AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 29 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe Bowls are big for these teams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New Orleans—I hear it all the time during bowl season.
Only one game (the BCS championship) has any meaning. The rest of the bowls, goes the argument, really don’t need to be played.
And if you’re a college football fan, you can make that argument. But for some players and coaches, there is a lot riding on the outcome of the bowl game. Here are just a few schools that will really benefit with a win in the post-season:
1. LSU, Ohio State: This one’s obvious. LSU would win its second national championship since 2003 and give the SEC its fifth title since expansion in 1992. Les Miles would get a huge raise to over $3 million per season. Ohio State is in the NC game for the second straight year and would win its first bowl game ever against an SEC team (0-8).
2. Florida: The Gators are already talking about next year when QB Tim Tebow, the Heisman Trophy winner, and WR Percy Harvin will be juniors. A young defense will be a year older and better and Urban Meyer’s recruiting classes will really start to kick in. Florida wants an impressive win over Michigan in the Capital One Bowl to launch its bid for the 2008 national championship.
3. Georgia: Ditto for the Bulldogs, who are very up front about why they really want to beat Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. A victory gives Georgia a top five finish and likely puts the Bulldogs in the preseason top five for 2008. Georgia knows it will be on a collision course with Florida for the SEC and the national championship next season. The road to the BCS championship is a little easier if you don’t have to slug your way up the rankings (ask Auburn).
4. Tennessee: The Volunteers put together a nail-biting finish to get to the SEC championship game. But the entire tone of the off-season will be different if Tennessee loses to Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl. Coach Phillip Fulmer knows that he’s losing just about all of his offensive staff. He knows that last year’s loss to Penn State in this game created a lot of questions going into 2007. If nothing else, this is a quality of life game for Fulmer. His quality of life between now and the 2008 season will be a lot better if he wins.
5. Alabama: There really is no difference between 7-6 and 6-7, right? Actually, there is when you’re in the process of building a program, which Nick Saban is trying to do at Alabama. Yes, the Crimson Tide had a total collapse after losing to LSU on Nov. 3. The lack of talent in Tuscaloosa finally kicked in and something was ripped out of that team after the gut-wrenching loss to the Tigers at Bryant-Denny. In short, Alabama has now seen rock bottom and now comes the process of building the program from the ground up. It helps if the first building block is a win going into the off-season conditioning program.
Comments
By FLA DAWG
December 29, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
I keep hearing how “Different” this Ohio State team is this year. Ok, LSU is different too. Despite losing their top three players they STILL WON the SEC Title. I have picked LSU all season and was wrong twice (not by much though). They will win again and Ohio State will be 0 - 9 against the SEC in post season play.
Florida will be loaded for bear and waiting for The Dawgs next year if things play out the way it looks now on paper. But things never play out that way. The Gators will stumble. You can’t run a QB on Drive Zero plays dozens of times a game and expect him to stay healthy. He was injured this year and will be again next year if they use the same offense.
Similar scenario for The Dawgs but, knowing their schedule is one of the toughest in the country next year and building on the confidence of 7 straight wins (they WILL dominate Hawaii) these Big Dawgs will win the SEC and have a legitimate shot at playing for all the marbles next year.
Next year will be a downer for UT and even they are worried about it.
Alabama will comeback bigtime next year under Saban and will have a real shot at the SEC West Title.
By Snoop
December 29, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
It is astounding that Richt and his players are already talking about Florida and next year’s rankings. I understand their jealously toward Tebow, but I think it is a little early for the dogs to be planning the sale of their 2008 championship rings on ebay.
By GW
December 29, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
Snoop, Some UGA fans may be jealous of Tebow but most of us like Stafford just fine. I’ve heard UGA players only compliment Tebow. There will be many big games before the Gators in 08. Tennessee fans don’t like Fulmer period and they don’t see a new QB in sight. I know a few and sat among many at the SECC game. Beating Wisconsin won’t help much. A preseason Top 5 team can get away with a single loss better than one ranked 11-25 in August.
By tid4evr
December 29, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
Coach Tubberville built his winning record while the coaching carosul was going on in the SEC. The only other stable program in the West was Arkansas, Tubberville is 6-4 against them. Look for his record and value to take a nose dive in three or four years.
By Scott
December 29, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
Yea yea yea the SEC is the greatest thing since Kennedy. Is’nt it funny how you are predicting that all the SEC teams will win their bowl games. Good thing your not bias. I am betting OSU will redeem themself this year. By the way is’nt it funny how OSU has been to the big game more times in the last six years than any SEC team. The Big ten also dominates the SEC in bowl games over the last seven years. Now lets all take a moment and bow to the SEC. LMAO
By workinDawg
December 29, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
Snoop, why would UGA be jealous of Tebow?? -15 rushing yards, six sacks, and a whippin is what UGA gave Tebow in 2007. Not exactly something to get jealous over.
UF can have the fullback, we’ll stick with Stafford.
By Charles N. Carter
December 29, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
Tony- You forgot to mention that Ohio State will return probably 17-18 starters next year, play USC early in the season & will be a definite Top 1-3 preseason team should they win on January 8th and a Top 5-7 team should they lose. They are loaded next year and will challenge AGAIN for the Nat’l Championship.
By shane #1
December 29, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
1-lsu’s defense should win this one.miles often takes stupid chances,but he knows his d is there to pull his butt out of the fire if he fails.look out for his gadget plays in this one.osu plays in the big eleven where play calling is 50 yrs behind the times,they will not be prepared for miles’innovative plays.2-the gators should handle michigan with ease.next year will not be so easy.michigan has recruited a great dual threat qb and has a new coach that dwells in the twentyfirst century.they should win the big eleven next year.imagine a spread o with a mobile qb in the fog bound big ten!3-uga needs to win big to make a statement for next year.the dogs are at the doorway to greatness.can they kick the door open and enter the realm of the elite?honestly,i don’t know.4-fulmer was and still is a good coach,but he may be past his prime.the sec has changed so much in the last ten years and the level of coaching is ridiculous.miles has a nc,possibnly two after this season,saban has a nc,ditto for fulmer and the obc.tubby or richt could win it all in any given year.hell,with a couple of breaks both would already have a nc!now petrino has moved to ark and nutt is at old miss.i cannot think of any sec team that doesn’t have good coaching.fulmer is as good as he ever was,his problem is that the other 11 teams have caught up with him.at least as far as coaching is concerned.5-there is a big difference in a losing season and a winning season,whether tech fans believe it or not.saban needs to win this one to set the tone for his program.the word is that saban is going to clean house at bama.some of the tide players are going home sans scholarships!much like the miami coach did.
By bamadon
December 29, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
Alabama players are starting to get Coach Saban’s work in process. They have had there best practices in a long time getting ready to play the buffalo’s in the weedeater bowl. Coach Saban has Bama going in the right direction, but it is going to take time to recruit the players he wants and needs to restore the football program that I remember growing up watching that owned the SEC and kicked the crap out of the vols and tigers!!
By Pitbull
December 29, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
But what about Tech? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
By Apaul404
December 29, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
Scott, do you watch the games? Ohio State plays in the big two err, ten, big ten. Their conference schedule is garbage, their out of conference schedule is garbage. And this year they were rewarded for absolutely playing nobody and losing at home to an average Illinois team in the next to last game. Kentucky could have gone unbeaten against that schedule. Get real brother.
By Buckheadbill
December 29, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
Ohio State has been the NC game more than all the SEC teams combined? I think the object is to win some of those games.
By TDone
December 29, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
It’s amazing how Mr. Tony only discusses the SEC. Not only does he not talk about Tech, but refuses to respect the fact that there are folks in this area who are not impressed by the SEC.
But did he not graduate from Muttland?
By athensdawg
December 29, 2007 6:02 PM | Link to this
Notice what makes these bowl games important…WINNING THEM.
Why are georgia people talking about next year? We need to win first.
Why do Ohio State fans contintue to beat their chests about superiority…
YOU HAVEN’T BEATEN AN SEC TEAM IN A BOWL GAME. Win and we will give you 1/8 of the respect you think you are due. Win 7 more straight games vs. SEC teams in bowl games and we will still give you 1/8 of the respect you think you are due.
but you will be 0-9. NOBODY, NOT EVEN THE PATRIOTS COULD BEAT LSU IN WHAT AMOUNTS TO A HOME GAME FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
By RxDawg
December 29, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this
Scott, your a moron. What part of 0-8 vs the SEC do you not understand?
By War Eagle
December 29, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this
Bamadon, Saban on the right direction, has`nt won a game since October(0-5), most of this year recruiting class will not qualify, discipline( 12 players since arrival)? Bama football has lost its appeal, 6-7 this year 7-6 next year, 6 straight defeats by Auburn>>>good bye Suitcase,<<< see you in Texas El Pasco as Mike Price wealthy defensive coordinator.Bear Bryant was a great coach and did wonders for Bama and SEC, but Athletic Department Administration poor judgement has put them in chaos for several years. Too many coaches and defeats…
By TURD WATCHER
December 30, 2007 2:18 AM | Link to this
SABAN WILL DOMINATE TURDEVILLE, BEGINNING NEXT YEAR. SABAN IS HARD AT WORK AND TURD IS SKINNG IN ASPEN. DON’T COUNT OUT SUITCASE AND DON’T OVERRATE TURD.
By bamadon
December 30, 2007 7:06 AM | Link to this
To War Eagle, Coach Saban is going to run off the players who are not buying in to the program. Auburn my beat the crimson tide 7 or 8 times in a row, but he will restore the football program back to its elite status. Bama is getting your tigers butt in recruiting and the tiger fans like you do not like one bit!! You are right about the athletic departments problems. Mal Moore does to retire and and raise money for the athletic dept. ROLL TIDE AND HAPPY NEW YEARS AND WAR EAGLE BUDDY!!
By Jim
December 30, 2007 7:21 AM | Link to this
War Chicken-
Keep that big ole chip on your shoulder. If you didn’t have it you wouldn’t be albarn. Saban will do just fine…it’s called building a program and you can’t do it in a year. In 2 or 3 years, if he goes 0-5 then I’ll worry. As for Tubbey and albarn…who really cares? Obviously you are more worried about Alabama.
ROLL TIDE and GO DAWGS!
By Gen Neyland
December 30, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this
With the offensive coaching staff shake down, UT isn’t recruiting well, especially on the offense. Recruits want stability. Plus, rumors of young talent on the O side of the ball wanting to bail is disturbing. LB Mayo and RB Foster have been mentioned for opting out of their senior year. Should have found a way to keep Trooper Taylor, TE/recruiting coordinator Matt Luke, RB’s coach Kurt Roper atop Rocky…
By Eric1
December 30, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this
A bammer yelling war chicken? That’s funny. You must be one of those Einsteins who show up on TV holding two rolls of toilet paper and a box of laundry detergent. War Chicken indeed! Trust me when I tell you that we’re not afraid of ole Sleazy Saban. Check the record, Brain Tumor, he can’t beat Auburn and he can’t compete with Tommy T. I look forward to whipping your sorry butts for years to come. War Damn Eagle!!!
By Jim
December 30, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this
Eric the Inbred-
You likely still live in the same double-wide that you had in college. Oh excuse me, I think albarn actually uses manufactured homes to describe them to prospective students. Albarn (formely Alabama Polytechnical Institute) is getting a little scared since Alabama has finally got their s$^% together. I know that you are likely a paranoid inbred but it is fun watching you squirm. Oh talk about toliet papet, your dumb a$$ school is the only one in the country to roll it’s own university after a game. Talk about lame. You’re likely one of fools out there doing it. You probably majored in sociology..LOL>
ROLL TIDE!