Monday observations

Post by Mike

Monday observations:

- The injury to Murray is typical of this entire season. While we aren't mired in the depths of hell with Florida, we are having some very bad luck. Fumbles on the goal line against Mizzou. Special team brain farts. The Auburn game. It’s just one of those years when Lady Luck gets to kick your butt even when you are down.

There is, however, in all this pile of poop, a bright spot.

Hutson Mason will not take his first big game action snap under the lights at Sanford Stadium on August 30, 2014 against Clemson. Instead he’ll enter next season with one half of the Kentucky game, the Georgia Tech game, fifteen bowl practices and the bowl game under his belt. Can anyone say “Silver Lining”?

Sorry about that knee Murray, but this may be the turning point for ole’ Lady Luck.

 - The Buckeye and Auburn lobbyist are out in full force on Facebook and Twitter.

Which one is more deserving of a shot at the BCS... yada yada. I’m certain Satan the Elf’s (STE henceforth) head is about to explode over that discussion.

 - For a brief moment I feel kind of bad for Boom. He is, after all, a Georgia alumnus. That loss to Georgia Southern was another reminder of just how much of a mess “Soft on Crime” (SOC henceforth) left behind when he quit, didn’t, then quit again because his tummy hurt. I guess his tummy doesn’t hurt when he gets to play Indiana and Illinois.

Please give Boom one more year Florida! We kind of like him being in Gainesville.

So at the moment we have four teams that could play in Atlanta for the SEC/National Title. Auburn or Alabama out of the West, Mizzou or Carolina out of the East. Personally I would prefer to see Spurrier vs.  STE. Bama would likely win, but the chess match would be epic.

A few observations.

Post by Mike

• -          On a positive note, Georgia is young and talented. Sure we lose Murray, but everyone else on both sides of the ball returns. Remember what happened to Tennessee the year after Peyton went to the big leagues?
• -          Not sure if the coaching staff has thought about this, but it might be time for some situational coaching. For example maybe our receivers should hear – “If the clock is below 10 seconds and you are not going to be able to score, don’t catch the ball. Bat it to the ground.” Maybe our defensive backs should hear – “On fourth down… in game critical situations… don’t try to intercept the ball. Bat it to the ground.” They should hear this all year long, and during critical timeouts.
• -     UGA's talent evaluation could be improved too. We wanted Cam to be a tight end? Marshall a cornerback? If that was our way of telling Cam, “We aren’t into paying players” I’m fine with it, but if that was a true evaluation…. Houston we have a problem.
• -          The Iron Bowl will be very interesting!
• -          Alabama still has to beat Auburn and the SEC East Champion for a shot at a third straight title. Meanwhile, back at the Bat Cave… Ohio State has to top mighty Indiana, Michigan and most likely Michigan State to stay in the hunt. Come on Sparty! Please save the fans of college football the torture of watching “Soft on Crime” getting humiliated by FSU in the BCS. I would much prefer a Rose Bowl beat down by Oregon to put the Buckeyes back in their place.
• -          Of course the ‘Noles still have to play Idaho, Florida and either Duke or Tech in the ACC Championship. Excuse me… I just threw up a little bit in my mouth. While that Florida game and the District Attorney are challenges, FSU should make it to the title game.
• 
  
•         Bama fans are their own worst enemy. Twitter lit up with critical comments after the Tide beat Mississippi State 20-0. Hey guys… you’re undefeated and in the hunt for a third straight title! And Texas… who has more money than you… is gona be in the market for a new coach… Y’all had better Zip It!

The game of musical chairs has begun.

Post by Mike

The game of musical chairs has begun. Of course it began earlier than usual with Laney Boy getting the boot at USC, but this season could see major shifts. Think about this:

USC – Open – no way they hire Orgeron. It will likely be Sumlin or Gruden.

Texas A&M – Obliviously if Sumlin bolts for the coast this spot will open. This might be Mike Leach’s entrance into the SEC. He has coached in Texas and Sumlin is from his coaching tree.

Texas – The Horns have to play an 8-1 Oklahoma State, a Texas Tech team that has lost 3 in a row, and Baylor. OkSU and Baylor could beat Texas, and Mack Brown would be done. If he loses only one of those, and in a close contest, he will survive. However, Baylor may blow the doors off that soft defense and another embarrassing loss may be too much for the money men in Austin.

The question is who fills this spot?

If Gruden doesn't wind up at USC, it could be him. Saban says he ain’t leaving Bama… period. We’ll see. He said the same thing about the Dolphins. This brings to mind another college coach that recently made the jump to the bigs. The way things are going with the Philadelphia Eagles, maybe Chip Kelly could be lured back to junior circuit.

At one time I thought it might be Kirby, but he appears to be waiting for the helm at Bama, which might only be a few years away.

Oklahoma – How long has it been since these guys have been relevant to anyone outside the Sooner State?  Stoops has to be on the hot seat after losses to Texas and Baylor with Oklahoma State still in front of him.

This job ain’t what it once was and is in fact the 2^nd best football coaching job in the state thanks to the deep pockets of T. Boone who breathed life into Oklahoma State. “I’m a man! I’m 40!”

Nebraska - Bo Pelini is likely done. Honestly I can’t believe the Huskers haven’t pulled the trigger on this one yet. The fact that they haven’t shows just how hard it is find a solid head coach.

Florida – Boom will get one more year. He needs to keep it close versus FSU. Another loss to Georgia in 2014 and he’s done.

Mississippi State – who cares? That is the biggest dead end job in football.

Maryland – do they still play football? Or is the entire team on scholarship for fashion design?

And after last night, let's add one name to the list:

Georgia Tech - Johnson's offense might have worked when he had Chan Gailey's players, but it obviously isn't attracting top tier talent. It is hard to believe the Jackets have actual won 6 games. Think about that! The ACC is top heavy!

Let's start the new year off right!

Post by Mike

I know it’s early to be doing this, but one glance at the BCS Bowl projections by Jerry Palm gives me hope. And I’m not talking that baloney type of hope that the President sold the brain dead, but real hope that “Soft on Crime” will end up in the fetal position once again.

The BCS Championship match-up between the Tide and FSU could be an old school slobber knocker. The best of the SEC up against the best Quasi-SEC program, what could top that you ask?

Only one thing… a Rose Bowl match-up between Stanford and Ohio State.

Jump forward with me just for a moment to January 1, 2014. You’re nursing your head stretched out on the sofa with a fire going and the smell of collards and ham hocks fills the house. As the day moves along you regain your strength and begin to feel better when you realize it has in fact been three years since “Satan the Elf” made “Soft on Crime” his sissy with a 32-13 beat down in the SEC Championship Game. That one even made Teabow cry!

Oh the joyful memory! The warm fuzzy! A Florida humiliation and an Urban beat down all wrapped in one! The only way it would have been better would be if the Dawgs were delivering the pain, but hey… I’ll take it.

So then “Soft on Crime” curls up on the floor of his hotel room sucking his thumb and quits. Then doesn't, goes 7-and-5 in 2010, and then quits again leaving the Gators in a huge mess. You reap what you sow Florida.

So Urban does one season of ESPN. Ohio State is forced to fire the “Bullet Proof Sweater Vest” who is outrageously soft on crime, and goes looking. Who is out there that pretends to be squeaky clean, but in actuality is greasier than Waffle House bacon? Hmmm that’s a tough one.

The Buckeyes land “Soft on Crime” and all those delusional Midwestern football fans think they are back. After all, they have not been beaten over the last two seasons, and I am certain, during the run up to the bowls, we will hear so much talk about how they deserve to be in the title game it will give us all diarrhea.  

So if these bowl projections hold true, just be ready for the 5 PM kickoff on January 1, 2014. Then sit back and watch Stanford impose off-tackle brutality on Ohio State, laugh out loud and start the new year in good spirits!

Jerry Palm - Bowl Projections