Snowman's Six-Pack of Reax from Saturday

1) The biggest difference between teams in the SEC this season is simply quarterback play. Alabama, Georgia, and Florida came into the season with experienced/quality signal callers, and they have been the class of the league. Lack of experience or just poor play at quarterback has severely hurt teams like Auburn, Tennessee, Mississippi State, South Carolina and even LSU. Running the ball can be difficult enough against SEC defenses so you better have an above-average player behind center if you want to compete with the big boys.

2) The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (sorry PC folks, I’m still calling it that) will decide the SEC East winner and has National Title ramifications as well. The Gators will be looking for revenge after last year’s tough loss, and this Georgia-Florida battle sets up as one of the most anticipated games ever in Jacksonville. If you’re staying on St. Simon’s Island, make sure to check out the Swampland bash with James Calemine for some great music, food, and Halloween fun. I also wanted to link this video/audio from the legendary 1980 game. In a classic minute and a half (listen to the whole thing), Larry Munson calls Lindsey Scott’s 92-yard game-winning touchdown, pleads for renovations to the Gator Bowl, and comments on how much property “Dawg people” are going to destroy in their condos on St. Simon’s Island after the win. Priceless.

3) Phil Fulmer’s tenure at Tennessee is coming to an end. The program has been in decline in recent years, and the ugly losses to key rivals are becoming way too common in Knoxville. In the end, the problem has become that the fan base is not buying the product anymore. It won’t be easy for athletic director Mike Hamilton to fire a Vol native, who has a record of 150-50 as a head coach, but the program clearly needs new direction.

4) The key down the stretch in the Big 12 will be which team can best defend the dink-and-dunk offenses that are putting up record numbers. Texas Tech will get their chance for national validation Saturday when they host #1 Texas. The Red Raiders can be tough at home, and they can put a monkey wrench in the Big 12 South standings with a victory over Texas. Mike Leach’s club will have some fans in Norman and Stillwater, Oklahoma- as both the Sooners and Cowboys have lost to the Longhorns but still have to play the Red Raiders. As for this week’s game, hopefully the scoreboard at Jones SBC Stadium is ready to keep up with these high-flying teams, especially after last year’s 59-43 controversial thriller.

5) Who wants to take the ACC crown? If any team can play consistent, above-average football, then this league is theirs for the taking. The leader right now has to be old favorite Florida State, who has suddenly found an offense under the direction of offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher and line coach Rick Trickett.

6) Anybody notice the job Butch Davis is doing in Chapel Hill? The Tar Heels are 6-2 and bowl eligible after dismantling Boston College, 45-24. Kudos to UNC wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who had 3 touchdown receptions plus a scoring run in the big victory. It will be interesting to see if other schools in our region (who will/might have an opening - Clemson, Tennessee?, Auburn?) will throw big dollars at Coach Davis this offseason.

related tags

Read More...

Comments

Please login or you can to leave a comment.

If you aren't registered, Register Now to start leaving comments.