Mr. College Football

By trisha

September 1, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

Just two words. Clumsux-over rated . bama not as good as they look.You are a idoit

By ACC

September 1, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

The ACC is just as good if not better than the SEC.

By Jim

September 1, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

Next 4 road games @ home?

By spike

September 1, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

As usual, Clemson chokes. It just happened earlier than usual. This team is the cream of the ACC?

By TDone

September 1, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Relative to the Alabama-Clemson game, the results show the fallacy of pre-season polls. On paper, Clemson looked much better than Alabama. But there was no empirical evidence. All we had were expectations, perceptions, and assumptions.

By TommyP

September 1, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

Tony: Way to try to deflect the criticism away from Bowden and onto the players. I know you’re probably buddies with all these coaches but what an absurd comment.

Bowden has become a joke across the nation. That was a horrible coaching job.

If your kids aren’t competing, that’s the on the coach.

“Next four road games at home.”

Priceless.

By Another Ed

September 1, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

1. Either Clemson was over rated, ‘Bama was under rated, all the stars were aligned correctly for ‘Bama on that night, or maybe the coaching difference played a huge part in the game. I personally do not think ‘Bama is that much better than Clemson, but then I thought Clemson would win the game so that shows what I know.

No one should suddenly think ‘Bama is a great team. They are still young, talented but young. This could all be an anomaly. If they destroy Tulane, W. Kentucky and play well at Arkansas we will know much more.

1. Clemson should be upset with their play. They appeared to be flat. The coaches can only do so much to get players ready to play. Sometimes you have to stand up, be a man and prepare yourself. That was ugly.

3.They just might do it. One game decides nothing.

1. Play a D-1 opponent and let’s see how the offense does. They played well. Stay focused and maybe they will prove the pundits wrong. The type of athlete they played last week simply does not compare to the type they will play in the future.

2. I like it. They should do this every year.

By Roswell Ed

September 1, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this

It was electric saturday night at the dome. I hope it sticks myself with more great matchups, too bad bammer won the game though.

UGa vs Tech in the dome Tony? I thought you wanted exciting with good teams and good match ups, that game would suck, yawn, snoozer, boring, etc, etc, etc!

WDE

By Eric1

September 1, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

Clemson was horrible. Lucky for the bammers, they SUCK! Grady High School could’ve whipped them.

By killroy

September 1, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

Poor Tony, all you have done the past month is make excuses for the Dawgs. You know the big letdown is coming and you will have to write about your team choking and collapsing instaed of someone elses like usual. Should make for entertaining reading for the rest of us.

Go get some tissues Barnhart, your gonna need them!

By Deluded?

September 1, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

TO “ACC:” “The ACC is just as good if not better than the SEC” ??? You’re talking about basketball, lacrosse and soccer, right?

By m

September 1, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Tony, you SUCK almost as much as Chan Gailey. The ACC may or may not be down but this weekend didn’t prove anything….except for the fact that fools like you overrated Clemsux. 7 acc teams won their games. State wasn’t going to beat SC at home… Virginia wasn’t going to beat USC (no sec could beat them either). Tech looked way better in a first game than anyone thought. Let’s face it…you sec homers are the most delusional people on earth.

By son_sir

September 1, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Another Tommy Bowden classic. Great recruiter, poor coach. If those teams had switched head coaches, the result would have been just as lopsided the other way. Tommy has shown time and again he can’t win the big one. Worst of all, Clemson U., a school that used to take pride in playing physical football, had 0 yds. rushing. 0 ! Time to put Bobby and Tommy out to pasture. Time for Clemson to get someone who can recruit and coach.

By BigP

September 1, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

And to make matters worse thousands of fans from both teams Saturday say they will never return. Too man weirdos on the streets. (DRAGACON)

By Miles

September 1, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

ESPN College Gameday in Athens (Georgia vs. Alabama) on September 27, 2008?

By Monty

September 1, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

I’m sure Tony does not read these comments but for the sake of it … you’re a fool for deflecting the blame from Bowden. I understand though that writers like you have to play the politics so that you do not alienate coaches … plus, there is that middle-age white guy buddiness that you want with these guys. I’m a Bammer so I’ve got nothing but warm and fuzzy right now, but I was in the dome on Saturday and all I could see was one very well-coached team and one team that looked like they had never practiced. That’s not the players — that’s the coach.

P.S. — I picked 31-13 (pretty close)

RTR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Mizzou Tigers

September 1, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

m- you are delusional. The point is that the ACC’s two best teams (I think you would agree that Clemson and VT are 2 of the best in the conference) got handled. One was beat by a middle of the pack SEC team and the other by a nobody.

By gatorhead

September 1, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

The overwhelming stench of the weekend is the ACC flopping around like a bunch of gasping fish: Alabama routed Atlantic Division favorite Clemson, Coastal Division favorite Virginia Tech was undercut by East Carolina, N.C. State was dead on arrival at South Carolina on Thursday, North Carolina struggled most of the night with McNeese State and Virginia offered even less resistance than expected in rolling over for Southern Cal. It’s only wins were over I-AA teams (McNeese, Jacksonville State, Charleston Southern, James Madison, Delaware) or their functional equivalents (Baylor, Kent State).

The question now is, does the conference even have an opportunity for the rest of the season to atone for its terrible start? Assuming Georgia Tech, Florida State and Clemson’s closing in-state tangles with the SEC are too late to make a difference in public/media perception, the only opportunities the conference has to make any kind of notable statement outside of its own borders are Virginia Tech’s trip to Nebraska, Maryland’s game with California, Florida State’s game with Colorado in Jacksonville and Boston College’s game with Notre Dame, maybe, depending on how good the Huskers, Bears, Buffs and Irish turn out to be. For the record, only Cal, at 7-6, finished with a winning mark among that group last year. With the only possible national contenders already eliminated from the race — are you going to push Wake Forest? Really? — the ACC can pack it and hold its fingeres for a miraculous turnaround in its territorial adventures come November.

By Big Dawg

September 1, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

First, Congratulations to all the teams that won this weekend.

The first game usually proves very little, we will see how the Tigers react to getting their tails handed to them by Bama. It looked to me like they had fallen into the trap of believing all the hype and didn’t come prepared to play while the Tide was raring to go. The truth is Clemson is better than they played and Alabama is also better than a lot of people thought they would be. We will see as there are at least 12 to 13 more games to be played by each of these teams and a lot can happen over the course of the year. I personnally thought Alabama would win and that Clemson would lose because Clemson has 4 new starters on their OL and ballgames are won in the trenches. Clemson IMHO will be fine as their OL gets experience and jells together, a lot of Clemson’s lack of production was due to blown assignments by the OL not because they were being physically manhandled by Alabama’s DL.

As for Georgia’s schedule getting tougher, I believe the opposite is true because now they know they will have to bring their A game for 4 full quarters against the Tide in Athens. Less chance of over looking or underestimating them now as they did last year against South Carolina and Tennessee. The Dawgs will be fine as two their question marks were partially answered Saturday- place kicking and once again the OL which the 1st and 2nd string OL played an excellent game.

GT looked good but as I said before it is only the first game, we should know by the 5th or 6th game whether Tech is for real. I for one hope they surprise everybody by going 13-1 and winning the ACC Championship and the Orange Bowl.

As for South Carolina, very little can be gleaned from their game with NC State as neither team was very impressive as it was a game of who would have the most turn overs.

Florida vs Hawaii- Florida struggled at first but then overwhelmed an outmanned team. Defense wasn’t tested because this wasn’t the same team that played in the Sugar Bowl.

USC vs Virginia- also USC faced a totally different team than last year as VA lost most of their big time players to the NFL, just not on the same level as USC, TX, OK, OSU etc. in being able to reload each year with 4 and 5 star athletes. We will see in 2 weeks when Ohio State comes a calling in LA.

As for Georgia and/or GT playing the first game in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff- I personnally like the idea of seeing either one of these 2 playing each year in this game as the State’s representative.

Go Dawgs “Earn It”

By Another Ed

September 1, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

Hey m 7 ACC teams won their games this weekend. Of those, BC beat Kent State, & Wake beat Baylor. No other team from your conference beat a Div. 1 team! None! The rest all beat Div. 1-AA or worse teams. So are you saying you guys are great? In the marquis games, Va. Tech, Clemson & Virginia lost, with only Va. Tech being competitive. NC. State and Clemson were blown out (OK, the second half for NC State)

I am not saying any SEC team could be USC, because we would not actually know unless they played. They look awesome, and Virginia was obviously out manned. That one can be overlooked. But Maryland only beat Delaware by 7 and UNC beat McNeese by only 8. Those are not impressive performances. GA Tech demolished a D-2 team. Good for them, but better teams await.

Of course, Ark. & GA. played JV squads and Arkansas nearly lost. The rest played D-1 schools and all but Miss. State won.

I agree that this means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Why don’t you simply calm down. Basketball season is coming soon.

By TrueCrimson

September 1, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Golly Gee Whilikers… What Happened?

Everybody knows that Bama can’t play football anymore… Right?

I mean, Georgia cruised right past these guys last year. Didn’t they?

And the 2007 SEC East Division Champions… Well no, that wasn’t Georgia, was it? Oh yeah, Tennessee. Surely they put the Crimson Tide in their place last year… Didn’t they?

Heck, surely a mid-level West Division team can’t play with the East Division Champs… Can They?

No… No. It just can’t be. The Crimson Tide might have a storied history, but that’s all in the past. Right?

I don’t wanna hear all this “Bama is Back!” nonsense. It just can’t be! Maybe if we just ignore them — they’ll go away. Maybe…

Now look — I understand that this is only one ballgame. The Bama Nation has been wandering in the wilderness long enough to have learned the value of humility. We don’t have any SEC bragging rights yet. We have a long season ahead of us. Bama may have played a good game against the Dawgs last year, but they did beat us, after all.

What I liked about this game:

We didn’t win it with big plays. We won’t win the “Pontiac Play of the Week” contest this week. We aren’t even nominated. We aren’t watching an endless stream of Julio Jones highlight clips this morning. Julio played well, all of the Freshmen did. But so did the upperclassmen.

This was a team effort. The game was won in the trenches. Alabama finally has the kind of smash-mouth, working-class talent on the Offensive and Defensive lines to lay down a 60 minute game of old fashioned, SEC power football.

I have always contended that we couldn’t really say that “Bama is Back” until such time as the whole of the Crimson Tide football team is greater than the sum of it’s parts. That’s exactly what we saw Saturday night in Atlanta.

It looks like these kids have learned the value of putting the team above the individual. I hope so. If they have, and if they maintain the work ethic and the attitude that led to this victory, then the Crimson Tide is going to be fun to watch this season. At least for the Bama Nation!

RTR!!!

By SEC

September 1, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Last two years two national champions from the SEC. Cry all you want about the SEC being overrated, problem is the SEC is THAT GOOD & the rest are trying to catch up to the SEC. No other conference in college football hits as hard as the SEC does. So you say no SEC team can beat USC? Ahhhh, just wait till this years BCS game when USC meets a SEC team. When the SEC slaps them around like little kids get back with the SEC then. Clemson simply got man handled on the field, Clemson is a good football team but Bama is a BETTER TEAM with BETTER COACHES. Where you like or hate it learn to love it, because the SEC is the cream of the crop in college football today & Alabama is just that dayum good now.

By webbl

September 1, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

Clemson does not play well against teams like Alabama, Georgia, Georgia tech, or ant other that is physical. They are two light to take them one on one and win. If run the ball right at them Clemson will lose. When Danny Ford was there Clemson was different team. It was more of SEC team. Wake Forest is the class of ACC. PJ will have Tech there in a couple of years.

By BigDawg

September 1, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

ACC should stick to basketball, they’re making southern football look bad.

Gators & Urban Whiner, get ready for another beatdown this year!

By Roswell Ed

September 1, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Auburn showed why they are the best team in the SEC Saturday.

Kodi Burns will be better than Tebow in our new offense.

Georgia looked like a joke against Georgia Atlantic University.

WDE

By TrueCrimson

September 1, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

Congratulations Ed,

I thought that Auburn had a big win when I heard their final score. After watching the replay on CSS yesterday, it appeared that the much vaunted “War Spread Eagle” offense laid an egg.

Auburn snapped the ball to five different players Saturday — three of them were Quarterbacks. The most effective was Clinton Durst, a young man who had never played a down of football prior to taking over the punter job at Auburn.

Thank God for Defense and Special Teams, or Auburn might be 0 and 1 to start the season. You can’t bring this candy-a$$ Offense against an SEC Defense.

Tuberville must be in his office right now, scratching his head and trying to figure out how to un-spread this Offense and stir up a little cloud of dust.

You have one more practice game to figure this out. If you don’t have something that you didn’t show last Saturday, then Sly Croom’s Bulldogs are gonna feast on some Tiger Meat in Starkville.

By CarolinaJacket

September 1, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

I think that Clemson’s loss to Bama will actually help their chances of winning the ACC. They now know that they have to play hard to win. A test of a team (or person) is how well they handle adversity. Now we shall see what Clemson is made of — they have some very good individual players. Wake has the best coach in the conference, but they are still playing mostly with two star and three star players. That might just catch up with them this year.

By SecIsFootball

September 1, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

Roswell Ed…So….13-26 completions combined for a whopping 86 yards is what you call good. If AU keeps that up, your end of the year disappointment will be fantastic!

By joe

September 1, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Yes Bama played a good game, but lets not declare them SEC Champs. Their opponent flat out quit, so you can’t judge much. Let’s wait until the UGA/Bama game…that will tell a lot more than pitiful ACC champion (pick) Clemson. Heck, after week one of the weak ACC (Almost Competitive Conference), GA Tech looks like the best team…

By murfdawg

September 1, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

The two biggest coaching blunders of the weekend came from Tommy Bowden and Frank Beamer. Bowden has two really good, proven running backs and Bowden gave the ball on the first carry to a freshman and he fumbles. I’m sure the Clemson players looked at each other and wondered what kind of a joke they have for a coach. The rest of the game was minimum effort and going through the motion. How low is the insanity of recruiting 18 year old babies going to get? Beamer decides to go with a mediocre qb and destroys the dynamics of his team. Unless I am missing something, competition usually brings out the best in good athletes. Beamer has had a good run, but looks like a man who has let the game in the 21st century get away from him.

By Tony Barnhart

September 1, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

TommyP,

I am not deflecting blame from Bowden and his staff. I said very clearly that Clemson was not ready to play at that level and that is the fault of the coaching staff. My point is the that the players are not blameless in a performance like that. They are not innocent bystanders.

There is plenty of blame to go around after a performance like that.

That’s to several folks for catching the error on the “next four road games at home.” I fixed it.

TB

By TrueCrimson

September 1, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

murfdawg,

“How low is the insanity of recruiting 18 year old babies going to get?”

You probably didn’t know that the guy who knocked that ball loose was playing High School football last year, did you?

Bama played their share of Freshmen in this game. But they were well coached and highly motivated. You play the guys who play the best. Age isn’t the determining factor.

You can dream up all kinds of excuses for why Clemson played so poorly. While you’re at it, you might consider the possibility that Alabama’s football team actually made a contribution.

By SEC

September 1, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

“The ACC is just as good if not better than the SEC.”

Hahahahahaha. We are talking about football - not basketball.

By SEC83

September 1, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

Let’s just go ahead and solve the annual BCS controversy right now. Just let the rest of the country battle it out for the best team outside of the SEC and place that team against the SEC champion each year in the BCS title game but knowing in the back of our minds that the SEC championship game is REALLY the BCS Title game.

Better yet….just make the SEC Championship Game the BSC Championship Game and save the rest of the country the trouble.

By capstone1

September 1, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

Uga is losing good players….the TIDE will focus on each game, and when Uga plays the TIDE, BAMA will give the Dawgs their 1st loss. The “process” is in year 2…RTR!!!

By capstone1

September 1, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Uga is losing good players….the TIDE will focus on each game, and when Uga plays the TIDE, BAMA will give the Dawgs their 1st loss. The “process” is in year 2…RTR!!!

By TrueCrimson

September 1, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Tony B,

You already know who’s starting the season in the Georgia Dome next year.

Why didn’t you just say it?

RTR!!!

By ramajama

September 1, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

roswell ed says Auburn proved why its the best team, did you even watch the game, burns better than tebow???? wow ,,, i need to watch that again i must have missed him running for all those yards and throwing multiple touchdowns,think before you send in a response that will show everyone your level of intelligence (or lack thereof).

By bamafan

September 1, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

I was shocked that Bama beat the tigers liked a red haired step child. I really enjoyed my trip to Atlanta and everybody was so nice at the game except for a few drunk Bama fans. I hope that the game will happen every year and the ACC is very weak if Clemson is to be the best team in its conference. Saban deserved his money for having the crimson tide ready to play saturday night. I was ready impressed by the freshman Bama players and the beast nose tackle we have. Not many teams are going to tun the ball on the crimson tide this year!! ROLL TIDE!!

By mas

September 1, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

Georgia is Clemson..think about it…spent all summer reading about how good everybody thinks they are w/ a coach that has done NOTHING to even try and limit expectations / maintain focus…if he had, there would not have been 10 offseason arrests…toss in the unbelievable bad run of injury luck and it’s really just a matter of time until we’re all sitting here reading these same articles again…only difference will be that the writers will be talking about Georgia instead of Clemson…

By IdiotDetector

September 1, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

DING DING DING!! mas is an idiot.

By pipepimp

September 1, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

all you clowns can make all the excuses you want to, but when you play that many freshman and they all respond, they will only get better as the season goes along. people better prepare themselves for a new and different crimson tide, or you’ll get your rear end kicked, even in athens. ROLL TIDE!!!!!!

By pipepimp

September 1, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

all you clowns can make all the excuses you want to, but when you play that many freshman and they all respond, they will only get better as the season goes along. people better prepare themselves for a new and different crimson tide, or you’ll get your rear end kicked, even in athens. ROLL TIDE!!!!!!

By Big ED

September 1, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

No way Georgia could play Tech the first game. Georgia’s first game is reserved for the suspension of thugs arrested during the off-season. If they had to play a real opponent the first game, Richt would have to actually discipline a Georgia player and that won’t happen. the player know they can do anything in the off season and just get to sit out a game against nobody U.

By TrueCrimson

September 1, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

Clemson, despite what happened to them Saturday night, is a good football team. But Georgia is no Clemson. They are in a different league altogether — no pun intended.

I think that Bama will have a shot at winning in Athens, but we’ve got a few other games to be concerned with before that happens. If the Tide keeps their heads in the right place and are fortunate enough to avoid major injuries, then they will have an opportunity to win every week.

I’m proud of the Crimson Tide’s performance against Clemson. Winning in Athens would be 10 times as big. Trash talking doesn’t put any W’s on the record. We need to take this one week at a time.

RTR!!!

By son_sir

September 1, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

No way Tech and UGA open the season. Both want to have a much better idea of what they have going in and UGA has a long history of warm up contests. Big ED may be right.

Back to Clemson....  Sorry, but the blame falls squarely on Tommy Bowden. It's a pattern for him.  

Tons of preseason hype, arguably the best two back combo in the nation, and you produce ZERO yards rushing.  That is unbelievable.

By AUGUY

September 1, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

TrueCrimson, I agree that our (Auburn) offense didn’t play well and that our defense won the game on Saturday, but do you truly believe that Tuberville and Franklin showed the nation everything that our new spread offense has against ULM a team you guys couldn’t beat!? I don’t think so. We have seen everything that Bama has because that’s what it took to beat a good Clemson team. I’d be surprised if that’s all we see from Kodi and Todd this year. We’ll see after the Miss State game!!

WDE

By FLA DAWG

September 1, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

Read some earlier columns - I picked Bama over Clemson when everyone else wrote that Clemson would win. I didn’t think they’d blow dominate them the way they did though.

Congrats Tide! Glad another SEC Team won this past weekend.

Bama is back! How much? Who knows. I never doubted Bama would be a tough game for us but it will be tougher than we thought.

By Another Ed

September 1, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

Hey AU Guy While I agree that Auburn probably did not show much, because their running game was so dominant, ‘Bama did not show everything either because they just did not have to. Most of their runs were right at the middle of the Clemson d line. If you really think that is all ‘Bama has you are mistaken. And before we get into this crap about you beating a team ‘Bama could not beat, just remember this is a new season. Only time will tell what will happen. You sure are clever using some easy material. You cannot be too happy about your offense. You scored 20 points offensively. Maybe you did not have to do more than that, but you still are probably wondering what you have. You have another scrimmage this weekend and then things get interesting.
One thing we can probably agree on is-injuries are the great equalizer. I hope your guys stay healthy. Things can get rough when everyone gets hurt.

By Clint

September 1, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

Maybe Clemson just isn’t as good as people thought they were going to be? Sure Bama looked good, but at the end of the year they’ll still have 4 losses. Should anyone really be surprised that Clemson wet the bed? It isn’t like they’ve been world beaters under Tommy Boy. Keep in mind they lost the Peach Bowl last year. How they were ranked #9 is beyond me.

By NC mountain Tech fan

September 1, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

When you have “Thunder and Lightning” and rarely use them (for zero yards), you did a poor job of coaching.

When you have the game won in Charlotte and you do not add extra protection for the punter, you did a poor job of coaching.

PS…the ACC is not down this year….we are just average…LOL!

By Buddy McCoy

September 1, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

Whoa Nelly!!! Tech/ug at the first of the year? Blasphemy! Moving Christmas to the Fourth of July would be more likely. Give ‘em hell Jackets.

By FLA DAWG

September 1, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this

Assuming UT beats UCLA and considering the schedule over the next couple of weeks for UGA, UF, UT, LSU, Auburn & Bama one could imagine 6 SEC Teams in the Top 10 !

By You got to be kidding me

September 1, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

There is no doubt thee ACC should reevaluate its situation football-wise… they seem to be regressing rather than progressing! Perhaps its the constant playing on thursday nights? Sure its primetime but many recruits want to play on TV on Saturdays in front of huge crowds with GameDay talking about them and their team all morning! The teams that offer that are more likely to attract the better players!

By Buddy McCoy

September 1, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

Tony, it goes like this… New Year’s, Easter……Halloween for the kids, Thanksgiving, to bring split families and friends together to take up arms (fisticuffs) to get ready for the Main Issue (MI), then Christmas to gloat and sulk in peace. Then it starts all over again. I refer you to Cromartie. He said it best, but I addressed the MI in my own book “A Walk On The Beach”. Your proposal to start the season with Teck/ug is a Non Issue (NI).

By Stephen

September 1, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this

Hey son_sir

yes Georgia DOES warm up contests to start the game..

2003- UGA 30- Clemson 0 (at Clemson) 2005- Uga ROLLS on BOISE (game we were supposed to lose)

2007- OK STATE (ROLLED THEM TOO) 2009- We OPEN AT OK STATE….

GO DAWGS

By Buddy McCoy

September 1, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this

Boyz, there is an emerging giant in the ACC. Take the Jackets +7 against BC this weekend and buy your children some shoes. If you live in the Southeast, just as in all flights, sooner than later, all roads will lead to ATL! Give ‘em hell Jackets!

By ButlerDawg

September 1, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

This Dawg never doubted the Bama game being one of the toughest we’ll play this season. And I didn’t need to see Clemson get whipped to realize it.

By bama12titles

September 1, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this

Hopefully UGA can both stay unbeaten for the Sept. 27th game vs Bama. If they do then it should be an ESPN gameday show. I think ESPN has only ever held its gameday maybe one time in Athens so it would be great to see them show up for the game. We’ve had them numerous times in Tuscaloosa so I can tell you its pretty cool to have them in town.

Wonder where all the Clemson fans are today after talking smack all week long. Thunder and lightning ran into a 365 pound nosetackle called Mount Cody and it was over after the first series. You could see that Clemson was just physically intimidated on both sides of the ball. I knew we were a lot bigger and stronger than last year but I sure didn’t picture this kind of physical dominance on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Gonna be a long year for opposing running backs. Gonna be a long year for opposing defensive tackles and linebackers.

It looks like we’ll open up next year in the Dome again against Va. Tech. Puhhhlease! No more SEC vs ACC. It just aint fair. Send us the Big 10 or Big 12. Anyone but the ACC.

By CFB

September 1, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this

Anyone who does not believe that the SEC is the premiere conference in the country is an idiot. The SEC may not have the best team in the country this year, only time will tell. But denying SEC dominance is folly, and has been for a long time.

By cdr

September 1, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this

UGA has to be significantly better than the other SEC East teams to be conference champs since they play all the East teams plus the three best West teams Auburn, Alabama and LSU. The schedule is just to tough week after week.

By Rusty

September 1, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this

What a weekend: 4-0 yet again…

• Rusty

http://www.rustybanks.com

By SugarHillDawg

September 1, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this

Clemson is just like Ohio St. They are good for their conference but when they leave their conference they get humiliated. If I was a big Clemson donor, I would ask for my money back and mail back my tickets and not give anymore until they run off Bowden. i can’t for the life of me see why he’s been there this long—Oh yeah it is Clemson. The only time Clemson was good was when they were CHEATING!!!!!

By War Eagle

September 1, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this

How can Tony Barnhart and other news outlet put Bama into a media thrust. Evidently another weak ACC team Clemson busted, compared to SEC. Bama will not win BIG in the SEC this year, regardless of Lord Barnhart, Birmingham news, ESPN and moveon.org. UGA, LSU, Tenn and Auburn will move them into a perspective mode . I could not believe headlines in the Anniston Star Sports section Sunday AM..TIDE DOMINATES CLEMSON, MIAMI BOUND.. THIS SHOWS MEDIA PREJUDICE, Bama playing for NC??CRAZY, has not played a single down in the SEC 2008???

By ludatripp

September 1, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

Georgia and Tech already play a game that is a neutral site (crowd is 50-50) game. At Grant field every other year.

By Ebenezer

September 1, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this

TB’s idea of Dawgs and Bees opening the season has much merit, from the POV of this ex-Hokie/Vol. The SEC has already required that each of its members schedule a game for the weekend preceding the conference championship game. Now both the SEC and the ACC should equalize matters even further, and require each member to play a conference game on that particular weekend. Why should the Dawgs have a breather just prior to the SEC championship game? Why should the Bees have to play an SEC team just prior to the ACC championship game? With this suggestion alone, TB has earned the right to keep the designation of MCF for at least one more season.

By jabster

September 1, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this

Big Dawg:

What if…

UGA and GT go into COFH both undefeated? Don’t laugh—this is assuming that UGA is as good as advertised and the ACC is as bad as Week 1. UGA is booked for a trip to ATL and rolling for a national championship, and GT is booked for a trip to Tampa and contending for a trip to the Orange Bowl.

GT would NOT be in the national championship hunt, due to weak SoS, probably some unconvincing wins, and the 2 DI-AA games. Even as a Jackets fan I would have a hard time justifying an undefeated Tech team in the “lite” 2008 edition of the ACC over certain one-loss teams in other conferences this year.

How would COFH look at that point? Who has more to gain? Who has more to lose? Who would want it more, from the outside looking in?

Have Tech and UGA ever played each other undefeated (IIRC there were three instances, with UGA winning all three)?

By jabster

September 1, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this

Ludatripp:

If COFH is moved off of Thanksgiving weekend, when many Tech fans go home for the holidays (home being outside of GA), you would see the Tech attendance increase considerably.

By CFB

September 1, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this

If you don’t believe my comments posted 9-1-08 at 7:07 pm, here are a few facts to support.

From 1999 to 2007 the SEC has put 68 teams into bowl games, and the collective record is SEC 40 wins against 28 losses. Out of those 9 years the only year that the SEC lost more bowl games than they won was the year 2000, 4 wins and 5 losses.

Since 1998 (the inception of the BCS)the SEC is the only conference to repeat as national champs, and there have been 4 (1998 TN, 2003 LSU, 2006 FL, and 2007 LSU). FL State won in 1999 and Miami Florida won in 2001, but Miami didn’t join the ACC until 2004.

And by the way, in 2004 Auburn should have played USC for the championship instead of Oklahoma who got crushed.

From top to bottom the SEC is the best conference in the country. No other conference comes close.

My references are ncaa.com and collegefootballpoll.com , check it out.

By Factoid

September 2, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this

Hello boys,

Its good to be back for another football season. By Tony’s reasoning, Georgia’s season just got a little easier. Well that is debatable but I will say this; there is only one thing as fun as watching Florida lose, and that is watching Tennessee lose.

GO DAWGS!!!

By stadawg

September 2, 2008 1:00 AM | Link to this

The slang definition for “Homer” is someone who cannot see, or admit, the truth because they are delusionary about something they are involved in emotionally. ACC and M, you guys are truly “Homers”! You lose all credibility in blogs with overly biased attitudes. Truly this is a blog and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but come on, to say the ACC is as good as the SEC in football??? That is more than an opinion, that is sheer stupidity.

By Darren

September 2, 2008 1:15 AM | Link to this

Note to trisha…

When calling someone an “idiot,” it is a good idea to spell it correctly. Calling someone an “idoit,” is a good way to make yourself look like a “mooron.”

By SEC FAN AGAIN

September 2, 2008 1:15 AM | Link to this

GuyS calm down and lets these ACC fans try and find a way to get there teams with any SEC teams. The games were played and the final score such solve this…This is funny not basketball…hehehehehe Is Clemson really your # 1 team then you got problems…..SEC FAN AND FOOTBALL FAN

By Coaching

September 2, 2008 2:12 AM | Link to this

This game came down to coaching. As terrible of a person as Saban is, no one can deny that this guy can coach a college football team. Tommy Bowden, meanwhile, has been sitting on the hotseat for most of the last decade. Case in point: Clemson has one of the best backfields in the country with CJ Spiller and James Davis, but these guys only get 8 carries? Switch the coaches in this game and a Saban-led Tigers win by 40. Anything less than an appearance in the ACC title game gets Tommy sent packing.

By Forrest

September 2, 2008 2:21 AM | Link to this

Tony you are such an SEC suck up. “If Wake can beat Ole Miss they can win the ACC.” I agree Wake can win the ACC, because they are a good team. It will not because if they beat some lower tier SEC team they have been validated. Be real. I expect Wake to whack Ole Miss.

As for this ACC #1 losing to #5 or 6 SEC, that is garbage. Preseason polls don’t mean squat, as UT found out tonight. We don’t know that Clemson is #1 in the ACC any more than we know Bama won’t win the SEC West. It’s all talk at this point about a team’s standing.

By bamafan

September 2, 2008 5:37 AM | Link to this

Way to go Rocky Flop, keep up the good work!! THANKS UCLA AND NORM CHOW!!! ROLLL TIDE

By JM

September 2, 2008 6:34 AM | Link to this

Ha ha ha. Georgia will be 2-2 going into the Bama game and 2-3 after the Bama game.

By TECH sucks

September 2, 2008 7:06 AM | Link to this

Dear ACC,

Your comment The ACC is just as good if not better than the SEC…Anywhere any time…

By Chris in Bama

September 2, 2008 7:14 AM | Link to this

I have never heard so much stupidity in all my life…War Eagle you proved that you have no idea what you are talking about. Do you even know what stats are or what a good game looks like? Clearly you are an idiot. I am a hardcore bama fan but I am not delusional enough to think that Bama will be first pick for the NC game but (and a big but) if they improve on what they showed against Clemson they will be a contender for the SEC championship game. Clemson is a good team but they didn’t play until the third quarter and then stopped again before the third quarter was over. There was no doubt that Clemson was just simply outclassed as a football team. The SEC is stacked this year and I do not see a Pac10 or Big10/12 team beating whatever team is the best in the SEC by the end of the season.

Oh and by the way…Bama used alot of freshman they didn’t have to use even in the first quarter…..Be looking for Bama to keep it quiet until we meet Georgia and then they will pull out all of the stops. Bama is notorious for upsetting high ranked teams when they are the underdog…Please let us stay the under dog until the end of season!!!

By Chris in Bama

September 2, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this

ACC your comment that the ACC is as good or better than the SEC is a completely ridiculous and ignorant comment! Did you even watch football last season? So you are telling me that the best team in the ACC can compete with UGA, Bama, Fla, Auburn and LSU? Give me a break. Maybe you meant that they are as good as Ohio State last year…HAHA. That may be an accurate statement.

On another subject I agree that USC does not deserve to be in the top 5 because they have not played a ranked SEC team since…sh!t has it been that long? If you call Arkansas a challenge two years in a row then maybe, however they are not top tier SEC. Does anyone know the last time USC beat an SEC team worth mentioning?

By D.Ellis

September 2, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this

Chris in Bama-Although you are are right….I can’t recall USC beating a ranked SEC foe in some time if ever????

However USC does deserve to be in the top 5. Every player on the USC defense starting 11 will get drafted. EVERY ONE. Althogh they have not defeated a ranked SEC foe in wahtever time that is, USC has done nothing to challenge the fact that they do not belong in the top 5.

I’m a die Hard UGA fan. However USC’s program is THE MOST ELITE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM in the country hands down.

Congrats on the big win this weekend. Bama looked very good from start to finish. It should be a great game in Athens this year.

By J. P.

September 2, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

Wake Forest beats Ole Miss at home and your SEC lovefest takes a shot in the cookies.

By davengville

September 2, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

Put a houndstooth hat on Nick Saban. That could have been a Bear Bryant team or a Shug Jordan/Pat Dye Auburn team that would punch you in the mouth. Can’t wait for the iron bowl!

TB, you will be missed in this column/blog

By jay

September 2, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

So which is it? Is Alabama really good or is Clemson really bad?

By IM4BAMA

September 2, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Figures, all those folks saying how Clemson would win because they are so talented and thinking this Alabama team wasn’t any good; are now saying it’s just typical choking Clemson and Alabama still isn’t that good. Hypocrites, and you just don’t know your football. Yeah, I never expected that, but I knew Bama would be a very good TEAM this year and shock people because Alabama is been sorely underated coming into this year. People forgot that last year was year one under a new staff and system and we just about beat UGA,LSU and spanked UT.

We are hungry for payback; Auburn,LSU,UGA and UT. We are back it, you all know it. I also know your secretly scared and you should be, because you know what’s coming. Auburn fans (Roswell ED), you benefited from Bama’s troubles and had a some good years; hope you enjoyed them because they are over. We now will get the best talent in the state and run our own streak against you.

By Rammer Jammer

September 2, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

Cant wait to hear it ringing out like in the Georgia Dome sat night when the Tide goes to Athens. “Hey Dawgs, We just beat the he** out of you” I know it was game one, but the Tide may not lose a game this year.

By IM4BAMA

September 2, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

USC has been an elitely talented team for many years now. However, their dominance is about to be diminshed over the next few years since Neuheisel will be getting 40-50% of those recurits that have been going to USC and will level the playing field in the PAC-10.

I truly hope a UF,LSU,UGA,AU or my Bama team gets a crack at USC in the title game this year to give them a real football team to play. I know the Gators could beat them for sure.

SEC teams needs to prove it can beat PAC-10 teams, for some reason they have had our number and I’m sick of it. We may be the best conference, but we still need to beat those guys like red headed step children. UGA, take care of business for me, unlike UT!!!

By D.Ellis

September 2, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Rammer Jammer-Your enthusiasm for your Tide is great. They are a good team and that was a great win for the program, over a team that I think everyone would agree is more athletic at skill positions. The line and LB play was very good. JPW looked comfortable in this offense.

However nobody is watching out for Bama to be undefeated this year. Nobody is watching out for any SEC team to be undefeated this year. Conference is way to stacked to have an undefeated team.

IAM4BAMA-I agree. Pac-10 has been doing work on the SEC in the last few years in an individual game set. Time for someone to step up and throw some punches and get back at those guys. Hopefully my DAWGS will be up to the challenge….or any other SEC team that plays a PAC-10 team

By NW Ga Dawg

September 2, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

Calm down Bama fans (and Tony). The AL-CU came is real simple to break down: Alabama is starving for a winner (lest we forget, remember how they stunk it up late 2007??!!), they’re a bit better than expected, and they wanted it much worse than Clemson. On the other hand Clemson was way over-rated. UGA has also pasted Clemson in a season opener: so what? The ACC is typically not as good as the SEC. Alabama needn’t feel too cocky (listen to your own coach!).

As for last year, the UGA/AL game should never have gone to OT. This year, the Dawgs will take care of business in regulation.

By TrueCrimson

September 2, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

The University of Alabama has been short of talent for several years. Last year, lack of talent was not so much the problem as was the lack of a championship, team oriented attitude. That problem has been addressed. It could rear it’s ugly head again. This is only one game.

If Bama keeps their heads on straight and if they are fortunate enough to avoid any major injuries, then they will not suffer the kinds of meltdowns that led to the bizarre losses against inferior teams last year. They should improve as the season progresses.

Their play last year against Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU gave the impression that the team was just a step away from being competitive in the top tier of the SEC. They have a realistic shot at taking the next step up this year.

Georgia can look past the Alabama game at their own peril. When the Tide rolls into Athens, they will be bringing their A game. I wouldn’t say that the Dawgs can’t win this game, but it won’t be handed to them on a silver platter. It will be the same kind of game that the Dawgs saw last year in T-Town. They had better pack a lunch.

*RTR!!!

By Cookie

September 2, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

All the writers in the sports pages should check their columns and stories. I didn’t notice any glaring errors in this column but some of the others used “to he” instead of “to him” and long phrases without a subject or object. I suspect many of the sports writers studied journalism at UGA. If they made mistaakes it’s only the proof in the puddingl. And if not they should try to keep the reputation of the school from being tarnished.

By stadawg

September 2, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

Cookie, you might want to check your own writings before you start criticizing others. “Remove the log from your own eye…”

By BAMA VINCE

September 3, 2008 2:42 AM | Link to this

I AM A BAMA FAN AND I AM VERY GLAD WE WON. HOWEVER I WISH CLEMSON WOULD HAVE PLAYED A BETTER GAME. I KNEW AT HALFTIME IT WAS OVER. ROLL! TIDE!

By paselbasn

December 2, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

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By nick_sitvar

December 28, 2008 4:07 AM | Link to this

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