The Sunday Blog had one of those weekends that lived up to the hype. Nashville is my favorite SEC trip every other year and it was spectacular.
It’s not just the Marriott that is basically a part of the north end zone and has the best service of any Marriott I’ve ever experienced. (By the way, hotel room to press box — eight minutes. We had a slow elevator).
It’s not just that downtown Nashville is as good as it gets and it was definitely alive Friday night.
It’s guys like Danny at Mac Authority. I made a rookie mistake and forgot my power cord. They were sold out at the store, but Danny charged me up so I could write after the game and deliver the Sunday Blog.
Great weekend.
THE NOT-READY-FOR-PRIME-TIME
COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25
1. Alabama: Neither rain, nor lightning, nor cold of night …
2. Oregon: The Ducks were off this week and still scored points.
3. Notre Dame: Controversial? Sure, but the Irish keep winning.
4. Florida: Gators had their special teams wake up this week.
5. Kansas State: The Wildcats struggled, but pulled it out.
6. LSU: Florida’s win over the Tigers looks that much better.
7. Oklahoma: I shouldn’t doubt Big Game Bob in the Red River Rivalry.
8. Ohio State: Urban Meyer’s team gave up 49 points and won.
9. Oregon State: All the Beavers do is win.
10. Mississippi State: Bulldogs haven’t beaten anybody but they’ve beaten everybody.
11. South Carolina: That was a frustrated Head Ball Coach leaving Baton Rouge.
12. Southern Cal: Something not quite right with USC offense.
13. Florida State: Semis steamrolled Boston College. Who doesn’t?
14. Georgia: Off last week, Kentucky this week which is like being off.
15. Clemson: Should be quite a show this week.
16. West Virginia: Did Geno Smith go from front-runner to darkhorse?
17. Louisville: Charlie Strong’s team turned it on in second half.
18. Rutgers: Nice win over Syracuse for the Knights.
19. Cincinnati: We have a run on Big East teams.
20. Texas A&M: Johnny Football for Heisman?
21. Boise State: Quietly, Broncos keep winning.
22. Ohio: Hey, they’re 7-0.
23. Texas Tech: Tommy Tuberville is the king of the upset.
24. Stanford: Yes, he did appear to score.
25. Louisiana Tech: Amazing late night game deserves a spot in the rankings.
THE SEC FOUR-PACK
1. Is it me or does LSU seem to always have, like, four tailbacks who are all the same? They trot one out and trot another one in and he’s always 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds with speed. Jeremy Hill is the latest Tiger back. He had 71 rushing yards for the season (61 of them against Idaho) before the South Carolina game and went for 124 against the Gamecocks. Les Miles can recruit some big tailbacks.
2. So is the bloom off the rose that was Florida-South Carolina? Nope. It may not be as big, but it’s still huge. Meanwhile, Georgia fans will be rooting for the Gators this week. They need Florida to win and then beat Florida and they can still go to Atlanta.
3. Auburn continues to be so bad it should be called Awfulburn. The Tigers have now been outscored 62-3 in the fourth quarter. “I don’t think that we can use the word patience,” said defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. “I don’t think the Auburn people would agree with patience. That’s not our business. We’re trying to speed the process up, and that requires a sense of urgency from all of us.” It may be too late.
4. It seems like Tennessee is better but just can’t get over the hump. Derek Dooley is now 0-13 against ranked teams. It should make Gator fans appreciate what Will Muschamp has done at Florida. Although I think some Gator fans, who were starving for wins the last two years, may be falling into the old trap of complaining about an undefeated team. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — nobody suffers winning like Gator fans.
pat–
Did you forget your power cord or were you dreaming you were a lead guitarist and forgot your power chord? Am I wrong here? Great writing and I agree that some Gators just don’t remember being close but never winning the sec. Thank goodness for the modern times.
Third down efficiency and penalties again a problem, not to mention a defense that allowed Vandy some impressive drives, gotta fix that next week, getting Easley and Jenkins back would help.
This would have been a good year to have Auburn on your schedule, they really stink, I wonder if Charlie Strongs phone has begun to ring?
Impressive that LSU held SC to just 34 rushing yards, will lighting strike twice?
Charlie Strong to Auburn? I’m not sure I could stomach it..
Pat remind me how long ago Tommy Tuberville was dumped by Auburn because he couldn’t win…er, ah, because he couldn’t win them all. Wasn’t he dumped after some secret shenanigans? Would the Tigers or the War Eagles or the Plainsmen want him back now?
I wonder if UF is slightly overrated, but nd ranked higher than UF, Pat? Who’s had the tougher schedule so far? It ain’t nd…
Look out for Vandy its a “trap game”. Jeez Phat the same old recycled stuff year in and year out. How bout some real analysis instread of pulling up and editing articles from last year, last decade?
Come on man snap out of it. You can do it.
Apples-put the pie down. It’s clogging your brain.
6-0 and in control of our own future. And the team is improving in some visible way every week. Who could ask for anything more?
Great work and perspective Pat. Looking forward to USC!
”Controversial, but the (LUCKY) IRISH keep winning…” Now, your just giving the haters ammunition, Pat! Florida may be lower than the Irish in YOUR rankings, but in mine, they aren’t better than Florida! Not yet, and hopefully, not anytime soon! These Gators just keep winning, too!
And yet, some Florida fans look like the tourists at EPCOT, trying to figure out where they are, and what they are going to do next! I know what I am going to do… I am going to hope and pray the ‘Ole Ball Coach’ leaves here walking out of the stadium (no shoulder carrying) & 2nd the SEC East! GO GATORS! And, yes, Gator fans, it’s OK…CHEER and CELEBRATE! I know we all thought they’d be 8-4, but the Gators didn’t get that memo! CHOMP-CHOMP!
Jeremy Foley is looking like a genius again.
Hey guys-
We’re coming to Gainesville with your “old ball coach” desperate for a win. Please be nice to him and us by not beating us on Saturday. One loss on your record won’t look too bad. Come on, take it easy on us, o.k.?
Lets enjoy this lofty ranking and not worry about deserving it. It wasn’t the Gator faithful who voted on it. No team has a tougher road to the BCS: SCar, GA, FSU, AL. If the Gators win out, they should be awarded the crystal ball immediately!
As for ND’s ranking, the Big 10 teams are terrible as is Navy and Miami. If the Gators had ND’s schedule to date, we’d be ranked about 15th and deservedly so. This will all play out and we’ll see who was right and wrong.
Go Gators Always!!
Georgia’s schedule this year is a joke. It’s an absolute travesty for UF and USC to have to play the schedule they play while UGA plays no one. South Carolina and Florida are literally the only two teams on Georgia’s schedule who have any chance at all to beat them and yet mark my words we will have to watch the dogs go to Atlanta and get crushed again, this time by Alabama. It would be nice if all the Gators had to do was split between UGA and USC to earn a ticket to Atlanta!
UF’s west opponents- @ A & M and LSU
USC’s west opponents- @ LSU and Arkansas
UGA’s west opponents- Ole Miss and @ Auburn
seriously???
I agree with Tom. More reason to take it easy on us. We’ve had a rough road trip already and it’s not over yet. Come on UGA: play somebody!
Let’s even things out. Put Alabama and LSU as UGA’s west opponents next year!
why does it seem everyone in the country is automatically giving a win to Alabama on Nov. 3rd when they visit Death Valley???
If the Gators defeat USC and Georgia, lose to FSU, then win the SEC the following week, what are the chances they go to Miami and play in the BCS title game?
Oklahoma will lose one more game, Notre Dame will lose to Oklahoma and probably USC, Oregon will lose one game, maybe two, Bama will lose to LSU, FSU will not lose again, watch out for Oregon St. and Louisville, their schedules are favorable for them to be there in the end; how’s that for making the water even muddier?
@Kevin Patrick
I, for one, have seen “Bama play and LSU. I cant think of what phase of the game LSU is markedly better, or even just better than ‘Bama, week in and week out. Would I like to see your scenario play out and the Gators play for the NC, sure! Will it happen, not likely.
‘Bama will likely beat LSU in Red Stick because they are a better team this season. Have you seen Mettenberger play? LSU is shaky at QB and the Tide will Roll all over him.
@Roll Tide: Yes ma’am, you read that right, I think ‘Bama is a good team this year. But know this: Florida was 8-1 in 1928, thus, we are the 1928 national champions.
Go Gators, whup up on the ole ball coach!
We have yet to see Bama play a worthy opponent, Michigan and Ark haven’t lived up to their preseason hype, both are mediocre at best. LSU defense is as good as it gets, and any educated sports fan knows the game in Death Valley will be a close one, with defense winning out again. When you hold SC to 34 rushing yards, you’ve done something. I for one like the Tigers to win at home in a ball control ground attack.
Bama because of Saban is virtually unbeatable. Muschamp is on his way to building that here.