Clash of the Titans Part Deux: Florida Vs. Oklahoma

Picture courtesy of the AP

Soon after Florida gutted out a win against top-ranked Alabama, they learned they would be facing Oklahoma in the BCS National Title Game.

Florida battled the #1 ranked Crimson Tide, endured an 112 yard effort by Bama tailback Glen Coffee and a 125 yard performance by freshman receiver Julio Jones, and came back to win 31-20. As a fan of the Florida Gators, I have to say that this was the best game I've seen the team play since they won the national title over Ohio State in 2006.

Why?

Because it saw Tim Tebow do what he'd never done in his career: come back from a second half deficit to win a game. Before Saturday, Tebow had never beaten a team after the Gators trailed in the second half. He came close against Auburn a year ago, only for the defense to fold on the Tigers' final drive. In the other games, Tebow never drove the Gators down the field enough to threaten the opposing team's lead. This time, however, was different. When the graphic was shown during CBS' broadcast that attested to his struggles in leading comebacks, it was as if Tebow knew it was there; it was as if the defense knew, too. Tebow finished the fourth quarter 5-5 for 72 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense, fresh from being gashed by Coffee and Jones during the previous quarter, held Alabama to one yard in the final frame.

One yard.

I wrote on Saturday that Tebow was a great player; I still believe that, and you'd have to be crazy not to think that. However, the Gator defense is pretty damn great, too; they were facing adversity, too, not just Tebow. This proud unit had allowed Bama to score twice in the third quarter, on drive of 97 and 62 yards, as the Tide took a 20-17 lead and look poised to break the will of Florida en route to the SEC championship. However, the defense responded strongly, forcing Alabama into consecutive three and outs, with the first being punctuated by a sack by Jermaine Cunningham. The unit, led by Brandon Spikes, stood up just as Tebow stood up for the offense. For that, they deserve all of the credit in the world. Last year's defense wouldn't have managed the effort that this year's did.

And speaking of offense, give Riley Cooper, Louis Murphy, Aaron Hernandez, Jeffrey Demps, and, hell, the whole offense credit for stepping up in the absence of Percy Harvin. The most electrifying player in the country was forced to sit on the sidelines due to injury, and guys stepped up to fill his shoes. It wasn't always pretty, but they got the job done. Look at it like this: without its best player, Florida's offense still managed 31 points. Not too many teams can do that. Now, Florida faces what could be its toughest test in the Oklahoma Sooners; in a lot of ways, they're a lot like Florida. As much as has been made about the Gators' scoring binge during the past two months, Oklahoma's topped it, rolling up 60 points in 5 straight games and setting a FBS record for most points scored in a season with 702. Like Florida, they've been on a tear since their only loss of the year, winning seven straight by a combined score of 419-205. Also like Florida, they've got talent at every position; they've got a Heisman favorite in Sam Bradford, three good tailbacks in Moses Madu, DeMarco Murray, and Chris Brown, and four players with at least 600 yards receiving. Another--Quentin Chaney--has 467. In short, they are insane on offense, and Florida will have a tough test on its hands in order to contain this unit, particularly at tight end.

However, defensively is where the Sooners have struggled. While Florida's winning streak has been a well-rounded triumph of offense, defense, and special teams, Oklahoma's offense has carried it for most of its streak. Their defense has played better against Missouri and Texas Tech, but it surrended 35 points to Kansas, 41 to Oklahoma State, 35 to Kansas State, and 28 apiece to Texas A&M and Nebraska. Suffice it to say, the Sooner defense has given up a lot even as they've lit up the scoreboard themselves.

Unfortunately, these stats should be taken with a grain of salt; games aren't played on paper, and the bowl games are entirely different from the regular season. With a month to prepare, anything can happen, and rest assured, the Sooners will be prepared to play come January 8th. If the regular season had an effect on bowl games, Florida would've taken care of Michigan in the Capital One Bowl; Oklahoma would've handled West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl as well. Both of these teams know that that extra month changes the game entirely. Oklahoma--riding a four-game BCS bowl losing streak--will have something to prove when they face the Gators. Hopefully, it'll be a great game.

Moving on, MOAR BCS:

- Texas coach Mack Brown should tell Kirk Herbstreit to shove it. I know I would if I were old, white, and named Mack Brown. It's easy for Herbstreit to say that Texas should just "get over" being screwed out of the BCS Title game, but that's because he isn't one of the 50 or 60 Texas team members who got left out. Hopefully, Mack uses this to criticize both the assinine way that the Big 12 handles tie-breakers and the BCS itself. In terms of the former, what hare-brained tie-breakers leaves things up to a bunch of computer votes? Why not something more concrete like margin of victory, number of ranked team defeated, or opponent won/loss records? Anything but leaving it up to the God-awful BCS to decide which team should make the conference title game.

- The BCS is still horrible. Forget the talk about how the BCS got it right. It didn't. No system that leaves six other teams with legitimate arguments out of the title picture got it right. Texas has a case, as do USC, Texas Tech, Boise State, Utah, and Penn State. Hell, Boise State didn't even make a BCS bowl game. How's that for disrespect?

- Speaking of which, it is an absolute joke that Ohio State gets to make another BCS bowl game, not when Boise State was higher than them in the standings, and was undefeated. It's a travesty that the Broncos don't even get a national stage to prove themselves, while viewers get so see the Buckeyes falter against yet another good team. At least Boise State can claim beating Oregon at Autzen Stadium as a signature win; OSU can claim what, beating a one-man team in Michigan State, despite losing to Penn State and getting humiliated by USC? Fantastic. I understand it's about the money, but come on; I didn't see the 2006 Fiesta Bowl with empty seats when BSU beat Oklahoma. They may not have the fanbase that OSU brings, but they'll damn sure sell out their ticket allotment. Plus, does anyone outside of Columbus really want to see Terrelle Pryor harrassed time and time against by Nagurski Award winner Brian Orakpo? This game might be over by halftime.

- And the most intriguing non-BCS Bowl game is.......Oregon/Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. The Cotton Bowl (Texas Tech against Ole Miss) is somewhat interesting, but I think the Rebels are little overmatched there. The Holiday Bowl is usually a damn good game to begin with, and this one features two great offenses. Oregon is 4th in the nation in rushing offense, 8th in total offense, and 7th in scoring offense; Oklahoma State is 7th, 7th, and 8th in those categories respectively. First team to 45 might win, or they might not. It may take over 50 to win.

Gary Danielson is Campaigning Again

"I'm not watching the [National Championship] game if Florida's not in it."

Come on, people. A little objectivity would be nice.

Tim Tebow= Man

As I sit here writing this, Florida is set to win the SEC Championship, up 31-20 right now with under 3 minutes left. Dead the talk about Tebow being clutch; the guy just led the Gators down the field for a touchdown to extend Florida's lead. Credit should go to the defense for holding up and stopping Wilson from having a big day, and for bottling up Alabama's running game outside of Glen Coffee (who is a beast in his own right). But, still, Tebow's just a great player; he's put this team on his back, with no Percy Harvin to help out. Guy like Louis Murphy, Riley Cooper, and Aaron Hernandez have stepped up (as has Jeffrey Demps), but Tebow is the engine that makes this team go. He's truly a great player.

Shakedown Saturday: Postseason Edition Week 1

I had a good regular season; went 38-13 overall, which makes for a 74.5% correctitude rate. Now, we're in the postseason:

Florida 28
Alabama 23

Missouri 31
Oklahoma 55

Ball State 37
Buffalo 17

Boston College 23
Virginia Tech 14

Pittsburgh 24
Connecticut 28

Pete Fiutak= Fool

Source

There are still media personalities drinking the Weis Kool-Aid and drowning by the cupful.

Charlie Weis just isn't all that bad a head coach.

Weis might not be pretty, he might not be warm and fuzzy, and he might take arrogance to a whole new level, but above all else, for good and mostly for bad, he's more demanding and has set the expectations higher for Notre Dame football than the harshest of Irish fans could ever try to create.

He made it clear from the start of his tenure that anything less than a national championship is unacceptable in South Bend, and he's right.

Money is never a problem for a school with a $7 billion endowment. The spotlight is always on, above and beyond the NBC contract. The history and tradition are second to none, the school has a sweetheart of a deal with the BCS, and after years of rigid requirements, things have eased up just enough to make it possible to recruit just about anyone. Don't let anyone fool you with the garbage that a coach can't win big at Notre Dame anymore. It's the opposite. It's hard for a coach not to win at Notre Dame. And Weis knows this, but just winning isn't enough.

Help me out here, people. Charlie Weis has high expectations. That's wonderful, no sarcasm intended. However, you don't get to keep your job simply based on having high expectations for your team. Every head coach in the country has high expectations for his team. Since when did evaluating coaching prowess become about what the coach expects? But hold up. The foolishness doesn't stop there:

Of course, the USC near-miss only hid the program's major problems which were exposed last year. The overall athleticism is mediocre compared to the top programs. Brady Quinn really was a special player, and when he left, along with Jeff Samardzija and Darius Walker, the cupboard was not only bare, but it quickly became obvious that there was absolutely nothing to work with on the offensive line. While the defense was considered the biggest issue after getting torched by Ohio State and LSU in consecutive BCS games, in fact, everything needed work. Notre Dame wasn't just a player or two away.

This wasn't a case of Alabama this year, where a slew of tremendous young talents were able to blend up with a solid core of decent veterans to create something special. The base that Weis needed to get his era off to a hot start all left, and he wasn't able to restock the shelves right away. That's part his fault, a wee bit the fault of Ty Willingham's recruiting problems, and partly the fault of the program as whole for not recognizing that 2007 was necessary to start relatively clean with a slew of young players.

At least Fiutak didn't go into a full-on "Ty's fault" rampage. However, I'm not sure that it's just "part" Weis' fault. The buck stops with him, and he's the guy that's responsible for making sure that the team has the players it needs to succeed. All I heard the past two years was how great Weis' recruiting classes were, and how Notre Dame would be back because Weis was bringing the talent in by the truckload. He hasn't done anything with it, though; instead, he's followed the worst season in Notre Dame history with a 6-6 one. He might just be 6-7 if they run into the wrong opponent in their bowl game.

Here's the truth, in plain English: Charlie Weis isn't a good college coach. He's not good at developing talent, either. Weis succeeded in the pros because he's good at putting finished products in the best places to excel. In the NFL, the developing and maturing is already done for you; the only thing coaches have to do is put those guys in positions to make plays. That's exactly what Weis did during his first two seasons at Notre Dame, too; he took a group of guys that Ty Willingham recruited, and did what Ty could not: he put them in the best positions to succeed on the field. However, now, he's working from ground zero, and a big part of that is his fault. Instead of giving Brady Quinn's backups some reps during blowouts in 2005 and 2006, the Fighting Irish ended up with a quarterback controversy to begin their 2007 campaign. Their three quarterbacks--Evan Sharpley, Demetrius Jones, and Jimmy Clausen, combined for a total of two pass attempts. Because of Weis' lack of foresight during his first two years at head coach, ND had no clear cut starter at quarterback, no guy with any real in-game experience. The much lauded recruiting classes didn't turn up any impact players in the trenches, and given the Irish's pathetic rushing numbers, along with giving up 20 sacks this year, still hasn't come up with any. Weis is a professional coach trying to survive in a college game, with no idea as to how to interact with a team full of immature, 18-22 year old guys. Trying to convince anyone with a lick of common sense that he's somehow a good coach is akin to trying to sell salt to a slug. Weis is good at moving guys who are already molded for him; he's not so good at doing the molding himself. The crap youth argument Fiutak tries to push later in his article doesn't fly, either; Alabama has a young guys playing all over the place, and they're 12-0. Florida has the youngest team in the SEC, and doesn't have a single senior starting on defense; they're 11-1. This isn't to say that Weis should have done equally well with his crew, because Nick Saban and Urban Meyer are exceptional coaches. However, if Weis were a good coach, or even a mediocre one, Notre Dame wouldn't have gone 3-9 last year, and wouldn't be 6-6 this year. You don't lose to teams like Air Force, Navy, and Syracuse over that span if you have good coaching. Talent alone should be able to get over in games like that. Youth is an excuse for decent teams not being better; it is not an excuse for bad ones.

Really, though, I don't know why it's so hard for the media to admit that it's wrong on this one. Hypnotized by the allure of Weis' four Super Bowl rings, the media tripped over itself to heap unending praise on the guy. Given his swaggering proclamations during his first press conference, I can't exactly blame them. They swooned over his presumed tactical genius, and some even predicted a Notre Dame win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl because "Weis with a month to prepare," would lead the Irish to victory over a proven, Jim Tressel-led Buckeye squad. 34 points and over 600 yards later, that theory was shot to pieces. However, it seems that there are still those unwilling to admit to being wrong, so instead, they're still trying to sell the rest of the sane world their brand of crazy. Unfortunately:

Dan Wetzel Brings the Win

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Seriously, though, this is an excellent idea, and it completely blows up the "there's no viable alternative" argument that the pro-BCS crowd likes to tout. If the FCS, Division II, and Division III leagues can do a 16 team playoff, then the FBS sure as hell can, too. I like the 11 conference champs + 5 at large plan, and even though I'd like to see a team like BYU in this bracket, I'd rather have the 17th and 18th teams having gripes than the 3rd and 4th. This year, there are no fewer than 8 teams (Florida, Oklahoma, USC, Boise State, Utah, Texas, Texas Tech, and Alabama) who have a case for making the BCS title game; only two of them are actually going to play in it, and another two--BSU and Utah--won't even be discussed as deserving teams. In a playoff, they would be able to make their cases on a weekly basis.

Look at Wetzel's bracket, and tell me that some of those first round matchups don't look good. Boise State and Penn State would be a good game, as would Texas Tech/Ohio State. TCU/Utah would be a great between two good non-BCS teams, and could possibly be the best game of the first round. Even Florida/Cincinnati has the makings of a good game, with the Bearcats--led by a great coach in Brian Kelly-- being the underdogs as they roll into The Swamp. From there, the future games are a fan's dream. In the second round alone, we could see:

Penn State/Alabama, or Boise State/Alabama
Florida/USC
Utah/Texas, or TCU/Texas
Texas Tech/Oklahoma, or Oklahoma/Ohio State

And don't even get me started on the possible championship games. Given these matchups, a playoff would be great for the fans, great for the schools, and great for college football in general. These are games that fans fantasize about; a playoff would actually make them happen. It would be a cash cow for the universities, who could reap the benefits of having their schools play and advance in the playoff. If you think the money made from March Madness is a lot, just think of how much money could be made from college football.

All of this begs the question: why are conferences so hesitant about a playoff, then? Save the BS about being concerned for the students, too; if schools truly gave a damn about the grades these kids made, March Madness wouldn't be as long as it is. Every other college football division has a playoff, and concerns are never raised about their grades. Personally, I think there's another motivation at work here: protection of the name brand. When most people think of college football, they think of the big names like Michigan, Ohio State, USC, and Notre Dame. Extending this logic further, we can say that the reverse is true, too: people certainly aren't thinking of the TCUs, BYUs, and Boise States of the college football landscape when they think of the sport. If a team like Boise State were to knock off one like USC, what would that do for a program's prestige? What would that do for a conference prestige? At least one upset is going to happen in every playoff, and a big team could be a victim of that. The same reasoning works to explain why big time schools don't schedule high-end non-BCS teams now, as well. Not only does an Ohio State loss to a team like BYU knock them out of national title talks, it makes the program look worse as a whole. Don't believe me? Look at Michigan last year; they took Florida to the woodshed in the Capital One Bowl, but has anyone forgotten that they lost to Appalachian State to start the year? If upsets like that happened on a yearly basis, people would start to question just how different BCS teams are from non-BCS teams, and examine if the gap between the two is as wide as the media would have them to believe.

So here we are, with the non-BCS teams vying for attention, and the BCS schools not even giving them tickets to the show. Four conferences-the Big 10, Pac-10, Big East, and Big 12-wouldn't even let talks of a plus-one playoff on the table, much less give it serious consideration. This is a travesty. There's no other way to say it, really; it cheats college football fans out of a chance to see great football, and it cheats non-BCS teams out of the chance to worth their worth on a national stage. I love college football, but the BCS is a joke solution to a serious issue. When a system screws up as much as the BCS has (the BCS got it wrong in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004, and left an undefeated BSU out in the cold in 2006 as well), would you continue to use it and hope that it doesn't screw up again, or would you replace it? Most people know what the answer to that question is.

Just not any of the people that matter.

Jason Whitlock Blasts ESPN, Takes Shots at Chris Fowler

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Bigging up Ball State? Good thing. Taking shots at ESPN analyst Chris Fowler? You be the judge. First off, though, he sets his sights on Fowler's employer:

Ball State's football season perfectly illustrated my problem with ESPN and why I believe the World Wide Leader is the most evil and destructive force in the sports world. It has driven and hastened the destruction of authentic, independent, democratic, courageous sports journalism.

ESPN is the enemy of the truth, and all who believe a pursuit of the truth is the lifeblood of a genuinely free society must stand against the Wal-Mart-ization of sports journalism.

I reached this conclusion when trying to figure out why Ball State quarterback Nate Davis isn't one of the top-five Heisman Trophy candidates and Ball State coach Brady Hoke isn't the front-runner for national coach of the year.

He then takes time out to personally attack Fowler himself:

What Fowler has done is ridiculous and reeks of the kind of simple-minded arrogance that permeates ESPN. Fowler has had his ass kissed for too many years. He travels around the country during football season and everywhere he goes, there's an Army of BCS sports information directors waiting to kiss his ass and tell him how great "GameDay" is.

He has never been a professional journalist a day in his life. He's a TV personality. He knows what someone else has told him. I'm not 100 percent sure, but I'd suspect he hasn't worn a jock since junior high school.

This is the combination that is killing the sports media. No journalism background, no real athletic experience and no backbone. No clue. Fowler wouldn't make a competent blogger.

I quoted these because they're probably the most gossip-worthy parts of Whitlock's article. However, they're also the weakest and most unnecessary. He's correct to point out that ESPN--given its role in sports news--has driven public opinion to the point that any player not in a BCS conference is sure to not get any love on the big stage. He's also correct to call Fowler out on the carpet for inexplicably dropping Ball State from his top 25 ballot after they'd beaten Central Michigan. However, the personal potshots just make him sound as though he has a bad case of sour grapes: ESPN dropped him three years ago, so now he's settling a few scores through this column. Put bluntly, Whitlock's inability to keep his piece professional detracts from an otherwise sound argument, an argument which Whitlock himself did not do justice.

Given that, let's examine it closer. As I've said on this blog before, there are a number of players who get overlooked in the 10 player shuffle ESPN does each week; if you're not in that shuffle, you're not getting attention. So while everyone knows about Graham Harrell, Tim Tebow, and Sam Bradford, they probably don't know about guys like Chase Clement (who, for my money, is a better college QB than Davis is) or Case Keenum. They probably don't know that James Casey--and not Jermaine Gresham or Chase Coffman--is the best tight end in the country by far. Why? Because players like this aren't from big time schools. This isn't to say that the Harrells and Tebows of the world don't deserve attention, but to say that other guys deserve attention as well. In this case, Whitlock is absolutely right about ESPN: because they're tied to so many different TV stations with so many different conference tie-ins, they do drive public opinion about which players are the best. This leaves everyone outside of this network out of luck. It also means that ESPN's competitors, such as FOX Sports, aren't able to provide countering viewpoints.

ESPN has so much sway because they're the only show in town. FOX Sports, who Whitlock now works for, gets the occasional Big 12 or Pac-10 game, but not near the amount of games that ESPN, which televises games on ABC in addition to its slew of home channels, does. FOX used to be able to claim sole coverage of the BCS bowl games, but with ESPN and the BCS recently working out a television deal, that advantage is now gone. It's a good thing if you're ESPN, but a bad thing if you want to see a more diverse array of players covered. If you want the non-BCS conference teams along with their players to get more love, it's probably best to look elsewhere, unfortunately. ESPN is the TV equivalent of top 40 radio right now, and that doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. They'll continue to drive public opinion, and fans will continue to see more of them same boilerplate analysis combined with the same boilerplate opinions on the best teams in the nation. And if you don't believe me, consider this: for all of the possible talk of Florida being screwed by the BCS even with a win over Alabama, two undefeated teams--Boise State and Utah--despite each having wins over ranked teams, won't even be in the discussion.

Florida Wins Eighth Straight, Sets Up Big Game With Undefeated Alabama

Picture Courtesy of the AP

The question wasn't whether or not Florida would win, but rather, of when they would wrap things up.

For me, I knew the game was over after Florida State's first possession. Florida had just marched 64 yards--in a veritable monsoon, no less--for a touchdown. However, kick returner Michael Ray Garvin raced 52 yards on the ensuing return, giving the Seminoles great field position. Three plays later, FSU was kicking a field goal after gaining just 5 yards and having a crucial drop on third down which would have given them a first down.

From there, it was all downhill.

Florida rolled up 502 yards of offense, including another 300 yard game from its committee of backs, en route to another blowout, this time at Doak Campbell Stadium. Tebow carved up FSU's secondary, throwing for three touchdowns while running for another; he finished with 80 yards rushing and 185 more passing in all. However, this game belonged to Florida's tailbacks, as Chris Rainey ran for 97 yards and Jeffrey Demps added another 89; in all, the two combined for a mere 17 carries and averaged over 10 yards a touch, no doubt helped by a 44 yard run by Demps and a 62 yard run by Rainey. Defensively, the Gators were just as effective; despite being constantly placed in bad situation by the Florida coverage team, the defense held FSU to 15 points on just 242 total yards. Starting quarterback Christian Ponder was a mere 5-14 for 60 yards and an interception, and even when coach Bobby Bowden decided to go with Drew Weatherford, things didn't change; Weatherford finished just 4-15 for 61 in relief of Ponder. Defensively, Brandon Spikes, Janoris Jenkins, and Carlos Dunlap led the way, as Spikes picked off Florida State's first pass of the second half and added six tackles on top of that. Jenkins and Dunlap had their best games as Gators with the former picking off a pass and having three pass breakups, and the latter adding four tackles and two sacks on the year. The play of Jenkins was especially superb, and it was his breakup of a jump pass to Greg Carr that set the tone early on. Why was the play so special? Because Carr--at 6'6"--had a definite size advantage over the 5'9" Jenkins. Dunlap's performance solidified has status as one of the best young pass rushers in the country, as his nine sacks now lead the SEC.

However, it wasn't all good for Florida, as the losses of star wide receiver Percy Harvin and defensive tackle Brandon Antwine will definitely hurt if neither are available to play against Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Harvin injured his ankle in the second quarter of the game and did not return, and Antwine injured his knee during the game. Antwine's injury hurts because Florida's depth at DT will take a shot if he is unable to play. Harvin--who is Florida's best playmaker--should he be out, would hurt the Gators greatly given his speed and playmaking ability. Florida has guys who can step in in his absence, but none of them are as effective as Harvin is in open space. It isn't a knock out blow if he isn't able to play, but it does change Florida's gameplan somewhat. And Alabama, fresh off of a 36-0 thumping of rival Auburn, looks well-prepared on defense.

As a Florida fan, I'm very excited about this game, even if Harvin can't play. Florida is 4th in the BCS, and Bama is 1st, which makes for great TV by itself. However, beyond that, you have two great teams who have taken different paths to get to Atlanta; they're two different beasts entirely. In comic book terms, Alabama is Superman, and Florida is Doomsday. Bama, like Clark Kent, is gutty, tough, and undaunted; you'll seldom, if ever, see the Crimson Tide intimidated by anything, and they'll always rise above adversity. They may have bad days, and everything may not go their way, but Alabama always seems to pull out the tough, close games that they need to survive. People point to their games against Ole Miss and Tulane as evidence of their weakness, but really, how weak can a win be? That's Bama, though: not always pretty, but pretty enough to win.

Florida, on the other hand, is Doomsday: cold, calculating, and ruthless. Adaptable on the fly, and unable to be kept down for an extended period. After Ole Miss handed them their first and only loss of the year, Florida went on an eight game tear where they beat opponents by an average of 52-12. During this time, they've become the only team in league history to score 42 or more points in six consecutive games. With the win over Florida State, that streak went to seven straight games. The Gators have four players with over 500 yards rushing, two more with at least 500 yards receiving. Plan on stopping Percy Harvin? Then plan on letting Jeffrey Demps run wild. Plan on stopping Tebow? Then you're letting Harvin, or Rainey, or Demps go crazy. Versatile indeed.

The first time Superman and Doomsday met, they stalemated: they killed each other at the same time, with Superman delivering a double-fisted blow that finally put down Doomsday (followed by one of the most poignant moments in all of comics: Lois Lane lamenting over the dead body of Clark Kent). Obviously, there can't be a tie in the game against Florida and Alabama, but we could very well see a matchup of two evenly matched teams. If we do, sit back, and enjoy the show. I know I will.

Shakedown Saturday: Week 10

Went 5-1 last week, bringing me up to 34-12 overall. Let's see how I do this week:

Florida 41
Florida State 24

Georgia Tech 21
Georgia 27

Oregon 31
Oregon State 28

Oklahoma 44
Oklahoma State 34

Auburn 14
Alabama 27

Notre Dame is Terrible

Lost to a 2-8 Syracuse team. At home. They're going to be 6-6 going to their bowl game this year. Are people going to admit that Weis just isn't a good coach now, or are they going to make excuses for him again?

Holy Shit......

....Ole Miss is knee deep in LSU's ass. Up 21-3 now and they have the ball again. They're making Jevan Snead look like Joe Montana today.

Also, Jarrett Lee just threw his 16th interception of the year. It's not even worth mocking that guy anymore; he's that bad.

Cameron Newton Arrested

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This makes no sense to me--assuming the story holds as being true. You're on scholarship, and you have a chance to take the reigns at QB when Tebow leaves, so why would you mess that up over something so stupid? A laptop computer? Seriously? Why even steal something like that? And why be stupid enough to throw it out of a window? From what I've seen of the guy, he seemed like a good player, but you can't have this on a football team--any football team. It's a sign of immaturity, and when you're talking about fragile egos and young kids, you can't expose the rest of the team to something like that. If the story is true, then Newton should be gone in my opinion; I'm into giving second chances and all, but at the very least, his scholarship should be pulled and he should get the boot for a year. Or just offer the kid the chance to transfer to another school.

Terry Bowden: Off-Mark

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Terry Bowden wrote this column about a week ago, and I've got to say that I don't agree with his assessment on Shannon. At all. And this isn't simply because I'm a Florida fan, either; I just don't see greatness when I see Shannon or this Miami team on the field. Sure, they've got a lot of young players everywhere, but this team still doesn't look prepared when they face decent teams. Bowden writes:

The once invincible 'Canes finished 5-7, including a horrific 48-0 loss to Virginia in their last game in the Orange Bowl. Maybe Coach Shannon was just a great defensive coordinator, great recruiter and great motivator, but not a great head coach.

Miami entered the 2008 season with one of the top recruiting class in the country (Rivals.com No. 5), and Shannon wasn't afraid to play those freshmen. With new defensive coordinator Bill Young in the booth, it seems that Coach Shannon has started to find his groove as a head coach.

Found his groove how? By playing in an ACC that's even worse than it was last year? That's essentially the main difference between last year's campaign and this one's. Last year, Boston College and Virginia Tech were 10 and 11 win squads, respectively, and Virginia won nine games as well. This year, the conference is a hodgepodge of mediocre teams that are completely unwilling to actually win their respective divisions. Miami is still struggling mightily on offense, just like they were last year, and the defense--while solid--is subject to huge mental lapses, just like they were last year. They came into last night's game against Georgia Tech 19th in rushing defense; they gave up 472 rushing yards to the Yellow Jackets last night. Quarterbacks Robert Marve and Jacory Harris each threw interceptions, and the Hurricanes had to tack on a last minute touchdown to make last night's game even remotely respectable. Their biggest highlight this year is still "hanging with Florida for three quarters," despite the fact that they managed a measly 140 yards on offense, never got inside Florida's 30 yard line, and only scored 3 points. None of this is suggestive of a team on the rise, particularly when you factor in their horrendous effort against Tech last night. Miami missed tackles, played out of position, and looked as though they'd never seen the triple option before. The sad part is that we've seen this "deer in headlights" look from Miami before, whether it be their offensive ineptitude against Florida, or their blown lead against North Carolina, or their loss to an almost equally bad Florida State team. They're showing the same signs of mediocrity as they did last year.

Only this year, there aren't enough good teams in the ACC to make them pay for it.

If you want to see a coach that's got his team on the right track, look at Paul Johnson and the job he's doing at Tech this year. This is their first year learning a new offense, they've got far less talent than a team like Miami, and they showed that it doesn't matter. Why? Because good coaches don't need excuses for their wins or losses; they simply get the job done and coach their teams to wins. If we're going to heap praise on Shannon, then we need to be building statues in Paul Johnson's honor.

Shakedown Saturday: Week 9

Another 4-1 week last week, to bring me up to 29-11 overall. This week's tougher, though; also, I'm throwing in an extra game this week, since Florida's game against Citadel is basically a free game.

Florida 63
The Citadel 3

Texas Tech 34
Oklahoma 38

Michigan State 13
Penn State 24

BYU 21
Utah 27

Pittsburgh 24
Cincinnati 34

Ole Miss 27
LSU 31

Top 20 Most Underrated Players in the Nation

Tim Tebow, Michael Crabtree, Chase Daniel, Colt McCoy, and so on. Those are just some of the names that college football fans across the world have heard time and time again. Not that those guys don't deserve the credit they receive, but what about the guys that don't get talked about? I've put together a list of the 20 most underrated players in the country right now for that very purpose: to give these guys the credit they deserve.



20. Eric Decker, Minnesota (WR)
For a team in the middle of rebuilding, Eric Decker has become a bright spot. After finishing with 900 receiving yards last season, he looks poised to finish with over 1000 this year. He is second in the Big Ten and 22nd in the country in receiving yards per game, and is 8th in the country in receptions per game. Highlight games for him this year include a 13 catch, 190 yard performance against Illinois and 9 catch, 157 yard game against Montana State. In a conference with other receivers like Derrick Williams and Arrelious Benn, Decker has established himself as a top target.
Season Stats: 74 receptions, 892 yards (12.02 yards per catch), 6 TDs



19. Anthony Heygood, Purdue (LB)
The Big Ten always seems to churn out big time linebackers, and Anthony Heygood is no different. He is third in the conference--and 11th in the nation--in tackles, and is 16th in tackles per game. He's also shown the ability to play well in big games, as evidenced by his 12 tackle game against Ohio State, as well as his 14 tackle performance against Michigan State. James Laurinaitis may get the most attention at the linebacker spot, but Heygood is proving that he is no slouch, either.
Season Stats: 107 tackles (7 for loss), 1 interception, 3 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 3 QB hurries



18. Michael Smith, Arkansas (RB)
In a conference where Knowshon Moreno gets the most love at tailback, it might be a shock to learn that Arkansas' Michael Smith isn't far behind him. Right now, he is second to Moreno in rushing yards, and has put together 5 games in which he has rushed for over 100 yards. His biggest games have come against Louisiana-Monroe, Kentucky, and Auburn, where he rushed for 157, 192, and 176 yards, respectively. He stands at a mere 5'7", but has shown that he's more than capable of rolling up big yards on the ground in a tough conference.
Season Stats: 193 carries, 1012 yards (5.24 yards per carry), 7 TDs; 30 catches, 302 yards, 2 TDs



17. Kenny Britt, Rutgers (WR)
It may be a disappointing season for Rutgers, but their recent resurgence has been, in large part, due to the offense beginning to click. With Mike Teel, TiQuan Underwood, and Britt at offense's core, it was thought that they would light up the scoreboard. However, it wasn't until the second half of the season that fans go to see this. During The Scarlet Knights' four game winning streak, Britt has had four 100 yard receiving games, including 143 against Pittsburgh and 173 against South Florida. More importantly, though, all five of his touchdowns have come during these past four games. He leads the Big East in receiving yards, and will easily go over 1000 for the year; despite only being 5-5, Rutgers can boast at least one bright spot this year.
Season Stats: 68 receptions, 994 yards (14.61 yards per catch), 5 TDs



16. Mike Mickens, Cincinnati (CB)
Usually, all of the talk concerning the best cornerbacks in the country concerns guys like Malcolm Jenkins, Vontae Davis, and Alphonso Smith. However, Mike Mickens deserves to be in those discussions as well. He's second in the Big East in interceptions, but more importantly, is the best player on a solid Bearcat defense. He has 9 passes defended this year, and is also a physical guy who knows how to tackle the ball carrier. He recorded 11 tackles against West Virginia, and racked up 14 more against Akron--including 3 deflected passes in that same game. Mickens is definitely worthy of being called one of the best cornerbacks in the country this year, as he's easily the best in his own conference.
Season Stats: 66 tackles (3 for loss), 4 interceptions, 9 passes defended



15. Damion Fletcher, Southern Miss (RB)
Freshman wide receiver DeAndre Brown and tight end Shawn Nelson might get the most love on Southern Miss, but Damion Fletcher's been rolling up yards before either of them were around. He's had back to back seasons of at least 1300 rushing yards so far, and may be on his way to extending that streak to three years with his performance this year. He's had five 100+ yard games so far, including two 200+ yard games against UTEP and Louisiana-Lafayette. He's also shown his worth in big games, gaining 120 yards against Rice and 121 against East Carolina. With a plethora or tailbacks across the country getting attention, Fletcher has quietly become one of the most consistent.
Season Stats: 185 carries, 1176 yards (6.35 yards per carry), 8 TDs; 28 catches, 216 yards, TD



14. Austin Collie, BYU (WR)
Playing on a pass-oriented offense has had its benefits for Austin Collie. On a very good BYU team, Collie has put up very good numbers; he currently has had nine straight games with at least 100 yards receiving, and is the nation's leader in receiving yards per game. He also gets to the endzone with ease, as he's scored 15 touchdowns this year; he has had six games with at least two touchdowns, including two against UCLA, three against Colorado State, and two against Air Force. With another 1000 yard receiver on his team in tight end Dennis Pitta, Collie has established himself as a force at wideout.
Season Stats: 85 receptions, 1315 yards (15.5 yards per catch), 15 TDs



13. Nick Reed, Oregon (DE)
All the old jokes about the Pac-10 not playing defense must not have gotten through to Nick Reed. He is currently first in the Pac-10 in sacks and tackles for loss, which is also good for 8th and 10th in the country for those categories respectively. He is the anchor on an Oregon defense that gives up a mere 122 yards on the ground per game, and has definitely shown himself able to get to the quarterback. He had two sacks against UCLA, and also put together eight tackles and two QB hurries total during that game.
Season Stats: 47 tackles (18 for loss), 10 sacks, 1 pass defended, 1 forced fumble, 12 QB hurries



12. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada (QB)
Kaepernick is a special player, but has gone largely unnoticed in a year dominated by other quarterbacks such as Colt McCoy, Graham Harrell, and Sam Bradford. Kaepernick is only one of two quarterbacks in the nation (the other being Kent State's Julian Edelman) with at least 1500 passing yards and at least 1000 rushing yards. He is 23rd in the nation in rushing yards per game, and has more rushing touchdowns than Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter, Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers, and Georgia's Knowshon Moreno! He's played very well in big games, too, rushing for 92 yards and passing for 264 more against Texas Tech, as well as passing for 176 yards and running for 240 more against UNLV. He may not be the biggest name in the country, but he's definitely worthy of being considered a damn good quarterback.
Season Stats: 141-244, 1841 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs; 123 rushes, 1017 yards, 16 TDs



11. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State (RB)
Oklahoma State can churn out good college runningbacks behind their great offensive line. Last year, Dantrell Savage was the beneficiary of that good front line, and before him, it was Vernand Morency. This year, it's Kendall Hunter, who's quietly put up a great year. While others like Moreno and LeSean McCoy get more attention, Hunter has more rushing yards than either of them, and is currently 4th in the nation in rush yards per game. He hasn't just padded stats against weak competition, either; he ran for 161 yards and a touchdown against Texas, 154 yards against Missouri, and 112 more against Texas Tech. He become the best tailback in the Big 12, and is definitely one of the ten best in the country.
Season Stats: 210 rushes, 1434 yards (6.82 yards per carry), 14 TDs; 15 receptions, 140 yards



10. Ahmad Black, Florida (SS)
Black wasn't even discussed as a full-time starter this year; considering that he'd never started before this year, and given Major Wright's play last year, most--including Florida fans-- though Black would be the odd man out with the arrival of freshman safety Will Hill. However, Black has put those doubts to rest with his play this year, as he currently leads the country in interceptions and has established himself as one of the best tacklers on the team. After having two picks in Florida's opening game against Hawaii, Black has continued his good play, also recording interceptions against Kentuckty, Georgia, and South Carolina. He's even blocked a field goal attempt this year and deflected four passes. Because of his play, it's now Major Wright who may be the third man when Hill finally matures.
Season Stats: 38 tackles (1 for loss), 6 interceptions (2 returned for TDs), 4 passes defended, 1 blocked kick



9. TY Hilton, Florida International (WR)
Hilton has seen one of my lists before, and with other wide receivers like Percy Harvin, Michael Crabtree, and Jeremy Maclin getting more attention, Hilton will see this one as well. How can someone who leads the nation in all-purpose yards per game not get attention? He averages almost 30 yards per catch, and has taken two kick returns for touchdowns this season. He's already set a Florida International school record for most receiving yards in a game--as a freshman. Hilton has already established himself as a legitimate playmaker this year, and if he finally starts getting more attention, the rest of the country may come to know his name, too.
Season Stats: 27 receptions, 777 yards (29.8 yards per reception), 4 TDs; 14 punt returns, 249 yards (17.78 yards per return), TD; 29 kick returns, 735 yards (25.34 yards per return), TD



8. DJ Moore, Vanderbilt (CB)
Moore is probably the best cornerback you've never heard about--unless you follow the SEC. Moore is the most dynamic player on a solid Vanderbilt defense, and is one of the biggest reasons that Vanderbilt is bowl eligible for the first time in over 20 years. He does it all for Vanderbilt, whether it be playing defense, offense, or special teams. Against Kentucky, he lined up at wide receiver and finshed the game with 3 catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns; he also returns punts, averaging 14 yards on each, with a long of 91 yards. In big games, he's stepped up his play, intercepting two passes in addition to catching two touchdowns against Kentucky, and grabbing another against Florida. Moore is certainly a terrific player who should receive more praise than he currently does.
Season Stats: 43 tackles (2 for loss), 1 sack, 6 interceptions, 6 passes defended, 1 forced fumble



7. Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech (FS)
While safeties like Eric Berry may get more attention, Burnett has become one of the best in the country at his position, as his penchant for making big plays has helped Georgia Tech remain a solid defensive unit despite the loss of John Tenuta. He's also known as a sure tackler, racking up 10 against Boston College, 13 against Virginia Tech, and 11 against Virginia. Against Florida State, he had eight tackles and 4 passes defended. Given this, he's proven more than capable of stepping up in important games. The best thing about him? He's only a sophomore, so Tech will have him for at least another year.
Season Stats: 66 tackles (6 for loss), 6 interceptions, 7 passes defended, 1 forced fumble



6. Brandon Lang, Troy (DE)
Troy has turned out two great defensive ends in recent memory in DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora. As a junior, Brandon Lang looks to be the next to come from that mold, as he is currently 2nd in the Sun Belt and 22nd in the nation in sacks. In addition, he is 10th in the country in tackles for loss, an indicator of his ability to make plays in the backfield. His best games include a nine tackle performance against North Texas and a two sack game against Florida International; he even had 6 tackles and a sack against LSU, so he's got some big play ability in him as well. With two games left on Troy's schedule, Lang looks to continue his high level of play.
Season Stats: 47 tackles (16 for loss), 7.5 sacks, 3 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 6 QB hurries



5. Jammie Kirlew, Indiana (DE)
Last year, it was Greg Middleton who sent opposing quarterbacks running in fear, as he led the nation in sacks with 16. This year, it's Jammie Kirlew who's doing it. He is second on the team in tackles, and leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss. Nationally, he is 7th and 4th in those categories respectively. Even though ends like George Selvie and Aaron Maybin usually get more attention, Kirlew has quietly had a great year himself. Against Minnesota, he had 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and against Wisconsin, he had five tackles and 2 sacks. While Middleton was Indiana's best end last year, Kirlew is picking up the slack this year, as the Hoosiers languish at the bottom of the Big Ten.
Season Stats: 69 tackles (20 for loss), 10.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles



4. Chase Clement, Rice (QB)
It must be tough being a quarterback this year. With so many good ones to choose from, guys like Clement often get overlooked, which is a shame given his production this year. He is currently 6th in the country in passing yards per game, and 10th in pass efficiency. He has passed for at least 300 yards in 5 games this year, including a 444 yard, six touchdown performance against Southern Mississippi. He's also done well against BCS opponents, passing for 299 against Vanderbilt and 254 against Texas. He's also done well running the ball, as he's rushed for over 500 yards on the season and is Rice's second leading rusher. He might not get the love that Graham Harrell or Tim Tebow get, but Clement is still one of the country's best QBs.
Season Stats: 243-364 (66.7% completion rate), 32 TDs, 6 INTs; 119 rushes, 510 yards, 9 TDs



3. Brit Miller, Illinois (LB)
With Jeremy Leman gone, Illinois was looking for a guy to replace him. Fortunately, they didn't have to look too long. Brit Miller played alongside Leman last year and finished with 62 tackles. Now with the linebacker gone, Miller is third in the nation in tackles per game, and has had six games with at least ten this year, including 14 against Ohio State, 12 against Missouri, and 17 against Western Michigan. He makes plays whether they're behind the line of scrimmage or in coverage; just check his eye-popping 19 tackles for loss along with his 7 deflected passes; he's Mr. Everything for a struggling Illinois team that needs more consistent play from its front seven. With his play this year, he's done plenty to make a case for himself as the best linebacker in the conference, as well as the nation.
Season Stats: 124 tackles (19 for loss), 6 sacks, 7 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 4 QB hurries



2. MiQuale Lewis, Ball State (RB)
Ball State quarterback Nate Davis usually gets the love for the Cardinals' run this year, and while a lot of that is deserved, MiQuale Lewis is the guy that paces that dangerous offense. He is second in the MAC--and second in the nation--in rush yards per game, and has had nine games with at least 100 yards rushing. Included in those games are a 166-yard performance against Indiana, and a 166 yard game against Central Michigan. Lewis has played at a high level all year, and he may get another year to play at this level should he decide to forego the NFL draft this year. With so many other tailbacks getting attention, Lewis has quietly made a name for himself, as hes shown that he can perform with the best in the country.
Season Stats: 244 rushes, 1450 yards (5.94 yards per carry), 17 TDs; 19 receptions, 184 yards



1. Case Keenum, Houston (QB)
Keenum is only a sophomore, but he plays like a senior; this year, he is second in passing yards per game, 4th in touchdown passes, and 13th in passing efficiency. He has thrown for at least 300 yards in every game this year, including a 387 yard, four touchdown performance against Oklahoma State, and a 402 yard, six touchdown game against Tulsa. More impressive is his completion percentage; despite throwing the ball 45 times per game, he still completes two-thirds of his passes. He is the biggest reason why the Cougars are 5-1 in conference play, and could make a run to a bowl game this year. However, defenses may not be as pleased, as he has at least one more year to go in college. If he can duplicate his numbers, and if Houston can win a few more games next year, don't be surprised to see Keenum up for some major awards in 2009.
Season Stats: 304-451 (67.4% completion rate), 3794 yards, 35 TDs, 9 INTs; 62 rushes, 211 yards, 3 TDs

Florida Rolls........Again, Destroys South Carolina 56-6

Getty Images

You know a team's on a roll when the reaction to their latest blowout is a roll of the eyes.

South Carolina was supposed to have the defense to slow down Florida's offense. They were ranked in the top 10 in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, and pass defense. However, Florida's unit was the one that walked out of the Swamp with the title of conference's best defense.

Despite two early turnovers, the Gators rolled up 519 yards of total offense--including 346 on the ground--as they decimated the Gamecocks 56-6. Again, it was a complete effort in all phases of the game by Florida, as they made plays on special teams, defense, and offense. The Gamecock defense played well at the beginning, forcing a Jeff Demps fumble on Florida's first drive. However, they failed to capitalize on offense, as Florida's defense stifled the SC offense; the start of the blowout came due to heavy pressure on quarterback Chris Smelley--courtesy of linebacker Brandon Hicks. As a result, Smelley's pass went astray and Brandon Spikes was able to make a leaping interception and return it for a touchdown. South Carolina's next drive also ended in an interception, this one courtesy of Ahmad Black; from there, Percy Havrin raced 26 yards for the Gators' second touchdown of the day. Several big plays on offense--as well as an inexplicable lateral by South Carolina--later, Florida was standing tall at the end of the day, with the second string playing the entire fourth quarter.

How complete was Florida's domination?
- Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow each had as many yards of offense by themselves as South Carolina did as a team: 173.
- Florida had 10 plays of 20 yards or more during the game, including touchdown runs of 26 and 80 yards by Harvin, a 38 yard touchdown run by Jeff Demps, a 35 yard run by Chris Rainey, and a 34 yard run by Emmanuel Moody.
- Florida's defense had three interceptions, four sacks, forced two fumbles--all while holding the Gamecock offense to just 6 points
- South Carolina's quarterback--Stephen Garcia and Chris Smelley--combined to finish 19-37 for only 120 yards and no touchdowns, and the offense averaged a paltry 2.8 yards per play
- Carolina punter Spencer Lanning had more punts (10) than the Gamecocks had points (6); in fact, he had nearly as many punts against Florida as he had during his previous two games (11).

Because of their defensive effort, Florida is now 11th in rushing defense, 14th in passing defense, 6th in total defense, and 4th in scoring defense.

Offensive Props:
- Tim Tebow, who went 13-20 for 173 yards, and 2 touchdowns, as well as having 14 rushes for 39 yards and another touchdown
- Percy Harvin, who rushed just 8 times but rolled up 167 yards and two touchdowns
- Emmanuel Moody, Chris Rainey, and Jeffrey Demps, who had a combined 144 yards rushing on just 18 carries
- Florida's offensive line, who opened enough running lanes for Florida to gain 346 yards on the ground

Defensive Props:
- Ahmad Black, who had 4 tackles, as well as his sixth interception of the year, which makes him first in the nation in that category
- Carlos Dunlap, who had 4 tackles, 3 for loss, and his sixth sack of the year
- Brandon Hicks, who had two pass breakups, a sack, and three tackles
- Jermaine Cunningham, who had eight tackles, half a sack, and a pass breakup
- Janoris Jenkins, who had two pass breakups, giving him 7 on the year
- Will Hill and Joe Haden, who continue to shine in the secondary; Hill had five tackles, as well as the first interception of his career, while Haden also added five tackles

Switching gears for a second, it's good to be a fan of a team that's getting so much love right now; Florida got love last year for their explosive offense, and to a great extent, it was the "well, they've got a great player so the team must be good" dynamic. In short, a lot of love that Florida got last year was overblown, particularly since that squad lost four games. This year, however, Florida is 9-1, is set to meet Alabama in the SEC Championship game, and has a great shot at making the national title game if they win out. The defense, once a question mark at the beginning of the year, is playing as well as any defensive unit in the nation right now, and it isn't just two or three guys making a lot of plays, either. The defense, as a unit, is making plays, whether it be Brandon Hicks, Brandon Spikes, Joe Haden, or Carlos Dunlap. Everything just seems to be coming together for this team, and it's been a joy to watch them develop and mature.

And, like I said earlier, it's good to hear them get some praise for how they've been playing. Matt Hayes of Rivals.com Sports has them facing Texas Tech in the National Title game, and writes:

In this poll-based BCS system, Florida is leaving little doubt about the best one-loss team.

At this point—with one-loss teams jockeying for position in the weekly BCS poll—every week is about style points. How you look when you win is just as important as winning—and the Gators are winning with extreme prejudice.

Steve Megargee lists Brandon Spikes as the best linebacker in the nation right now and writes:

Spikes might want to downplay his accomplishments, but that won't stop us from saluting the All-America candidate.

His second interception return for a touchdown this season – he also scored against LSU last month – helped Spikes regain his status as the No. 1 linebacker in the Rivals.com College Football Power Rankings, which measure the nation's top players and coaches at each position.

Finally, Florida Sun Sports writer Robbie Andreu adds:

The Florida Gators lacked more than just experience last season. They didn't have any chemistry, either.

Put the two combustibles together and it added up to a disappointing four-loss season.

The Gators have a lot more of both now, and the combination has helped put UF smack in the middle of the national championship chase coming down the stretch.

The chemistry problem is one Urban Meyer addressed numerous times back in the spring. He made team chemistry a priority.

Now, chemistry isn't a problem or any issue, it's one of the strengths of this team, Meyer said.

And that last comment probably says it best. Last year, there were mini-issues with the team. Tony Joiner was supposed to be one of the team's leader's but ended up in legal troubles midway through the year.There were talks of Harvin and the now-transferred Jared Fayson having issues. Minor issues like that added up as the year went on, and the team underachieved; the defense wasn't mentally tough and couldn't stop teams down the stretch. Now, this Florida team plays together, and there's a lot more in the way of unity this year. The defense is playing much better, and has become a strength of the team; the offense is effective, with multiple players stepping up to take the pressure off of Tebow and Harvin. Most importantly, though, this team has leadership; with guys like Spikes, Tebow, Harvin, Watkins, and the Pouncey twins, this team has become more cohesive than they were last year. They're sitting at 9-1 now, and should come into Tallahassee riding a seven game winning streak. They have a chance to finish the regular season 11-1 as they go into Atlanta.

In short? The sky's the limit for this young Florida team.

Goodness

Jarrett Lee? Can we PLEASE get him off the field? He just threw yet another pick six, this time against a Troy team that's now up 24-3 on a lackluster LSU team. That gives him 15 this year alone; hell, Tim Tebow's thrown 8 interceptions--in two years. Get Jordan Jefferson the ball for God's sake.

Jason Whitlock Nails Charlie Weis........Again

I'm not a big fan of Whitlock by any means, but I've always agreed with his take on Ty Willingham, Notre Dame, and Charlie Weis. His November 11 column nails it once again, with some sarcastic darts to boot. He writes:

It's no secret. I dislike Charlie Weis and despise the free pass he was given by the media when he was handed a huge contract extension for doing less than Willingham.

Weis is a bully and a coward, and his well-timed announcement that he would abandon this "head coach stuff" so he could bail out his offense proves my contentions.

He's planning on the Irish averaging 35 points the next two weeks and selling his impatient fan base on the myth that he's making real progress. He's hoping the media will assist him in selling this lie.

Weis is an average college head coach with horrendous people skills. That's not a good combination. Bobby Knight had poor people skills, a brilliant mind and a superior work ethic. Nick Saban is a football Bobby Knight.

Weis might be a reverse of Pete Carroll, who bombed in the pros and excelled in the collegiate game. Coaching in the NFL is easier. Everyone is on more equal footing. There are fewer variables. You can hire someone else to evaluate talent. College coaches have already developed the talent.

Weis is in over his head coaching the college game.

Pretty much. One would be hard to argue that Weis is a good coach based on results. They're 5-4 this year, and are coming off of back to back losses to Pittsburgh (who beat them at home) and Boston College (who shut them out). At best, they're underachieving with top-level talent; they've had top 10 recruiting classes for three years in a row now, and they're still losing games. Have we already forgotten that ND is coming off of its worst year in school history? They're going to be better this year, but what does that really mean? How hard is it to improve upon being one of the worst teams in the nation last year? They've yet to beat a ranked team this year, and probably won't beat one at all unless they pull a huge upset against USC. Know what that amounts to? More mediocrity in South Bend.

Of course, Weis might get another free pass by the media; instead of actually questioning his coaching prowess, they could shift the conversation to the next high recruiting class they land, as if having a lot of four and five star guys automatically assures 10 win seasons. ESPN did this during the preseason. Or, they could simply ignore Weis' lack of progress at ND entirely; saying that he made two BCS bowls doesn't mean much when A) they were undeserving of it both times (Oregon should've made the Fiesta Bowl over them in 2005, and West Virginia should've made the Sugar Bowl in 2006), and B) Notre Dame got stomped in both games. I seriously doubt the boosters brought Weis in to get wins on cupcake teams and not really compete against elite ones. ND was justified to can Willingham after going 21-15 during his first three years at ND, but with Weis not doing much better, will we see a similar firing after another subpar year for the Irish?

Don't hold your breath.

Shakedown Saturday: Week 8

Had another good week last week, going 4-1. That brings me up to 25-10 overall. This week lacks big time games, but let's see what I can do:

Florida 31
South Carolina 24

Georgia 37
Auburn 10

Boston College 17
Florida State 23

California 16
Oregon State 27

Texas 38
Kansas 28

The Low, Dark Bass of Mobb Deep's "Cradle to the Grave".......

is all I hear right now. However, I'm not going to talk about Mobb Deep right now. Instead, I'll riff a little about soul in music. Not soul music, but soul in the music.

Know what my biggest issue with the mainstream music scene is? Not that the music is bad, or even that there's a sameness that resides in nearly all of it, but that the music lacks soul, lacks feeling. I may not agree with the "Music died in (insert year here)" crowd, because music will always live on with a number of performers talented enough to carry it. However, they do have somewhat of a point when they point out that the major performers of their time cared about their craft. In R&B, you had guys like Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, and Mahalia Jackson; blues had Coltrane and Miles Davis. Later, when hip-hop was born, guys like KRS-One, Slick Rick, Rakim, and Grandmaster Flash carried the torch. Nowadays, with the business factor added in, we've got the musical equivalent of chain restaurants: mass-produced, and, while sometimes good, largely bland. There are still a number of performers across genres who care about their music, but there are very few in the mainstream. As I sit here typing this, I'm listening to Marvin Gaye's "I've Got My Music," which is bar none one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. He sings praises to music throughout, about what it means to him, and he doesn't even need music to help him. The message is clear with just the sound of Marvin's divine voice. That's the kind of soul mainstream music needs; not necessarily Marvin's, because no one can duplicate that, but a love of the music would be nice to hear in the music. In R&B, it hurts the most given artists like Gaye, Pendergrass, and in current times, Mary J. Blige and John Legend; whenever you listen to those guys, you know they care about what they're singing about, and you can hear it in their voices. When Blige sang "I'm Goin Down," you could hear the pain in her voice; it dripped from every syllable she uttered; conversely, you can feel the joy Gaye conveys on "I've Got My Music," as he talks about how important music is to him. So when you turn on the radio and hear something by an R. Kelly (who actually used to care about his music) or an Ashanti, it just doesn't sound the same by comparison. Perhaps it's unfair to compare contemporary music to older music; the dynamics between artists and the record labels are different. However, there's something wrong, almost criminal, about stripping music away from the emotion that should inspire it. When that happens, what do you have left?

On another note, how hard did DMX fall off? Really, just look at what he's become in the past few years compared to what he was back in 1998. He had the hip-hop world in the palm of his hand in those days, especially after "Ruff Ryders Anthem" blew up the way it did. He was the new-age Pac, and the artist who came closest to emulating the aforementioned rapper's style and persona. Those prayers he puts at the end of all of his albums? They sounded sincere the first few times around. DMX truly sounded like a man who was conflicted between living right or sliding into chaos. However, as time went on, and the arrests mounted, the veneer of the conflicted man began to fade away; eventually, it shattered, and all that was left was the true DMX: indifferent, uncaring, immature, and unwilling to change. On record, DMX played the quintessential street poet like Pac did--hardened by his circumstances, yet dying on the inside to change and become a better person. During his "Damien" series, X constantly fought between right and wrong, and even when wrong prevailed, one at least got the impression that X genuinely fought his demons; at worst, then, he was weak-willed. In reality, however, Simmons was a man who'd made millions and sold millions more, yet was unwilling to become a better person; there was no fight or inner turmoil that existed, only more and more trouble. Anyone who looked at his rap sheet--and happened to get a glance at charges such as impersonating a police officer and sodomy--saw not a weak-willed person who gave into temptation, but a man who deemed himself above the law and above any consequence--and still sees himself that way. DMX is in his late 30s now, and was recently arrested three times in an eight day period for marijuana and cocaine possession.

His turmoil is reflected in his music, as well, though not in the way one would think. Instead of exorcising his demons in the studio, X has suffered from a bad case of arrested development, an indication that art truly does reflect life. Just as he continues to make the same mistakes in his own life, he continues to rely on the same, tired thug cliches in his music. What was fresh, new, and intriguing about Simmons in 1998 is now boring; even as gangsta rap was (misguidedly) lambasted by the media for its thug tenets, X plowed forward with his act. Now, he finds himself basking in irrelevancy, the sales of his last album failing to even go Gold (this, after each of his previous efforts went Platinum). If the constant stints in courts weren't enough to convince X that his act was getting old, the deafening silence of his fans certainly must be. Now, he faces a choice, one that another rapper of his ilk in 50 Cent faces: either grow up, and show that there's more to life than peddling the ugliest and most grim aspects of ghetto life, or be pushed further into the depths of the forgotten. Judging by Earl Simmons' most recent actions, one may already have an idea of the path he's chosen.

Young Blood: The Twenty Freshmen Any Coach Would Love to Have

This year's had a number of freshmen from across the country who've stepped in and had a big impact for their teams. Let's take a look at the twenty best freshmen of the year so far.

Honorable Mention:
1. Janoris Jenkins (DB), Florida: The young cornerback has stepped in and played very well for Florida's secondary.
2. Damaris Johnson (WR), Tulsa- The freshman is Tulsa's third leading receiver and averages over 28 yards per kick return.
3. Bo Levi Mitchell (QB), Southern Methodist- June Jones' most recent project is 19th in the nation is passing yards per game.
4. Mark Ingram (RB), Alabama- The young running back has split carries with Alabama's Glen Coffee and Ryan Upchurch, but is second on the team in rush yards.
5. Tom Keiser (DE), Stanford- Stanford's defensive end is fourth in the Pac-10 in sacks with six.
6. Ryan Broyles (WR), Oklahoma- The freshman is one of four Sooner receivers with 500 receiving yards with 502 on just 30 catches.
7. Cyrus Gray (RB), Texas A&M- The runningback is 37th in the nation in all-purpose yardage per game.
8. Michael Floyd (WR), Notre Dame- The Fighting Irish receiver is second on the team in receiving yards with 702 and leads them team in touchdowns with 7.

And now, the actual list.


20. Jeffrey Demps (RB), Florida: Even before stepping onto the field at Florida, his track speed was the stuff of legend. He held the distinction of being the fastest high school runner in the world, running a 10.17 in the 100 meter dash. He showcased that speed during his first game as a Gator as well, running for a 62 yard score in the season opener against Hawaii. He's made himself into an asset for Florida's offense this year, with back to back 100 yard games against Arkansas and LSU. He averages almost 10 yards per rush this season, no small feat for a player his size. He's one of the biggest reasons the Gators are 8-1 and just one game away from being SEC champions for the second time in three years.
Season Stats: 41 carries, 395 yards (9.63 yards per carry), 4 TDs; 11 receptions, 11 yards, 2 TDs; 2 blocked kicks



19. Brandon Harold (DE), Kansas State: Though Kansas State's 4-6 this year, Brandon Harold's been one of the team's bright spots this year. He's seen limited playing time during conference play, but his game against Louisiana-Lafayette is good no matter who you play; against the Ragin' Cajuns, he amassed 7 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks, and forced a fumble. Hopefully, Harold will continue to grow and improve as time goes on.
Season Stats: 41 tackles (11 for loss) 3 sacks, 1 pass deflected, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 QB hurry



18. TJ Graham (WR), NC State: He's only a freshman, but TJ Graham is currently third in the ACC in all-purpose yardage per game. His biggest contributions have been on special teams as a return man, but he's shown flashes of brilliance as a receiver as well; against William and Mary, he put had 3 catches for 78 yards; he also had a kickoff return for a touchdown against Boston College. No small feats for a young guy, so let's hope he keeps getting better, even though he plays on a less than stellar team.
Season Stats: 13 receptions, 133 yards; 33 returns, 826 yards (25.03 yards per return), TD



17. Chris Marve (LB), Vanderbilt: The young linebacker is one of the biggest reasons that Vanderbilt is poised to become bowl eligible for the first time in over 20 years. He's shown flashes of greatness already, including a 10 tackles performance against Auburn and a 16 tackle performance against Duke. If he continues to play at such a high level, then the Commodores could very well get to a bowl game and win this year.
Season Stats: 74 tackles (4 for loss), 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 QB hurries



16. John Clay (RB), Wisconsin: Wisconsin just churns out good RBs, from Michael Bennett, to Ron Dayne, to PJ Hill. However, Hill has stiff competition on his own team this year from John Clay, who's currently second on the team in rushing and has provided a spark even when Hill was rendered ineffective. When PJ Hill was held to just 34 yards against Iowa, Clay rushed for 89 yards; when Hill was stopped for a mere 9 yards by Illinois, Clay ran for 88. He's also run for 100+ yards in his past two games, including 111 in a close loss to Michigan State. The Badgers should be in good hands even after PJ Hill's departure.
Season Stats: 123 carries, 703 yards (5.71 yards per carry), 6 TDs



15. Sean Cattouse (DB), California: He's been a late bloomer this year, but Sean Cattouse has made an impact in Cal's secondary this year. He's played in seven games, but is second in the Pac-10 in interceptions with 3 and 17th in passes defended with 4. With picks against UCLA and Oregon, Cattouse has shown that he can make big plays in important games for the Golden Bears.
Season Stats: 4 tackles, 3 interceptions, 4 passes defended

14. Patrick Edwards (WR), Houston: One of the best young receivers in Conference USA, Patrick Edwards is fifth in the conference in all-pupose yardage per game, and is also second on the team in receptions and receiving yards. He's also shown the ability to play well against good competition, as he gained 106 yards on eight catches against Oklahoma State, and 146 yards on 11 catches against East Carolina. Unfortunately, he's now out of action for the Cougars after an unfortunate accident during a game against Marshall, where Edwards ran into a cart and fractured his leg. Hopefully, we'll see him on the field sometime next year.
Season Stats: 46 receptions, 634 yards (13.78 yards per catch), 4 TDs; 25 returns, 506 yards (20.24 yards per return)



13. Trevin Wade (DB), Arizona: Antoine Cason left Arizona as the reigning Thorpe Award winner, and now other Wildcat DBs are left to fill his shoes. To his credit, Trevin Wade is certainly giving it his best shot. As a freshman, he already leads the Pac-10 in interceptions with 4, and he's also added two passes defended. Two of his picks have come during conference play against California and Washington State, which shows that he's capable of making plays later in the year.
Season Stats: 8 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 passes defended



12. Ryan Tannehill (WR), Texas A&M: On a team with a lot of young players, Ryan Tannehill is already making a name for himself. He is 9th in the Big 12 in receiving yards, and leads his team in both yards and receptions. His best performance has come against Kansas State, where he finished with 12 receptions, 210 yards, and a touchdown. He's also had good games against Colorado (4 catches, 80 yards, and a touchdown) and Oklahoma (4 catches, 83 yards), and looks to close out the year on a good note. With another young player at QB in Jerrod Johnson, Tannehill could develop into a top receiver.
Season Stats: 48 receptions, 746 yards (15.54 yards per reception), 5 TDs



11. Robert Griffin (QB), Baylor: The nation's most exciting freshman quarterback? Debatable, but his playmaking ability certainly is not. He's sixth in the Big 12 in rushing--as a quarterback. In fact, the only thing that's stopping him from being higher on this list is that he plays on a team that's devoid of playmakers outside of himself. He's a freshman, but he completes 59% of his passes, which shows that he's capable of growing as a passer. He's also put up big numbers in big games. He has 217 rushing yards and 129 passing yards against Washington State, 102 rushing yards against Oklahoma, 121 rushing yards against Nebraska, and 101 rushing yards against Texas. He's definitely one of college football's brightest young stars, and he could pull Baylor up from futility if he continues his play.
Season Stats: 135-229, 1759 yards, 12 TDs, 2 INTs; 143 rushes, 688 yards, 11 TDs

10. Sean Baker (DB), Ball State: Ball State's run this year as a potential BCS buster has mostly been credited to the offense, led by Nate Davis and Miquale Lewis, but the defense has had a hand in their success as well. Sean Baker is a freshman, but he's quickly become a leader on the defense. Against Akron, he put together 9 tackles, three interceptions, and 1 pass defended, and against Eastern Michigan, he had 12 tackles and two passes defended. He leads his team in tackles and interceptions, and will only get better from here.
Season Stats: 70 tackles (5 for loss), 4 interceptions, 6 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 QB hurry

9. Terrelle Pryor (QB), Ohio State: This freshman phenom has played well under the circumstances. After OSU's humiliating loss to USC, Pryor was penciled in as the starting quarterback over Todd Boeckman. The results have been mixed, with moments of both greatness and failure for the young star. He had foru touchdown passes on just 16 attempts against Troy, and also rushed for 97 yards against Minnesota, but he also had a late fumble and an interception against Penn State. However, he is 5-1 as a starter, and has quickly grown into more of a passer, throwing for 226 yards against Penn Statem and 197 against Northwestern. He may very well have the most upside of any player on this list, as he's completing 65% of his passes and has only thrown 3 interceptions against 9 touchdown passes. It will be interesting to see how he continues to mature during his time at OSU; he's responded to the pressure pretty well thus far.
Season Stats: 84-129, 1076 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs; 103 rushed, 450 yards, 5 TDs



8. Vic Anderson (RB), Louisville: Louisville may not have much to cheer about this year, but they can be happy that they found a tailback to build around. Victor Anderson is 26th in the nation in rushing yardage, which is also good for 5th in the Big East and first on his team. After a slow start against Kentucky to begin the year, he put together three straight 100 yard games, including a 176 yard performance against Kansas State. He also had a 161 yard game against Middle Tennessee State. He has 7 touchdowns on the year, which also leads his team, and with games against Cincinnati, Rutgers, and West Virginia left on the schedule, he'll surely break the 1000 yard barrier before the year ends.
Season Stats: 153 rushes, 913 yards (5.96 yards per carry), 7 TDs; 11 receptions, 86 yards, TD



7. T.Y. Hilton (WR), Florida International: Hilton may be the most dynamic freshman in the nation right now; he's first in the nation in all-purpose yardage per game with 198.67 yards per game, and averages almost 29 yards per catch. Additionally, he is 25th in receiving yards per game and 7th in punt returns. He had 199 receiving yards (a school record) and a game-winning 38 yard touchdown pass in his last game against Arkansas State. He even has a kickoff return for a touchdown this year! This guy does it all on a Florida International team that is struggling to become relevant on the national scene, and has quickly becoming one of the best playmakers in the country.
Season Stats: 27 receptions, 777 yards (28.7 yards per catch), 4 TDs; 29 returns, 735 yards (25.34 yards per return), TD



6. Travis Lewis (LB), Oklahoma: On a struggling defense, Travis Lewis has managed to shine as one of Oklahoma's bright spots. He is 3rd in the Big 12 in tackles, and 10th in the nation. He's registered a number of double digit tackle games, including 12 against Texas A&M, 15 against Kansas State, 12 against Cincinnati, and a whopping 19 against Texas. He's a machine on the field, and even though OU's defense has faltered with the loss of Ryan Reynolds, Lewis has stepped up to become one of the best players on the team. In time, look for this guy to be on everyone's short list of best linebackers in the country, if he isn't already on some by now.
Season Stats: 105 tackles (12 for loss), 3.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 pass defended, 1 QB hurry



5. Julio Jones (WR), Alabama: See that guy who's way up there in the pic above? That's Julio Jones, and it's no wonder every major team in the country wanted this guy to sign with them. Alabama's been lucky to have him, as he's provided quarterback John Parker Wilson with a reliable target downfield. After a slow start to the year, he's slowly become the go to guy in Bama's passing attack, leading the team in receptions, yards, and touchdown catches as a freshman. He's had two 100 yard games in his last three games, with the latest being a 7 catch, 128 yard performance against LSU, with the last reception setting up the game winning run by Wilson. The only reason why he isn't higher on this list is because Wilson is a mediocre quarterback; if he were playing for a team with a better QB, he'd have even better stats, and if he does end up with one, look out for him to put up huge numbers in the future.
Season Stats: 40 receptions, 634 yards (15.85 yards per catch), 4 TDs



4. Jacquizz Rodgers (RB), Oregon State: The little running back has helped carry Oregon State to a 6-3 record so far this year, and has been their most reliable player. Whenever the Beavers need a play, Rodgers is usually the guy who gets it done. For proof, look at some of his games this year. Start with his 186 yard, 2 touchdown game against USC in their upset, or his 168 yard game against Washington State, or his 144 yard game against UCLA. He's run wild against both good and bad defenses, in the biggest and least important games of the year. Most importantly, though his presence has allowed Oregon State to open up its passing game, as they're currently 23rd in the nation in passing offense. Sean Canfield better be sending Rodgers fruit baskets every day for that.
Season Stats: 228 rushes, 1089 yards (4.78 yards per carry), 10 TDs; 27 receptions, 239 yards, TD



3. AJ Green (WR), Georgia: The young receiver has become Matthew Stafford's favorite target this year, and Green leads the SEC in receiving yards because of it. More importantly, though, he averages over 17 yards a catch, which shows his playmaking skills. He made a name for himself after an 8 catch, 159 yard performance against Arizona State, and hasn't looked back since. He's also amassed 132 yards against Vanderbilt, 91 against Florida, and made the game winning touchdown reception against Kentucky this past Saturday. Given this, it's clear that Green can make big plays in clutch situations. However, with Stafford's departure this year, it will be interesting to see if the SEC's leading receiver has a sophomore slump next year.
Season Stats: 46 receptions, 806 yards (17.52 yards per catch), 6 TDs



2. Kellen Moore (QB), Boise State: To say that Moore slipped under the radar would be an understatement. However, so did Boise State as a team. It wasn't until the Broncos defeated Oregon at Autzen Stadium that the experts started to take notice; that game was also Moore's coming out party, as he threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns. He's currently 21st in the nation in total offense per game, and 9th in pass efficiency. He's completing 71% of his passes, and has three 300 yard passing games this year, including a 362 yard, two touchdown effort against Utah State in the team's most recent game. In short, look our for this kid, because he's already established himself as a top QB in the nation. If Boise State keeps winning, look for him to make noise on the national stage, as well.
Season Stats: 190-268, 2427 yards, 20 TDs, 6 INTs



1. DeAndre Brown (WR), Southern Miss: He was sought out by big time teams like LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and Auburn. However, grade issues forced him to commit to Southern Miss. The grade issue may have been a blessing in disguise, though, because Brown is currently one of the best receivers in the nation, regardless of class. At 6'7", he's a physical speciman whose presence can't be denied on the field. Ask the Rice seondary, who Brown torched for 212 yards and four touchdowns. He's currently 18th in the nation in receiving yards per game, and has put together a number of stellar games already this season. He had 97 yards against UAB, 88 against Auburn, 110 against Memphis, and 112 more against UTEP. This guy is already an elite player, and with fellow freshman quarterback Austin Davis throwing to him, he can only go up from here.
Season Stats: 55 receptions, 933 yards (16.96 yards per carry), 11 TDs