AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > November > 12
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Take T.O. timeout, Pack and 9
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
T.O.
T.O.
T.O. T.O. T.O. T.O. T.O. T.O. T.O. T.O.
There’s your fix. Option one was a rubber mallet to your cranium, but ESPN cornered the market and I couldn’t find one.
Let me just start by saying I’m genuinely concerned for Terrell Owens. The man was booed at a Hawks game. It’s not that boos are all that unusual at Hawks games, but they usually follow things like, “And now starting for your Atlanta Hawks ?”
“And that makes the score ?”
“Wait! Don’t go! You can play point guard! ?”
We’re now well into Owens’ autobiography, “How To Throw Yourself On A Hand Grenade For Dummies.” Clearly, he’s feeling the pinch.
His New Jersey home is up for sale.
His Atlanta home is up for sale.
For the full T.O. Experience and $8.898 million, you can have two cribs totaling 33,000 square feet sitting on 7.3 acres in two states with 11 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, pools, gyms, whirlpools, sandbox and a little wind-up doll that says, “Next question, next question, which one of you is Dan Patrick, next question ?”
So how badly does this man need money? He’s going to lose at least $800,000 in salary, and conceivably several million bucks. He needs the liquid to pay off his agent, who clearly needs a tie. T.O. even has the father of the downtrodden and oppressed, Ralph Nader, taking up for him.
Quoth Nader: “It should be the policy of the Eagles and the National Football League, as well as other sports teams and leagues, that players not be punished merely for what they say.”
So when did Ralph Nader swallow Michael Moore? I think I liked him better when he protested the rising cost of Cheez Whiz.
Today, in one of several games not involving Owens, the Falcons play host to Green Bay. This figures to be Brett Favre’s final game in Atlanta in possibly his final season.
He would have quit after last season, if only he had known the Packers would do the same.
The Falcons have won 11 of 13 at home under Jim Mora. Favre has never been great indoors, even when he was great outdoors.
But 9 points? Seems like a lot. I see 7-2. But I don’t see a mansion.
Falcons win, but take the Pack and 9.
FOUR BAGS
• Patriots at Dolphins: The last time New England was slapped around like last week, fans were asking, "You hired Bill Belichick? You mean the guy who got fired by Cleveland?" The Pats haven’t lost consecutive games since 2002 — but they haven’t won consecutive games all season. Which way, Mr. Scarecrow? Point this way: Pats win and cover 3.
THREE BAGS
• Broncos at Raiders: Actual fact: A 50,000-watt station out of Window Rock, Ariz., is broadcasting this game in Navajo. Said a Raiders mouthpiece: “This presents an exciting opportunity to unite the Raider Nation with the voice of the Navajo nation.” Yeah. Let’s not spoil them with schools, jobs and an equitable land deal. Just give ‘em Zack Crockett. Denver covers 3.
• Cowboys at Beagles: To think, we could’ve had Terrell Owens, Keyshawn Johnson and Peerless Price together in one stadium. The Self-Absorbed Boob Bowl. Dallas flattened Philly 33-10 last month. Eagles aren’t great, but they’re desperate. Counts for something. Philly covers 3.
• Vikings at Giants: Asked if anything had gone well this season, Mike Tice said, “I’ve lost 35 pounds.” Great. He can dance at the team’s next cruise. Men of (Rhymes With) Thor have been outscored on the road 133-34. Found the fat. Giants cover 9 1/2.
TWO BAGS
• Jets at Panthers: So now the Carolina cheerleaders say they weren’t having sex. Really. I mean, did we have to know that? Meanwhile, outside the restroom: 9 is covered up.
• Rams at Seahawks: Weekend Predictions Trivia! Joe Vitt, who is 2-1 as St. Louis’ interim head coach, was Seattle’s former strength coach. I know. The cheerleader story is better. Seahawks win, but take the Rams and 7.
• Texans at Colts: Indy is 8-0, but Peyton Manning said, “You can’t just show up on Sunday and expect to win.” Actually, showing up is optional this week. So are most vital organs. But I can’t bring myself to punt a whopper. Let’s dance, baby. Colts win, but take Houston and 18.
• Redskins at Bucs: When quizzed this week about the development of quarterback Chris Simms, Tampa coach Jon Gruden said: “Experience is a great teacher. Repetition is the mother of all learning.” Thank you, Grasshopper. Let me translate: He stinks. Skins cover 1 1/2.
• Browns at Steelers: Stats That Make You Go “Huh?” Trent Dilfer is 20-8 in November. This trumps it: The Steelers are 1-0 with Charlie Batch. But I got a funny feeling about this one. Pitt wins, but take Cleveland and 8.
• Chiefs at Bills: Dick Vermeil gets emotional when he reads the Ace Hardware circular. Now he’s lost Priest Holmes for the season. Make room, Cheswick: You’ve got a new roommate. But take K.C. and 2 1/2 — and in a straight upset.
LEAVES NEED RAKING
• Ravens at Jaguars: Two years ago, Baltimore tried to trade up to draft Byron Leftwich and failed. He went to Jacksonville. The Ravens got Kyle Boller. Cyanide would’ve been quicker. Jags cover 6 1/2.
• Charmed Existence: The Bears have won four in a row over teams with a combined record of 10-23. Now they get San Francisco. Do they get full pay for this? Bears win again, but take Niners and 13.
• Cardinals at Lions: A rumor circulated that Brett Favre was pushing Steve Mariucci for the Green Bay job. Question: Why? Cards and 4 (but Lions straight up).
MIND-BOGGLING PROGRESS REPORT
(On your feet!)
• Last week: 13-1 straight up, 9-3-2 against the line
• Fiscal season: 80-34 straight up, 61-49-4 against the line
• You say: Locks? I say: Bagels.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Jackets haunted by Virginia ghosts again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Charlottesville, Va. — They came surging back from getting blown from here to where Thomas Jefferson is buried about a mountain or three down the road. Just like that, the Yellow Jackets scored 17 consecutive points to tie Virginia in the third quarter on a gorgeous Saturday at Scott Stadium, and all things were possible for a Georgia Tech bunch that suddenly remembered how to block, tackle, pass, run and catch again.
Final score: 27-17. Let’s just say Tech didn’t finish with more points than Virginia, and it only figured. Traditionally, Scott Stadium is the Jackets’ little house of horrors. Why? Nobody really knows, and Joe Hamilton is among them. “All I know is that one of the times we were playing down here, and [former Tech center] Craig Page turns to me and says, ‘Something about this place I just don’t like,’ ” said Hamilton, recalling his stretch during the late 1990s as the Jackets’ quarterback.
Then Hamilton sighed in his current role as a television analyst for Tech games, and added, “It’s not a particularly loud stadium to play in. It’s not cold. The field is nice, and Virginia always is pretty good, so we don’t take them for granted.”
Oh, well. Remember when Scott Sisson booted away those Virginia goblins with his right foot to push Tech past the Cavaliers down the dramatic stretch and toward a national championship? That was 15 years ago. That was the last time the Jackets won within these city limits. That was when they entered games with enthusiasm instead of whatever they possessed after the opening kickoff of this one. Not only were those Virginia goblins present, but they had help from an uninspired opponent.
These weren’t the Jackets of that three-game winning streak — you know, the ones that flashed signs of spending a rare November since 2000 of not resembling turkeys before Thanksgiving. “You just don’t have an answer to those types of things,” said Tech defensive end Eric Henderson, whose team gobbled often against Virginia, especially during the Cavaliers’ sprint to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter. “You don’t want to come out flat. It’s just the way it happens sometimes. You can feel it, when guys on the other team are making plays that you on the defense normally wouldn’t give up. You know you have to get it turned around quickly, or it will be a long night.”
So this was a long night for the bumbling Jackets, owners of at least five dropped passes and 10 penalties, most of them at costly times. Whatever edge Tech had before the game from the suspension of four Virginia players (including two starters) was negated by lethargy.
All you need to know is that Virginia roared ahead in a hurry after scoring on a couple of mighty drives. Both times, Wali Lundy rushed for touchdowns. Both times, he did so with the greatest of ease (15 yards and 19 yards) as Tech defenders served as wonderful spectators. This looked nothing like a Tech defense that entered the game ranked 10th overall in the nation. This looked much like a Tech defense without a clue. While Lundy and other Virginia backs kept bruising the Jackets with their legs, Marques Hagans kept doing so with his legs and his arm. The Virginia quarterback kept finding Deyon Williams in particular to the dismay of Tech cornerback Kenny Scott, who kept getting scorched.
Tech’s offense wasn’t much better against a Virginia defense that was weakened (well, supposedly) by the loss of its starters at nose tackle and safety after those suspensions. In addition, Virginia lost another safety in the first quarter, when Nate Lyles left the game for good with an injury. It didn’t matter, and neither did the momentum Tech owned entering the weekend.
We’re back to those goblins. Then again, according to Tech wide receiver Damarius Bilbo, those goblins simply were Virginia fans with their mouths flapping.
“They ticked me off even before the game started,” said Bilbo, whose touchdown catch of 24 yards in the third quarter knotted things at 17-17. “It was like, ‘I’m gonna be your boss.’ ‘You stink.’ I don’t think [you] can put it all in the paper. Sometimes fans can be the 12th man.”
Yeah, and if they get some help from the other team, well, you know the rest.
Permalink | Comments (66) | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore
Just another win for Spurrier? Don’t believe it
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Columbia — When there is only one sign hanging in a corner of the stadium that somewhat sheepishly recognizes the “1969 ACC Champions,” it sort of lets you know. Haven’t been a lot of celebrations around here.
It follows that Steve Spurrier tried to stay out of the way Saturday.
It was South Carolina’s moment — not his. It was for the players, the students, the alumni — not him. Florida? Did South Carolina play Florida? Funny. Didn’t even notice. Right.
“I didn’t look over there much,” Spurrier said. “I didn’t even look over there during pregame warmups. I just tried to find a play or two to help South Carolina. Didn’t think about Florida much at all.”
Steve Spurrier: Great coach. Lousy liar.
The wonder was that after South Carolina punched the Gators in the mouth and their fans in the gut with a 30-22 win at Williams-Brice Stadium, Spurrier didn’t turn around, face the Florida executive suite and give some biting salute.
This game meant more to Spurrier than he’ll ever let on, and it had far less to do with the fact the Gamecocks hadn’t beaten Florida since 1939 than it did his own history. It wasn’t so much that Spurrier left Gainesville after 122 wins, six SEC titles and a national championship for the Redskins. That was about ambition. But when his NFL experience went splat and Florida had an opening, school president Bernie Machen and athletics director Jeremy Foley didn’t immediately offer a warm embrace.
Spurrier wasn’t certain he wanted to come back. But he would’ve liked the chance to say no. It hurt.
“He kept saying all week it was like every other game,” defensive tackle Chris Tucker said. “I was thinking, bull. This is his old team. I’m sure he was more excited than anybody.”
Could this have possibly gone any better for Spurrier? The Gamecocks (7-3) have now won five straight after losing to Alabama and Auburn by a combined score of 85-21. Spurrier came into the season wanting to be one of the big three: Florida, Tennessee or Georgia. He beat two and scared the hair off the third.
It almost seemed like he was preordained to win Saturday. South Carolina led 7-0 before it had even done much on offense. An interception and ground-shaking, 48-yard return by the 288-pound Tucker set up a short TD run. Later, with a 14-3 lead, Spurrier went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Florida 3 rather than kick a field goal — and fullback Daccus Turman punched in his second touchdown.
Quoting the man who changed offenses in the SEC: “Who’d ever think that fullback up the middle would be one of our best plays?” The Gamecocks had 80 yards rushing by halftime. They had been averaging 79 per game.
Spurrier’s players emulated their coach. They were neither intimidated nor lacked confidence. They committed no turnovers, had only three penalties.
What would it have been like if he was on the other sideline?
“It would’ve been like every other year,” Tucker said.
On the other sideline, this was Urban Meyer’s view: His players looked disorganized, even disinterested. A shot from Spurrier: “I really think they played harder against Georgia… . This was one of our easiest wins.”
Florida was called for 11 penalties, including a false start on second-and-inches on a potential scoring drive at midfield, and illegal participation for having too many players during a South Carolina punt, which negated a would-be final Florida possession.
Should play well in Shreveport. Spurrier and Meyer are both 7-3, but it’s not hard to figure which one would win a popularity contest today. After the game, South Carolina players dumped an ice bucket on their coach and attempted to carry him off the field, but Spurrier declined.
“You only do that for conference championships,” he said. “I’m going to have to coach them up on that.”
But they all knew what it meant to Spurrier, even if he said only, “Winning at Tennessee and this victory are similar.” They presented their coach with a game ball in the locker room. Spurrier got emotional.
“His face was all red,” said tackle Na’Shan Goddard. “He was smiling.”
Seems he also had something to celebrate after all.
Permalink | Comments (49) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, UGA / SEC
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