AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFive things we will learn on New Year’s Day
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jacksonville, Fla.—Happy New Year everybody! I’m in Jacksonville today to work the Gator Bowl for CBS with Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman. We’re looking for a fun game between Clemson and Nebraska. We’ll talk more about that game in a minute.
The biggest shock of the college bowl season was the way that Georgia Tech was simply manhandled by LSU last night in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. During dinner a number of Clemson fans came up to us in absolute shock with the way that Tech was just getting dominated by the Tigers. LSU was obviously ready to play and excited about being in the game. Just shows you how many athletes are still in that program.
And for Georgia Tech it was a painful, sobering reminder that as far as the Yellow Jackets came in Paul Johnson’s first season, they still have a long way to go if they aspire to win an ACC championship.
But on to today, which is still one of the best days of the year for a college football fan. I read on another blog recently where someone questioned if New Year’s Day was still relevant when it came to the sport that we all love. After all, the national championship is no longer decided on Jan. 1 and the biggest games are spread out over several days. All of that is true but there are still compelling stories that will be played out during this day and evening. Here are just a few:
1. Redemption for Clemson and James Davis: Seasons are not only defined by wins and losses but by images. On Oct. 13, when Tommy Bowden stepped down as head coach, I thought Clemson’s season would be defined by the tear-streaked face of Clemson running back James Davis of Atlanta. Davis was so upset because he had passed on a chance to go to the NFL in hopes of having a special senior season with his teammates. On that day all of those dreams appeared to be over for him. But under Dabo Swinney Clemson fought its way back and is playing on New Year’s Day against Nebraska. Davis is smiling again and with 112 yards today against the Cornhuskers he will become the leading rusher in Clemson history. “I want to win this game more than any in my life,” Davis told me yesterday. A lot of family has come down from Atlanta to share this moment with Davis.
2. Will Georgia play like a proud football team? Few teams ranked preseason No. 1 have been beaten up more than Georgia has during a 9-3 season in 2008. I think today’s game with Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl is huge for the offseason conditioning program and for recruiting. Georgia needs to take care of business to show that they have an ability to bounce back. Also, it’s a pretty good bet that Florida will be the nation’s No. 1 team in the preseason polls for 2009. The target will be on the backs of the Gators which will give Georgia motivation in the offseason. Lose to Michigan State and Georgia starts next season in a deeper hole. It’s time for some leaders to step up on this team and show some pride. I’ll be watching to see if that happens.
3. Stephen Garcia returns home: South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is from Tampa and will get the start today when the Gamecocks face Iowa in the Outback Bowl. Garcia had a chance to practice at his old high school where he was welcomed back as a hero. If you have followed Garcia’s career, he has done very little that has been heroic as a college football player. But if the South Carolina defense can at least slow down Iowa running back Shon Greene, the nation’s No. 2 rusher (144.08 ypg), Garcia may be able to lead the Gamecocks to a victory they so desperately need. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier needs some good energy going into the offseason. His quarterback needs to step up and give it to him.
4. Virginia Tech is carrying the ACC banner: After losses yesterday by Boston College (to Vanderbilt in the Music City) and by Georgia Tech, the ACC is now 3-5 in its bowl games. The league needs for Clemson and Virginia Tech to win today to at least finish 5-5. There is a lot of pressure on Virginia Tech, the ACC champion, to beat Big East champion Cincinnati in tonight’s Orange Bowl. I was in Miami on Monday and I can tell you that the Hokies are very aware that the ACC has lost eight straight BCS games, a streak that league officials would like to be snapped. Virginia Tech played in the Orange Bowl last season and lost to Kansas. “We learned some things from being here last year and have made some adjustments,” coach Frank Beamer told me. “We want to win this game for our school but also for the ACC. That is important to us.” Cincinnati (11-2) is a very good team but I’m giving Virginia Tech the edge because of its defense and because the Hokies are used to being on the big stage. This is the first BCS bowl game ever for the Bearcats.
5. Can Penn State keep it close? I’ve had a lot of people write and tell me that they think Southern Cal (11-1) is the best team in the country and would definitely beat Oklahoma, Florida or Texas in a head-to-head matchup. If the Trojans take care of business today against Penn State (11-1) in the Rose Bowl, those arguments will be stronger than ever. You have to pick USC because of their defense, which leads the nation in just about every major category. Here is a stat that jumped out at me: USC shut out its opponents in the second half EIGHT times in a 12-game schedule. USC coach Pete Carroll is in his seventh straight BCS game. The only question I have is whether or not Joe Paterno’s team can score enough points to keep it close. Between Ohio State getting beat in the last two BCS championship games and Illinois getting crushed in last year’s Rose Bowl (by USC), the Big Ten doesn’t need to get embarrassed again on the national stage. I’m just not sure this Penn State team is good enough to avoid that.
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Comments
By Mikey
January 1, 2009 8:25 AM | Link to this
Happy New Year Tony !
Looking forward to some more good games today. Hopefully no more duds like the Sun Bowl.
Go Dawgs !
By tech v lsu
January 1, 2009 8:36 AM | Link to this
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
By yellowblood
January 1, 2009 8:42 AM | Link to this
I just want someone in the ACC to win so we can have a Tickle Pile!!!
By Atlanta Gator
January 1, 2009 8:48 AM | Link to this
Comments in response to Tony——
(1) Clemson vs. Nebraska? Nebraska is trying to rebuild the juggernaut that their football program once was. Clemson is trying to redeem a year that started with promise of an ACC championship, and ended with a replacement coach and limping into a secondary bowl. Rebuilding vs. redemption. Psychological edge? Hmmm. Which coach gives better pre-game motivational speeches?
(2) The Capital One Bowl is now about the future of the UGA program. Can the Dawgs muster their pride and desire? Can the Dawg fans find the desire to give a damn after their disappointment? Winning this game would set the tone for a better season in 2009, and is probably far more important than the 2008 Sugar Bowl to the future of the UGA program.
(3) It’s time for Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia to display some maturity and composure. If his offensive linemen gives him some precious time in his pocket, and his receivers stop dropping catchable balls, Garcia may find some measure of redemption in front of a hometown Tampa crowd. Coach Steve Spurrier needs his QB to step up. The Evil Genius without a top-flight QB is just another frustrated college football coach; with a good QB, the Gamecocks and Spurrier are every other SEC East team’s nightmare.
(4) After 6-6 Vanderbilt beat 9-4 Boston College and 7-5 LSU beat 9-3 Georgia Tech yesterday, the ACC chestpounders have fallen silent. Virginia Tech and Clemson are no better than even picks against Cincinnati and Nebraska, two teams hungry to gain national stature. The ACC needs a BCS bowl win, otherwise the conference risks irrelevance in the BCS big picture. Even the Big East, depleted by the ACC raid on its membership, has a better BCS bowl record.
(5) Can Penn State keep it close (and win)? Well, that depends on which Southern Cal team shows up at the Rose Bowl … the one that expects to win its Pac-10 conference games on the strength of its paper talent, or a properly motivated team that understands that 5-star talent is meaningless if you don’t take care of business? The Nittany Lions are excited to be in the Rose Bowl. Are the Trojans?
Good luck to whichever teams for whom you cheer, and may the best teams win (they usuall do).
By Bayou Bengal
January 1, 2009 8:52 AM | Link to this
Where’s all the tech fans predicting tech to score 50+? What a joke! That’s why you play in the ACC, a joke of a conference!
By Atlanta Gator
January 1, 2009 8:55 AM | Link to this
VANDERBILT 16, BOSTON COLLEGE 14
With its win over Boston College in the Music City Bowl, Vanderbilt now has the highest bowl winning percentage (2-1-1, or .6667) of any team in the Southeastern Conference. Good job, Commodores.
Good trivia: Vanderbilt’s last bowl win? A 25-16 win over Auburn in the 1955 Gator Bowl.
By swimdawg68
January 1, 2009 9:03 AM | Link to this
SEC, SEC, SEC! I wonder if the “trade school boys” are going to put the LSU score on their rings. As a dawg I enjoyed the a** whupin administered to the “dirt daubers” last night. Thanks LSU for exposing them as just being an average team. LSU also showed why we at UGA need a new DC. I hope CMR was also watching. I watched the LSU defense get after the nerds in a way that I haven’t seen displayed by UGA all year.
Hey “techmites” a great way to start 2009 losing on national tv to an unranked team. We will extract revenge in November. Count on it!
How about Vandy? They beat the ACC runner-up. SEC still RULES the ACC in football.
By jrmdvm1
January 1, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this
While I have my doubts about UGA’s DC, I am certain that the lack of live tackling in practice ( a decision made by CMR ) was a factor in our poor defensive showings. It will be interesting to see if the re-instatement of tackling in practice improves the defensive performance. I think that it will, but we will only be able to tell if the team is also motivated. Go Dawgs!
By BCS CHAMPS AGAIN
January 1, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this
What we learned was that…1) You can’t pick football games…LSU to loose big to tech…Vandy to lose….2) You give LSUs 4th string freshman QB 5 weeks to get ready and he is pretty dag gum good….3) Chavis will have alot to work with with LSUs D…4) With the Number 1 recruiting class in the nation coming in for LSU…things look good (so take you boy nick off of the coronation line)…5) Because of Gustave..playing 8 weeks in a row wore LSU down just like Katrina did…6) LSU does not loose in the Chicken bowl or the Ga Dome…7) GA Tech fans need to quit drinking the kool aid…and take the UGA socre off of those rings…..Happy Neaux Year….Geaux Tigers!!
By FLA DAWG
January 1, 2009 9:31 AM | Link to this
What a beatdown LSU put on GT! I had mixed feelings about this game because I respect both teams. I thought Tech would win in a close one but hoped LSU would find a way to win.
This was one of the few times this season when GT did not play with heart. GT had a heck of a season - congratulations on that and keeping a fine coach for the future.
Congrats to LSU for a big win and keeping The SEC out in front. I hope The Dawgs play Defense half as well as The Tigers did.
By buck
January 1, 2009 9:32 AM | Link to this
Hey Ramble On….
Break us off some love….you did not drop 52 on the Tigers….you are lucky you got 3 and we did not get 70 which we were on pace for…..stand down…and bow down to the Pupple and Gold……Geaux Tigers!!
By boomer
January 1, 2009 9:35 AM | Link to this
Hey Me CFB…you have been hating on LSU ever since we won our 2nd BCS Crystal Trophy….so at least break off some love for the way Les and coaches had LSU prepared to play against the number 3 running attack in CFB….can you do that for a brother….?
By Joe M
January 1, 2009 9:47 AM | Link to this
I truly believe this is the most important bowl game in the history of Georgia’s program, the 80 NC game not withstanding.
Winning is not really the issue. There are two main issues for georgia in this game.
Don’t lose. PERIOD! Georgia has to find a way not to lose before it can learn how to win.
Improve on D. PERIOD! The foundation of the program has been D since Richt arrived…the foundation is crumbling. Also, check the stats, teams playing for the NC lead in several defensive categories rather than offensive categories the vast majority of the time.
Play with EXECUTION, Effort, and Enthusiasm!
I believe they’ll win, but how will they win. This needs to be another Ron Dayne moment for Georgia.
PERIOD!
By wardenerd
January 1, 2009 9:51 AM | Link to this
the two best tgeams played when alabama lost to Florida in the SEC championship. Just because you lose late you should still be recognized. Remember when OK went to the Championship after losing the conference championship?
By Joe M
January 1, 2009 9:53 AM | Link to this
Tony if you really read our repsonses I want to go off track for a moment (I’ve already responded to the topic of this blog) anyway…
I’d love to see a full in-depth article by you on the University of Tennessee’s decision to become the NY Yankees off college football.
While it may be smart, one can’t help but notice the spending spree for coaches UT has been on since hiring Kiffin. His dad notwithstanding( spelling ?) they are getting some huge names. Are they simply trying to buy championships?
I’d love your view. In addition to an in-depth article on the views of others and how this has all come about.
Of course, as a Georgia fan, I’m jealous to watch UT do what it takes to try and be great while watching Georgia stand pat and be average.
By Gen Neyland
January 1, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this
As a native Tennessean who spent a few Saturday’s as a kid with my grandfather inside what I recall from those days as an overgrown high school stadium at Vanderbilt, I not only tip my hat, but my glass as well to the Mighty Commodores for a job well done…
LSU. What a beatdown they put on the Bumblin’ Bees. Did ya’ll notice the brief encounter after the game at midfield between CPJ and CLM..? Think CPJ was simply embarrassed or po’ed that CLM had his offense go passing deep late in the 4th after the fact that the slaughter was secure..? CLM appeared to be in the ‘Take no prisoners’ mode last night…and he took none.
By Columbus Dawg
January 1, 2009 10:01 AM | Link to this
Yeah that really made my day to see the dirty little termites gat their butts handed to them by LSU. Georgia played a lot like LSU in the first half against Tech, but it seems our lack of having real football practice took it’s toll in the second. I believe that Richt will have these boys banging heads in practice from now on, and hopefully the rough and tough bowl practices will make the difference in today’s game. Also there are some disturbing tendencies in our secondary, especially with Rashad Jones, Asher Allen, and Prince Miller. Asher’s hand cover-up was a real p**. All three will either learn to focus, execute, and tackle, and without the penalties I might add, or will be severely pushed in the spring. I believe Asher has a pretty good attitude overall, and will rise to the challenge. Rashad Jones, well I just don’t know. I’ll never forget the article I read where Jones was saying how lucky UGA was to have him sign with them. As far as I and many UGA boosters I have talked to in the Columbus area, there is no room at Georgia for a clown like this with his attitude. Quintin Banks will push him greatly this spring I beieve. Changes in a lot of attitudes in players will be a HUGE factor in whether UGA will again seriously compete for more than a rinky dink bowl in Orlando or Atlanta in ‘09. I don’t know where this “we are entitled to win attitude came from anyway. These are major conference players who play in the SEC. You would think that they would know enough about college football to know that they really haven’t accomplished anything that would warrant this attitude. Hawaii sucked almost as bad in ‘07 as ‘08, surely they had to know that they were playing a much lesser opponent than what you would normally encounter in a BCS bowl. As far as the wins against Florida and Auburn last year, Florida got spanked frequently in ‘07, and even by hapless Michigan. So big whoop on those wins. In my opinion Mark Richt needs to stop trying to play up every game as if it were some big competition, and make the players understand that at Georgia, there are some teams on your schedule that should never even be in the game against UGA to begin with, and that it is expected from everyone inside, and outside of the program who expect these games to be taken care of without any problem. This talking up every opponent like Dooley did is old, tired, and just does not send the correct message to a team that is supposed to be competing for championships every year. One of the single biggest things in my opinion that will also determine UGA’s success in ‘09 will be putting a stop to the arrests of the players. I don’t care how minor the offense is at this point, the glaring problem of arrests has now been in the media so much that Georgia is getting some bad coverage nationally on this, and it must stop now. I think Richt has addressed this some already since the end of regular season, but this has to be hammered home every time there is a large team meeting is held so that there is no doubt left in these young men’s minds as to what their playing status will be if they choose to ignore what they are being told. Damon Evens has said that penalties for these troublesome players will be stepped up considerably, as it should be. If we can get the players to wise up and understand that they have nothing to have big heads about, and it seem’s that this has really been a problem since the ‘05 season, then maybe real football progress can be made at UGA.
By Matt
January 1, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this
“Thanks LSU for exposing them as just being an average team”
So, I guess that means your Dawgs are less than average, huh? I always enjoy the strong logic that comes out of Dawg fans win Tech loses. You still lost to Tech a month ago. Idiots.
Also, I’ve never seen more misspellings in a blog in my life - are all of you that hungover?
By Miles
January 1, 2009 10:35 AM | Link to this
Mr. Barnhart, the people that have written to you stating that the Trojans are the best team in the country are obviously intoxicated. Their views should be construed as New Year’s humor! Enjoy the Gator Bowl!
By some sense
January 1, 2009 10:47 AM | Link to this
Tony,
For all the good work you and the AJC guys - DOB, Sekou, et al - do on these blogs, I wonder if you sometimes just cring when you post since you know that whatever you say is gonna bring out the absolute worst in some people.
By 87 Tiger
January 1, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this
Happy New Year Tony! I read your blog often. I have never posted but after reading and listening for weeks what the Jackets were going to do to the Tigers I have to express my opinions. This is to all the Tech fans who were spouting off. You never have or never will be a dominant football team. You as fans are classless and do not support your team. Fair weather fans at best and an embarassment to a great academic university. Every now and then you have a decent team, what happens? Your coach leaves for a better job. Johnson’s triple option got exposed last night. Don’t you think every one of your opponents will study this film? I think your coach is an a@@. How would any team give players a ring with a score against thier biggest rival that has dominanted them year in and year out? I know that the guys up in Athens have you circled on their calender for next year. You had a good season by your standards but I think your outlook is bleak. You got outcoached, outplayed and outhustled last night. The talent difference showed volumes. Recruits watch bowl games and who in their right mind would want to get a beat down on national television? Les Miles proved he belongs with the nations’ elite coaches last night. Long live the SEC and GEAUX TIGERS. 38-3 baby.
By shane#1
January 1, 2009 11:17 AM | Link to this
The difference in LSU and Tech was in the trenches. Just as the in the UGA-Bama game. The importance of size and maturity on the O and D lines cannot be overstated. When a team cannot run it must pass, Tech has no Stafford, but it seems the Bayou Bengals have found a QB. 1- Ah, redemption, the theme of every good football movie! 2- Winning or losing a bowl game really means very little to the future of a program. How badly did losing to Michigan hurt the Gators? You are trying to build a little drama there aren’t you Tony? The game will give Stafford and Moreno a chance to show the NFL scouts in attendence what they can do. 3- The Old Ball Coach does not need a top flight QB to run his offense, just a competent QB that will listen! Let’s see if Garcia has grown up a little. 4- I don’t think the Bearcats are that good. VT will win if their heads are on straight. 5- JoePa lives by his D and his LBs. A good D can keep a game close, I think USC will win, but it will be close.
By Columbus Dawg
January 1, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this
Well Spurrier, Garcia, and the C**’s defense are stinking it up against Iowa. Sure hope the SEC can come up with a couple of more wins to go along with Vandy’s bowl win.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
January 1, 2009 11:35 AM | Link to this
I may have gotten this one wrong.
By Dana
January 1, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this
Tony, Do you suspect several bowls to not be around next year due to slow economy and low attendance? It seems the bowls did a good job of trying to have a local team involved in the game to increase attendance i.e., Gaylord,Chick-fil-a, Menieke?? Great job again this year!!
By tide rising
January 1, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this
Well, at least Ramble showed a little bit of acknowledgement of last nights @sswhooping by the sec over the sec.
Where are all the other ACC blowhards?
Let’s see. Their runner up Boston College loses to our 7th seed Vandy which came in at 6-6 and GA. Tech, which is probably the 3rd best team in the ACC got wacked by LSU, which at 7-5 is the 5th or 6th best team in the SEC. The matchups looked real favorable for the ACC before they were played and I guess thats why they talked so much smack as if they had already won these games.
The acc-sec conference records now stand at 6-6 with the sec winning both bowl games and with the sec winnng 3 or 4 of those games in blowout fashion while the acc squeaked by in most of their wins over the sec. Good thing half of their wins were against the 2 traditional doormats of the sec in Vandy and Miss. state or the record would be even worse.
By shane#1
January 1, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this
The OBC is taking a licking. Should Iowa remain in control, South Carolina may be the signature win for the Big 11. My how the mighty have fallen!
By fitdoc
January 1, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this
GT uniforms were so drab, boring, ugly and hard to see compared to LSU I turned the tv to the history channel after 1) seeing no. 75 failing to block anyone and 2) mr big play beat my own chest thomas fail to make the play on the bomb…if you gotta wear blue jersies why not provide some wow factor with white pants, stooooopid?….then as fate would have it, out of sheer curiosity, I tuned back in later just in time to see GT go for a fake punt snapped to a big slow DL on their own 25? ok, GT, now slide back into obscurity…………
By im4bama
January 1, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this
Happy New Year guys!
Let’s go SEC. Hofefully we will win out after the SC loss.
By Horrible SEC QB's
January 1, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this
Tebow aside, this is the worst collection of QB’s in SEC history, which makes the league’s defensive stats a mirage. This is especially shown by games OUT OF CONFERENCE against mostly below average teams. Thus the counter-argument that its “simply great SEC defense” causing their QB’s to look bad is nonsense.
Remember the bizarre Auburn 3 – Miss. St. 2 game early in the season and SEC fan was claiming that was just great defense… Then weeks later, reality set in when the Auburn defense got blasted by West Virginia and the Miss. St. defense got blasted by Georgia Tech, who also put up 45 pts. in their win over Georgia.
Georgia’s Stafford, the leagues #2 rated QB, would rank #7 in the Big12.
Tennessee - Phil Fulmer fired over debacle at QB spot. Scored 13 pts. on Northern-Illinois and 7pts. in a loss at home to Wyoming.
Auburn - Offensive Coordinator fired in Sept. due to failed transition to the Spread. Head Coach Tubberville just resigned.
South Carolina - Scored 23 pts. on Wofford and 26 pts. on UAB.
LSU - Scored 3 pts. in 1st half v. Troy
Kentucky - Scored 20 pts. on Middle Tennesse State
Miss.St. - Head Coach fired. Scored 14 pts. in loss to LA Tech and 7 pts. in loss to GA Tech.
Arkansas - Scored 28 pts. on Louisiana-Monroe and Western Illinois.
Vanderbilt- Scored 7 pts. in loss to Duke
Ole Miss - 0 TD’s & 2 Int’s v. Samford.
Bama - Scored 6 offensive pts. v. Tulane. Tulane had a 2 to 1 yardage advantage
Georgia – Preseason #1 has been most disappointing team this season. Stafford, the SEC’s #2 rated QB, would rank #7 in the Big12.
By GT85
January 1, 2009 3:39 PM | Link to this
Well, I told you so. This is not the coach for us. He is average at best. It did not take long for this scheme to be figured out. I thought we would have 4 turnovers in the game, but I see we only had 3. Next to the 51-7 loss, this was the most embarrassing game we have ever played and the nation had to see it. This is why we are the laughing stock of college sports. Get rid of this coach!
By 47straight
January 1, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this
I agree with this being the worst collection of QB’s in SEC history.
How bout that stellar offensive performance against a mediocre Iowa team! And that’s with Spurrier as coach.
LSU’s QB looked ok last night, but after 5 losses does it really matter?
By Nick
January 1, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this
After the ridiculous comments you just made on the CBS half-time show, I thought I would follow up your crack research on Oklahoma’s and Florida’s statistics.
Like every other talking head I’ve seen in the last month, you claim that Oklahoma will finally see a decent defense January 8. Apparently TCU and Texas don’t count, despite their general defensive reputations (oh, and proven abilities). Now, Florida may very well be the best defense Oklahoma faces this season, but I would hardly use as my evidence a statistical comparison of past performances.
If you want to dismiss Oklahoma’s offense for playing (statistically) inferior defenses (again, forgetting Texas and TCU), what about recognizing that Florida padded (reduced?) their defensive stats by playing AWFUL offensive teams. The Gators faced 12 D-I teams this year, with an average offensive scoring rank of 61. More telling, the Gators did not face a single Top-25 scoring team. And while you may chastize Oklahoma for beating up on some of the worst defenses in the country (Washington in particular), you must also acknowledge that Florida faced 4 of the 30 worst scoring teams this season.
Even the most diehard Sooner fan could not call Oklahoma’s a “dominating” defense, nor do most of their fans have much faith from down-to-down. But consider that Oklahoma forced almost the same number of turnovers as Florida (32 and 33, respectively) and had the 3rd most sacks in the nation — indicating that they can at least make up for their lapses with big, momentum-changing plays.
More importantly, while Florida’s defensive statistics benefited from their opponents’ anemic offenses, the reverse is true for Oklahoma. The Sooners faced 7, yes 7, of the top 25 scoring teams in the country (compared to none for Florida).
Now, you may dismiss those statistics as being skewed by the generally weak defenses in the Big 12. I won’t dispute that, accept that you use those same statistics to “prove” that Oklahoma has not faced any good defenses. You can’t have it both ways — if you use opponent’s national defensive statistics as evidence that Oklahoma has been playing offense against air, you must likewise acknowledge that Oklahoma’s poor defensive performance may be due to the quality of its opponents (and by the same taken, Florida’s favorable statistical comparison may be a product of the terrible offenses the Gators faced).
By killcasualfan
January 1, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this
Excellent points Nick. And there is no defending the horrible SEC QB play against weak OUT OF CONFERENCE opponents and the firing of 4 coaches because of it. These are 2 FACTS that SEC fans cannot flip flop.
By SEC4thGradeOffenses
January 1, 2009 5:18 PM | Link to this
It’s easy to look good on defense when you face 4th grade offenses.
By jcy1968
January 1, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this
great post Joe M.
By shane#1
January 1, 2009 7:14 PM | Link to this
Nick, You are a complete idiot! I saw the great big twelve QB lead Okie State to victory, oops! Stomped by Oregon! Another team with no defense. OU will be beaten by at least thirty. Texas should be in the BCSNCG anyway. Colt McCoy is a great QB. Other than him the other Big 12 QBs benefit from a spread offense and playing against weak defenses. McCoy is the only Big 12 QB that compares to Stafford and Tebow. You don’t like SEC and ACC football? Why don’t you move your a* back to the wasteland you came from and stay off this blog. JERK!
By Big MIKE
January 1, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this
Once again the Clemson nation has fallen on it’s back, the A.C.C. WON’T FINISH WITH A 500.winning pct the S.E.C. will. Thank you for being pathetic, it gives me more ammo to work with during the off season.Hey, I just had an epiphany; play more D-1AA teams, it always pads the old won lost records
By tide rising
January 1, 2009 9:06 PM | Link to this
Nick, You do have some very valid points and did a good job of calling Tony out on trying to have it both ways. Also, I would agree that the q
By Dawg Catcher
January 1, 2009 9:15 PM | Link to this
Buying rings for ending the streak…$$$
Giving CPJ a raise for a job well done…$,$$$,$$$
Reading all the crap from these retarded, cousin kissin, 3 toothed, knuckle draggin, gator bait, Tide died, dawg fans jizzen all over themselves because LSU did what they couldn’t = PRICELESS
45-42 you crotch lickers….
LMFAO
By SAMJONES
January 2, 2009 1:16 AM | Link to this
WELL, YOU SEE, I THINK THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH YOU GETTING YOUR A@@ BEAT. UGA MOVED ON AND FOCUSED ON WINNING THEIR BOWL GAME. TECH IS STILL FOCUSED ON BEATING UGA. OK, THAT WAS IN NOVEMBER. THIS IS JANUARY. TIME TO MOVE ON AND GET OVER IT. YOU CAN WIN OTHER GAMES IF YOU JUST FOCUS. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE A RING TO WIN.
By BEEBUSTER
January 2, 2009 1:20 AM | Link to this
still dwelling on the UGA score. Maybe that was the problem against LSU.
By samjones
January 2, 2009 1:23 AM | Link to this
where are all of the techies tonight?
By Otto
January 2, 2009 10:17 AM | Link to this
Was the Peach really a shock? GT faced a reasonably healthy SEC DL for the first time.