Looking Back At Oct. 3 Games And What It Means For Now And The Rest Of The Season
So maybe the SEC isn’t going to collapse under the Air Raid after all.
This is the problem most prognosticators have, to jump to conclusions faster than Mike Leach’s offense throws a pass rather than waiting for the wisdom of reflection take hold. A week after thrashing LSU, Leach’s State Dogs got a bomb dropped on them by a team that had not won a conference game in three years.
So Mississippi State goes from being Cinderella to a novelty while elsewhere the glass slipper is about to shatter for Tom Herman in Texas, Lincoln Riley is losing a bit of his polish in Oklahoma, Jimbo Fisher is protected only by an absurd $75 million contract and there is, once again, rumbling from disgruntled alumni in that little south Alabama village.
These, and other other happenings, are all in this week’s college football rewind highlights and lowlights for the games of Oct. 3, and what it means for now and the rest of the season.
First, what in tarnation is going on with Texas and Herman? The Longhorns are undisciplined – they had seven penalties in one quarter in again losing to TCU – and appear unmotivated. Alumni are not just starting to call for his head but are hoping to get Urban Meyer out of retirement. But have they not had enough of former Ohio State coaches?
Alumni are saying pretty much the same thing at Texas A&M but Fisher is as safe as the son of a rich oilman because instead of looking over his shoulder he can simply look at his bank account. The fact of the matter tho, is his team was largely uncompetitive against Alabama and his record against ranked teams while with the Cadets is hardly spit-and-polish stuff. Maybe he needs a 13th Man. And a 14th.
The Oklahoma Sooners have lost two straight games for the first time since 1999. The defense is sloppy and the freshman quarterback is rattled. Are shortcomings of Riley’s coaching starting to surface in Norman?
Who is the SEC’s most overrated quarterback and most overrated program? Bo Nix and Auburn. The Tigers’ offense is again terrible and when they get away from Jordan-Hare they don’t get the calls and the luck that helps them win their usual eight (more likely six or seven this year) games. This has the alumni howling again at the head coach.
After last week’s sputtering against Arkansas, there’s a big relief in Athens after Georgia dominated Auburn.
Florida fans continue to be giddy, tho the defense may cost the Gators later in the season.
There are defensive concerns in Tuscaloosa, too, but with that offense it’s clear the Alabama Crimson Tide is the class of the conference. Georgia comes to T-Town in two weeks.
When will Clemson play somebody even decent? Let’s see if Miami can put up a fight on Saturday.
Notre Dame plays Florida State this week. It’s hardly Lou Holtz vs. Bobby Bowden.
And finally, here’s why Will Muschamp will never be a winning football coach. Up seven early against Florida and having the benefit of a 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff, he kicked off to Florida. He should have gone for an on-sides kick. This program needs a lift but he was too conservative to give it to them. He later kicked a field goal down 38-14 in the third quarter. Winners know how to win and mediocre coaches know how to be mediocre.
Leave a Reply