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November 2005
Bowden needs to make changes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is a big Saturday in the life and legacy of Florida State coach Bobby Bowden.
Bowden, who has won more games than any coach in Division I-A history, is facing the real possibility of losing for the fourth straight time in Saturday’s ACC championship game against Virginia Tech.
That’s bad enough at place where two losses in a season used to send the entire city of Tallahassee into mourning. But there is also a good chance that Florida State is going to get embarrassed for the third straight game when it takes on the Hokies.
The focus of the fans’ discontent has to fall somewhere and you can’t fire the coach whose name is on the field. So it is Jeff Bowden, the son and offensive coordinator, who is catching the heat.
The Florida State offense is, to put it gently, awful. The offensive line is so beat up right now that it probably wouldn’t matter if Norm Chow was calling the plays. But the fact is that since Mark Richt left and Jeff Bowden took over, the creativity has waned.
Despite his public persona as everyone’s favorite grandpa, Bobby Bowden is a very stubborn and competitive man. He is digging in his heels over Jeff Bowden. Playing calling, he has told those close to the program, is not the problem.
And who’s going to tell Bobby Bowden he needs to do something? The president of the University PLAYED for him, for gosh sakes. He’s forgotten more football than most administrators will ever know.
But at some point there has to be change just for the sake of change. There is always a need for new ideas and a new approach. Tommy Tuberville had to do it at Auburn and now the Tigers have won 22 of their last 24 games. Phillip Fulmer finally had to do it at Tennessee after a 5-6 season. Joe Paterno finally gave Galen Hall permission to open up the offense at Penn State and the Nittany Lions won a Big Ten championship.
Plan A is not working at Florida State. It hasn’t worked for a while. Bobby Bowden is the head coach and is paid $2 million a year to make tough decisions and to fix problems. A 7-4 Florida State team that is getting ready to be 7-5 constitutes a problem.
Nothing’s fair about the bowl system
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Sunday, when the BCS Bowls are filled, the two at-large teams selected will probably be Notre Dame (9-2) and Ohio State (9-2). If No. 1 USC and No. 2 Texas both win, then Notre Dame and Ohio State will meet in the Fiesta Bowl.
Oregon (10-1) whose only loss is to USC, will get left out of the BCS in favor of two teams with two losses each. Is that fair?
What a silly question.
To ask the question is to presume that the bowl business is SUPPOSED to be fair. It’s not. Never has been.
Bowls do not exist for the purpose of rewarding deserving teams. The only bowl that does that is the BCS national championship game. That is reserved for the two teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2. The rest of the bowls are independent economic entities that exist to generate tourism and revenues for their host cities. That’s why bowls were created in the first place.
If you’re the host of a BCS bowl that does not have that year’s national championship game, you have to sell all of your tickets and keep the TV boys happy just to break even. That means picking the two eligible teams that will bring fans and turn the TV sets on.
At the end of the day, the conferences that participate in these bowls expect to be paid in full. They don’t give you a discount because you picked the team that the public and the media thought was more deserving. So if you run the bowl, you’d better pick the teams that allow you to cover that check once it is written.
Is that fair to Oregon, which won’t bring as many fans as Ohio State or turn on as many televisions as Notre Dame? Of course not. But it is a fact of life in the bowl business.
Jackets hang in, barely
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No changes at the top. But if USC or Texas stumbles on Saturday, Penn State is waiting in the wings to take a spot in the Rose Bowl. Central Florida (8-3) jumps into the poll after going 0-11 last season. Georgia Tech stays in at No. 22 despite a tough loss to Georgia.
USC 11-0
Texas 11-0
Penn State 10-1
LSU 10-1
5.Virginia Tech 10-1
Ohio State 9-2
Notre Dame 9-2
Oregon 10-1
Auburn 9-2
10. Georgia 9-2
Miami 9-2
Alabama 9-2
West Virginia 9-1
UCLA 9-1
TCU 10-1
Florida 8-3
Wisconsin 9-3
Boise State 9-3
Louisville 8-2
Texas Tech 9-2
Boston College 8-3
22. Georgia Tech 7-4
Clemson 7-4
Central Florida 8-3
Fresno State 8-3
Out — Florida State 7-4; Colorado 7-4 In — Boise State 9-3; Central Florida 8-3
Three things to look for
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1. Can D.J. handle the pressure?
Georgia Tech has 31 sacks on the season and got to Miami quarterback Kyle Wright seven times last week. Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta is a master at mixing up the blitz packages and confusing quarterbacks. Georgia’s D.J. Shockley can escape the first wave of the rush, but what he does after that is important. If all Shockely does is run when he gets away from the first wave, it won’t be good for Georgia. Shockley must make Georgia Tech pay for blitzing by finding open receivers down the field for big plays.
2. Can Florida State stop Chris Leak?
Florida State’s defense is really banged up coming into Saturday’s game with Florida. Here is a mind-blowing stat: Florida State has only seven interceptions this season after getting 22 in 2004. None of those interceptions has been made by a cornerback. Florida quarterback Chris Leak should have a big day against the Seminoles who, believe it or not, are looking ahead to next week’s ACC championship game with Virginia Tech.
3. Say goodbye to Noel Mazzone.
Despite constant denials from Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron, Mazzone is gone after Saturday’s game with Mississippi State. The firing was actually done last week, which I’m sure helped preparation for the game with LSU (a 40-7 loss). Mazzone signed a three-year deal for $250,000 per year, meaning Ole Miss will have to pay him $500,000 to leave. This is one of many strange things going on at Ole Miss. This (a 3-7 season, 1-6 in the SEC) is not what the Ole Miss faithful when David Cutcliffe was fired after five winning seasons in six years.
Beating Mississippi State would take a lot of pressure off Orgeron and the president and athletics director who hired him.
Tough times at UT lead to tough questions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Phillip Fulmer’s problems at Tennessee go a lot deeper than the lack of an offense and the Volunteers’ first losing season since 1988. There is an inescapable sense that there is a lack of overall discipline in the program.
Fulmer had to suspend a player, offensive tackle Albert Toeaina, for throwing his helmet and spitting in the direction of a cameraman after the loss to Vanderbilt. Frustration with losing is not an excuse. It is also a symptom of a much larger problem that needs to be addressed.
But I do have one observation: With few exceptions, the guys getting into trouble at Tennessee seem to be on offense. That’s because John Chavis, the defensive coordinator, runs a very tight ship on his side of the ball. The guys who play defense do not want to disappoint Chavis — or make him mad. Fear is a great motivator.
The same will need to be true for the new offensive coordinator, who will probably be David Cutcliffe. Look for that decision shortly after the Kentucky game.
It is also time for Fulmer to crack down at every level of the program. Discipline, or the lack of it, invariably translates to play on the field. The number of crucial mistakes made by the Tennessee offense this season is not simply a function of bad luck. It is lack of physical and mental discipline.
Also, Fulmer needs to take a hard look at the kind of people he is recruiting. He has always recruited talented players, but will these guys go south on him when things get tough? Can they emotionally invest in something bigger than themselves and their NFL dreams? Simply put, do they care about the University of Tennessee beyond the confines of what happens between the lines of Neyland Stadium?
When you need to beat Kentucky to finish 5-6, it’s time to start asking those kinds of questions.
Don’t think Tech is UGA’s top rival? Think again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With all due respect to Georgia’s players, and they deserve a lot of respect for what they have done this fall, they don’t get to decide who the Bulldogs’ biggest rival is or is not.
The players wear the uniform for only four years and those kinds of questions are decided over generations.
And here is a truth that has held up over several generations: As big as the rivalries are with Tennessee, Florida and Auburn, Georgia Tech will always be Georgia’s biggest rival. And here’s why: If you’re Tech or Georgia, you have to live with the other side and be reminded that you lost 365 days a year. That trumps everything else.
Don’t believe me? Ask Ray Goff.
As a player at Georgia, Ray Goff try to downplay the rivalry with Tech prior to the 1976 game in Athens. Georgia had just won the SEC championship and was headed to the Sugar Bowl to play Pitt, where a win could have given the Bulldogs an outside shot at the national championship. Goff basically told the press that Georgia’s biggest rival was now Florida.
Coach Vince Dooley was not amused and told Goff so before the game. Georgia needed a late fumble and a field in the final seconds to beat Tech 13-10. Goff learned his lesson. It became even clearer during his years as a coach.
“If you don’t think Tech is Georgia’s biggest rival, then start losing to them,” said Goff. “You’ll find out.”
Auburn makes Top 10
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Auburn beats Alabama and jumps into the Top 10 for the first time this season. Alabama loses its second straight game and drops to No. 12. Penn State, the Big Ten champions, moves ahead of LSU into the No. 3 spot and will be waiting in the wings if USC or Texas stumbles. If LSU can beat Arkansas on Friday and then beat Georgia in the SEC championship game, the Tigers could move back into the No. 3 spot.
USC 11-0
Texas 10-0
Penn State 10-1
LSU 9-1
Virginia Tech 9-1
Ohio State 9-2
Notre Dame 8-2
Oregon 10-1
Auburn 8-2
Georgia 8-2
Miami 8-2
Alabama 9-2
West Virginia 8-1
UCLA 9-1
TCU 10-1
Georgia Tech 7-3
Fresno State 8-2
Louisville 7-2
Texas Tech 9-2
Boston College 8-3
Wisconsin 8-3
Clemson 7-4
Florida State 7-3
Florida 7-3
Colorado 7-3
Out — Michigan 7-4, South Carolina 7-4 In — Georgia Tech 7-3, Clemson 7-4
WAITING IN THE WINGS
UTEP 8-2 South Florida 6-3 Iowa State 7-3 Central Florida 8-3 Iowa 7-4 Boise State 8-3
The Top 20 rivalries in college football
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They play for Little Brown Jugs and Apple Cups, Old Oaken Buckets and Golden Egg Trophies. Not to mention bragging rights. With some of college football’s top rivalries taking place this weekend and next, here’s our list of the sport’s 20 best annual grudge matches:
1. ARMY VS. NAVY
• When: Dec. 3 in Philadelphia
• What’s to love: There’s no greater pageantry in sports than watching the Cadets as they march into the stadium. The men who play in this game have a higher calling than football. Some of the players on the field will soon be in harm’s way.
• Magic moment: The 1963 game was postponed a week because of the assassination of President Kennedy. Army trailed 21-7 and appeared to be out of the game but the Cadets rallied to within 21-16 with six minutes left. Army drove to the Navy 2 with 20 seconds left. Through some miscommunication with the officials, Army let the clock run out without running another play.
2. ALABAMA VS. AUBURN
• When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Auburn, Ala.
• What’s to love: Year in, year out, there’s no game more intense than The Iron Bowl. It gets its name from Birmingham, “the Iron City,” which hosted the showdown from 1948-88.
• Magic moment: Bear Bryant swore it would never happen but on Dec. 2, 1989, Alabama played at Auburn for the first time. Alabama was 10-0, ranked No. 2 and in line for a national title. But Pat Dye’s Tigers beat the Tide 30-20 to tie for the SEC championship. Despite a 10-2 record and a berth in the Sugar Bowl, Bill Curry was forced to leave Alabama. He became Kentucky’s coach the next season.
3. MIAMI VS. FLORIDA STATE
• When: Florida State beat Miami 10-7 on Sept. 5 in Tallahassee.
• What’s to love: There’s no game in college football played at a higher level of speed and athleticism than this one. “When we play Florida State, there is not a lot of talking going on,” Miami tackle Eric Winston said earlier this season. “And when you are done, there is nothing left. You are spent.”
• Magic moment: In 1987, FSU led 19-3, only to have Miami storm back and take a 26-19 lead. FSU scored inside the final minute to make it 26-25. Bobby Bowden wanted to go for the tie but his players talked him into going for two and the win. The conversion attempt failed and Miami went on to win the game and later, the national title.
4. GEORGIA VS. FLORIDA
• When: Florida beat Georgia 14-10 on Oct. 29.
• What’s to love: Since 1933, The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party has become an excuse for fans to get out of town early for some golf, good food and fun in Jacksonville. The game was played on campus in 1994 and ‘95 while the old Gator Bowl was being renovated.
• Magic moment: Every Bulldogs fan can tell you where they were 25 years ago, when Buck Belue connected with Lindsay Scott on a 93-yard pass to give Georgia a 26-21 win. Vince Dooley’s Bulldogs moved to No. 1 with the win, and stayed there.
5. OHIO STATE VS. MICHIGAN
• When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• What’s to love: Let’s start with Woody and Bo. Archie Griffin and his two Heismans. Dotting the “I” on the script “Ohio.” The Michigan fight song. We could go and on. But know this: When Jim Tressel became the head coach at Ohio State, the first thing he put on his refrigerator at home was a small sign that read, “Beat Michigan.”
• Magic moment: In 1969, Ohio State was one of the most dominant teams in college football and came into this game undefeated. Buckeyes fans were certain Ohio State would win and go on to play in the Rose Bowl. But Michigan, in Bo Schembechler’s first year as coach, pulled off one of the biggest upsets in history, 24-12, and went on to the Rose Bowl.
6. NOTRE DAME VS. USC
• When: USC beat Notre Dame 34-31 on Oct. 15 in South Bend, Ind.
• What’s to love: Each year, they play for the Jeweled Shillelagh in what is college football’s definitive intersectional rivalry. The men who have played in this game reads like a who’s who of college football. The game is played at the end of the season when USC is the host. It’s played in the middle of the season when Notre Dame is the home team.
• Magic moment: It’d be tough to top October’s instant classic, when USC’s Matt Leinart cemented his place in history. Trailing 31-28 with less than two minutes left, Leinart completed a 61-yard pass to Dwayne Jarrett and then ran for the score with three seconds left to beat the Irish 34-31.
7. TEXAS VS. OKLAHOMA
• When: Texas beat Oklahoma 45-12 on Oct. 8 in Dallas.
• What’s to love: Like Georgia-Florida, the tickets are divided equally between the two schools for what’s become known as The Red River Shootout. The Texas State Fair is just across the street from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. It may be the only place in the world where you can buy a roasted turkey leg at 10 a.m.
• Magic moment: Oklahoma had won six in a row against Texas when the two met in 1977. Oklahoma was 4-0 and ranked No. 2. Texas was 3-0 and ranked No. 5. Texas was clinging to a 13-6 lead when Oklahoma drove to the Texas 4 with 4:10 left. Facing fourth-and-1, Oklahoma quarterback Thomas Lott tried to run for the first down but was stopped to preserve the Texas victory. The Longhorns finished the regular season 11-0 and were ranked No. 1 going into the Cotton Bowl, where they lost to Notre Dame.
8. ALABAMA VS. TENNESSEE
• When: Alabama beat Tennessee 6-3 on Oct. 22 in Tuscaloosa.
• What’s to love: At one time, this was the premier rivalry in Southern college football. Until the restrictions of modern scheduling, it was always played on the third Saturday in October.
• Magic moment: In 1993, Tennessee led 17-9 and appeared in position to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Tide. Alabama, the defending national champs, had won 28 in a row. ‘Bama drove 82 yards and scored with less than 30 seconds left to come within two. Then receiver David Palmer ran out of the shotgun formation for the two-point conversion and a 17-17 tie.
9. GEORGIA VS. GEORGIA TECH
• When: Nov. 26, Atlanta
• What’s to love: They call it “Clean Old Fashioned Hate” for a reason. How intense is this rivalry? In 1957 Georgia’s Theron Sapp scored the only touchdown in a 7-0 win over Tech, snapping the Yellow Jackets’ eight-game winning streak. Georgia people were so thrilled, they retired Sapp’s jersey! “If you think Tech’s not Georgia’s biggest rival, then just lose to them. You’ll find out,” said former Georgia quarterback and coach Ray Goff.
• Magic moment: In 1978, Georgia fell behind 20-0 in Athens, then rallied to take a 21-20 lead. Tech’s Drew Hill returned the ensuing kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion gave Tech a 28-21 lead. Freshman quarterback Buck Belue came off the bench to throw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Amp Arnold with 2:25 left. Georgia went for two points and the win. After a pass interference penalty on the first try, Belue pitched to Arnold for the two-point conversion and a 29-28 win.
10. FLORIDA VS. FLORIDA STATE
• When: Nov. 26, Gainesville, Fla.
• What’s to love: The Sunshine Showdown matches a lot of Florida kids who grew up playing against one another. After Steve Spurrier arrived in 1990, at least one of these two was usually in the championship chase at game time.
• Magic moment: Going into the 1997 game, FSU was ranked No. 1 and appeared headed to the Orange Bowl to play Nebraska for the national title . Trailing 29-25, Florida’s Doug Johnson hit Jacquez Green for a 63-yard pass to the Seminoles 17. The Gators then scored on a run by Fred Taylor to win 32-29 and knock Bobby Bowden out of another shot at the national title.
11. AUBURN VS. GEORGIA
• When: Auburn beat Georgia 31-30 on Nov. 12.
• What’s to love: Unlike the nastiness in the Alabama-Auburn game, there is a deep, mutual respect between these two institutions. It is the oldest rivalry in the Deep South, beginning in 1892 in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park.
12. CLEMSON VS. S. CAROLINA
• When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Columbia
• What’s to love: The Battle of the Palmetto State used to be played on the Thursday of the annual state fair in Columbia. “Big Thursday” as it came to be known, basically brought the entire state to a halt. Clemson grew tired of playing every year in Columbia so in the tradition of Big Thursday ended after the 1959 game.
13. STANFORD VS. CAL
• When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Palo Alto, Calif.
• What’s to love: It’s called The Big Game and regardless of the records, something special seems to happen when the two brainiacs of the Pac-10 square off, including the famous “the band’s on the field” game.
14. OLE MISS VS. MISS. STATE
• When: Nov. 26, Starkville, Miss.
• What’s to love: Known as “The Egg Bowl” because the two teams started playing for the Golden Egg Trophy in 1927. It doesn’t matter that both teams have losing records. This one’s about pride.
15. TEXAS VS. TEXAS A&M
• When: Nov. 25, College Station, Texas
• What’s to love: There’s a lot to love about the Lone Star Showdown. Bevo, the Texas steer. Singing “The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You.” A&M’s 12th man tradition. At A&M, it’s also a tradition to kiss your date after every Aggie touchdown. And so it goes.
16. HARVARD VS. YALE
• When: 12:30 p.m. Saturday, New Haven, Conn.
• What’s to love: Real students who love the game just as much as the blue-chip superstars. Exhibit A: In 1968, both teams were undefeated and playing for the Ivy League title. Harvard trailed 22-0 late in the first half. Backup quarterback Frank Champi rallied Harvard, which scored a touchdown with 42 seconds left and made a two-point conversion to come within 29-21. Harvard got the onsides kick, scored and made another two-point conversion with three seconds left to tie it at 29. The headline in the Harvard student newspaper read: “Harvard Wins 29-29!”
17. MINNESOTA VS. WISCONSIN
• When: Wisconsin beat Minnesota 38-34 on Oct. 15.
• What’s to love: This is the longest running rivalry in Division I-A. They have met a total of 115 times and have played continuously since 1907. Since 1948, they’ve been playing for Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
18. USC VS. UCLA
• When: Dec. 3, Los Angeles
• What’s to love: This and Stanford-Cal are the closet thing the West Coast has to a good, ol’-fashioned nasty rivalry. It’s a wine and cheese crowd but they still enjoy bragging rights.
19. VIRGINIA VS. VIRGINIA TECH
• When: Noon Saturday, Charlottesville, Va.
• What’s to love: They play for The Commonwealth Cup and more often than not, it’s a memorable game. As good as Frank Beamer has been at Tech in his 19 seasons, he’s just 9-9 against Virginia. Both Beamer and Virginia coach Al Groh played in this game. Now that both schools are in the ACC, the rivalry will only grow stronger.
20. WEST VIRGINIA VS. PITT
• When: Nov. 24, Morgantown, W.Va.
• What’s to love: The Backyard Brawl is exactly that. The campuses are only 90 miles apart and the competition for recruits is fierce. The two have been playing for 97 years. A night game at Morgantown is no place for the faint of heart. The rivalry has only gotten more intense since both schools became members of the Big East.
Three things to look for
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1. Brodie’s legacy: Alabama’s Brodie Croyle is playing for a lot more than just a victory on Saturday when the Crimson Tide goes to Auburn. He is playing for his legacy.
Croyle did not play well in last week’s overtime loss to LSU, which knocked the Crimson Tide out of the national championship picture and probably out of the SEC championship game. It was a bitter loss to a kid who has fought through a lot to get back on the field. But beating Auburn in his last regular-season game as an Alabama would heal a lot of wounds. A win might also put the Crimson Tide in the Fiesta Bowl.
In short, it will be a big day for Brodie.
2. Thanking D.J.: D.J. Shockley, Georgia’s senior quarterback, is an extraordinary young man. In an age where the newspapers are filled with stories of college athletics behaving badly and selfishly, Shockley is a throwback to a kinder, more gentler time.
He waited his turn behind David Greene when 90 percent of people with his talent would have been long gone. With a win over Kentucky, Shockley will lead this Georgia team to a place few thought it could go: The SEC championship game.
And by the way, Shockley is an extraordinary student. The seniors will be honored on Saturday during their last game at Sanford Stadium. Shockley deserves a little extra applause.
3. Joe Pa: In my business you’re not supposed to pull for anybody. But how can you not pull for Joe Paterno Saturday at Michigan State?
Here is a guy who has been a head coach for 40 years at the same place. He has lived in State College and served the University for over 50 years. He has given over $4 million of his own money back to the University for academics. And if Penn State wins at Michigan State, Paterno will win the Big Ten championship and finish 10-1.
For the past few years large chunks of the media and his fan based told Paterno he was done. The game had passed him by. It would be so sweet for Paterno.
BCS still likely to leave someone griping
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With No. 1 USC (10-0) and No. 2 Texas (10-0) standing as the only undefeated teams in Division I-A football, it appears that we are FINALLY going to have a non-controversial BCS this season right?
Oh no. Not by a long shot.
The BCS championship game at the Rose Bowl may not cause a ruckus, but the selections of the other three bowls on Dec. 4 are going to cause a bunch of hard feelings. Here’s why.
Six conferences (ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Pac-10) get automatic bids to one of the four bowls. That leaves two at-large teams to be selected by the bowls.
The Fiesta Bowl has a contract to host the Big 12 champion, which should be Texas. If Texas goes to the Rose Bowl with USC, the Fiesta will get the first pick of the remaining teams that qualify for the BCS.
We have it on good authority that in that scenario the Fiesta will take Notre Dame (7-2) if the Fighting Irish win their last two games with Syracuse (1-8) and Stanford (5-4). Notre Dame is No. 9 in the BCS Standings and thus is eligible.
That pick alone will enrage the one-loss teams who feel they deserve a shot at the BCS before the Irish and their two losses. But hey, it’s Notre Dame, and Notre Dame turns on more TV sets than a “Desperate Housewives” marathon.
With Notre Dame a lock for one at-large, the lobbying has already stared for the second at-large. The arguments:
Oregon (9-1): If the Ducks beat Oregon State their only loss will be to No. 1 USC. Besides, the BCS owes the Pac-10 because of the way California got hosed out of the Rose Bowl last season.
Alabama (9-1): If the Crimson Tide beats Auburn, their only loss will be in overtime to No. 5 LSU. Besides, how could the Fiesta/ABC pass up the chance to match Alabama and Notre Dame?
Virginia Tech (9-1): The Hokies can finish 10-1 by beating Virginia and the fans travel like crazy. Their only loss is to No. 3 Miami.
Ohio State (8-2): Beat Michigan and the Buckeyes’ only losses are to No. 2 Texas and No. 5 Penn State by a grand total of 10 points.
Expect the lobbying for the at-large spots to begin fast and furious Saturday night.
Remember, after the championship game is filled, the BCS bowls are about ticket sales and television ratings. I do not want to hear the word “fair” mentioned in this discussion.
Your thoughts, please.
Tech trying to stay the course
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Among his many pearls of wisdom, Bill Parcells is credited with the definitive statement about athletics: “You are what you are.”
Simply put, you better understand and get comfortable with your place in the universe or you are destined to lead a very frustrated and unhappy life.
You can question the wisdom of his candor, but that is exactly what Georgia Tech athletics director Dave Braine was trying to tell his fan base when he gave football coach Chan Gailey a contract extension.
Gailey has won seven games in each of his first three seasons and has finished 4-4 in the ACC every year. Is that acceptable? Not really. Georgia Tech has the resources and tradition to do better. But if the standard is competing at the level of Florida State, Virginia Tech and Miami on an annual basis, then I’ll tell you what my daddy used to say when I would ask for money: “Son, it ain’t gonna happen.”
This is not about accepting mediocrity, which is the battle cry of those convinced that there is an unknown coaching genius out there who can take Georgia Tech to the level of Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech. It’s about understanding the strengths and weakness of your program. It’s about expecting to win every game but not running around and wanting to fire a coach when the close games don’t go your way.
Here is my take on Georgia Tech football: Great academic institution that won’t cut corners in recruiting and won’t bring under-qualified students onto their campus. Can be and should be competitive year in and year out in the ultra-improved ACC. Given the balance of the ACC, every year at least half of your eight league games will come down to a handful of plays.
When things break right and the close ones go your way, can have that special nine or 10-win season. When the close ones don’t go you way, you win six or seven.
Georgia Tech fans have a right to expect their team to be at or near the top of the second wave of the ACC that includes Boston College, North Carolina, Virginia, Clemson and Maryland. They’ve only been blown out once (by Virginia Tech), beat Auburn on the road, and are a tipped pass from being 7-2.
That’s what Braine was saying with this contract extension for Gailey. Within the reality of Georgia Tech football, Chan Gailey’s program may not have lived up to all expectations, but what has happened does not warrant a change. It’s easy to fire coaches and get another one. It’s harder to stay the course.
Three topics, three opinions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Three topics, three opinions. Feel free to disagree.
1: Steve Spurrier has shown us that in college football, perhaps more than any sport, coaching still matters. Yes, you must have good players. But South Carolina beat the University of Florida not because of superior talent, because when it came to talent the two teams weren’t even close.
The Gamecocks won because their head coach was not afraid to change his game plan (36 running plays, 17 passing plays) and because he was bold at moments when the game hung in the balance. He’s your SEC Coach of the Year.
2: To the geniuses who have created a website dedicated to the firing of Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley and UF President Bernie Machen: You are idiots.
You are the same guys who were pounding their chests because you felt you beat Notre Dame to get Urban Meyer as head coach. Now he’s lost three games you people act like it’s the end of the world.
You are the lunatic fringe that takes the fun out of college football.
3: Don’t worry about Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge. Yes, his confidence is shot from getting yanked in and out of the lineup all season. But if David Cutcliffe becomes UT’s offensive coordinator, and I believe he will, Ainge will find his way out of the wilderness.
Who’s No. 3? Miami
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alabama loses to LSU and falls from No. 3 to No. 9. In the meantime Miami gets cozy in the No. 3 spot. If USC or Texas falls, Miami, LSU and Penn State could all have a gripe that they belong in the Rose Bowl. Will USC and Texas hold serve and play in the Rose Bowl? We say yes and all the BCS bashers have to wait until next year.
USC 10-0
Texas 10-0
Miami 8-1
LSU 9-1
Penn State 9-1
Virginia Tech 8-1
Oregon 9-1
Notre Dame 7-2
Alabama 9-1
Ohio State 8-2
West Virginia 8-1
Auburn 8-2
Georgia 7-2
UCLA 9-1
TCU 10-1
Fresno State 8-1
Michigan 7-3
Louisville 7-2
South Carolina 7-3
Texas Tech 8-2
Florida State 7-3
Boston College 7-3
Wisconsin 8-3
Florida 7-3
Colorado 7-3
Out — Georgia Tech 6-3
In — South Carolina 6-3
WAITING IN THE WINGS
UTEP 8-1
Oklahoma 6-3
Virginia 6-3
Minnesota 7-3
South Florida 5-3
Iowa State 7-3
Central Florida 7-3
Three things to look for
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1. Can the Ol’ Ball Coach beat his alma mater?
The South Carolina-Florida game is going to go one of two ways. Steve Spurrier is going to come up with some new ball plays the Gators haven’t seen and beat them 17-14. Or Florida, now awake after getting scared by Vanderbilt last week, will take care of business without much trouble because of its superior talent.
Florida has a bunch of injuries and has had to shuffle its secondary because DB Vernell Brown is out. Spurrier is great at exploiting those kinds of situations.
We’re just saying.
2. Can Alabama beat LSU despite the Tide’s dearth of offense?
Logic says that LSU will win the game in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers are the most talented team in the SEC and, if not for a horrible second half against Tennessee, would be undefeated and in the mix for the national championship.
But there is something special about this Alabama team. Alabama is not a great team, but they are a good team that knows how to win. The defense, however, is great.
If Alabama can force LSU into three or more turnovers, the Crimson Tide will find a way to win the game.
3. Is D.J. Shockley’s health the key for Georgia over Auburn?
It’s important because Georgia is a different team — both physically and mentally — when D.J. is in the game.
But just as important is the fact that the Georgia defense is the most healthy it has been in a while. Getting Kedric Golston back at tackle is huge because shutting down Auburn’s running game, or at least slowing it down, will be the real key to his game.
Big names are on the hot seat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It is never too early to crank up the coaching carousel. Some are squarely on the hot seat, others have just gotten off. Just one man’s assessment:
ON THE HOT SEAT
1. Bill Callahan, Nebraska: Too many “firsts” since he took over in Lincoln. Last week it was the first loss to Kansas (40-15) in 36 meetings. If Nebraska (5-4) loses its last two games to Kansas State and Colorado, it will be the first time the school has missed bowls in consecutive years since 1968-69.
2. Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M: This was Coach Fran’s third year and in most of his rebuilding programs it has been the charm. But the Aggies, despite the presence of QB Reggie McNeal, are 5-4 and coming off back-to-back losses to Iowa State (42-14) and Texas Tech (56-17). Their final two games are with Oklahoma and Texas. The Aggies want a little more than 5-6 for their $2 million per year.
3. Tommy Bowden, Clemson: This really isn’t fair because four of Clemson’s losses have been by a total of 14 points. Two the losses (Miami, Boston College) were in overtime. It’s also not practical because Bowden still has a $4-million buyout. But what if the Tigers lose their last two games to Florida State and South Carolina and finish 5-6? Just asking.
OFF THE HOT SEAT
1. Rich Brooks, Kentucky: Brooks is 3-18 against SEC competition. Unless he beats Vanderbilt on Saturday, he will likely be 3-21 against the SEC at the end of the season. But AD Mitch Barnhart and school president Lee Todd felt it only fair to give Brooks a fourth year. So 2006 will be one of those “significant improvement” seasons for Brooks.
2. Chuck Aamto, N.C. State: Just when you think Amato is down for the count, he up and beats Florida State. Now the Wolfpack (4-4) has an outside shot at a bowl. There are still some fundamental problems in that program (like no quarterback and an overall lack of discipline on the field) that must be addressed.
3. John Bunting, North Carolina: Bunting has done a really good job this year with one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The Tar Heels played Wisconsin (14-5) tough, beat Utah (31-17) and overcame an early embarrassing loss to Louisville (69-14). They also beat Virginia (7-5) and Boston College (16-14). And it was all done without Darin Durant, the school’s all-time leading passer.
Celebration penalties now miss mark
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When college football toughened its rules on excessive celebration back in the mid-90s, I supported it.
At the time it was needed. Thanks to the model citizens at the University of Miami (before Butch Davis cleaned things up), the game was getting out of control. A crack down was needed to eliminate the excessive showboating and self-aggrandizement.
In short, the players were reminded: It’s a team game and you celebrate with you teammates. It’s not about me, me, me. And if your forget that, or ignore that, it will cost you 15 yards. It was a good rule that came at exactly the right time. It has cleaned up the game.
Well, the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Now we have officials who are ignoring the spirit of the law and are obsessed with the letter of the law. And it’s hurting the kids who play the game.
Last Saturday night, Vanderbilt scored with 54 seconds left to come within one point, 35-34, of the Florida Gators. Vanderbilt was going to go for two and a dramatic win, but couldn’t because back judge Rick Louimet called an excessive celebration penalty on Vanderbilt receiver Earl Bennett.
Television replays showed that Bennett barely celebrated at all before his teammates grabbed him. And it certainly wasn’t excessive. There was no taunting. No intimidation. No throat slashing.
Because it was a judgment call, it could not be reviewed. Too bad. The official on the play exercised bad judgment.
Some officials argue that a foul is a foul, whether it happens in the first quarter or the final seconds. I don’t buy that.
Officials have to know that there are certain calls you just don’t make at certain times of the game. Basketball officials realize that unless the foul is pretty flagrant on the game’s final possession, you let the kids play and decide the game on the court. Here was a clear case where an official got caught up in the moment and made a call that did not have to be made. It didn’t dictate the outcome of the game because there was no assurance that Vandy would have made the two-point conversion. But the call did dictate how the game would end.
The SEC needs to be careful here. It is getting the reputation as a league that is pretty hard-line when it comes to calling the excessive celebration penalty. The game is still supposed to be fun. Let’s keep it that way.
SEC needs to come to grips with BCS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the roadblocks to success is when people live not in the real world, but in the world as they perceive it to be. This is a problem with some in the SEC.
If Alabama goes 12-0 (a big if, given the schedule) and if No. 1 USC and No. 2 Texas both win out (not a big if), the Crimson Tide will finish No. 3 in the BCS Standings. For the second consecutive year, an undefeated SEC champion from the state of Alabama will be shut out of the BCS title game.
There will be outrage, based in perception, around the SEC: “How can an undefeated team from the SEC be left out?” will be the mantra. “The SEC is OBVIOUSLY the best conference in the country.”
In the real world, the response will be: “When it came time to play a non-conference schedule, USC went on the road and beat Notre Dame. Texas went on the road and beat Ohio State. Alabama DID NOT play a non-conference game on the road and its non-conference games at home were Middle Tennessee State (3-4), Southern Miss (4-3), and Utah State (2-6).”
In the world of SEC fans, it used to be enough to say: “We won the SEC. We’re undefeated. That should end the discussion.”
That is simply not the case any more. In the real world, pollsters must use some kind of objective measuring stick to decide among undefeated teams.
How about this one: Southern California, Texas and Alabama all played inferior opponents last Saturday. USC bombed Stanford 51-21. Texas, knowing that the pollsters were watching, destroyed Baylor 62-0. Alabama did not score an offensive touchdown in beating (2-7) Mississippi State 17-0.
Alabama may have the best defense in the country. But the offense has scored one touchdown in its last 13 quarters against SEC competition.
In the real world where the pollsters live, style matters. That’s not fair but again, that’s the real world.
Alabama coach Mike Shula said recently that he really didn’t understand how the BCS worked and “I’m not sure I want to.”
That’s old-school thinking and the BCS, like it or not, is decidedly new school. If you’re a coach in the SEC, you’d better learn how the BCS works inside and out. This idea that “If we just take care of business on the field, the rest will work itself out” simply isn’t true any more.
I do know this: The coaches at USC and Texas certainly know how the BCS works, right down to the last decimal point.
‘Canes can’t blow past Bama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After watching Miami do a number on Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, the temptation was great to move the Hurricanes ahead of Alabama into the No. 3 spot. But Alabama gets its chance to prove they belong there in the next two weeks. If the Crimson Tide can beat LSU at home and Auburn on the road, they deserve to be called the No. 3 team in the nation. Oregon, whose only loss was to No. 1 USC, moves up the charts to No. 10. The Ducks have to beat Washington State (3-6) and Oregon State (5-4) to finish 10-1.
USC 9-0
Texas 9-0
Alabama 9-0
Miami 9-1
LSU 8-1
Penn State 9-1
Georgia 7-1
Notre Dame 6-2
Virginia Tech 8-1
Oregon 8-1
Ohio State 7-2
West Virginia 7-1
Texas Tech 8-1
Florida State 7-2
Wisconsin 8-2
Florida 7-2
UCLA 8-1
Auburn 7-2
TCU 9-1
Georgia Tech 6-2
Fresno state 7-1
Colorado 7-2
Louisville 6-2
Boston College 6-3
Michigan 6-3
Out: California 6-3
In: Louisville 6-2
WAITING IN THE WINGS
UTEP 7-1
Boise State 7-2
Oklahoma 5-3
South Carolina 6-3
Three things to look for
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1.What will Tennessee’s offense look like with Phillip Fulmer calling the plays?
Understand that Fulmer, who takes over from deposed offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, is a former offensive lineman and line coach. And when Fulmer is faced with a crisis, which a 3-4 record at Tennessee certainly is, he almost always goes back to the basics: Blocking, tackling, field position, etc.
The big question is how much he will use sophomore quarterback Eric Ainge, whose confidence is completely shot. Tennessee will need at least 21 points to beat Notre Dame because Charlie Weis is going to throw some things at Tennessee’s defense that they have never seen.
2. Marcus Vick.
Saturday night’s game with Miami will be the moment that Vick steps out of his big brother’s shadow. Little Vick has been getting better and better every game, and he gives his team a weapon against that great Miami defense that other teams in the ACC simply don’t have.
Virginia Tech will win Saturday night because the defense forces Miami quarterback Kyle Wright into turnovers and because Marcus Vick takes his first step toward greatness.
3. Which N.C. State team will show up in Tallahassee?
Will it be the one that always seems to play tough against Florida State? Or will it be the one that can’t seem to get out of its own way on offense?
Coach Chuck Amato needs some good news coming out of his camp. The Wolfpack is 3-4 (1-4 ACC) and looks like they will be staying home for the second straight bowl season. This team has too much talent to be playing this poorly. They are certainly due for a breakout game.
Playing the ‘What if…’ game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s the first Thursday in November which, as we all know, is the perfect time to play my favorite game: “What If.”
1: After Randy Sanders stepped down as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator Sunday night, what if head coach Phillip Fulmer had picked up the phone and called David Cutcliffe, his old buddy and former OC? And what if Fulmer had said to Cutcliffe, who is living in Knoxville and is looking for a job: “Cut, I need you right now. I need you for Saturday’s game at Notre Dame”?
Talk about an awkward situation. Cutcliffe would like to come to the aid of his old friend who, at 3-4, needs all the help he can get. But last May Cutcliffe had to step down as the Notre Dame offensive coordinator because of health reasons. Charlie Weis, who came to see Cutcliffe in the hospital, could not have been more gracious. Cutcliffe, now healthy again, would have been faced with going back to Notre Dame and trying to beat them.
That’s why, if Cutcliffe had been asked that question, the answer would have been no.
2: What if No. 1 USC and No. 2 Texas end up in the Rose Bowl, and No. 3 Virginia Tech and No. 4 Alabama finish undefeated? Surely they will meet in another bowl, right?
Wrong, BCS breath. If Virginia Tech wins the ACC championship, the Hokies are bound by contract to play in the Orange Bowl. The SEC champion, be it Alabama, Georgia or whomever, is obligated to play in the Sugar Bowl. There is a vague clause in the BCS by-laws about breaking these deals for the good of the game or something like that.
But if you think the powers that be will match No. 3 and No. 4 just because the fans want it, then you don’t know the bowl bidness. When it comes to the three BCS games other than the Rose (championship game), the bowl boys would rather have three good games than one great game and two others that are just OK.
3: What if USC Coach Pete Carroll wins this third straight national championship?
Nobody’s ever done it and so that would give Carroll the perfect springboard for his triumphant return to the NFL. There is something about that league (and for the life of me, I can’t think what it is) that gets into the blood of these guys. Carroll, who is much smarter and wiser after his five years at USC, would justify the move by saying he had done everything he could do at USC.
And he’d be right, of course. If it happens, it will take about 30 seconds for USC athletics director Mike Garrett to call Norm Chow, who is not really happy with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
Give Spurrier some credit for Gator victory
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Spurrier did a lot of impressive things during his 12 years as the head coach at Florida.
He won 122 games, an average of 10 per year. Not bad considering that when he took the job, Florida had NEVER won 10 games in a season.
Until he got there, Florida had never won an SEC championship. He won six.
He won a national championship (1996) and became the single most dominant SEC coach of his era.
Still, all of that pales in comparison to what Spurrier did to the psychology of the Georgia-Florida game.
Florida just beat Georgia for the 14th time in 16 years. Think about that. Nobody should beat a top drawer SEC team 14 out of 16 years. But that is what Florida has done. And they won last Saturday’s game, I believe, because of the mindset created by Spurrier.
When Spurrier was hired back in 1990, the Florida people wanted the Georgia game out of Jacksonville. Vince Dooley had just retired after going 17-7-1 against the Gators. Ray Goff won his first game against Florida in 1989. The Gator fans wanted the game back on campus.
Spurrier’s reaction to that idea went something like this: “Shoot, the game is played one hour from our campus. It’s in the state of Florida and it’s played in a place called the Gator Bowl. Let’s go play.”
And play he did, winning 11 of 12 games against Georgia. More important than just winning the games, Spurrier changed the entire mindset of Florida to the point where every year the Gators went to Jacksonville expecting to win. Now they have won three out of four since he left.
Mark Richt has done a remarkable job at Georgia, but the record shows that he is 1-4 against the Gators. Turning the psychology of the series back toward the Bulldogs may be the toughest obstacle he will face in his tenure in Athens.
Cutcliffe the cure for what ails Vols
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Tennessee football program, at least half of it, is a mess. When you’re 3-4 and your offensive coordinator steps down before Nov. 1, there is no other word to describe it.
But as painful as this process is going to be for head coach Phillip Fulmer, it may ultimately be the best thing that has happened to him and his program in a long time.
The first thing that Fulmer must do is convince David Cutcliffe to return as offensive coordinator. Cutcliffe, who has been living in Knoxville since being fired at Ole Miss last season, is rested and ready to go. To get Cutcliffe, he’ll have to offer a multi-year contract (probably three years) at about $400,000 per year.
Then Fulmer will have to turn to defensive coordinator John Chavis and give him exactly the same deal.
Then Fulmer will have two people he completely trusts running the offense and the defense. Then Fulmer can concentrate on what he does best — convincing top drawer talent from around the country to come to Knoxville and play before 107,000 people.
Since Cutcliffe left, Tennessee’s offense has really had no personality. Yes, it was good in 2001 when the Vols won at Florida and then spit the bit against LSU in the SEC championship game. But there has been a nagging sense that the production of the offense didn’t match the talent that Fulmer had brought to Knoxville. Highly recruited wide receivers seemed to languish while wearing orange and then go on to have success in the NFL. Tennessee fans rightfully wanted to know how these guys got so much better after they left Tennessee.
One of Fulmer’s greatest strengths is his loyalty to his assistants. Some would say he has been loyal to a fault. But every year when things seemed out of whack, Tennessee would hit that weak November schedule and Fulmer would convince himself that everything was going to be OK.
Well, when you’re ranked 108th in offense with that kind of talent, something is fundamentally wrong. And it took the total collapse against South Carolina, and the real prospect of a losing season, the first in his tenure, to bring that point home.
After the 2003 season, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville had to replace his offensive coordinator, Hugh Nall, who is a great and loyal assistant. He brought in a hired gun in Al Borges and the Tigers went 13-0 in 2004. Fulmer is in the exact same situation, only his hired gun is already living in Knoxville and is looking for a job. It’s time to bring David Cutcliffe home.
