been put inside the 20. The return game has been average for the Commodores.
PREDICTION
A bye week for South Carolina will make their offense much better as TE Andy Boyd, WR Mike West, and OG William Brown should return from injury. Carolina will run the ball at will. The Commodores are better than their record, and they are very capable of winning this game, but that can only happen if they stop the run and create turnovers in the South Carolina passing game. With Tennessee lurking for SC next week, the Gamecocks could fall into the trap of overlooking Vandy, but I don't see it happening. The Commodores have a bad habit of losing close games, and I think that happens again this week.
South Carolina 24
Vanderbilt 20
Imagine being Vanderbilt left tackle Chris Williams. You're 6 feet, 7 inches tall, 315 pounds, and you're on a bus to Oxford, Mississippi where you'll soon be going face to face with the Rebels defensive linemen.
There must be a lot on your mind. You might be digesting the scouting report on your opponent, or you might just be shooting the breeze with your teammates. But not until you finish your school work.
"Actually, the Ole' Miss game a couple of weeks ago," Williams said, "I ended up having to finish a paper and email it in the hotel on Friday night before you're getting rest to play at 11:30 the next morning."
That's life when you're a Vanderbilt football player. While the Commodores are trying to establish themselves as a powerhouse football team, it will never come at the expense of rigorous academics.
Sometimes in sports, the media tends to give too much coverage to the negative stories. How many times do we have to see the UM-FIU brawl? You might be more interested to know that Vanderbilt's win against Georgia last weekend, which was Vandy's first win ever against a ranked team in that team's building, came during Midterms.
"You're on the bus all day Friday," Williams, who was recently named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, said. "So you bring your laptops and your books and stuff. You're trying to read and type papers on the road."
With all that, how does a team with a losing record knock off the Dawgs in Sanford Stadium?
"Focus," stud wide receiver Earl Bennett said. "Just stay focused. We had great preparation on the field, and I'm sure the guys do a great job off the field getting ready for their tests."
The outside world will always be skeptical of student-athletes. There is a perception that athletes don't work as hard as other students. That is most certainly true at many schools around the nation. But to be a Commodore, you'd better be prepared to work on and off the field.
"My first two years it was pretty hard just because football takes up so much time," linebacker Jonathan Goff, a Mechanical Engineering major, said. "Then your teachers are asking you to do so much work outside class too."
"It can be pretty difficult, especially as a freshman," Williams said. "You're coming in and taking the chemistries and the calculuses, you know, those entry level classes. I mean, it can become pretty taxing."
I cringed at the thought of taking calculus again. I struggled with chemistry and calculus when I was in school, and when I was a freshman my extra-curricular activities included walking to the dining hall and watching South Park. There were no football practices to go to, and I wasn't getting smashed by 300 pound linemen once a week either.
But Williams is the type of athlete that fits in perfectly at Vanderbilt. He is a Human and Organization Development major who plans on getting his MBA and opening a business some day. He was only a starter for one year of high school football, but he excelled in the classroom.
"It was always about school for me," he said.
If you watched last week's win over Georgia, you'll remember Earl Bennett for his eight-catch, 89 yard effort that included a touchdown grab. But if Bennett, a Secondary Education major, does not enjoy a long and successful football career, he'd like to be remembered for something else.
"Basically I'm trying to be a teacher in high school," he said. "Hopefully be a coach, try to mentor some kids, help alter their life and help them get on the right track."
Pay attention, media members. These are the types of people we should be talking about more often.
It was every red-blooded male's dream night at Vanderbilt yesterday evening.
Eating contests. Boxing matches. And Texas Hold 'Em Tournaments.
Welcome to Fight Night, part of the Homecoming festivities this week at Vandy. Yesterday, we experienced the first ever Fight Night, as a few hundred students, both young men and young women, piled into a large white tent on Alumni Lawn to compete or watch the competition.
Fight Night, set up by Vanderbilt's student government, is designed to boost school spirit by allowing fraternities, sororities, and other campus organizations to compete against each other. The winners of the events earned points toward the Spirit Cup - Homecoming's glorious prize.
First, it was a chicken-eating contest. Seven tables. Three contestants at each one. A plate of 30 chicken nuggets in front of them, and of course, a cheering section urging them on the entire time.
"On your mark! Get set! Eat!"
And just like that, they were off. In only a few minutes, it was over. Chuck, representing Phi Kappa Psi, dominated the contest, and he looked like he could have downed 30 more if he wanted to.
"Did you train for this?" he was asked.
"Every day," he said.
My pick was Dariun Maxwell. He looked like he was up for the challenge, but he fell a little short.
"The texture was the toughest part," Maxwell explained. "It wasn't tender. It was real thick going down."
Now for the main event...the boxing matches. There were two rings set up. The one on the left was for the guys. The one on the right, which I found more compelling, was for the ladies. CAT FIGHT!!!
The boxers wore head gear and ridiculously oversized gloves. So the guys went first, and the first fight was a two-minute battle that featured some right hooks, some uppercuts, and a lot of running away by the much smaller contestant. In the end, the underdog lost, as he was knocked out by a vicious blow that drew the oohs and aahs of the crowd.
Then the girls were underway. Not so many punches thrown in this fight. Really it was more like pushing each other around, but everyone was into it and the event was a huge success.
Off to the side, a few games of Hold 'Em started up, and it seemed like everyone had something to do under the big white tent. Not bad for the first ever Fight Night.
"I think it's amazing because it gives a chance for all these organizations to come together," Emily Kubitskey said. "It gives us a chance to bond with university spirit because we're all going towards one common goal - to beat South Carolina."
Our mission is halfway over, and it's time for us to give our opinions. Who is the best team in the SEC? Let the debates begin.
GLENN'S PICK
The Best in the SEC?
So... we've reached the halfway point on the highways and byways that'll lead us back to the Georgia Dome...and the question on everyone's mind is... What happened to Glenn's beard?
No, no, no ... but seriously... Who do I see winning the SEC Championship?
Well... it may not be the choice of pollsters and pundits... but I've gotta say:
'Rocky Top, you'll always be #1 to me'
Yes... that's right!
My pick for the 2006 SEC Champion is Fulmer's UT!
Let's take a look around the conference and you'll see why :
1) Auburn - I love your defense... but that first 1/2 against UF was the ugliest way to get 11 points that I've ever seen ... three field goals and a safety is not the asphalt that is gonna pave your way to a championship! and FYI, a non-conference win against SUNY-Buffalo will not earn you points with anyone....
2) Florida - some people look at the Leak/ Tebow tandem as some sort of holy-grail of offensive play-making... I think it shows Meyer's lack of faith in either of the boys... pick one, put your faith behind him and stick with it!
3) Arkansas -- sure they beat Auburn... but don't forget the narrow victories over Vandy and 'Bama ... too many people in Fayetteville told me that 'I'd rather be lucky than good...' That attitude may get them to Atlanta -- but winning a championship on pure luck is just not gonna happen... Houston Nutt is nervous, just look at him ... you can see it...
4) Georgia -- They 'were my choice', especially after they fended off an inspired rally by USC at Williams-Brice, but that loss to Vandy killed any chances of seeing Richt and crew in nearby Atlanta...
Everyone else is an also-ran... although I will say that Vanderbilt may just be the best team in the country with a losing record!
Who does that leave?
TENNESSEE & here is why:
- a convincing win over Cal to open the season... yes, the same Cal that 'everyone' is saying will unseat So. Cal in the PAC-10.
- the only loss thus far was a one-point loss to the very same UF team that went on to become #2 in the country.
- a confident coach.
- an experienced and strong QB in Ainge.
- A rip-roaring, high-energy, offense-intensive win in a hostile and loud Sanford Stadium.
- An intense, loyal and dedicated fan-base.
Yes...
There are tough games ahead for the Volunteers-- but I think that the LSU Tigers will lack the roar they need when faced with 107,000 Neyland faithful.
The Vols also gotta head to Arkansas ... who has a pretty easy path out of this season (Ole Miss, ULM, Miss. State)... this will either be 'one of the games of the year' or a total washout... and I can't say with great confidence which scenario is more likely...
Both Arkansas and UT should be nervous about meeting up with Carolina- I never count out Coach Spurrier, and the Gamecocks (& Gamecock Fans) are hungry for a defining win for this season. . .
On December 2nd ... I plan on hearing a delightfully disturbing song I like to call 'Piggy-Top' (Woo Pig Sooie mixed with Rocky Top) inside the Georgia-Dome...
But the Orange and White will rule the day
... and rule the best conference in college football!
ADAM'S PICK
I know Arkansas fans will be angry with me, but I think it as a three-team race for "Best in the SEC." Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee are my candidates. Tennessee has played Florida at home. Florida has played Auburn in Auburn. and Tennessee will not play Auburn this year. I will base my decision on this question: "Who will win on a neutral field?"
UF is a team that knows how to run and knows how to stop the run. I love the Gators defense, and UF is good enough to beat anyone in the country. It's easy to say the Gators would beat the Volunteers on a neutral field since they won in Knoxville. You could also argue that UF would beat Auburn at a neutral site because they played the Tigers so close in Auburn. But as good as UF is, the Gators are not the best in the conference. I thought they were before Saturday's loss in Auburn. What changed? Chris Leak did not come through in the fourth quarter, throwing a costly interception that ended UF's chances. I like a team with a great clutch quarterback, and I'm just not sure Leak is that guy.
Auburn is overrated. The Tigers are a very, very good team that knows how to win close games. Often times, that is a quality that people relate to coaching. Tuberville has his squad in a good position to jump USC, Ohio State, or Michigan when one of those teams loses. But Auburn's offense is not good enough for me to consider the Tigers the best team in the SEC. The offensive line does not protect the quarterback, and they have struggled to get into the end zone against good defenses like LSU and Florida. This is a good year for Auburn because all difficult games are at home. They would not beat UF or Tennessee at a neutral site. They are not quite the conference's best team, but there is obviously time for improvement.
Tennessee is my pick. A one-point loss to Florida at home must have Gators fans questioning why I think the Vols would beat UF on a neutral field. It's simple. I think Tennessee is better now than it was a month ago. And UT has an advantage over both UF and Tennessee: Erik Ainge. If the game is on the line, I'll take Ainge over Leak or Brandon Cox. Tennessee must get better at stopping the running game, but even despite giving up 130 yards on the ground per game, the Vols seem to know how to keep points off the board.
It's close. I can't argue with anyone who says UF, Auburn, Tennessee, or even LSU is the best team in the SEC. So what about Arkansas? I'm just not convinced yet. That is a completely one-dimensional offense we are talking about. Clearly, the Razorbacks are a team that is gaining respect and getting better. The future is bright for Arkansas, but despite beating Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Razorbacks are not the SEC's best. Give me the Vols.
EMILY'S PICK
While I have nothing but respect for my colleagues, Glenn and Adam, I'm just not seeing eye-to-eye with them on this one. Tennessee? Really? Sure the Vols are a great team, but offensively they rank 9th in the SEC in rushing. On defense, they rank 8th in the SEC against the run. This does not make you the best team in the best conference in football.
That would be Auburn. I'm not choosing Auburn because I recently graduated from there, I swear. I'm picking the Tigers because the backfield of Kenny Irons and Brad Lester amazes me. Facing a UF defense that was so difficult to run against in previous games, Irons and Lester went off, leading the Tigers to victory.
UF, I believe, also must be considered better than Tennessee because THEY BEAT TENNESSEE!!! And they did it on the road. UF's defense did manage to keep Auburn out of the end zone, and the Gators did a nice job against LSU a week earlier, but they have one major problem - Special Teams. I can't give the nod to a team which has made only one field goal all season. In a close game, special teams can be the difference. So UF might have the best defense in the SEC, but they are not complete enough to be the best.
That being said, we're only halfway there. Any of the three teams in this discussion is good enough to beat Ohio State. Any of the three teams in this discussion is good enough to win the conference, but right now I think Auburn is the best.
Good news and bad news for Auburn Tigers fans.
First, the good news: Today we sat in the living room of a future star linebacker for the Tigers, Fuller Crumley. The kid is big for his age, and he's been brought up to love Auburn and hate Alabama.
Now, the bad news: Fuller is two years old.
In a cozy Chattanooga house, we sat and talked with Damon and Alli Crumley while their young son napped. This is an Auburn household, where young Fuller is being brought up to be the next Tigers All-American.
His father, a creative man, gave Fuller a special gift that took him about three weeks to make. It's a little more than three-feet high, made out of PVC pipe, and covered with a crimson Brody Croyle jersey that says "Loser" on the back. Yes, it's an Alabama tackling dummy for a two year old boy.
"I thought, 'Hey this will be kind of cute to see if he has an interest in this,'" Damon said. "Our friends really thought it was kind of funny."
It's not easy to find a jersey for a tackling dummy this small, but Damon Crumley is a dedicated parent. He has a dream for his son, and will stop at no cost to see him sack Alabama time after time.
"I went to the thrift store, found a red jersey that was about the right size," he said. "I had to spray paint it a little crimson because it was too red. I bought some iron on letters and ironed it on. I kind of went a little overboard but it was important to sort of ingrain in our son to always tackle the guy in crimson and white."
But what about the innocent Alabama fan who shows up for kindergarten with his 'Bama jersey?
"We could always home school," Fuller's mother, Alli, joked.
The Auburn-Alabama rivalry is alive and kicking in the Crumley house. The family of three will most certainly watch this year's Iron Bowl on television with some friends. Don't misinterpret these two people as haters, though. They were wonderful, light-hearted hosts who I'm sure would be just as kind to Alabama fans as they were to our crew today.
Still, there's nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned rivalry. That's the message they seem to be trying to send to their son.
So it took some coaxing, but Fuller eventually woke up, got out of bed, and gave us some high-fives and hand pounds. He started out wearing khaki pants and a green striped shirt, but a few minutes later he was an Auburn Tiger. Cleats, socks, the Auburn pants, the jersey, and even a helmet.
Fuller was a little cranky, but then his father started singing the Auburn fight song, and his eyes widened and his face lit up.
We took about a ten minute drive and ended up across the street from Finley Stadium, home of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. We found an open spot near the parking lot, and Fuller made his way out of the car. His father laid about seven yards of turf out, placed the tackling dummy upright, and we were underway.
"Down! Set!" his father yelled. Fuller crouched down and put his hands on the ground.
Then he ran full-speed at the quarterback, so to speak, and knocked over #12.
"That was stopped for a loss," Damon said.
But shortly after, Fuller jumped onto the tackling dummy and finished the job. He repeated the whole process a few more times, with only one problem. He hasn't quite developed that menacing look on his face that will scare opposing quarterbacks. Most All-American linebackers aren't smiling and giggling when they get their sacks, but Fuller has plenty of time to learn that.
For now, he just has to tackle the guy wearing crimson and red.
"Pretty much since birth I have always known that Auburn is good, Alabama is bad," Damon Crumley said. "I just wouldn't be a good parent if I wasn't teaching that, passing that along to my son."
Well, Damon, you've got about 16 years to continue teaching your son before he signs that letter of intent.
There are many victims of the BCS.
The fans, the athletes, the coaches, and, of course, the SEC.
But it doesn't end there. Yes, it is frustrating to be, for example, a UF fan and see your team have to play at Tennessee and Auburn, and host LSU before the BCS standings even come out. Imagine, though, being a West Virginia fan right now. Your team is undefeated, but currently behind a one-loss team in the standings.
It's the same for Louisville, which, despite a 6-0 record and bouncing Miami out of the top 25 for the first time this decade, sits behind two teams with one loss.
Obviously, the SEC is a much stronger conference than the Big East. I'm not saying that the BCS standings should be different, but Louisville and West Virginia are both excellent teams and deserve, at least, the opportunity to play against the teams in front of them.
That can only happen with a playoff. Let's face it, we will never have a perfect postseason in college football, but here is my suggestion:
An eight-team playoff that consists of the six conference champions from the Big East, Big Ten, Big Twelve, Pac 10, ACC, and SEC. Then, two at-large bids. I still believe in keeping a BCS-type system in place to determine which teams will receive the at-large bids. How about putting the two highest-ranked teams that did not win their conference in the eight-team tournament?
It's not perfect, but it will give smaller schools, like Boise State, and independents, like Notre Dame, the opportunity to get in on the action. Perhaps there can be a clause that guarantees a spot to a non-BCS Conference team if it finishes in the top eight of the final BCS standings.
Bottom line, you have to win your conference. If you don't, you must have an excellent resume and that must be reflected in the polls. It's similar to professional sports which require you to win your division, or rely on a wild card berth.
Also, each BCS conference must have a conference championship game so no team is at a disadvantage.
Please don't tell me that there is not enough time for a system like this. What about those three weeks in December when nobody is playing anything? Do we really need to see the NFL on Saturdays during that time? I think we can play some college football.
Here are some things that have been on my mind since Saturday night:
- What is wrong the officiating this year? I have a theory. Instant replay has made officials worse. Obviously I'm not the first to say this so I won't call it my theory, but I believe that instant replay has made officials hesitate to make the calls they should be making.
For example, how could you not rule Chris Leak's fumble incomplete when seeing it live? Everyone in the press box I spoke to thought it was an incomplete pass before anyone saw the replay. My point is, the official might have ruled it a fumble so the play wasn't blown dead and Blackmon's fumble return wasn't stopped before it could get started. Perhaps, the official thought he should just let it play out and the ruling could get overturned on review. Officials need to forget instant replay exists. They need to make the calls that they should be making on instinct. Forget about the possibility of changing your own call because it's becoming awfully difficult to get "indisputable evidence." This is not what instant replay was intended for. No way that looked like a fumble at full speed. It doesn't even look like a fumble on replay.
- Unless UF wins a championship this year, Chris Leak will be remembered for his mistakes at UF, and not for his impressive record and accomplishments, which is unfortunate.
- Auburn's offense works best when Brandon Cox is getting rid of the ball quickly. He rarely has enough time to drop back, wait for receivers to get open downfield, and throw deep. The offensive line must get better.
- I did not see the punt block. I heard the punt block. Just before UF punted, I looked down and started taking some notes. A few seconds later I heard the stadium erupt in what might have been the loudest single moment I've ever experienced at a football game.
- After the game, two Auburn fans told me, without me even asking, that was the loudest they had ever heard Jordan-Hare Stadium.
- UF's already stingy defense will be much better now with Marcus Thomas playing regularly.
- Auburn's already stingy defense will be much better now with Tray Blackmon playing regularly.
- Kenny Irons gets a lot of press, as he should, but Brad Lester will be nearly as important to Auburn's success the rest of the way. It's another great backfield for Running Back U.
- When people predict games, they often forget about special teams. In the end, Auburn's terrific special teams unit, led by kicker John Vaughn, was the reason I thought the Tigers would win. It turned out that it was Florida's disappointing special teams unit that lost the game for the Gators.
- I HATE the new clock rules. I think the Gators probably do as well. It was bad enough they had to use their last timeout to challenge that fumble call. They then had to deal with the clock starting on changes of possession and on kickoffs. Terrible rules. I hope this is the last year we see them.
Some people like to capture their favorite sports moments on camera.
Others, like Daniel A. Moore, like to capture them on canvas.
Moore is a University of Alabama graduate who majored in art. He also played high school football, and he's been able to combine the two things he loves into a wonderful profession.
We walked through his gallery today in Birmingham, completely surrounded by paintings of famous moments from previous Iron Bowls. We looked to the left and saw The Kick, Alabama's Van Tiffin booting a 52-yard field goal to beat Auburn. We looked to the right and saw Moore's new book, Iron Bowl Gold, which features a painting of a famous play in each Iron Bowl from 1948-1988, before the game was played on college campuses. Forty-one paintings for Moore, completed in two years.
"That's what Alabama and Auburn people live for basically in sports throughout the whole year," Moore said. "And the loser has to end up hearing it for 365 days."
Bear Bryant's 315th win, which gave him the NCAA record at the time in 1981, is in Moore's book. Bo Jackson's performance the following year when Auburn ended a nine-game losing streak to the Tide, that's in there too.
It's not just Auburn-Alabama games in the gallery. Moore estimates that 60 percent of his paintings are of Alabama football, but he also paints famous Tennessee moments, memorable scenes from golf, some LSU, some Ole' Miss, some Arkansas. There are no limits.
But how does he choose which moments to make into art?
"Sometimes they're no-brainers," he said. "You get a play like Tyrone Prothro's The Catch or Lamar Thomas getting the ball taken away from him by George Teague. A National Championship. They're so historic that it's almost a no-brainer that history is being written.
"But some of them are a little more subtle. They're crucial moments for others reasons," he said.
Take, for example, The Sack. Cornelius Bennett leveling Notre Dame quarterback Steve Beuerlein. The image is so compelling that the original painting now hangs in the Bear Bryant Museum.
"The Sack is one of my favorites, obviously," Moore said.
And it's in high-demand too.
Who is the last person you would expect to own a copy of that painting? Probably Beuerlein, but even he has his own, and it has a personalized message from Moore:
"Steve, just in case you didn't get a license tag on the truck that hit you, it was AL-97," Moore wrote to the quarterback, referencing Bennett's jersey number.
As we passed through the gallery, walking up the stairs and heading into Moore's office, we witnessed great moments in Alabama history. We spent about five minutes absorbing a painting that shows 100 years of success for the University of Alabama. The clock in the painting is stopped at 3:23, the number of wins Bear Bryant ended up with. There is a National Championship trophy, an old leather helmet, photos on the wall, and so many other items that required more time to notice and appreciate.
Then we saw Moore's first painting. In 1978, Moore started by capturing a fellow employee from his previous job training for a marathon. In the painting, the runner, Ray Giles, is shown with wings hovering behind him. It is an inspiring piece that references a biblical passage, and it is breathtaking.
For Moore, it's not just about important moments in sports. It's about important lessons in life. Football, he says, is a microcosm for life. The game taught him about commitment, courage, and teamwork. He hopes his art work teaches people the same things.
"First of all, they celebrate sports," Moore says of his paintings. "And they have deeper meaning, most of them do, to me, because they actually teach great lessons that football teaches in life."
It typically takes Moore about 500 hours to finish a painting. In fact, he once needed 1500 hours to complete a painting of Coach Gene Stallings. For this reason, he usually only generates about three new pieces in a year. So when Daniel A. Moore decides to put a moment in sports history onto his canvas, 500 hours later he leaves you with a picture that tells a story. A story that means so much to so many people.
Our Journey So Far...
By Glenn, Emily, and Adam
Forty-five days, 17 weeks, and nine games into Mission Southeastern Conference Football... we're halfway through the season, and we've seen some of the country's biggest games and rivalries, and most importantly, the fans that make the experience worthwhile.
Our journey began at the Georgia Dome. We sat on the same field where the East will battle the West for the SEC Championship on Dec. 2. Then we were off to find out which teams will be there.
It started out at Mississippi State with a broadcasting legend, Jack Cristil, "The Voice of Mississippi State." In what would be the first of many delicious tailgates, we joined the festivities at "The Junction" to begin a tradition that is similar to Ole' Miss's Grove. And even though the evening ended with a South Carolina victory, we shook our cowbells like Mississippi State had just won the title.
Ever tailgated on a boat? Well we have. That was at our next stop: Tennessee's Neyland Stadium. The Vol Navy welcomed us aboard for some pre-game "sailgating" and songs of the "Rocky Top." The Tennessee victory was celebrated that Sunday with the nation's largest Labor Day Fireworks Display. 4th of July? In September? Only in the SEC.
We watched Coached Spurrier's radio show and met USC's only Heisman winner, George Rogers, before adventuring into a Cockaboose to experience South Carolina's unique pre-game rituals. Glenn remembers going to the top of the press box at Williams Brice Stadium, looking out for miles each way, and seeing nothing but Gamecocks fans tailgating and getting ready for the game. It was a quite a scene.
We hung with Aubie, Auburn's lively mascot, and watched the Tigers beat the Tigers (Auburn vs LSU) in one of the best 7-3 games you'll see. And how about calling the Hogs and seeing overtime in Fayetteville when the Razorbacks knocked off Alabama. Who knew they would get to Auburn a few weeks later?
Adam joined the road trippers three weeks ago and was initialized into the Mission with Auburn at South Carolina. Thursday night. Fans thinking upset. He immediately saw the football passion of the Southeastern Conference when the fans at Williams Brice put everything they had behind their Gamecocks, nearly getting to see Spurrier's squad knock off the number two team in the country. They fell short, but left happy knowing their team could compete with the best.
Since then, we've eaten dishes we've never even seen before: crawfish casserole; jambalaya; alligator; and deer, for example. We've met fans who have woken up before the sun rises to start the tailgate. We've watched a man have a bulldog painted on his head. We've taken a ride on a tank with the Big Orange Army. We've met a star recruit, two more Heisman Trophy winners, and we saw the amazing story of the Desire Street Academy.
We've heard the word "tradition" about 100 times when we've asked people about what makes the SEC special. On the job, we've all gotten to see the tradition for ourselves, and it has been great.
And let's not forget about the other games. To name a few...LSU's domination of Mississippi St. Tennessee's upset in Georgia. Auburn beating the Gators. Stadiums erupting and players exhibiting a passion that makes college football special.
The best part of the job is seeing, through the eyes of others, why football is so important. At the end of the day, it's just a game. It's just 11-on-11 one day a week. But it's a game that brings communities together, creates friendships, creates rivalries, and creates respect. It's been great to see the importance of football in the Southeast. And we've still got half the season left.
A big win for Auburn is a big loss for the SEC.
No longer does the SEC have an undefeated team. No longer does the SEC have a chance of putting a team in the top two when the BCS standings are released tomorrow.
After another lackluster win by USC, and another lay-up on the schedule for Big East heavyweights West Virginia and Louisville (even though the Cardinals only beat Cincinnati by six), the SEC is left on the outside looking in.
Tonight's 27-17 victory by Auburn puts the Tigers back into the picture and keeps the Gators there as well. Now some undefeated team must lose somewhere down the line. Here are the teams I am referring to: Ohio State; Michigan; West Virginia; Southern California; and Lousiville. Boise State and Rutgers are also ranked and undefeated, but don't seem to be in the running for the national title.
Michigan and Ohio State will play each other. So will West Virginia and Louisville. But still, the SEC's one-loss teams, and maybe even a couple of two-loss teams, will be feeling this week that they are better than some undefeated members of other conferences.
"That's the reason you've got to have a playoff," Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville said. "It's just so unfair to this conference and a couple others."
He continued: "To go undefeated (in the SEC), it's got to be a miracle. You've got to be lucky."
Tonight, both UF and Auburn showed why the can be considered one of the best teams in the country. UF's defensive line put Brandon Cox on his back regularly, and don't forget, the Gators did not allow a defensive touchdown all game. The Tigers knocked on the door several times, but had to settle for four field goals.
Offensively, the Gators played smart, disciplined football until the final quarter, when Chris Leak threw an interception that iced the game and had another one dropped on a previous possession. But the running game was good. Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow both showed, on back to back plays, why they will one day be considered Heisman Trophy candidates. First it was a 35 yard run by Harvin, during which he bounced off a tackler, reversed fields, and exploded down the sidelines. Then it was a 16 yard touchdown run by Tebow.
As for Auburn, Tuberville said on Thursday that he had to get Brad Lester more involved offensively. Today Lester ran for 94 yards on 17 carries. Kenny Irons wasn't much worse, and remarkably, both backs averaged over 5 yards per carry against a Gators defense that was almost impossible to run against.
Auburn's defense stepped up in the second half. Quentin Groves provided two sacks, David Irons played the role of shut-down cornerback, and Tray Blackmon made his highly anticipated debut by recovering the controversial fumble in the fourth quarter.
By the way, I heard the explanation, and I still think it was an incomplete pass. You could say the Gators were lucky to be driving in the first place since Irons dropped an easy interception a few plays earlier, but there is a big difference between a player's mistake and an official's mistake. To be fair, a few people I've spoken to said it might have been a fumble, but most seemed to think it was incomplete.
Anyway...
Both Auburn and Florida are good. Very good. Both teams can dominate on the ground. Florida has as many offensive playmakers as any team in the country. Auburn has a lot of toughness, and its special teams unit is spectacular. UF's defense can play with any offense. Auburn knows how to win close games.
But neither will have a chance to be the best team in football without some help. The BCS standings will come out. UF and Auburn will be hovering, but neither will be where it wants to be. I'm sure we would all love to see teams from the Pac 10 and Big East play an SEC schedule. But we wont' see that and for some reason we won't see a playoff any time soon either.
Of course we all would have loved this game to be a battle of two unbeaten teams, but Arkansas had to come into Jordan-Hare Stadium and shock the world last week.
The atmosphere in Auburn today was exciting, but not overwhelming. I asked some Auburn fans if last week's loss hurt the mood of today. Here is a sample:
"There have been a lot crazier weekends. When there is more on the line, people are here earlier and they are crazier. It's a good weekend, but if we were undefeated, we would have been a lot busier. There would have been a lot more yelling." - Scott Jones
"I think it would have been better obviously because if we're undefeated, we're #2. They're probably fourth or fifth. You've got a prime time game between two top five teams. I think it would have been better, no question." - Bruce Shelton
"Auburn's atmosphere pretty much stays the same." - Paula Lansdon
"I think the fans would have been a little more shaken because there would have been a little more at stake." - Andrew Hart
So even though most people I spoke with said it was a little tamer today than it would have been if Auburn won last week, the fans still recognize there is a lot on the line today. A win puts the Tigers back into the national championship conversation. So expect the fans to play a part in today's game.
Auburn hasn't always been this good at football. Since 2000, the Tigers have the 12th best record in the country, but like any other university, there have been low points. In the late 1970s, the Tigers struggled mightily, regularly missing out on Bowl games. Then they hired Pat Dye as Head Coach in 1981.
If you are unaware of how he did on the job, all you need to know is that the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium is named "Pat Dye Field."
The legendary coach came to Auburn and changed the attitude immediately. A former assistant coach under Bear Bryant at Alabama, Dye decided it was time for the Tigers to stop focusing on their in-state rivals, and start focusing on their own problems.
"Because of the success that Alabama had had in football," Dye said, "maybe Auburn had developed a little bit of an inferiority complex as far as that particular game was concerned. It appeared to me that when I got here that Auburn people worried too much about what Alabama was doing.
"I tried to get the message across that Alabama had a great program, and there was nothing we could do about that," he said.
Pretty soon, Auburn had a great program too. Under Dye, Auburn went 99-39-4 in 12 seasons. It was a new era for Auburn Tigers football. One that included the first ever Iron Bowl in Auburn. The 1989 game ended with a 30-20 Auburn upset over the #2 ranked Crimson Tide. It is one of Dye's fondest memories today.
"It was a special day for all the Auburn people because we had been playing Alabama in Birmingham for years and the press and some of the people wanted to say it was a neutral site," Dye said. "But it wasn't a neutral site, and that game should be played on campus."
You might think that Dye, who currently serves as a Special Advisor to the President at Auburn, is partial to both Alabama and Auburn, considering he spent time at each university. You'd be wrong.
"I'm not both," he said. "I was all Alabama when I was at Alabama. When I came to Auburn in '81, I've been all Auburn ever since."
Auburn knows how to play football. The school also knows how to put on a pep rally. About 24 hours before game time, the students took the streets at Toomer's Corner. They started chanting and screaming at 5:15.
"It's great...to be...an Auburn Tiger," they yelled, resonating through downtown Auburn.
At 5:30 they stampeded onto College Avenue, hundreds of them setting up shop in front of a vacant stage. About 45 minutes later, Dye came out to get them fired up. Remember, this is Auburn-Florida tomorrow. So what did the Coach say first?
"Go to hell, Alabama!"
The crowd erupted. It's been over a decade since Dye has coached, but he still knows how to work people into frenzy.
"You can play a big part in tomorrow's game," he told the Auburn students.
"Don't let them take the fans out of the game," he exclaimed.
Pat Dye loves Auburn, and Auburn loves Pat Dye. He will be watching what happens on the Plains tomorrow and enjoying every minute of it.
"It's special," Dye said about Auburn football. "It's a lot more than just a football game itself. It's a social event, and a way of life. People plan their whole years around football season."
They do that thanks to people like Pat Dye.
A rivalry that has been put on hold since 2002 resumes tomorrow at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. #11 Auburn (5-1, 3-1) hosts #2 Florida (6-0, 4-0). The last time the two teams met in Auburn, the Tigers beat the top-ranked Gators 23-20 in 2001. It will take a big effort from Tommy Tuberville's squad to knock off red-hot UF.
UF OFFENSE VS. AU DEFENSE
Chris Leak. Tim Tebow. We've heard about 100 times this week how good the quarterback tandem is for UF. Leak throws. Tebow runs. And lately Tebow has shown his ability to put the ball in the air as well. Urban Meyer has done a nice job keeping things simple for Tebow instead of putting the true freshman in situations where he could fail.
The big news for Florida will be the health of RB DeShawn Wynn. The Senior, who averages 5.5 yards per carry, should be healthy enough to play in tomorrow's game. He'll be asked to pound the ball against an Auburn defense that was dominated on the ground last week by Arkansas.
Few teams in the country can match the skill of UF's wide receivers. Dallas Baker is living up to the hype, while Andre Caldwell, Jemalle Cornelius, and Percy Harvin are hard to stop. The Gators use trickery offensively by showing a variety of formations. As Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville mentioned, sometimes UF will line up with two tight ends. The next play there will be five wide receivers. You just never know what to defend against.
The good news is that Tuberville likes the match up defensively for Auburn. Florida and Auburn are both speed teams, and Tuberville thinks UF's style of offense will play into the Tigers' hands. Last week against Arkansas, Auburn overran assignments and missed plays. The defense, led by linebacker Will Herring, must be more disciplined this week, and the unit must put pressure on the quarterbacks.
The AU defensive line has three guys, Quentin Groves, Marquies Gunn, and Sen'Derrick Marks, with three sacks or more. But can these guys provide enough of a push against an overachieving UF offensive line to stop the running game. While AU's defensive backfield will have its hands full against a UF offense that throws for 257.8 yards per game, the game will be decided on the ground. Tuberville is geared up to stop Chris Leak, but it might be the tandem of Wynn and running back Kestahn Moore he should be more concerned about.
AU OFFENSE VS. UF DEFENSE
This is one underachieving unit against a dangerous, smoking-hot unit. Auburn's offense has not hit its stride yet this season, largely due to the play of quarterback Brandon Cox. Cox has been sacked 18 times this year, but he feels healthy for the first time since the LSU game. Keeping him protected against the Gators defensive line will be a key to the game.
Auburn running back Kenny Irons, a Heisman Trophy candidate heading into the season, is still the heart and soul of the Tigers offense. If Auburn is to upset the Gators, Irons must have a big game. The Gators defense allows just 56.8 yards rushing per game. They have dominated SEC running backs, but Irons might be the best one they face all year. Clearly, Irons is the most important player for Auburn tomorrow.
In the passing game, the player to watch is WR Courtney Taylor. Auburn's stud pass catcher is the leader among active SEC receivers with 124 catches. UF's Dallas Baker is second with 122. But while UF's offense relies a lot on the big play, Auburn hasn't always been able to count on that. Keep an eye on wide receiver Rodgeriqus Smith, who has 12 catches this year. Six of those were for 20 yards or more.
Florida's defense is fast, physical, and opportunistic. The unit suffocates the run. Defensive ends Jarvis Moss and Ray McDonald will cause problems for Auburn's inexperienced tackles, and now that DT Marcus Thomas is back, the Gators will be even harder to stop.
The best unit defensively is probably the secondary, simply because they create so many turnovers. Cornerback Ryan Smith and safety Reggie Nelson each have four interceptions in six games. UF likes to force teams into passing situations, then come up with the big turnover. The Tigers must avoid long third down situations.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Auburn holds a serious edge in this department. If the game is close, special teams could very well be the deciding factor. The return game is good, the punting game is terrific, many kickoffs result in touchbacks, and PK John Vaughn is 9-11 this year, and he is 2-2 on kicks over 50 yards.
The Gators have gotten good production from punter Eric Wilbur, but kicker Chris Hetland has yet to make a field goal this year. He has also missed two extra points. It's amazing that hasn't come back to haunt UF yet. This could be the game.
CONCLUSION
In order for the Tigers to win, they must avoid giving up the big play. The Gators can be a quick-strike offense, so AU must stay disciplined. Offensively, the Tigers need to run effectively and keep Cox comfortable.
For Florida, the key will be making Auburn one-dimensional by stopping the run. They have been great at this all year, but this week will be a challenge. Offensively, they don't need to do anything special. They have been successfull against tough defenses so far this season, so if the Gators play their game and don't turn it over, they should be just fine.
PREDICTION
Auburn 24
Florida 23
While I believe UF is a better team than Auburn, I also believe in home field advantage. If this game were in the Swamp, it would be an easy UF win. This could be the week that poor field goal kicking catches up to UF. It should be a great one.
Tommy Tuberville said what most college football fans wanted to hear. Last week, he gave his support for a playoff in NCAA football, basically because all SEC teams are doomed under the current format. Given the strength of the conference, it is quite a challenge to go undefeated in the SEC, therefore seriously jeopardizing an SEC team's chances to play for a national championship.
Today I asked some fans what they thought about Tuberville's comments and a playoff system in college football.
"I think he's absolutely right...It gives you a truer read of who is the best team." - Auburn fan J.R. Parrish commenting on a Plus-One playoff format
"I'm kind of a traditionalist, and I believe that if we ever decide to resolve this with a playoff, or any type of playoff, we couldn't argue forever and ever and ever about football. That's one of the greatest things about college football is being able to argue about." - Auburn fan Jim Holley
"It'd be nice to have (a playoff) but I'm really not sure how they would set it up and everything. I'd have to see a layout and a structure." - Auburn fan Doug Klick, who added he "probably" would prefer a playoff system to what we have now.
"I think it's a good idea. Whatever Auburn's coach says is what I like." - Auburn fan Dan Morris
Good answer, Dan.
The crowd was pumped up on a Thursday night while eating dinner at the Auburn Hotel Conference Center. About 100 people gathered, wearing orange and screaming "War Eagle" every 10 minutes or so. And this was for Coach Tommy Tuberville's radio show. Imagine what Jordan-Hare Stadium will be like on Saturday when the Florida Gators come to town.
"My daughter, Lisa, is pregnant," one Auburn fan revealed to Tuberville. "And she wanted me to tell you that she's only craving one thing. Gator!"
"It wasn't pickles," Tuberville joked. "I know that."
Certainly Tuberville is craving a victory this weekend - another loss eliminates Auburn from the national championship picture - but the coach seemed less concerned about the Gators and more concerned about his team improving.
"The main thing right now we've got to worry about is get better and give ourselves an opportunity," Tuberville said. "Last week we didn't give ourselves an opportunity. This week we're going to have to play a lot better."
In last week's loss to Arkansas, Auburn allowed a whopping 279 rushing yards.
"To stop the run, there's no secret to that. You've got to be physical, but you've also got to be patient, and you have to be fundamentally sound," Tuberville said. "There were times last week when actually we were too fast."
Tuberville meant that his defense overran a lot of plays last weekend. Obviously, Auburn's chances of beating the Gators are slim if they allow that type of running game. But UF's offense presents so many challenges. Tuberville said the Gators have run 147 formations this season, a staggering number and a difficult task for the Auburn defense.
"You throw the motions in, the different personnel," he said. "One time they might come in with five wide receivers. Next time, two tight ends, two backs. Urban Meyer has done a good job of putting a lot of imagination in it.
"We did put most of our emphasis on Chris Leak because he is their guy. He's the guy that's going to move them up and down the field."
The game won't be played entirely on defense, of course. The Auburn offense has struggled recently in big games, scoring just 10 points against Arkansas and only seven against LSU in a narrow victory several weeks ago. One solution for Tuberville is getting the ball to Brad Lester more often, either by lining him up in the backfield or at receiver.
But it's hard to run an offense when your quarterback is on the ground. This year, the Tigers are starting two new offensive tackles. The result has been 18 sacks allowed in six games. Tuberville has another explanation for the sacks.
"In past years, if you've noticed, (quarterback Brandon Cox) would throw that thing out of bounds quick," he said. "I mean he'd get it gone and wouldn't take the sack. Now I think even he is trying to make plays more than he should."
Florida's defense has recorded 14 sacks this season, so the game may very well be won or lost at the line of scrimmage.
Bottom line, I got the sense today while listening to Tuberville that he feels his team will win if it plays its best football. Avoid long third downs. Protect the quarterback. Get off to a fast start.
"We have yet to start out fast," Tuberville said. "We did some things in practice this week to try to kick start this thing off."
Auburn must get the crowd into the game, something the Tigers failed to do last week. And of course, stop the run. Stop the run. Stop the run.
Oh and if you're a Tigers fan, Coach Tuberville has a message for you.
"Be there in orange. Be there early. Be loud. Hopefully this week we'll give you something to yell about."
War Eagle.
Where I'm from, a lot of people like to hate on the Gators. I know it was easy coming into the season to look at UF and think, "They're not as good as people think they are."
Maybe you thought Chris Leak was overrated. A career underachiever.
Urban Meyer was great with Utah, but this is the SEC.
If you were one of those people (count me in on this one), how's that working out for you these days? Some people were probably hesitant to give the Gators the credit they deserved, but after beating LSU 23-10, I think we all know, or at least we should know, how good UF is.
The 6-0 Gators have outscored opponents 174-56. They give up less than 10 points per game! In a sport which practically requires good teams to stop the run, the Gators allow an average of 2.3 yards per carry.
You can look up the statistics anywhere, so I won't bore you with those. What's evident about UF is that they play with a swagger. Two weeks ago against Alabama, the game was closer than anyone expected as it headed into crunch time. But UF got tough, came up with a key interception, and sealed the deal with the Swamp going crazy.
I understand how a team with two talented quarterbacks, one of the most exciting young receivers in the country, and a loaded defense is undefeated. What I still cannot understand is how teams can't seem to stop Tim Tebow when he's in the game. I watch and scream "He's gonna run!!!" And sure enough, there he goes. But he's averaging 5.6 yards per carry, so obviously it doesn't matter if you know what's coming sometimes.
Oh and in case you missed it, Tebow threw for two touchdowns against LSU. He ran for another. And he's the second best quarterback on the team.
I can't wait to see this team in person on Saturday. This is clearly the best Gators team in years. However, it would be no surprise to see them lose to Auburn. The Tigers are also a very good team and they know another loss takes them out of the national championship picture. You have to wonder if Auburn will be deflated after last week's loss to Arkansas. If the Tigers don't bring their A Game, UF will run all over them.
So if you're a Gator Hater, just stop. UF is legit. I keep waiting for the "real" UF to show up. The one that loses the game it should win while we look for who is to blame. Well the real UF has, in fact, shown up. And it's the best team in the SEC. So far.
Former Auburn quarterback Pat Sullivan remembers his first throw as a Tiger. It was a play action pass against Wake Forest on the opening play of the game.
"I overthrew him by 20 yards," he said.
That's a pretty inauspicious start for a guy who would go on to win the 1971 Heisman Trophy in his Senior season.
"Auburn is like so many of the venues in the Southeastern Conference," Sullivan said. "It gets awfully loud. People take their football with a passion. They cherish the games, and so when you get all that energy and enthusiasm going into the game, obviously as a player it rubs off on you."
That enthusiasm caused him to overthrow his first pass, but that is also what the Florida Gators will have to contend with when they visit Jordan Hare Stadium on Saturday. A good chunk of the state of Alabama will be watching, but Sullivan will have other things on his mind. He is currently the Assistant Head Coach for the UAB Blazers (3-3), and he is preparing to take on Rice on the road Saturday. Still, he looks back fondly at his days at Auburn.
Sullivan enjoyed great success at Auburn as a player and later, as a coach under Pat Dye. In most people's minds, the highlight is his Heisman Trophy, but Sullivan believes it's people, not trophies, that made his time at Auburn special.
"What you get out of athletics, when it's all said and done," he said, "it's not the awards, how many touchdown passes. It's the relationships that last for a lifetime."
At Auburn, "people are what make things special," he said, adding that he enjoyed the family atmosphere he felt as a Tiger. He knows the Heisman Trophy is not just his award.
"One of the special things that I remember is that I was able to go to the football office and share it with my teammates and coaches," he said.
Sullivan was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. The outpouring of support he received from current and former players, coaches, and friends helped him through his recovery.
"When I was sick, just having their support," Sullivan said. "All the ones that call back, and all the ones that call now and stay in touch, that's what you get out of athletics."
Most people don't try to make friends during the Iron Bowl - Auburn and Alabama's annual football game - but Sullivan put friendship before football.
"It was like two brothers that were out in the backyard fighting it out," Sullivan said of the Iron Bowl. But after the game, he made a point to meet up with Alabama running back Johnny Musso and go out. Bitter rivals on the field, good friends off of it.
"For those 3 1/2, 4 hours, we tried to beat each other's brains out," he said, "but after the game, we had that relationship."
When he was presented with the Heisman Trophy, Sullivan was told it would mark him for the rest of his life. That is true, considering he'll always be "Heisman Trophy Winner Pat Sullivan." But he prefers to remember the friends he has made and lives he has impacted. His desire to create positive relationships continues today as he coaches UAB.
Asked what he enjoys about his job, Sullivan said: "Seeing these young kids develop and grow, not only as players. That's part of it, but seeing them grow as people. Seeing them grow as students."
That's what makes him proud today.
Auburn fans were proud in 1971 when they watched Pat Sullivan grow up on the Plains in Jordan Hare Stadium.
How many times last season did we hear the experts say, "What is wrong with Tennessee?"
"They are not playing with any passion," they said.
"We're just not seeing the same talent there," we heard.
Well this year the Vols head into an idle week with a 5-1 record. The only loss came by one point to the 2nd ranked Florida Gators. This is after going 5-6 last year and having the worst season in Knoxville in recent memory.
There is a lesson to be learned here for fans of other schools around the NCAA that are struggling. Relax. Let cooler heads prevail. You don't necessarily need to fire your coach. Sometimes, teams simply have bad years.
This occured to me because I am a University of Miami graduate and I read stories about banners being flown over the Orange Bowl calling for the dismissal of Head Coach Larry Coker and Athletic Director Paul Dee. Larry Coker knew how to coach in 2001 when he won a national championship, and again in 2002 when he "lost" to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Phillip Fulmer was a well-respected coach before 2005, and I'm glad to see that he's been able to put last year behind him. The SEC just wasn't the same without Tennessee being competitive.
Bob Stoops at Oklahoma and Fulmer both had a lot of improvement to make after last season, and both have done great jobs in 2006. In Michigan, Lloyd Carr, a guy who is seemingly always about to get fired, has his Wolverines at 6-0 heading into this weekend's game at Penn State. Texas Coach Mack Brown felt some heat while coaching the Longhorns, until he won the national championship last year.
So, if your team isn't do so well right now (FSU, Miami, Penn State), just turn on a Tennessee game and remind yourself that better times are ahead. Every situation is different, so maybe you do need to fire your coach, or maybe it's just a bad year.
It's hard to disagree with Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive when he says, "This league is just tremendous."
Here are some SEC accomplishments by the numbers:
- Six SEC football teams currently rank in the top 25.
- Two SEC basketball teams made the Final Four this year, with Florida winning the championship.
- 1.6 million people attended the conference's baseball games last year.
- 5.6 million people attended SEC football games last season (that's 97.5% stadium capacity).
"When you take that kind of attendance and you couple it with the passion and the interest and the outstanding competitive ability of our teams in football," Slive said, "I mean, it is unique."
Slive arrived in 2002 with big shoes to fill. He replaced Roy Kramer, who in his 13 years as commissioner brought the conference to 12 teams and initiated a conference championship game. Under Slive's direction, the SEC has continued to flourish in the world of sports, and not just in football.
"We sponsor 20 sports," Slive said. "Last year the SEC, in 10 of the 20 sports we sponsor, we had either the national champion or the runner-up."
Not too bad for a guy who has only been here for four years. This is his third stop as a conference commissioner, previously heading the Great Midwest Conference and Conference USA. It didn't take long for him to notice a difference. The passion and the tradition in the SEC, he says, are unmatched.
"Once you're here," he said, "you realize how people care."
That's not to say that people don't care in other parts of the country, but the spotlight seems to shine a little brighter in the Southeast.
Several times a year, Slive will meet with coaches who are new to the conference. "You may not feel like you're a public figure," he tells them, "but you, in fact, are. What you do, where you do it, how you do it, every day, all day, is important."
Slive recalls being at a Bowl game which the SEC champion was about to win. All of a sudden, as he described it, "The fans burst into 'SEC! SEC! SEC!' And you realize they're there for their institution and they're excited about that, but they also always remember that they're part of this great league."
The commissioner was all smiles today. Why wouldn't you be when you know you're going to be attending the Florida-Auburn game in four days? He seems truly pleased to be directing the Southeastern Conference, saying, "I'm doing what I want to do. I'm doing it with who I want to do it, and I'm doing it where I want to do it."
Here are some other topics we talked to the Commissioner about:
THE BCS: (NOTE: Slive is currently serving as the coordinator of the BCS. That position changes amongst commissioners every two years.)
- "I've always been open about the fact that I'm not married to the current format we have." Slive said, though, he added that an NFL-style playoff system seems far away. He will not compromise academics or the regular season in order to change the postseason.
THE 12th GAME:
- "The SEC supported the 12th game," he said. Slive checked medical history to make sure that adding another game wouldn't harm the athletes. He said that the new game brings in more revenue that can fund other sports, and he thinks that over time, the games will get better.
THE NEW CLOCK RULES:
- "We really weren't the folks who were really pushing for this," Slive said. He noted that SEC games average about 3 hours and 4 minutes. "If we keep (the new rules), we probably ought to look at the last two minutes and maybe think about that."
THE OREGON-OKLAHOMA GAME:
- "You never deal with hypotheticals because you have enough real problems," he said. Slive was not touching that one.
PROUDEST MOMENT IN LIFE:
- "Watching my daughter grow and develop. She's now the Executive Director of the Atlanta Local Organizing Committee for the Final Four," he said. Slive loves the fact that he and his daughter are in the same business.
WHAT DOES THE COMMISSIONER ACTUALLY DO?
- "I have the opportunity to be sort of the, in some way, the public face of the league," Slive said. Though Slive will attend a game every week, his job is not all fun and games. He is responsible for solidifying the SEC's relationships with Bowl games. He must make sure the television coverage and the contracts are appropriate. He also gets involved in many sports issues that affect not only the SEC, but the entire country. And obviously, there's a lot more to it than that. It's basically a 365-day job.
"We usually can take July 4th off," he said.
Good. The Commissioner needs a break every once in a while.
Here's what I learned last weekend during my time in Athens:
Georgia's offense has some work to do. Remember, 14 of their 33 points were scored on special teams. Where are the playmakers at receiver?
Football fans love free koozies. We handed them out before the game. Considering how quickly they went, you would have thought there were 100-dollar bills in them.
Satellite dishes are the newest tailgating accessory. We saw some of those at LSU too, and I'm sure the trend is all over the country. People who bring a satellite dish to the stadium to watch the tube prove that there's nothing finer than sitting on your backside all day and watching football.
If you fly something in on a parachute and land on midfield, people will go crazy. Every time.
It's smart to put a stadium within walking distance of the downtown bars and restaurants, that way people can take their mind off of a tough loss rather easily.
Gyro Wrap in downtown Athens is an incredible restaurant. I could go for a gyro right now. Georgia fans know what I'm talking about.
Tennessee might be the best one-loss team in the country. Big win.
If you want to be popular in Athens, shave your head...it worked for Michael Stipe and the Big Dawg. Painting something on your head is optional.
And don't EVER mess with those hedges. People will flip.
On a desk in the football office of Creekside High School sits a stack of letters from some of the elite football colleges in the country. Louisville, Georgia Tech, Virginia, the list goes on.
We are in Football Coach Kevin Whitley's office. These letters have been sent to this northern Georgia high school intended for Whitley's defensive back, Eric Berry. The point is to keep Berry updated on what's happening on campus. There has to be close to 40 in the pile.
"What is this? Letters from the entire month?" we ask.
"Oh no," Whitley says, "This is all from Friday."
About 30 letters a day is what you can expect when you coach one of the best prospects in the country. Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming rates Berry as the nation's second best defensive back. Whitley, who coached former Florida Gator Channing Crowder at North Springs High School, says Berry is the best player he's ever coached. He's a six-foot tall, 195 pound senior from Fairburn, Georgia, and soon he'll be making one of the most important decisions of his life, choosing a college.
"I think he has it down to about 10 schools," Whitley says. Believe it or not, that's good news when you consider how many universities have tried reeling Berry in.
Berry started getting attention from colleges since the 10th grade. Recently, Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, Southern California, and Ohio State have been the heaviest hitters. But there are no frontrunners yet. So what will be the deciding factors?
"Basically all the schools I'm looking at, they have mainly the same things," he says. "The only thing different is the coaches and the people around the campus."
Ohio State wants Berry so badly, they got former Buckeyes defensive back/receiver Chris Gamble to make a video telling Berry how much he could accomplish at The Ohio State University.
"That one really caught my attention," Berry says. "I kind of liked that one."
But he doesn't like everything about the recruiting process. When you are a stud recruit, the attention can be a little overwhelming at times. Berry had to get rid of text messaging on his phone in May because the texting was incessant. For two straight months, Berry was stuck with a $300 text messaging bill.
"It can get crazy at times," he says, "but I'd rather be in this position than any other one right now, so I'm excited about it."
When Berry takes the field for Creekside, about four or five scouts (that he knows of) are in attendance. His father played at Tennessee and his uncle went to Georgia, so you'd think there would be added pressure to attend those schools. But there isn't. His parents have guided him through the process beautifully, and he has a remarkable ability to block out all of the attention.
"If the kid doesn't have his head on right," his coach says, "it can be very overwhelming."
But he does have his head on right. Berry is a good student according to his head coach, and he insists on going to a school with a pre-medical program. If he does in fact commit to your favorite school, there's a good chance you'll see him graduate, because that seems to be a priority for him and his family.
25 schools have made offers to Berry. Eventually it will be whittled down to one. Which school has the best coaches? Where is the best atmosphere? Where can he learn to be a doctor? Combine those pressing questions with the constant text messages, phone calls, letters, visits to campus, and outside pressure, and you get a potentially stressful situation.
Unless you're dealing with a kid like Eric Berry.
"Nobody really knows he hasn't missed a day of practice. He's a 'yes sir, no sir' type of kid," Whitley says. "In terms of the whole package, Eric is probably the best I've ever been around."
After leaving the Tennessee-Georgia game last night, our crew walked the streets of downtown Athens to hear some good old-fashioned country rock-n-roll. In Athens, football may be number one, but hometown music comes in a close second.
There is a great deal of pride in the music that has come from this small Georgia city. If you've ever rolled down the windows and blasted R.E.M's It's the End of the World as We Know It, or maybe you're more of a Shiny Happy People fan, then you've gotten a taste of Athens music. If you've ever rocked out to Love Shack by the B-52's, you might not want to tell your drinking buddies about that, but that's Athens music too.
"The band that put Athens on the map," is the way Ty Manning described R.E.M. Manning is the lead singer and guitarist for the Bearfoot Hookers. We saw the Hookers rock an Athens bar shortly after the game ended on Saturday night. Don't let the name fool you, they are very polite people who were generous enough to talk to us this afternoon.
Manning, who isn't a huge R.E.M. fan, still appreciates the band's importance and was, "screaming like a little 14-year old girl," when he saw them in concert recently.
Now the Bearfoot Hookers are trying to continue the legacy that other Athens bands started. The Bearfoot Hookers have been together for a little more than three years, compiling two albums in that time. Two of the band members came to Athens specifically for the music scene.
"This is probably the coolest town basically to come to as far as music," keyboardist Scotty Nicholson said. "I heard about Athens growing up as a younger kid. This is where I wanted to be."
For an outsider, it's easy to wonder, "Why Athens? What is it about this city that makes it a music factory?"
"Athens doesn't have the pretension that all the other cities have," Jon Tonge said. He is the bassist for a band that consists of guys who are musicians on the weekend and hard workers Monday-Friday. The lead singer, Manning, for example, is a high school art teacher.
"I think most bands in Athens are like that," Tonge said. "The guy playing Saturday night at the 40 Watt (a popular Athens club) is washing dishes Sunday."
Athens is not just a rock-n-roll town. The band that opened for the Hookers on Saturday was playing clarinets, a stark contrast to the sound the Hookers produce. You can get a taste of just about any type of music in Athens.
"There's no Athens sound, which is kind of cool," Manning said. "There's a little bit of everything."
If you walk through downtown Athens on a Saturday night, as we did, you could probably walk into more than a dozen places and hear live music. It's everywhere in this city. They sure do love their music, but not quite as much as they love their football.
The crowd was much sparser Saturday night for the Hookers because the Dawgs lost to Tennessee. Manning says the best way to get a crowd rowdier is to cheer for the Bulldogs or take a swipe at the opposing team.
"Sometimes it's good to schedule around football days," Manning said. "That's when all the people from all over come to town."
And if you dare schedule a show on the weekend of the Georgia-Florida game, you might end up playing for just the bartender, and he'd rather be watching the big game.
Two players and one unit caught my eye during the Tennessee-Georgia game: Volunteers QB Erik Ainge; Georgia MLB Jarvis Jackson; and the Bulldogs secondary.
Ainge was unbelievable. His poise and decision-making won the game for Tennessee. First of all, to be able to put up numbers (25-38, 268 yards, 2 TD) like Ainge put up in this stadium with a hostile crowd speaks volumes about your talent. The key was staying away from forced throws. I only rememeber one ball that Ainge forced into the defense. It happened in the first half just before Georgia returned a punt for a touchdown. Other than that throw, every decision Ainge made was the right one. Tennessee's third down proficiency (7 for 12) speaks volumes about his poise and ability to make the right throw under pressure.
Time and time again, Ainge broke the spirit of the Georgia defense with his remarkably accurate passes.
"We knew we were going to win this football game," Ainge said. "There wasn't any doubt on anybody on our team."
One drive in particular impressed me the most. It was at the end of the first half with the Vols trailing 24-7. He took four minutes off the clock and went 65 yards in 11 plays on a touchdown drive that culminated in Arian Foster's one-yard touchdown run.
With about 11 minutes remaining in the game, Tennessee held a 38-33 lead. It was 3rd down and 8. Ainge danced away from pressure and threw for a first down. That drive ended with another touchdown.
Ainge's favorite target is WR Robert Meachem. In the first half, the Bulldogs limited him to just two catches. So all Ainge did was spread the ball around to everyone else. In fact, I give a lot of credit to the Tennessee offensive coaching staff for calling numerous screen passes. The Georgia secondary was not allowing anything downfield, so Ainge threw short passes, picked up small chunks of yards at a time, and confidently marched his team to victory.
Another thing Ainge did well was take advantage of Georgia QB Joe Tereshinski's mistakes. On the first play of the second half, Tereshinski threw an interception. A few plays later, the Vols scored a touchdown and cut the lead to three points. Later in the quarter, Tereshinski was intercepted again, and Ainge hit Meachem for a touchdown that put Tennessee up 31-27. They never looked back.
Ainge did a wonderful job of taking what the defense gave him. He kept Tennessee in the game during the first half, and completely dominated in the second.
The Georgia secondary was a different story. I couldn't believe how good they were in the first half of the game. As mentioned, the Bulldogs allowed almost nothing to get behind them. They forced Ainge to throw underneath the coverage and rely on screen passes. The downfield passing game was practically nonexistent.
But in the second half, they looked fatigued. Personally, I credit the Tennessee offensive line for this. Ainge, who raved about the offensive line after the game, had almost no pressure on him all game, and that led to longer plays which eventually took a serious toll on the Bulldogs defensive backfield. All of a sudden, more and more passes were being completed for more and more yards. Ainge threw for 100 yards in the first half, and 168 yards in the second half. Meachem had two first half catches, but finished with 7 catches, 98 yards, and a touchdown.
In the first half, I was so impressed with the way the secondary tackled. They looked as good as any unit in the nation. By the end of the game they couldn't bring down defenders nearly as well as they did early on. The secondary, which was Georgia's stength in the first half, became it's Achilles heal by the end of the game. It wasn't just the numbers. It was the big completions they allowed at critical times that kept drives going.
The solution was more blitzing from Georgia. Had they not given Ainge so much time, it might have been a different story. I felt like Georgia sat back and rushed four men too often.
Finally, I wanted to dedicate some ink to Jarvis Jackson. Georgia's middle linebacker might get more publicity had the Bulldogs won, but win or lose, this guy is fun to watch. He is making plays all over the field and leading the defense. He, like the Georgia secondary, had a much stronger first half than second half. Eventually the Georgia defense looked demoralized and was probably on the field too long. But Jackson entertained. He hit hard, blitzed quickly, and even did a nice job in pass coverage when he had to.
Georgia needed to put more pressure on the quarterback. Had they done that, they might have stayed undefeated. But the Tennessee offensive line allowed Erik Ainge to pick the BUlldogs apart slowly. Ainge was the big story tonight. I had no idea how good this guy is.
One more note: Before the blocked punt which Tennessee recovered for a touchdown, making the score 38-27 Vols, there was a controversial no-call. Georgia fans wanted pass interference, which would have kept the drive alive and kept the Bulldogs from punting. However, the ball was ruled uncatchable. It was a good no-call by the officials. Hopefully people don't think this game is tainted because of that ruling.
As if Tennessee and Georgia aren't capable of supplying enough highlights, the Human Highlight Film was in the house tonight.
NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins was honored after the first quarter by the fans that cheered him when he dominated as a Bulldog, and then later as an Atlanta Hawk.
Wilkins is a guy who just never seemed to get the credit he deserved. He was often overshadowed by Jordan, Bird, and Johnson, and somehow he was left off the list of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players.
It took a while to get into the Hall of Fame, but Wilkins finally made it.
"Actually it hasn't set in yet," he said."When you grow up as a kid you never think about the Hall of Fame."
Tonight he returned to Georgia and the fans got a chance to thank him. Wilkins seemed very grateful for the moment.
"95,000 people," he said, "It's pretty amazing."
The only thing that I don't like about sitting in the press box is being indoors and not getting a taste of the atmosphere and crowd noise. But I'm at Sanford Stadium right now, which happens to have the nicest press box I've ever seen, and I am lucky enough to have an outdoor seat. And I'm sitting directly across from Georgia's student section.
This is fun.
We arrived in Athens on Thursday and we could already feel the energy building up to tonight's contest. This afternoon, the Bulldogs fans were somewhat tame until about 4:00 PM. Then they started cheering, singing, and screaming until they got into the stadium.
Game time was just before 8:00. About two hours before, the students started to pile in, and almost every single one wore red or black. A game like this makes me wish I were back in college, going crazy with my fellow students.
When the Bulldogs first came onto the field about 45 minutes prior to kickoff, it was loud. Then about eight minutes later, the Georgia players huddled at the 15 yard line. It was even louder. The students started singing. It seemed more like a World Cup soccer game than a mid-season SEC game.
The public address announcer said, "It's Saturday night in Athens!" The place erupted. "That's not loud enough," he said. "It's Saturday night in Athens!" The crowd obliged and made even more noise.
Finally it was time for the players to take the field for good. "Get on your feet," the PA announcer said, "and let's make some Sanford Stadium noise for your tenth-ranked defending SEC Champion Georgia Bulldogs."
The players ran out. The band played. The cameras flashed, and I started to worry about my hearing.
The Volunteers better do something early in this one, or they'll be playing 11 against 12 all night.
Return a kickoff at most stadiums and run at full speed toward the sidelines. Get pushed out of bounds, and your momentum might take you into some players and coaches. Do that at Sanford Stadium where the Georgia Bulldogs play, and you might end up running into Mother Nature.
The field at Sanford Stadium is surrounded by green hedges that are about five-feet high. Behind those hedges is a walking path about eight-feet wide, and then...more hedges just before you reach the stands. It is quite a beautiful site and it's one of the things that separates the University of Georgia from other schools.
Mike Orr sits in the seats during home games like the rest of the Bulldogs fans, but during the week he and his five-person crew are responsible for maintaining the hedges.
"We'll come in on Tuesday or Wednesday before the game and we will touch up the hedges," Orr said.
During the game, fans drop items into the hedges, lean over them, and cause damage that is routine for Orr to repair. The hedges have also become a way for a visiting team to remember its trip to Athens.
"In the past," Orr said, "quite often the visiting team members, if they happen to win the football game, they will take a piece of the hedge."
That might create more work for Orr, but he doesn't mind the tradition. It's what makes Sanford Stadium special.
"As long as it's like a twig or something," he said. "If they take half a bush I get upset about it."
The hedges have been there since 1929 and they are synonymous with Georgia football. Try taking them away and you'll get a lot of angry Bulldogs fans. That's what happened in 1996 when the Olympics came to town and Sanford Stadium had to extend the football field to accommodate for Olympic soccer. The hedges were removed, and many fans wrote letters and voiced their complaints. Eventually the hedges were brought back and the tradition was revived.
"I couldn't believe it," Mike "Big Dawg" Woods said.
Woods has certainly seen the hedges for quite some time. He hasn't missed a home Georgia game since he was six years old.
"I think they're beautiful," he said. "I think Sanford Stadium is one of the prettiest stadiums that I've been to."
If you've ever seen a Georgia football game on TV, then you've probably seen Mike Woods. He's the guy who wears the same thing on his head to every game, home and away. It's not a hat, it's a bulldog that his wife paints onto his shaved head.
Fans throughout the SEC recognize him since he attends just about every Georgia game, each time proudly displaying the bulldog. It's a family tradition that started with his father.
"(In) 1980 we went to the Sugar Bowl, and that's the first time he shaved his head," the Big Dawg said about his father. "All I'm doing is carrying it on."
The Big Dawg has been doing it since 1990, and eventually, Woods' son will take over for him and continue the legacy.
The visit to Woods' home put things in perspective for me. I thought I loved sports. I never miss the big game. I once drove 17 hours to see my team play.
But I'm no Mike Woods. Not even close.
This guy is the biggest fanatic that I've ever met. He has already made a Georgia-themed tombstone which sits in his house! On his left hand, Woods wears a bulldog ring with emeralds and diamonds in it. He walks with a cane. It has a bulldog handle. Woods has only missed one Georgia - Florida game in 34 years. That was because of back surgery.
"If they had let me out of the hospital," he said, "I would have made that."
Our crew was in awe when we visited Woods and his wife and saw his living room, decorated with Georgia memorabilia and autographed balls from Vince Dooley, Herschel Walker, etc. By then, we had already been ambushed, in a non-violent way, by his five British Bulldogs. One was wearing a Georgia jersey.
Then we got to see his wife paint his head.
Start out with the white paint. "Some things take a couple of coatings," she says. Then comes the black paint, followed by the red. After years of practice, it takes her only about 25 minutes now to finish the job.
"If I go to the game without it, something's wrong," he said.
Even the visiting fans have reached out to him and showed him respect. They frequently ask Woods for pictures and prove that you don't have to be a Georgia Bulldogs fan to admire a man's passion.
For Woods, it's all about honoring his father and worshipping the Georgia Bulldogs.
On Saturdays, you know where to find him. He'll be watching what happens between the hedges at Sanford Stadium.
Former Florida Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel is proud of the Heisman Trophy he won in 1996. He's even prouder of the National Championship he guided UF to by defeating rival Florida State. But what he seemed most proud of are the young men at Desire Street Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Desire Street is a school for children who "some people would say are predetermined to fail." That's according to the school's Disciplinarian, Oscar Brown. DSA is home to students who struggled in the public school system. Many come from single-parent homes and need male guidance.
Brown gave us a tour of the classrooms, church, and football field of the small academy that Wuerffel, the Executive Director of the Desire Street Ministries, watches over from his office in northwest Florida. The school wasn't always in Baton Rouge. It was a New Orleans school until Hurricane Katrina destroyed everything but the gymnasium, leaving the academy without a place to call home.
Wondering if children were still alive and trying desperately to communicate with staff members, Wuerffel set out to restore order and find a new place for the academy. "We had some incredibly heroic efforts from our staff members," he said. In the aftermath of Katrina, the staff members went into shelters to find their students. Later in the year, the school was moved to Florida. Now, Desire Street has set up shop in Baton Rouge and continues to provide education, shelter, and guidance to those who have no place else to go.
"They've been able to experience some things that they would never have experienced somewhere else,"
Wuerffel said about the DSA students. "They'll get a sense of who they really are. A sense that they're loved. A sense that they're special."
As Oscar the Disciplinarian showed us around the school, he opened classroom doors revealing attentive students, all wearing a uniform, completely unfazed by the camera that was recording them. They're used to it by now, and it probably takes a lot to rattle them. There are no more than 18 kids per class, and the larger classes have two teachers in them.
"We know what it takes to educate these kids," Brown says. The goal is to prepare them for college and put the students in situations where they can be successful. They learn subjects such as Math, English, Spanish, and of course, football.
"For the DSA Lions, football is so key," Wuerffel said. "I mean, they grow up with a passion to play."
Wuerffel has been involved with Desire Street since 1997, just after he was drafted by New Orleans. He used to be more active with the football team, but now Wuerffel's main function is fundraising, traveling, and other administrative duties. He believes in education and he believes in football as a way to learn about life.
"Football is such a huge arena that teaches the lessons of life," he said. "The ability to work hard, the ability to get knocked down and get back up."
Desire Street got knocked down. Desire Street got back up. It might not be in New Orleans anymore, but that doesn't seem to matter now.
"I don't think the location makes the school," Brown said. "I think the school makes the location."
After watching Williams-Bryce Stadium erupt in excitement last Thursday in Columbia, we headed to Baton Rouge and devoured crawfish casserole, chicken fried in hog lard, jambalaya, and other Cajun meals at the LSU tailgate on Saturday. So it seemed like a logical fit to meet Chris Warner yesterday. Warner, an LSU graduate, recently set out to write what he calls,"the most comprehensive book on SEC football history and tradition." It's called, "A Tailgaters Guide to SEC Football." A major focus of the book is what happens before the game - the tailgate.
Not only can he provide recipes and tell you what to eat at tailgates all over the conference, Warner can also tell you all about SEC passion and what it means to be a fan of Southeastern Conference football.
In Foley, Alabama, we sat in a quiet park surrounded by tall trees and next to an empty playground. The entire town will feel as empty as the playground on Friday night. Why?
Because it's high school football season, and we're in the southeast. Foley plays Daphne, and you better believe Foley fans will be driving to the nearby town to see the game.
Warner, who has also written books about SEC sports history and blogs on tigerdroppings.com, says that type of passion is one of the reasons why the SEC has produced more All-Americans and more NFL players than any other conference.
"In the South, southerners don't really think. They feel," he said. "And there's nothing they feel more passionate about than college football."
Warner is, without question, an expert. You don't want to go against him in an SEC trivia contest. First he told us about the first college football game ever played, and then he explained to us that football is so important in the SEC because of...the Civil War. Confused?
In the South, in the aftermath of the Civil War," he explained, "college football was a game that actually brought the South and the North together. In the South it gave the young southern men an opportunity to recapture the pride they had been stripped of in the conflict."
Isn't that what college football is all about? Recapturing pride?
"Football is a game that obviously emulates characteristics of war," Warner said. "You have to gain ground. It's a very physical game. The most common way to bring down a ball carrier after the Civil War was to just smack him upside the head."
It was an interesting way to think about America's favorite sport,and a comparison that some people might shy away from making in today's sensitive environment. In fact Kellen Winslow Jr got into a lot of trouble just a few years for calling himself a "soldier." But Warner's war analogy is the most scientific explanation for why some people think the most passionate college football fans are in the southeast.
"Winning in football (after the Civil War) presented that immediate opportunity to get revenge and then prove that they were tough people."
So we know how football became so popular, but what about tailgaiting? Warner says the when games started being shown on television, game times were moved to earlier in the day so more games could air. This disrupted the tradition of partying all day until kickoff at night. Well what's a game without a party?
"So people said, 'well we still have to have our parties. We'll take the party out to the campus, and we'll tailgate'," Warner said. "That's pretty much how it got started."
The parties haven't stopped, and clearly the passion for football won't go away either in the SEC.
And if you want to learn about that passion or find a mean recipe for your tailgate, Chris Warner's got a book you might find interesting.
Last year's Sugar Bowl was a great game. In West Virginia's 38-35 win over Georgia, we found out just how good Steve Slaton and Pat White are. We saw Bulldogs quarterback DJ Shockley guide his team back into the game time after time. 74,458 people attended a showdown between the Big East and the SEC.
It was fun. It was high-scoring. It was dramatic, and it was memorable.
But it wasn't in New Orleans.
The Sugar Bowl had been played in New Orleans' Superdome every year since 1975, but Hurricane Katrina forced the game to be moved to Atlanta's Georgia Dome. This year, the Saints are back in the Big Easy and so is one of the oldest of all the college football bowl games.
On Tuesday, we spent the afternoon in New Orleans and visited the temporary offices of the Sugar Bowl executives. It was a small and very friendly office on the fifth floor. The view was great, and so were the people. First, we met Communications Director Greg Blackwell, who gave us the grand tour and introduced us to four female co-workers who were enjoying their lunch. They were enjoying it in front of a television, watching "The Bold and the Beautiful."
And that's when we momentarily lost Emily. She got sucked into the soap opera madness.
"Greg's really dying that he's not in here," one of the ladies said. "He'll be online getting the updates later."
By the way I hear our producer Glenn is more of a "Days of Our Lives" guy. But anyway...
Our next stop was the Conference Room, decorated with the Manning Award (given after the bowl games to the nation's top quarterback) and this year's Sugar Bowl trophy. Here we spoke to Paul Hoolahan, the Sugar Bowl CEO. Hoolahan told us about the challenges he faced last year when Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Superdome and forced the Sugar Bowl's relocation. The computer operations were damaged, the offices were looted, and priceless memorabilia had to be safeguarded. That wasn't the biggest challenge though. Communication with staff members was practically nonexistent.
"The biggest thing was trying to find out where the staff was lcoated," he explained.
Well eventually the crew reorganized and relocated to Atlanta in mid-October. After ruling out Tiger Stadium at LSU as a destination for the Bowl game, Hoolahan settled on Atlanta. After all, Atlanta was already the site of the SEC championship game, so it seemed like a logical destination. Hoolahan called the Georgia Dome, "a venue that was fully aware of the importance of the game."
Now, though, the game is back in New Orleans, and make no mistake, this game is extremley significant to this city. "We like to think that it's a very important part of the economic engine," Hoolahan said.
Sure money is important, but that's not the only reason the Sugar Bowl means so much to New Orleans. You could see when the Saints played the Falcons last Monday how much this city loves football. When the Sugar Bowl had to be played elsewhere, "it was not only upsetting for us, it was upsetting for the great people of the state of Louisiana," Hoolahan said. "The game is synonymous with New Orleans and with Louisiana."
The Sugar Bowl's ties with the SEC have brought a passion and excitement to the annual event that is hard to match. We asked Hoolahan about the SEC fans and what they bring to the table. He gushed.
"It truly is a religion. The people live football with a fervor that is hard-pressed to find, I think, in any other conference in the country."
Having an SEC team locked into the Sugar Bowl (unless national championship implications interfere) ensures a passionate crowd. "It guarantees us a super-charged atmosphere," he said.
A little less than a year ago, the Sugar Bowl staff was living out of hotels. They were away from their families and working hard to secure the tradition of a bowl game that began in 1935 and has often featured the SEC champion. Now the game has been brought back to a renovated Superdome. Eventaully, Hoolahan and his staff will move back into their Superdome offices. The game may have left New Orleans for a year, but the tradition never left and neither did the city's spirit.
"This city has proven once again that it can bounce back," Hoolahan said.
It was easy to see when interviewing Hoolahan how glad he was to be back in Louisiana. Not necessarily for personal reasons, but because he's proud to see this resilient city get its bowl game back. As for a prediction on which team will represent the SEC in this year's game, Hoolahan decided not to choose between LSU, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, etc.
"I have no idea," he said.
Neither do I.
Are you ready for Saturday's marquee match up? Les Miles is.
That was the impression the LSU coach gave us on Monday during his media luncheon.
Miles and the LSU Tigers will spend this week preparing for the Florida Gators in the Swamp. It's the 9th ranked Tigers vs the 5th ranked Gators in what is remarkably the first time in series history (52 games) that both teams are ranked in the top 10 when playing each other.
Here's what LSU must worry about:
UF's 5-0 record and 12-game home winning streak.
The fact that Chris Leak has never thrown an interception in three meetings vs. LSU.
When they're not worrying about Chris Leak, they'll be worrying about Tim Tebow.
And, oh yeah, it's homecoming in Gainesville.
Still, LSU knows it is a good team. A team that nearly beat Auburn on the road. A team that thoroughly dominated Mississippi State from start to finish on Saturday. As Coach Miles says, "I don't think that there's any question that our football team thinks they're going to go in there and play well enough to win."
Most of the questions during the luncheon were about containing Leak, the thrower, and Tebow, the runner. In fact, when Miles was asked what the most difficult challenge the Gators present is, he said, "Containing their quarterback play, whether it's throwing it or running it."
LSU will rely on the nation's top rated defense to stop the potent UF offense. The Tigers allow just 193.4 yards per game. The Gators gain an average of 438.4 yards per game. Defensively, it starts at the line of scrimmage for LSU with DT Glenn Dorsey, DE Tyson Jackson (and his 5.5 sacks), and DE Chase Pittman (4 sacks).
"They're as good a defense as I've ever been around," Miles said, "and they're playing that way."
But the coach is realistic. He knows it's tough to beat a team like Florida without being able to run the ball. That's been a problem for the Tigers this year. "You have to have balance," Miles said. Well, LSU is still finding out if it does. LSU does average 144.6 yards rushing, but in the loss to Auburn, they gained just 42 yards on the ground. It's clear that the passing game is further along than the running game.
It should be fun on Saturday. Both teams can score points, and both teams can play tough defense. UF's next three games are LSU, Auburn, and Georgia, so they'd better win this one if they want to keep their national championship hopes alive. It's tough to imagine a team winning all three of those games.
But that's life in the SEC.
T.J. Moran is not your average collector of sports memorabilia. An avid LSU fan, as well as a friend to many in the LSU Athletic Department, Moran's restaurant, TJ Ribs, is loaded with pictures and articles featuring the great moments in Tiger sports...along with something very unique.
Sitting in a case right in the middle of the restaurant are signed helmets, programs, and the 1959 Heisman Trophy, won by LSU's Billy Cannon, who was best known for his punt return against Ole Miss that catapaulted him into the national spotlight.
"Just about everyone has seen that game now," said Moran. "Billy's an icon around here. LSU sports rallied around him. He was the icon of football. Of course, LSU rallied around Pete Maravich in basketball, but Billy even outshadowed Maravich. That basically shows that football is the crown prince of athletics here at LSU."
Moran, who spent most of his life in Chicago and Madison, Wisc., chose Baton Rouge as his new home, and becoming a LSU fan followed soon after his move.
"I became a Tiger fan the moment I moved to Baton Rouge," said Moran. "After five years, collecting memorabilia just came naturally. I was a big fan of Dale Brown and the basketball team, so I traveled a bit with them. Dale's one of my dearest friends. We had collected so much memorbilia that when I decided to build a restaurant here, we just decided to hang all of it up. Then, Billy Cannon was in here and I asked him if I could borrow his Heisman, and he found it and gave it to us."
The reaction was immensely popular, a natural reaction for a football-crazed town.
"We've had it for 18,19 years now," Moran said. "It's really a thrill for kids. We don't publicize it much though. We used to have it on billboards, but the Downtown Athletic Club asked us not to publicize the fact that we have the Heisman, and we agreed."
The 1959 Heisman also is unique in that it is different from all other Heisman trophies.
"The '59 Heisman is made of solid silver," said Moran. "It was silver to represent the 25th year of the Heisman Trophy. There's no other Heisman that is made of solid silver, just this one."
Surprisingly enough, this is not the first Heisman trophy that Moran has featured in one of his restaurants.
"We had Johnny Lattner's Heisman in our Chicago restaurant for a year," Moran said. "And Alan Ameche and I were in the same class at Wisconsin."
Everywhere you look, there is a piece of Tiger history on the walls.
"We used to have Pete Maravich's warmups," said Moran. "We have Shaq's first uniform from LSU, and shoes from LSU players that they wore in the '86 Final Four. We've got a pair of Shaquille's shoes as well, and the rim from the Pete Maravich Assembly Center that Shaq broke from the backboard. We've had someone offer $15,000 for the rim, and for Shaq's uniform, we've had offers well around $25,000. Nothing is for sale, though."
There have been other famous momentos at TJ Ribs as well.
"We had the 1958 national championship trophy here as well," said Moran. "Dale Brown found it and wanted to know if we wanted to display it here. Of course, we said yes. We had it here for awhile, and then the athletic director came to get it. He said they'd been looking all over for it, and how on Earth did we get it? I just simply told them that Dale Brown found it under a stairwell in the Maravich Assembly Center."
For Moran, the momentos are symbols of what makes Baton Rouge such a special place to live.
"Football and LSU mean so much to the morale of the community," Moran said. "You know, when Katrina happened, it was football and LSU that kept this town together. Out of adversity, great things happen, and LSU really helped save this town. LSU is everything to Baton Rouge."
"Everything in Baton Rouge revolves around the LSU and the state government," said Moran. "LSU has been great to Baton Rouge, and we've been great to LSU as well. The energy from LSU sparks this whole town. I don't know another school in America...well, maybe Notre Dame, whose fans are so fierce that they expect a national championship from every sport, every year."
So far, LSU's athletic teams are working hard to fulfill those goals, with national titles in several sports, and basketball teams who both reached the Final Four last year.
However, for Moran, whether win or lose, LSU has a special place in his heart.
"I love LSU," Moran said. "I have five children with nine degrees from LSU. If you've ever touched Baton Rouge, you've been touched as well by LSU."
And if LSU touches you, you'll be touched by TJ Ribs.
Looking back at yesterday's events from Tiger Stadium, one can only come up with this conclusion: LSU is for real. The Tigers excelled in every aspect of the game, and showed the SEC that they are only growing into a stronger force to be reckoned with.
The state of the Tiger Nation is stronger than ever. The team was focused, the execution was nearly flawless, and an energized crowd was more than happy to cheer on what was a dominating performance. Sure, the win was expected. LSU was favored to walk in the stadium and thrash the Bulldogs, and that's exactly what they did. However, it was the way they did it, with a crisp, efficient offense, and a devestating defensive line, that turns LSU from a solid team to a BCS-level team.
If there was any sign to why LSU was going to remain dominant, and show that they really mean business, it's the way they entered the stadium to start the second half. One thing I've learned is that a team's morale and hunger can be defined in how they come into the stadium in the closing seconds of halftime. When Arkansas came out a week ago, everyone was jogging hard...while Alabama was a lot slower getting to their sideline. The Hogs came bcak and won in double overtime. Last Thursday, when Carolina came out, they jogged confidently, while Auburn slow trotted over...and the Gamecocks, who have far less talent than Auburn, came back and gave the Tigers all they had.
Yesterday, even with a huge lead, LSU came out jogging hard. The hunger was still there. There was still fire in the eyes. This, above anything, is why LSU right now could be the best team in the SEC, despite their 1-1 conference mark.
"I have to tell you guys something," said LSU Head Coach Les Miles. "Our boys...they really love playing football. Give them a patch a grass and a football and they're ready to play. They need nothing else for motivation."
If that doesn't send out a warning message to the SEC, what can?
The Capital One Bowl reps were there for this one, as they were for the Arkansas win in Fayetteville, and the Auburn-Carolina game in Columbia. The reps like Florida, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, and Georgia right now for sure, and you could probably throw Tennessee in there as well. However, of those teams, LSU has delivered the most impressive performances. To be honest, it still floors me that LSU lost to Auburn. LSU won every stat but the final score, and Auburn has not looked impressive in the last two outings.
Baton Rouge is definitely a fun place to watch a game, and the stadium is LOUD, even in the daytime. Walking out of the press room, you go through the same tunnel the players do to get back on the field and eventually out of the stadium. Walking through that tunnel...even when empty, you stand in awe of the massive stadium in front of you. Tiger Stadium is truly a great cathedral of college football.
We'll have more from Baton Rouge, as Mission: SE Football continues its coverage from Tigerland. So far though, it's been fun times down on the bayou!
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