We are underway...finally...after a most interesting off-season. College football has a way of keeping our attention even in the off-season with coaching shifts, player antics and injuries, and the un-expected (see list below). But that's all over and we can get on to some serious ranting and whining.
The Off-Season:
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| View from the grassy knoll. |
- the Manti Teo girlfriend fiasco
- Johnny Football making light of his fame...and embarrassing himself, TA&M and the good name of the Heisman
- Petrino already re-hired...wow
- 'Bama players using deer antler spray instead of PEDs
- the SI cover curse for K-State
- paying college athlete debates - see great article HERE
BYU at UVA
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| BYU coming on field. |
I attended this game and may I first say how impressed I was with the campus, the facilities and especially the amazing hospitality of the people we met. We were greeted well, offered free lunch by the Physics Department, and hung out post-game in a pizza and sub bar with people who made us feel like long-time friends.
There were a plethora of BYU head-scratchers during this six-hour "deja' vu of 2012" activity: the team checking in to the hotel less than 24 hours before kick-off; a playbook of maybe half-a-dozen plays (run the middle, run left, run right, short pass to the flat, rinse, repeat); running the hurry-up instead of the huddle-up; etc. But the biggest head-scratcher was the first series after the two-hour weather delay: a 3-and-out series of run plays. Really Anae? After testing your new offense and seeing their defense for an entire scoreless quarter, you get two-hours to make adjustments and this is what you came up with - the same pattern that produced a scoreless 1st quarter? What were they all doing all that time...playing patty-cake with Pedro?
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| It rained hard... |
The new hurry up simply gave UV more time on field and the entire game seemed an endless loop of the 2012 season: poor play calling, poor execution, lack of variety and passion, trying hard not to lose. And please...don't make excuses like "water-logged balls" and "the field was a swamp" when they had to play on the same field. Face the brutal facts: failing to make adjustments lost the game. Now get up, brush off, put it behind you and plan to do better (something different) next week.
UGA at Clemson
The marquis game of the week lived up to the hype of power offenses (73 points were scored), thus proving that both defenses are still questionable. UGA struggles with the big games. It's like a curse and they simply cannot get that monkey off their back. They have a great team, loads of talent and can hopefully make a better showing against the 'Ol Ball Coach next weekend.
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| ...and then rained more. |
E N D - Z O N E
- 'Bama did not look ready; they still have some prep work to do.
- Don't jump on the Clemson bandwagon yet...they played against a questionable defense.
- And don't jump too high when celebrating - just ask UGAs top receiver who is now out of the season after celebrating the first TD of the year.
- Louisville may be the team to watch. A cupcake schedule but lots of returning talent.
- OSU? I'm still not ready to believe they are really good.
