MNIrishman
Well-known member
- Messages
- 2,532
- Reaction score
- 481
Quality losses bro. Rednecks don't drop. Them's the rules. Go have some moonshine and walk it off.
SEC Open Thread
- Thread starter IrishLax
- Start date
Rankings changes
Rankings changes
Of the two loss SEC teams - A&M, Missouri - Missouri is now unranked (from 23) and A&M drops from 14 to 21 ahead of two loss USC, Stanford, and Clemson. Seems about right.
Auburn dropped from 2 to 6 behind the undefeateds. Alabama is unchanged at 7, just ahead of one loss Mich State and Oregon. Seems about right.
Rankings changes
Of the two loss SEC teams - A&M, Missouri - Missouri is now unranked (from 23) and A&M drops from 14 to 21 ahead of two loss USC, Stanford, and Clemson. Seems about right.
Auburn dropped from 2 to 6 behind the undefeateds. Alabama is unchanged at 7, just ahead of one loss Mich State and Oregon. Seems about right.
ulukinatme
Carr for QB 2025!
- Messages
- 31,509
- Reaction score
- 17,369
Roll (one) Tide
Roll (one) Tide
Reading a review of the Arkansas game from Roll, Bama, Roll - a quality blogroll BTW - the Bama writer objectively describes the Tide's problems as:
-a poor offensive display (outgained by Ark by 108 yards, 53 plays vs 79) "Every single unit - OL, quarterback, running backs, receivers - had its worst game of the year. Put them all together and it stunk."
-"disastrous" offensive line play, especially the interior linemen, with an inability to sustain drives until the final drive that resulted in the touchdown that gave them the lead in the fourth quarter - "Alabama came into the game averaging over 240 yards rushing per game and over 5 yards a pop, but against Arkansas got only 66 yards on 32 carries, an unacceptable 2.1 per. The Tide also gave up two sacks for the first time this season, and Blake Sims spent a lot of time running away from trouble."
-turnovers, especially by special teams, who gave the ball to Arkansas deep in Bama territory - "Still, to fumble three punts without an Arkansas player ever even touching the ball or the fumbler? Jeez." (Fumbles affected both teams. Weather and the field were issues.)
The positives of their play were:
- the overall defensive play, especially the DL play - "The vaunted Razorbacks' ground game came into the contest averaging 395.8 yards rushing per game and 6.9 yards per carry, but Alabama held them to 89 yards and a mere 2.3 per tote. The middle was constantly clogged." and
- the punter, who won the Ray Guy weekly award for best punter performance
Arkansas From The Couch
Saban's response: "Everybody's got such a high expectation for what our team should be. I was just happy to see our players be happy about playing a game and winning," Saban said.
"It really, if you want to know the truth about it, pisses me off when I talk to people that have this expectation like they're disappointed that we only won the game 14-13 and the way we played. That's frustrating. You want to talk about something that's frustrating? That's frustrating to me, for our players, who play with a lot of heart in the game
While there are some differences, especially in QB play, I could not help thinking of the Irish and of the similar improvements needed/positives.
Roll (one) Tide
Reading a review of the Arkansas game from Roll, Bama, Roll - a quality blogroll BTW - the Bama writer objectively describes the Tide's problems as:
-a poor offensive display (outgained by Ark by 108 yards, 53 plays vs 79) "Every single unit - OL, quarterback, running backs, receivers - had its worst game of the year. Put them all together and it stunk."
-"disastrous" offensive line play, especially the interior linemen, with an inability to sustain drives until the final drive that resulted in the touchdown that gave them the lead in the fourth quarter - "Alabama came into the game averaging over 240 yards rushing per game and over 5 yards a pop, but against Arkansas got only 66 yards on 32 carries, an unacceptable 2.1 per. The Tide also gave up two sacks for the first time this season, and Blake Sims spent a lot of time running away from trouble."
-turnovers, especially by special teams, who gave the ball to Arkansas deep in Bama territory - "Still, to fumble three punts without an Arkansas player ever even touching the ball or the fumbler? Jeez." (Fumbles affected both teams. Weather and the field were issues.)
The positives of their play were:
- the overall defensive play, especially the DL play - "The vaunted Razorbacks' ground game came into the contest averaging 395.8 yards rushing per game and 6.9 yards per carry, but Alabama held them to 89 yards and a mere 2.3 per tote. The middle was constantly clogged." and
- the punter, who won the Ray Guy weekly award for best punter performance
Arkansas From The Couch
Saban's response: "Everybody's got such a high expectation for what our team should be. I was just happy to see our players be happy about playing a game and winning," Saban said.
"It really, if you want to know the truth about it, pisses me off when I talk to people that have this expectation like they're disappointed that we only won the game 14-13 and the way we played. That's frustrating. You want to talk about something that's frustrating? That's frustrating to me, for our players, who play with a lot of heart in the game
While there are some differences, especially in QB play, I could not help thinking of the Irish and of the similar improvements needed/positives.
Bishop2b5
SEC Exchange Student
- Messages
- 8,928
- Reaction score
- 6,157
This is actually a bit of a rebuilding year for us. We hoped Saban could pull off a miracle and produce an elite squad this year, but deep down we knew it wasn't likely. The biggest issue IMHO is that our OL simply isn't very good. There's not a guy on our line who would've earned a starting spot on that 2012 OL. We have plenty of talent at the skill positions, but an OL that's adequate at best, and too often not even that.
irishog77
NOT SINBAD's NEPHEW
- Messages
- 7,441
- Reaction score
- 2,206
Only halfway being a dick here, but why do saban and alabama need to "rebuild?" Shouldn't 5 straight top recruiting classes make that more of a reload?
aubeirish
Well-known member
- Messages
- 3,601
- Reaction score
- 149
Video game player development != Real life player development
Reloading
Reloading
At this time of year, for so many conference schools, all are realizing how much or how little the preseason hype and non-conference play are representative of team performance. Weaknesses are exposed.
Fan expectations stoked by first third of the year play for some conference teams has to be dialed down. Certainly if you have had three NCs in five years, as Alabama has, and the top recruiting class in the past four years and on your way to your fifth in a row, the bar has been raised.
Good point about "real life player development". Fumbles and missed tackles or assignments can be corrected. Bama has two new coordinators, including a new offensive system under Kiffin. Injuries happen and they have lost their first team center, Kelly, and had the second team center, Lindsey, transfer to Ohio St. They still have the best WR combination in college football, IMO.
RBR writer's comment about today's SEC:
"As the night wound down Saturday evening, I texted a buddy saying, 'So basically... the Mississippi schools are the two best teams in the country, and LSU is slightly better than Kentucky, who can very realistically win the east. We are in bizarro world.'"
I believe South Carolina was predicted in the preseason to win the SEC East.
Reloading
At this time of year, for so many conference schools, all are realizing how much or how little the preseason hype and non-conference play are representative of team performance. Weaknesses are exposed.
Fan expectations stoked by first third of the year play for some conference teams has to be dialed down. Certainly if you have had three NCs in five years, as Alabama has, and the top recruiting class in the past four years and on your way to your fifth in a row, the bar has been raised.
Good point about "real life player development". Fumbles and missed tackles or assignments can be corrected. Bama has two new coordinators, including a new offensive system under Kiffin. Injuries happen and they have lost their first team center, Kelly, and had the second team center, Lindsey, transfer to Ohio St. They still have the best WR combination in college football, IMO.
RBR writer's comment about today's SEC:
"As the night wound down Saturday evening, I texted a buddy saying, 'So basically... the Mississippi schools are the two best teams in the country, and LSU is slightly better than Kentucky, who can very realistically win the east. We are in bizarro world.'"
I believe South Carolina was predicted in the preseason to win the SEC East.
Last edited:
RammerJammer91
New member
- Messages
- 106
- Reaction score
- 11
Eh, not really. Ask a lot of Bama fans and most will tell you that the 2012 team wasn't the best of the 3 recent national championship teams. 2011 was a more talented team than the 2012 team, IMO.
T Town Tommy
Alabama Bag Man
- Messages
- 6,278
- Reaction score
- 2,768
Saban makes $7 mil a year. That's why there is high expectations. He can "rebuild" his barn when he retires. Otherwise, he should expect some criticism for his team not performing at the level they should be. Otherwise, give me the $7 mil and I will stand up and take the tough questions from the reporters.
Bishop2b5
SEC Exchange Student
- Messages
- 8,928
- Reaction score
- 6,157
There's a BIG difference between talent and experienced talent, and not every 4 & 5 star recruit becomes a 4 or 5 star player. We don't have a lot of experience or elite talent that's developed as hoped in a couple of critical areas like OL & DB. We're a good team, but not a great one this year.
Bishop2b5
SEC Exchange Student
- Messages
- 8,928
- Reaction score
- 6,157
Hopefully he moves to 'rebuild his barn' at the end of this season and bama can sink back to pre-Saban levels... I hear Mike Shula is available.
Oh man, you gon' make me say some shiiiit!
palinurus
New member
- Messages
- 2,406
- Reaction score
- 192
Former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, now a member of the college football media at Saturday Down South, is not scared to share some war stories from life in the seedy underbelly of the SEC.
During a radio interview on WFNZ in Charlotte, Garcia argued against the rules preventing players from benefiting financially on their likeness.
"Absolutely, I don't see why that's such a punishable offense," Garcia said. "I think it's absolutely ridiculous that these kids can't profit from their name, their likeness, sign their name on their own jersey. I don't understand that and I really hope that rule changes. It's mind-boggling to me, to be honest with you."
The hosts then asked how frequently Garcia saw players getting money in handshakes or in exchange for autographs or memorabilia and also whether the South Carolina quarterback took part in the impermissible benefits. His response warranted a chuckle from the hosts.
"I saw it all day, every day to be honest with you. I wish they came to me, but they thought of me as some rich white kid so I didn't really get benefits from that. I'm just being honest with you. I saw it firsthand with a lot of players and talking with other guys. You know I'm friends with a lot of players from around the SEC, and talking with them, it makes the Todd Gurley thing seem insignificant by a long shot."
Garcia was then pressed to share the most amount of money he heard of in a autograph-related transaction. His answer: "$160,000 for one season" of autographs and the like.
Ex-South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia talks SEC players getting cash - CBSSports.com
During a radio interview on WFNZ in Charlotte, Garcia argued against the rules preventing players from benefiting financially on their likeness.
"Absolutely, I don't see why that's such a punishable offense," Garcia said. "I think it's absolutely ridiculous that these kids can't profit from their name, their likeness, sign their name on their own jersey. I don't understand that and I really hope that rule changes. It's mind-boggling to me, to be honest with you."
The hosts then asked how frequently Garcia saw players getting money in handshakes or in exchange for autographs or memorabilia and also whether the South Carolina quarterback took part in the impermissible benefits. His response warranted a chuckle from the hosts.
"I saw it all day, every day to be honest with you. I wish they came to me, but they thought of me as some rich white kid so I didn't really get benefits from that. I'm just being honest with you. I saw it firsthand with a lot of players and talking with other guys. You know I'm friends with a lot of players from around the SEC, and talking with them, it makes the Todd Gurley thing seem insignificant by a long shot."
Garcia was then pressed to share the most amount of money he heard of in a autograph-related transaction. His answer: "$160,000 for one season" of autographs and the like.
Ex-South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia talks SEC players getting cash - CBSSports.com
The SEC "Brand"
The SEC "Brand"
Why the SEC Brand Matters
"Plenty of folks both outside and within the conference have rolled their eyes at all the basking in reflected glory that goes on. Why should Vanderbilt cheer when Florida wins two national titles in three years? Why should Ole Miss pull for Alabama or Auburn in the national title game? Because there was a promise that even for the conference's underclass, when the wheel of fate turns and actually puts your team up at the top for once, you'll get to take advantage of it too.
It's all been largely theoretical, of course, as the teams near the top lately have all been traditional powers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, etc. The promise was there though. Keep pumping the party line, ye have-nots, and the SEC's benefit of the doubt—which helped Florida pass Michigan in 2006, which helped a little with LSU jumping from No. 7 to No. 2 in 2007, which insulated Florida from USC and Texas in 2008, which gave us an Alabama-LSU rematch in 2011, which helped prevent any discussion about Alabama and Oregon in 2012—would work in your favor too."
The SEC "Brand"
Why the SEC Brand Matters
"Plenty of folks both outside and within the conference have rolled their eyes at all the basking in reflected glory that goes on. Why should Vanderbilt cheer when Florida wins two national titles in three years? Why should Ole Miss pull for Alabama or Auburn in the national title game? Because there was a promise that even for the conference's underclass, when the wheel of fate turns and actually puts your team up at the top for once, you'll get to take advantage of it too.
It's all been largely theoretical, of course, as the teams near the top lately have all been traditional powers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, etc. The promise was there though. Keep pumping the party line, ye have-nots, and the SEC's benefit of the doubt—which helped Florida pass Michigan in 2006, which helped a little with LSU jumping from No. 7 to No. 2 in 2007, which insulated Florida from USC and Texas in 2008, which gave us an Alabama-LSU rematch in 2011, which helped prevent any discussion about Alabama and Oregon in 2012—would work in your favor too."
TheSunIsRising
New member
- Messages
- 638
- Reaction score
- 117
Mike Pereira calls out SEC officiating...
Mike Pereira calls out SEC officiating...
I couldn't find this elsewhere in a search, and didn't want to create a new thread.
To be honest, I am not a big fan of Pereira. I agree with those that suggest he is an apologist for officials (especially the incompetent Pac 10/12 ones) when they are shown to botch calls. That being said, I was kind of surprised that he was so candid in this piece on Fox Sports:
SEC has lost almost all credibility and integrity in officiating | FOX Sports
Basically states that in at least two games recently he has become convinced that SEC officials are taking direction from someone over their communication devices. Sounds very 'conspiracy-laced', but I wouldn't be surprised if it was true. I didn't see either incident that he references (the video up associated with this article on Fox Sports' website just shows highlights of the Bama-Vols game), but there have definitely been some odd officiating occurrences...the most hilarious and obvious being the sideline official who spots the ball after looking for where the first down marker was located.
Mike Pereira calls out SEC officiating...
I couldn't find this elsewhere in a search, and didn't want to create a new thread.
To be honest, I am not a big fan of Pereira. I agree with those that suggest he is an apologist for officials (especially the incompetent Pac 10/12 ones) when they are shown to botch calls. That being said, I was kind of surprised that he was so candid in this piece on Fox Sports:
SEC has lost almost all credibility and integrity in officiating | FOX Sports
Basically states that in at least two games recently he has become convinced that SEC officials are taking direction from someone over their communication devices. Sounds very 'conspiracy-laced', but I wouldn't be surprised if it was true. I didn't see either incident that he references (the video up associated with this article on Fox Sports' website just shows highlights of the Bama-Vols game), but there have definitely been some odd officiating occurrences...the most hilarious and obvious being the sideline official who spots the ball after looking for where the first down marker was located.
TheSunIsRising
New member
- Messages
- 638
- Reaction score
- 117
SEC responded saying, nothing to see here:
SEC refutes Mike Pereira’s charges of officiating misconduct | USA TODAY Sports
Now, this quote was apparently delivered by the Referee in the LSU-Ole Miss game, when he was trying to comment on the critical pass interference against LSU near the end....he just got his statements wrong
SEC refutes Mike Pereira’s charges of officiating misconduct | USA TODAY Sports
Now, this quote was apparently delivered by the Referee in the LSU-Ole Miss game, when he was trying to comment on the critical pass interference against LSU near the end....he just got his statements wrong
WakeUpEchoes
New member
- Messages
- 2,574
- Reaction score
- 101
There is no way that Periera would go out on a limb like that and be wrong.
Bishop2b5
SEC Exchange Student
- Messages
- 8,928
- Reaction score
- 6,157
I'm confused and maybe I'm missing something. From reading Periera's article, I didn't get the impression that he was claiming officials were being directed to skew the game through advantageous calls to one team or another; only that he thought having anyone other than the officials on the field have input into a call was wrong. I'm not sure what's supposed to be wrong with that.
I'm not sure if it's still going on, but just a few years ago, the SEC widely publicized the fact that it was going to have an official in the booth doing a running review of each play and giving the on-the-field guys a heads up about whether a play needed to officially be reviewed, whether they'd blown a call and needed to pick up a flag, overturn a decision, etc. The whole idea was that this would cut down on unnecessary reviews and blown calls. I remember thinking this was a great idea and hoping all conferences would adopt it, as it would eliminate the majority of bad calls.
If Periera was claiming SEC refs were getting instructions to change calls in order to favor one team over another, I'd be pissed, but that doesn't seem to be what he's claiming. As far as I can tell, he's claiming the mere fact that officials are talking to someone in the booth is wrong, but I believe that's been going on for years and they're just talking to the replay guy who's advising them on whether they missed something or got the call right or wrong.
I'm not sure if it's still going on, but just a few years ago, the SEC widely publicized the fact that it was going to have an official in the booth doing a running review of each play and giving the on-the-field guys a heads up about whether a play needed to officially be reviewed, whether they'd blown a call and needed to pick up a flag, overturn a decision, etc. The whole idea was that this would cut down on unnecessary reviews and blown calls. I remember thinking this was a great idea and hoping all conferences would adopt it, as it would eliminate the majority of bad calls.
If Periera was claiming SEC refs were getting instructions to change calls in order to favor one team over another, I'd be pissed, but that doesn't seem to be what he's claiming. As far as I can tell, he's claiming the mere fact that officials are talking to someone in the booth is wrong, but I believe that's been going on for years and they're just talking to the replay guy who's advising them on whether they missed something or got the call right or wrong.
MNIrishman
Well-known member
- Messages
- 2,532
- Reaction score
- 481
Agreed. I do think that's what the article implied.
Pretenders and Contenders in the SEC
Pretenders and Contenders in the SEC
After this past weekend, Missouri, who was beaten by Big Ten bottom feeder, Indiana, is now the leader in the SEC East. Indiana is 0-4 in Big Ten play.
Florida gained more rushing yardage against Georgia, the previous leader in the SEC East, than the combined rushing yardage in its previous three SEC games.
Texas A&M, who was ranked sixth for three weeks, ended a three game losing streak by holding off Louisiana-Monroe to win by five. La-Monroe is now 3-5, and ranked seventh in the Sun Belt Conference.
Mississippi State, the #1 ranked team in the country, beat Arkansas, SEC West bottom feeder, by scoring a fourth quarter TD and then intercepted an Arkansas pass in the end zone with fifteen seconds remaining to preserve the victory. Arkansas has now lost seventeen straight SEC games. Mississippi State plays Tenn-Martin, a FCS school, this weekend.
South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida all have four wins as we enter Week 11. South Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas all have played their FCS game, which counts in their four wins. All but Florida need two wins out of their three remaining games to become bowl eligible. Florida needs to win two of its four games remaining - and still has their FCS game to play.
Pretenders and Contenders in the SEC
After this past weekend, Missouri, who was beaten by Big Ten bottom feeder, Indiana, is now the leader in the SEC East. Indiana is 0-4 in Big Ten play.
Florida gained more rushing yardage against Georgia, the previous leader in the SEC East, than the combined rushing yardage in its previous three SEC games.
Texas A&M, who was ranked sixth for three weeks, ended a three game losing streak by holding off Louisiana-Monroe to win by five. La-Monroe is now 3-5, and ranked seventh in the Sun Belt Conference.
Mississippi State, the #1 ranked team in the country, beat Arkansas, SEC West bottom feeder, by scoring a fourth quarter TD and then intercepted an Arkansas pass in the end zone with fifteen seconds remaining to preserve the victory. Arkansas has now lost seventeen straight SEC games. Mississippi State plays Tenn-Martin, a FCS school, this weekend.
South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida all have four wins as we enter Week 11. South Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas all have played their FCS game, which counts in their four wins. All but Florida need two wins out of their three remaining games to become bowl eligible. Florida needs to win two of its four games remaining - and still has their FCS game to play.
Last edited:
- Messages
- 20,894
- Reaction score
- 8,126
From Mandel's latest mailbag:
Made me chuckle. Especially since Mandel is a Northwestern grad, which is the closest thing ND has to a "little brother" institution (with its attendant inferiority complex).
Made me chuckle. Especially since Mandel is a Northwestern grad, which is the closest thing ND has to a "little brother" institution (with its attendant inferiority complex).
- Messages
- 37,544
- Reaction score
- 28,990
K
koonja
Guest
Incredibly impressive:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>From a recruiting standpoint, nobody doing it bigger than <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LSU?src=hash">#LSU</a> today, 15 five-stars, several more four-stars visiting <a href="http://t.co/9HYKQuDwnb">http://t.co/9HYKQuDwnb</a></p>— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) <a href="https://twitter.com/SWiltfong247/status/531082163198758913">November 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>From a recruiting standpoint, nobody doing it bigger than <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LSU?src=hash">#LSU</a> today, 15 five-stars, several more four-stars visiting <a href="http://t.co/9HYKQuDwnb">http://t.co/9HYKQuDwnb</a></p>— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) <a href="https://twitter.com/SWiltfong247/status/531082163198758913">November 8, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
PANDFAN
Look Down
- Messages
- 16,770
- Reaction score
- 2,278
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Uh oh MT <a href="https://twitter.com/wbir">@wbir</a>: BREAKING: Sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/wbir">@wbir</a> UT Senior AJ Johnson is named in sexual assault investigation from Woodlands Apt. incident</p>— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/AtoZSports/status/534371221065199617">November 17, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
T Town Tommy
Alabama Bag Man
- Messages
- 6,278
- Reaction score
- 2,768
Hope that's not true. Geez.
MNIrishman
Well-known member
- Messages
- 2,532
- Reaction score
- 481
Who's in the lead for the Fulmer Cup this year?