Weekend Open Thread // 11.15.08
by cocknfire on Nov 15, 2008 11:00 AM EST
in SEC Football
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PrintSouth Carolina Gamecocks at Florida Gators, Nov 15, 2008 3:30 PM EST
It's not the greatest slate in the world, but it's still SEC football, so have at it in the comments below. We'll be around from time to time, if I'm not gouging my ears out as Gary Danielson finds someway to talk about how MATTHEW STAFFORD IS THE GREATEST QUARTERBACK EVERER SO I HAVE TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT HIM EVEN IF HIS GREATNESS ISN'T ACTUALLY IN THIS GAME!!!! ((Insert awkward Danielson joke.))
Georgia at Auburn, 12:30 p.m. ET, Raycom/Three Daves
Louisiana-Monroe at Mississippi, 2 p.m. ET, No TV
South Carolina at Florida, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Mississippi State at Alabama, 7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN
Vanderbilt at Kentucky, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Troy at LSU, 8 p.m. ET, No TV
Also, there's some games being played in a sport they call -- and let me make sure I have this spelled right -- "basketball." Not sure what that's all about, but if you think you'd like to blog about this odd sport, drop an e-mail at garnetandblackattack --at-- gmail --dot-- com.
And while we're at it, let me introduce you to "Race to Another SEC Cakewalk the BCS," SB Nation's hub for all things not-really-playoff.
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Georgia wins the early game, 17-13 over Auburn
They did, after all, have the road-field advantage.
Mississippi up 52-0 on Louisiana-Monroe.
Florida grabs the 7-0 lead on a pick-six.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
South Carolina imploding
A special-teams mistake (a bad throwback) puts them down 21-0
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Urgh
That was bad. That was really, really bad. But it gets back at what I’ve been thinking about UF the last few games – they’re not just taking advantage of mistakes, they’re manufacturing mistakes.
I don't think that was manufactured by Florida
I think it was manfactured by Spurrier getting antsy
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Well, Florida had somebody covering the throwback guy the whole time. Not everybody does that, but the Gators stayed at home and were able to recover.
It was still a good play by Florida, no doubt
But that’s a dumb idea by South Carolina this early in the game.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I get what you're saying
Though Spurrier has a history of doing these sorts of things against teams that are better than South Carolina.
I would like to see a team, though, try to go through an entire game without doing that against Florida. I suppose it is Florida’s reputation that’s causing their opponents to do that, but I have a hard time giving Florida credit for the idiocy of other coaches.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I fear
you’ll get your wish with Bama. Saban’s exactly the kind of coach who won’t have a fit of idiocy. (Though I would have sworn that Tressel wouldn’t do anything foolish in 2006, and he did with the 4th-and-short call.)
Some mistakes
are manufactured by physical pressure – blitzes, punt blocks etc. But when teams routinely melt down against UF – and you can’t call Stafford’s second-half performance anything else – that looks like psychological pressure, as one mistake starts a cascade of errors that wrecks the game in ten minutes.
…and the Florida offense has about nothing to do with it. The South Carolina D has had two bad plays the whole quarter, but yet thanks to the rest of the team’s generosity it’s a 21-0 hole.
Norwood picks up a gift fumble by Florida and returns it to midfield
South Carolina mental mistake pending
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Points off turnover: Florida 21, South Carolina 0
Score: Florida 21, South Carolina 0
Gamecocks are playing scared, I have to admit
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Yeah
Unfortunately, they have to play with Ray Rychleski and Chris Smelley
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
This might sound like a homer complaint
But I have a real problem with announcers that plead for bad officiating on one call and seem to delight in bad officiating on another call. If they wanted to say, “That would be a ticky-tacky PI to call,” or something like that. That’s not what Danielson and Lundquist are doing.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Danielson gushes over whoever is in the lead, and Verne is just along for the ride. It’s a pretty typical CBS telecast so far.
I can’t blame them for wishing James Smith got the touchdown though. He’s a former walk-on, 5th year senior long snapper who never gets any notoriety. Announcers always root for guys like that. And you knew Florida would punch it in eventually anyway; it’s not like they’ve got JaMarcus Russel playing quarterback or anything.
I know, I know
But I don’t like rooting for bad officiating. If they say the same thing about S.C., I’ll last them then as well.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Quite, old chap
But before that they looked like ‘good UGA’ – lots of protection, good downfield throws to big, athletic receivers.
Ole Miss goes final, 59-0 over ULM
Prepare for the bragging, Bama fans
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
No Jarvis Moss
Florida 28, South Carolina 3 after the Succop FG
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Bobby Bowden still coaching at Florida St?
I thought it was Jimbo Fisher. Officially, I guess, it is still Bowden …
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That's an interesting call
You run all the possible time of the clock but give your kicker about 1.5 yards less to maneuver
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
What I want to know is
When did Florida get 212 yards of offense? It feels like they have about 2/3 that amount.
The Thompson TD is probably most of that – but the drive that ended in the second fumble picked up decent yardage too.
Don't forget the one yard off the called-back special teams TD ;)
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Halftime
- Florida is very very good, but South Carolina is helping them with mental mistakes. That doesn’t take away from the Gators — they’re an outstanding team — but you can’t help them if you’re South Carolina.
- The QB shuffle is an abject failure. Spurrier is not at Florida, he doesn’t have Johnson and Palmer and both of these quarterbacks are obviously uncomfortable with it. Spurrier might be right that neither QB is doing very well, but there’s a legitimate chicken-egg question to be asked there.
- This game isn’t over, but it’s close. South Carolina has given no indication that they can score 25 points next half, or that they can keep their poise enough to prevent another point-producing mental mistake.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Agreed
- South Carolina is doing better on defence than anyone since first half UGA – and before that, maybe first half Arky. But the offence has been so horrific it hasn’t really mattered. (It has mattered some, though; if the D were playing as poorly as the O, this would look like the Kentucky or Vandy games. This is much more like the UGA game – UF’s better, but the score exaggerates the difference.)
- Garcia looks lost; Smelley in max protect is the best thing going right now.
- Even if the USC defence holds UF down (which is certainly possible), USC needs either vast improvement on offence or lots of turnovers, or both. Of course, I’m a pessimist… no game is ever over as long as the other guy has a mathematical chance of catching up.
The one thing South Carolina couldn't afford to have happen
Just happened
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I've always been more impressed by him than Tebow, to be completely honest
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Perhaps "more afraid of" would be a better way to put that
Tebow’s pretty impressive
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Yeah
it’s pretty astounding, but I think Harvin is still our best runner and receiver. No-one else does everything.
Smelley staying in is clear evidence that Spurrier thinks he needs to throw
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Florida can be had if you sit back with lots of blockers and pick your spots in the 5-15 yard range.
And that’s what ‘good Stafford’ did. Can Ponder (or whoever) or Wilson do it? Million dollar questions right there.
And so continues Mission: Reclaim South Carolina's Dignity
Succop FG, 35-6 Florida
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Wow
That might be the hardest hit South Carolina’s dealt out this year
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Thousands of people catch laryngitis every day
Why can’t Danielson be one of them?
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
They're like pinballs
Bounce off a tackle or two, head for the end zone
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Just watched the play several times
Three Gamecock defenders were prepared to take him down if he got through the hole. Not a one went around the back, and that’s where Demps came from. Suddenly, all three were out of position, and a single block sprung him.
It’s the details that will get you.
This is such an incredible team
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a team as good as Florida. This is just — wow.
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Now I know what Kentucky felt like
And Georgia. And LSU. And …
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That's the first time you'll ever hear Tebow called a "queen"
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I don't think it will happen
I still believe TT will beat Oklahoma
But I think you have to go with Texas, barring an Oklahoma blowout of TT. Oklahoma has absolutely no defense (things I thought I’d never say), and Texas’ at least appears to have a pulse.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I take that back ... OU is actually first in total D in the Big XII
They’re still not very good
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Wow
They’re betting in the booth that Verne can’t make it through the game recap without an error. To his credit, he makes it, but what does that say about the CBS team?
Sorry, Bama and Texas Tech fans
Florida’s No. 1 by any measure you use
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Oooh – does this mean another week of Bama fans (and UGA fans too) sniping at your blogpoll ballot? ‘Cause that’s always a barrel of kittens.
Appears so
But I just can’t justify putting them anywhere else right now…
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Thank you, Urban for pulling Tebow
But if you really wanted to be polite, you could sit down Demps, Rainey, Harvin and teh starting offensive line
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Offense or defense?
Oh, never mind. I doubt South Carolina’s forced Florida into 12 third-down situations
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
That's surprising to me
Florida’s had five unsuccessful third down plays?
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
More on this in TFD later tonight
But I think Tebow’s the front-runner. Harrell, Crabtree, McCoy and Bradford will split the Big XII vote
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I guess you can forgive a sub-par punting game when it's not utilized very much
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Which just proves the first maxim of ACC football
Whichever result can cause the most chaos will be the outcome of a given game
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Not really
Spurrier would like to start one, and I know I for one really want to beat them whenever we play them.
But the games are so rare that particularly for those of us who became fans in the SEC era, there’s no real special feelings for UNC that I’ve ever picked up.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I think I remember a conflict earlier this year as to which school got to call itself just “Carolina,” but that may just have been the local Charlotte radio folks manufacturing controversy to rile up all the Heels in town.
Probably had to do with the USC/USC conflict
That said, we are Carolina to everyone in South Carolina. They are Carolina to everyone else. It’s a bit of a controversy, but not enough to translate onto the field.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Ah, Reggie
He ballhawked like Black and hit like Wright… and he rocked the dreads, too. Splendid stuff.
Oh Verne
He’s more concerned over getting to finish his story about Dandy Don Meredith than calling the game.
That's just Mike Patrick
He has trouble concentrating on things like games.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
For those of you wondering
The “top ranked defense statistically in the SEC” has given up 484 yards
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
And I think that has as much or more to do with Fla than with S.C.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Can Tim Brando get through one clip without advocating for a playoff?
Whatever you might think of the argument about the BCS, the endless lobbying gets tiring.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I do believe Garcia completed that pass
To one of the ball boys
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Oregon State finishes the game
34-21 over Cal with 31 second left
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The Beaver Dream is alive
Oregon State gets a pick-6 with 0:31 to go to seal the win. Was 27-21, now is 34-21.
A win at Arizona and in the Civil War gives them a Rose Bowl bid
And could leave the other USC out of the BCS
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Yeah, but a man can dream
I’d still like to see Utah and Boise State make it in and see the Trojans and Ohio State locked out.
Won’t happen, but still nice to think about
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
If Tech beats OU and goes to the title game and Texas wins out, then the Longhorns get an auto-bid as being a non-conference champion in the top 4 of the BCS poll.
The rotation this year is Fiesta-Sugar-Orange. The Fiesta will take Texas to replace the departed Raiders, and then they get first pick at the at-larges. Almost certainly they’ll take USC for a rematch of the 2005 BCSCG. Sound good to anyone?
I'm not sure
That could turn into a blowout if Texas gets a few breaks early (like, say, Florida in this game). Southern Cal doesn’t have a great offense this year.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
That's what I meant by the early breaks
I’m agreed … if this game gets into the third quarter still close, I think it’s a tough game.
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"This game" = Texas vs. USC
I don’t think anything mattered in Florida vs. South Carolina
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Does USC’s offence strike anyone else as UGA-esque. They’ve got a ton of talent, but too often it just quite click the way you expect.
If Southern Cal plays in the national championship game
There should be a Congressional investigation
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Don't look now, but Stanford is on the Southern Cal 11 in a scoreless game
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I doubt it
I don’t see Mississippi State scoring three points against Alabama
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Free kick off the tee
And it results in a touchback. I’ve always wondered why more teams don’t do that.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
You see him slide when he could have run another three yards and then slid?
It was a thing of ugliness.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I'm going to be flipping back and forth. Wanted to see the beginning of Alabama-MSU
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I suppose I should pay some attention to Bama – get a little advanced scouting in. But how much will the MSU or Auburn games really tell me?
Not sure
It’s now 5-0. I take back what I said earlier — this could be one of those games
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Southern Cal tied now, btw, 17-17
Could end up being a shootout in Palo Alto
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Shouldn't there be quote marks around "offensive coordinator"
With Woody McCorvey
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Hey, Nickson -- Tyson Lee can do that
Except he can’t recover it
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Southern Cal's D is completely flummoxed
Shades of Oregon State
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Arenas reminds me of what Lou Holtz once said about Syvelle Newton
“When he has the ball, hold your hats, because one of us is about to score.”
This team, he has a modest return and no turnover
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Mississippi State completes a successful forward pass
I’m stunned
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Whoa – check out the all black unis on FSU. Definitely a more important game to watch than Bama-MSU. (Unless Bama inexplicably gets a case of the losies.)
False start
Second try is blocked, but it’s a dead ball
Longest PAT ever
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Stoppage is another false start
Third time’s the charm, 7-0
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Looks like Mike Patrick might not have to wonder what Britney's up to these days
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Scoreboardin'
Vanderbilt 14, Kentucky 0, 1:54 in 1Q
Troy 14, LSU 3, 4:00 in 1Q
Mississippi State 7, Alabama 5, 10:19 in 2Q
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
The question for Alabama has always been "Can JPW avoid having that game?"
It’s not looking good right now
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Always an adventure with Tiffin
But even he can make an XP, 12-7
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
BTW, I might use that in the weekend wrap-up if it holds true
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
D.J. Morre picks off Randall Cobb, Vandy on the Kentucky 22
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Weirdest TD you've ever seen, but I think it's legit, Vandy leads 20-7, XP pending
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This time, Vandy says, eligibility is not getting away.
Weird little play there – great determination by the receiver to get across the line.
We'll see
I’ll believe it when I see it. I want it to happen, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
This would be an epic collapse. Miles will need a fake mustache to get out of the stadium in one piece.
Nothing very good, I don’t think. Though maybe this is just PTSD for LSU kicking in after the UF, UGA and Bama games.
Yeah
Last five weeks:
at Florida
at South Carolina
vs. Georgia
vs. Tulane
vs. Alabama
This was supposed to be a bye, but hurricanes win over football
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Southern Cal takes the lead, btw, 24-17 with 2:38 left in 3Q
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Versus: SC can get back in NCG this way
Big XII South loses in BXIICG.
Florida wins in SEC CG (I have no idea how that helps, but so they say)
Oregon State loses somewhere.
Not sure that does it, but VERSUS says it does, so that must be true.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
I hope LSU athletics has a really good mental health insurance program. Lee’s going to need years of therapy after this season.
LSU fans are worried about that
Does it make him stronger or kill his confidence?
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Scoreboardin'
Alabama up 22-7 over Mississippi State
Vanderbilt still up 24-7, but UK threatening
Troy up 24-3 on LSU at the half
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Cobb pitches to Dixon on option, TD Kentucky
24-14 Vanderbilt with 10:00 in 3Q
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Scoreboardin'
UK has pulled to within seven of Vandy, 24-17 as 3Q wraps up; could history be on hold again?
Alabama is up 25-7 and driving in 4Q.
LSU is down 31-3 but in the red zone with 3:57 left in 3Q
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Rushing TD by Hawkins and Vandy is now up 30-17, XP pending, 14:14 left
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Scoreboardin'
Alabama up 32-7 as time winds down
Vandy up 31-17 early in 4Q
LSU trying to come back, down 31-17 against Troy early in 4Q
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
well, yes and no...
… it wasn’t as hairy as some of our other games this season but it would be nice to have an offense that could generate points with regularity.
When he holds onto the ball, it's ridiculous
I said earlier he reminded me of Lou Holtz’s quote about Syvelle Newton: “When he has the ball, hold onto your hats, because one of us is about to score.” Seems like Alabama’s doing most of that scoring right now.
And he passed the “Duece” for PR for TDs, whom I vaguely remember from my childhood as one whale of a kick returner.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
croom was NOT HAPPY his kicker knocked it to him...
…and was clearly ripping the special teams coach for it happening.
As long as Woody McCorvey is still gainfully employed
Croom can’t blame any problems with his team on anyone else
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Talk about a defence-optional game – Houston 63, Tulsa 30… after 3 quarters.
LSU is clawing back – Jefferson was apparently so dreadful that Lee returned.
FSU a ballsy drive, with a fake punt and then a trick play for the TD. ACC football does have its very occasional moments.
What does that do for Jefferson's confidence
“You’re worse than the guy who throws pick-sixes like they’re beads at Mardi Gras”
Ah, yes, Tulsa — the “fly in the ointment” for Tim Brandon
//stifles laughter//
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Cobb rushing TD puts UK back into this one, 31-23 Vandy with 8:22 left
XP and review pending
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
If they manage to win this one, I want Les Miles' lucky unicorn
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unicorns represent purity, not good fortune.
…and typically require a virgin to capture – something in short supply in baton rouge.
He's got some kind of good luck charm
All those fourth downs, and now Troy punting to the 50
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
First BC throws a pick in the red zone, then FSU marches right down the field… and throws a pick in the end zone. I lurve the ACC.
Kentucky driving near midfield, slightly less than 4:30 left
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Talent gap
That’s where it starts to show up, though usually on defense
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Bob Davie: South Carolina "limping"
Having won six of their last eight but lost to a team that slaughtered Georgia, LSU and Kentucky, and they’re limping
If you don’t kknow what you’re talking about, shut up.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Blackouts don't work
Killed S.C. two or three times, mixed record for Georgia, FSU 0-2
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Almost a fight between BC and FSU
Florida St players need to watch out, they obviously don’t need to go without any players again
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
Win or lose, this wasn't pretty for LSU
Troy has more yards, first downs and plays
They also have more turnovers, which clinched it for the Bengals
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
LSU does finally win, 40-31
Something on Vandy and then Topics for Discussion forthcoming
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
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