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Thursday, January 1, 2009
Five 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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