Mr. College Football

By DirkDawggler

September 4, 2006 05:43 PM | Link to this

I wonder how good Tenneessee really is after their thumping of Cal? They certainly had better team speed, but California couldn’t tackle a dead man. If they get by Florida in a few weeks, look out.

Matt Stafford is ready right now, IMO. He didn’t look like a freshman coming off the bench. He looked like someone who was born for that moment.

I guess Gailey forgot his own edict about “getting the ball to Calvin.” Show some imagination, man. Run a reverse, put him in the backfield, do whatever you have to do. Whatever.

By BirdDawg

September 4, 2006 05:59 PM | Link to this

Hey Tony,

You left out the phantom holding call that took away a rolling Notre Dame’s momentum on their very first drive that negated a 22 yard Jeff S-what’s-his-name-jah gain.

If you are going to whine about a call, whine about what was the worst call in that game, and not a call that has some legitamcy to it.

You cannot use your helmet as a weapon, and that’s what the Bug LB did in that situation. But No. 5 for Notre Dame made a clean block and got called for a hold?

That Tony, was the worst call of the game.

By ming

September 4, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this

We learned that Cal and Notre Dame are vastly overrated.

And the next best thing to a GT win is a loss with promise.

By Play that funky music whiteboy

September 4, 2006 06:04 PM | Link to this

Tony - I was at the ND vs. Tech game, and the worst “call” wasn’t the helmet to helmet penalty.. the worst “call” was Chan Gailey’s “call” to punt on fourth and one in the third quarter.

Tech lost that game because their physical conditioning was suspect. They’ll get healthy over the next two weeks and will be fine in that respect, but Nix and Gailey both better “grow a set” for the showdowns they have with Clemson and Miami.

Darius Walker proved once again he is the best player on that ND roster. I’ve been saying that for three years now. Go Irish.

By RxDawg

September 4, 2006 06:15 PM | Link to this

Nope, the helmet to helmet was total crap. It felt like that call sealed their fate. If the QB is past the line of scrimage and running with the ball, he is open game. Brady was still in bounds when he got hit so I thought it should of been a fair play. Do you actually expect a defensive man to sit there and think “OK, this is the QB so i better make sure I form tackle him”. Please, thats ridiculous. If that really is a rule and the refs called it right, it should be changed to an all or none. Dont forget, this is FOOTBALL. Hehe, I did think it was funny watching that water bottle flip across the ref’s feet on TV. Suprised they didn’t get that called too. Great week, keep em coming.

By Greg

September 4, 2006 06:20 PM | Link to this

We all know that the “SLAC TEN CONFERENCE” can’t play with the “SEC”. If you take USC out of the “SLAC TEN” they are just a bunch of rooty poots. As for the Vols, one game don’t make a season. Chain Gailey can’t call the hogs, much less offensive plays for a football team. Matthew Stafford looked good against that Jr. High team that the dawgs played, lets see him against some comp. If Notre Dame is the second best team in the country then it is a pitiful year for college fotball. Tony do a spell check dude, it is a personel foul not personal found.

By stinGTime

September 4, 2006 06:22 PM | Link to this

Congrats music boy!

Your coach surely “has a set”!!! If (big if, I know) Tech makes a stop when your QB made that last first down dive, well, I can dream can’t I?

By Dennis

September 4, 2006 06:24 PM | Link to this

Tech got homered at home no doubt. But still should have won if Nix had some second and short plays. They lost too many opportunities to sustain drives because of throw away second down plays. What happened to Choice? He ran like gangbusters and Tech pulled him out of the next two series. No continuity. Ball is still jawing and that has got to stop. This was the same old same old.

By happy chicken

September 4, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

tird dog is funny

By G8R H8R

September 4, 2006 06:29 PM | Link to this

Has the rule has changed regarding helmet to helmet hits in college since the 2004 season?

If anyone saw the Georgia - Auburn game in 2004 and saw the helmet to helmet hit on Reggie Brown which yielded no flags, then they would have to wonder about the call against Tech on Saturday night.

I guess Reggie Brown wasn’t the poster boy for college football that year.

Even without the call, I think ND wins the game. Tech look tired in the second half and for some reason they looked like they totally forgot about CJ. Great strategy by Tech early, but ND outcoached them by making the necessary adjustments. Gailey and co. did not have any answers in the second half.

By Chuck

September 4, 2006 06:38 PM | Link to this

Tony forgot one more SEC true freshman quarterback who took meaningful snaps: Chris Smelley of South Carolina played in the first half when Blake Mitchell got hurt. He led the team to the first FG scoring drive of the game. And that was the only conference game in the first week.

By Gator Hater

September 4, 2006 06:41 PM | Link to this

Leak vs. Tebow is a real QB controversy. Joe T. 3 vs. Stafford is not. 3 years ago, Leak was everything tebow, stafford, and mustain are right now. He has not lived up to that promise (sort of) but that is not really his fault. That fault lies more with the Zookie Monster and Slurpin’ Meyer.

Mustain is getting the start this week and so should Stafford. at least the robert johnson kid has some identifiable athletic talent and QB skill whereas the special teams playing talentless legacy boy JT3 has zilch, zero, nada for talent. And spare me the whole JT3 is a good kid, hard worker nonsense or the i am a blind loyalist to my man crush CMR so I have blind faith in CMR and so should you or the whole silly JT3 understands the playbook argument. Well, if it all it took to play QB was wicked book smarts, we would never recruit a QB with any athletic or passing skills, we would just get every kid with a 1600 SAT score and make them a Division I starting QB for a top 15 team. Funny, how I do not seem to recall many great Ivy League QBs. But, according to the blind loyalist logic, the NFL Pro Bowl roster would be littered with Ivy League QBs.

but the bottom line blind loyalists is that before you continue to preach blind faith please remember that this is not a stafford v. jt3 thing. the issue is really why should i join the ranks of all of you as a blind loyalist when JT3 is the starting QB although CMR has now had the job for 6 years? If stafford is not ready and all you got is the legacy boy to start, then there is no way in hell i am just going to let CMR blindly lead me to believe that CMR is doing a good job. The issue then becomes that stafford has been on campus for nine months. Well then, why has CMR and Bobo done such a poor job coaching him up enough so that he could be ready to start opening day? If they have coached him up well, then you must wonder is MS dumb as rocks or is he simply uncoachable? In any regard, it is quite unfathomable that CMR does not have one solid QB to hold the spot for MS while MS deals with whatever learning curve issues he is struggling with. JT3 is simply not that guy. JT3 needs to be given back his clipboard and be given back his punt team assignment.

Is MS uncoachable? Perhaps. Read this excerpt from the Macon Telegraph from August 10, 2006: Matthew’s father John, a football and basketball standout before ruining his elbow, honed Matthew’s delivery at a young age. At times, the lessons got heated between the tactician father and gunslinger son. “He always had a real, real natural delivery,” Matthew Stafford said of his dad. “We got in some serious fights. Not fist fights, but, ‘I want to throw this way. No, you’re going to throw this way.’ I used to throw the baseball sidearm, and he would get so (mad).” Eventually, though, a fortuitous truce was reached. “In seventh grade, I was throwing it real far,” Stafford said. From there, he began imitating other quarterbacks with big arms, guys like Dan Marino, John Elway and Brett Favre. “Those guys just got my attention,” he said. “I’ve never been afraid to try something that I see Brett Favre or Elway or somebody do on television.” A boyhood of playing shortstop (he quit the high school baseball team after his sophomore season to focus on football) didn’t hurt either. “I think playing baseball helps you out a ton,” he said. “I played shortstop, and you have to throw from every arm angle, so I can throw the football from any angle. It just feels natural.” there are reports however despite the lectures of CMR and Bobo for the past nine months and apparently his father for his whole lifetime MS still has a sidearm delivery problem.

By IntercontinentalChampion

September 4, 2006 08:23 PM | Link to this

Actually, G8TR H8TR, the helmet-to-helmet rule in the NCAA is known as the “Reggie Brown Rule,” and was created in the off-season before last year as a result of that hit.

Greg, you are simply an idiot.

I thought the call was pretty bogus, but Gtu still could have stopped them.

This will be another incredible week for college football.

By Jay

September 4, 2006 09:18 PM | Link to this

Tony Barnhart, sometimes I question how you hold your job.

1. Youre gonna say the SEC’s qb position is in good hands based on two qbs playing garbage time against Southern Miss and Western Kentucky? Give me a break. Typical carried-away fool hoping on the newest fad.

2. Funny how you give credit to Greg Adkins and NOT to the biggest reason for Tennessee’s revival: ever hear of Cutcliffe? No, youre right, it must be the uga coach because we know how brown your nose is from covering them and not the coach who guided the Mannings, Tee Martin, Heath, Andy, etc. Youre clueless to not mention Cutcliffe at all.

By ha

September 4, 2006 11:01 PM | Link to this

smelley stunk.

By Anonymous

September 4, 2006 11:48 PM | Link to this

The sidearm delivery is not a problem for Matthew Stafford. He uses it when he needs it cause believe it or not sometimes you have to sidearm the ball to get it in the place you want it too. I’ve seen numerous NFL quarterbacks use it…including Brett Farve, Dan Marino as listed in your article.

By Wildhawg

September 5, 2006 01:15 AM | Link to this

Not only is Mustain starting this week for Arkansas but Robert Johnson, the starting QB against USC has been moved to WR. How often does a kid who started at QB move to another position in less than 24 hours?

By Dirtie Birdie

September 5, 2006 07:34 AM | Link to this

CMR should follow the arkansas example and reassign JT3 back to punt team coverage

By gomdawg

September 5, 2006 08:33 AM | Link to this

Dirtie Birdie, Look at Arkansas record last 5 years and CMR record the last 5 years and you want to ? CMR . I don’t GO DAWGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By big dog

September 5, 2006 08:38 AM | Link to this

God have mercy on Mitch Mustain. It’s gonna be a long long season for him.

By Ol Ball Coach

September 5, 2006 08:40 AM | Link to this

Come on Tony, you can go deeper into your analysis if you want…..we’ll just explain it to the UGA fans, later.

By jackets fan

September 5, 2006 08:50 AM | Link to this

I love how fans think that GT somehow forgot that they had Calvin Johnson in the 2nd half as if the other team has nothing to do with it. ND double covered CJ the entire 2nd half. What GT did not do was identify any other weapons besides CJ. If Tech ever wants to be a consistent winner, they need another WR and a TE to step up and get open. Tech didn’t attack the middle of the field the entire game. The result of that is linebackers are able to stay near the line of scrimmage, and safeties are able to focus only on their side of the field. If you run a TE up the middle and get the ball to him, the linebackers will have to drop back deeper, safeties will not be able to cheat towards the sidelines and now you’ll have more space for the run game (both RB and QB) and for the dump off passes to the flats. That’s where Tech needs to improve, not forcing the ball to CJ in double coverage (the exception being against Samford/Troy/Duke).

By Chris

September 5, 2006 08:53 AM | Link to this

Tony, I will agree that Big Ten refs are inept..that’s why the conference adopted instant replay. But to say that Notre Dame will beat Penn State by double-digits based on the Ga Tech game is insane. Penn State will win because they’ll do something Ga Tech failed to do….throw the ball to their star receivers. I would also suggest to Brady Quinn that he wear extra padding on Saturday.

By gt81

September 5, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this

The game as a whole was called terrible by the refs. The ND flags as bad as they were were only 1/2 of what they should have been. It was 2 bad teams and a worse set of refs. The Big 10 refs stole the game from Tech all night. Tech is bad ND is no better.

By old Tech fan (in NC)

September 5, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this

Some Tech fans were troubled that CCG punted with about five minutes remaining. Coker punted last night with about two minutes left!?

to the other jackets fan…your last name Nix?

By Poor Tech

September 5, 2006 12:07 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe it….Tech fans complaining about the refs again. If the refs would only treat Tech fairly they would compete for the title every year! It’s not just football, the refs in basketball and baseball cheat Tech every game!

By Richard Cline

September 5, 2006 12:08 PM | Link to this

Of all the Pundits, you’re the biggest retard of them all, Tony. To say ND will beat PSU by double digits is just stupid. But you’ve always let your bias get in the way of any common sense you might have.

By Stinger 1

September 5, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this

BirdDawg don’t be whining about one holding call when ND’s O-line had more tackles than their D-line did. Except for when a QB is stationary in the pocket and a defender can pretty much measure him up and hit him where he wants the helmet to helmet call is bogus. These are players that are running full tilt to tackle another player who’s running full speed and if that defender is such a sure tackler that he can put his head right where the ball carrier has his head then said defender will never miss a tackle. No that one call was bad but TECH has to find a way to win when they can hold an offense like ND’s to 14 points. I’m hoping Nix has more imagination than Gailey but what I saw Saturday night looked like the same old offense. No fullback carries. No throws or very few throws over the middle. No gimmicks like a reverse or HB pass or lining up players (like CJ) where the defense doesn’t expect to see them. ND made good adjustments and TECH didn’t. The holding by ND didn’t hurt either.

By Play that funky music whiteboy

September 5, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this

Thank you for the acknowledgement stinGTime; I thought it wasn’t going to be “that much” of a game, wow was I wrong. Now, to all you Tech Fans (Davey, I’m calling you out youngster) are you now going to keep talking about ND being “overrated” - although somehow your defense is the best in the nation in your eyes, and we won the game… oh no, the refs won the game for ND that’s right. Did I think the helmet to helmet call was a good one - No, and neither did Charlie Weis when interviewed after the game; but I didn’t think the “leg whip” penalty was either (when’s the last time you heard that one called, 1958??) Look at the penalty differential - ND got clobbered.

Notre Dame won the game because Rubin Mendoza has those guys on an unreal conditioning program, all of them.

So Tech fans and Tech football, I have a simple request - DO NOT LOSE TO TROY, SAMFORD, VIRGINIA, DUKE, NORTH CAROLINA OR NC STATE this year!!! Tech ending up 7-5 will not help us at all.

By tim

September 5, 2006 01:26 PM | Link to this

To “Gator Hater”:

In reference to your calling Stafford “dumb as rocks”:

“Before practice, Richt excused one of the Scholar Dog Teams from having to go through the team’s agility drills. The Bulldogs are broken into the Scholar Dog Teams, and one group per week will be rewarded for its success in the classroom. On Monday, the players excused from the agility drills were Tripp Chandler, Josh Davis, Marquis Elmore, Bo Fowler, Kelin Johnson, Jeremy Lomax, Justin Lyles, Casey Nickols, Matthew Stafford, Seth Watts and Des Williams.”

And I hardly think it is a matter of him being uncoachable, or CMR and Bobo not being up to the task of getting him ready to play; anyone who follows college (or NFL) football at all knows that it is pretty rare for a Frosh (or a rookie) to come in and start right away. YThe pressure placed on anyone doing so is unbelievable; even Leak (arguably the best QB in the SEC right now, and a player who was just as highly touted as Stafford) did not start until about halfway through the year (and also struggled when he did, especially his first start versus Kentucky - a game they almost, and should have, lost).

While I think his play last week certainly merits a considerably greater amount of playing time, for the fans to forget how complicated CMR’s playbook/system (especially of checks at the line) is, as well as how hard it is to play in your first SEC road game (at night, nat’l TV, the “Spurrier Spotlight”), is simply being foolish. Undoubtedly, CMR and Bobo want to avoid some of the insane pressure being put on him by people (like many on this blog) in the Bulldawg Nation. I’d like to see how far along you could get with CMR’s playbook/check system in 9 months (while adjusting to living away from home in a strange town AND trying to begin college classes).

I am not a “blind loyalist” and I am fairly certain (or hopeful at least) that Stafford gets a lot more snaps this weekend, but until then, CMR will let JTIII control the game, use the clock, and rely on the D and the playmakers [and the whole playbook] on Offense (TB, Ware, Lumpkin, Henderson, MM, etc. etc.)to win. Remember, we scored less than 20 last year and still won. Trust me, I can see the difference in the two QBs arms, and it is only a matter of time before Stafford becomes the starter. I say if he has a good outing Saturday (which I think he will), then he likely gets the start next week.

Also, I don’t really get your point on the sidearm delivery aspect of his throws. As someone else pointed out, sometimes that is just what a “gunslinger” will do. And during the MR show Sunday night, Richt only casually laughed and remarked at how great his arm looked when making one of those sidearm throws (which he did with success Saturday); at not point did he even begin to admonish Matthew for using this type of delivery. In fact, it was probably the only way he could have gotten the ball to the reciever at that point.

I really cannot believe the viciousness of the attacks on this, and other, blogs amongst UGA fans. It is really quite disturbing; I hope you all begin to pull together one day, and especially that the namecalling and :”you are a liar!” and the “I told you so’s” stop; it’s really quite childish and unproductive, whether one was right or not.

GO DAWGS!!

By utbaby

September 5, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this

Watchout! Rocky Top is back y’all … Fulmer is awake from the deep sleep he was in! No more Sanders’ offense … Cutcliff came home! Watchout! Watchout y’all!!!!!!!!!!

By Ricky Realist

September 5, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this

Sorry, Tony, but I also can not understand why you think Notre Dame will beat Penn State by 10 or more points. I am a GT fan and know that our defense played well against the Irish, but I also think that GT only scoring 10 points was as much due to our conservative play calling as it was the ND defense. Based on ND’s play against GT, Penn State deserves more respect than what you are giving them. I will not be surprised at all if Penn State beats ND.

By Play that funky music whiteboy

September 5, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this

Ricky Realist - in the same type of game, Joe Pa would make Chan Gailey look like a Riverboat Gambler! That game looked and felt like an NFL game. Penn State isn’t going to do it, if there is a blemish on ND after September, it’s going to be Michigan.

utbaby - isn’t it something to realize that if Cutcliffe had not had his coronary episode before last season, he would be in his second year as the Offensive Coordinator of the Irish? You’re welcome. The ND family taking care of him and making sure he got healthy again is going to save Rocky Top and Phil Fullmer.

By bmahan

September 5, 2006 03:00 PM | Link to this

With the first S.E.C. matchup of the year the Gamecocks beat Miss State and won their 6th conference game in a row. Take note you hairy dogs!! See you Saturday.

By Richard Cline

September 5, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this

Play that funky music whiteboy

You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about and, obviously, haven’t seen a PSU game in quite some time.

By Old Dawg 55

September 5, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this

Tony, you’re starting to disappoint me in your analysis of football…I don’t see how ND 14 GT 10 translates into a double digit win over PSU??? Didn’t you see PSU’s game? As to the helmet-to-helmet hit..and it was..you see special films each year on helmet tackling, spearing…it’s a safety measure that needs to be enforced. Keeping you head up..lead with the face mask and wrapup..technique is taught and should be followed. Don’t forget Mustain’s HS coach is now the Hogs’ OC..has a little to do with Mitch’s rise to starter…and, finally, it’s “personal foul” to settle that blurb. Georgia’s O line will determine if we win or lose..not Stafford’s insertion..BirdDawg warped mind to the contrary! GO DAWGS!!

By GREG is ironic

September 5, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

GREG - I LOVE the irony of you asking Tony B to use spellcheck and then correcting him by making an error of your own! That’s good stuff, man. “Personel” foul instead of “Personal.” LOL

BTW - Why does the press always show WAY more love to Notre Dame than they deserve? What does Louisville get no love in the poll?

By Play that funky music whiteboy

September 5, 2006 04:23 PM | Link to this

Richard Cline - I saw PSU lose to Michigan last year, and I also saw them beat Ohio State. I know that their “soul” on offense is gone (QB - Robinson, what a tough hombre’) but their “soul” on defense is still there (Posluzny). I know Penn State’s running game was absent Saturday, but I also know why run it when the pass seems to be killing them.

Last year was the year for PSU to beat ND, but they didn’t play last year. ND at home - and you and I both know what happens to PSU when they play ND there. Snow Bowl baby. Now, let’s you and I find another place to “play” regarding this game - the Tech fans were nice enough to tolerate me here for a few weeks. Seems however that many of them that swore to me they would be here to talk about the game, have disappeared.

Good luck the rest of the season Jackets. Richard Cline - please help Joe Pa find his spot on the sideline and keep him from wandering to the concession stand like he did last year against Michigan.