The ACC really needed Florida State-Miami shootout
Nobody asked me but:
1. The ACC really needed that Florida State-Miami game: I’m not saying this was the worst opening the weekend the ACC has ever had. But it has to be in the top two. There were losses to two Colonial Athletic Association (Division I-AA) teams-Richmond (beat Duke) and William & Mary (beat Virginia). Maryland got smoked at California (52-13). Wake Forest lost at home to Baylor (24-21). No. 7 Virginia Tech, the favorite to win the league, lost to No. 5 Alabama (34-24) in Atlanta. N.C. State, a dark horse pick to win the ACC Atlantic, could find no offense and lost to South Carolina, 7-3. The only win over a Division I-A opponent was Clemson over Middle Tennessee State of the Sun Belt. The rest of the ACC wins came against Northeastern, The Citadel and Jacksonville State. It’s a good thing that Miami and Florida State played such a great game (38-34) Monday night. It salvaged the entire weekend for the ACC.
2. This is a big week for the Big Ten: The Big Ten was 1-6 in bowl games last season and didn’t get off to a particularly good start un 2009. Ohio State had to fight for its life to get past Navy (31-27). Iowa had to block two kicks at the end of the game to beat Northern Iowa. (17-16). Illinois just got waxed by Missouri (37-9). Wisconsin struggled to beat Northern Illinois (28-20). The Big Ten can certainly bolster its reputation this weekend as Ohio State hosts USC and Michigan hosts Notre Dame. But odds are the Big Ten goes 0-2 in those games.
3. Yes, there are already coaches on the hot seat: It’s hard to believe but there is no getting away from it. Al Groh has to be feeling some heat after his new spread offense was all but shut down by William & Mary and the Cavaliers lost to the I-AA team 26-14. Ron Zook took Illinois to the Rose Bowl two years ago and was expected to be better with quarterback Juice Williams and seven other offensive starters returning. The Illini got embarrassed by Missouri (37-9). Lost in the headlines about the post-game fight in the Boise State-Oregon game was the fact that Oregon, thought to be a challenger to USC in the Pac-10, was simply awful. Chip Kelly is a first-year head coach and his team looked totally disorganized. This list is only going to grow.
4. From now on BYU is pulling big time for Oklahoma, Florida State: No question that BYU is in the BCS discussion after Saturday night’s 14-13 win over Oklahoma. But the Cougars need for Oklahoma (0-1) and Florida State (0-1) to bounce back. Florida State goes to BYU on Sept. 19. If the Cougars win that one they have a real shot to go undefeated because they have TCU, Air Force, and Utah at home. FYI: BYU does have a shot at making the BCS championship game if it goes undefeated. But if the SEC champ and the Big 12 champ are also beaten, they go to the big game and BYU is the odd man out. That’s a no brainer. But to win points in the computer polls, BYU needs for Oklahoma and Florida State to finish strong after losing their openers. Such are the odd bedfellows created by the BCS.
5. Suddenly, I am concerned about the LSU defense: I spent the summer saying that the LSU defense, which finished ninth on the SEC in scoring last season, would be better under new DC John Chavis. Chavis is a pro and I saw a lot of great athletes still in Baton Rouge. Then the Tigers go out to Seattle and give up 478 yards in a lackluster 31-23 win at Washington. But I still think the LSU defense is going to be okay. Washington has a veteran quarterback in Jake Locker, a player I really like. The Huskies were playing with a lot of energy for new coach Steve Sarkisian. And to go all the way out to Seattle, the longest road trip ever for LSU, and get a win should be enough. Let’s see how LSU does against Vanderbilt on Saturday.
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193 comments Add your comment
Chris F
September 9th, 2009
5:53 am
Go read Tony.
Chris F
September 9th, 2009
5:57 am
Question Tony, Do you believe that Richt’s job may be ended soon especially if he continues to coach a team that has so much talent so poorly?
I have nothing against Richt other than his poor coaching. Shula at Alabama was run off for poor performance, Phil Fulmer was run off for the same reason. Why not Richt?
War Eagle Eddie
September 9th, 2009
6:01 am
Chavis worse than Willie Martinez? Not Possible. UGAg has the two worst coordinators in the league. The head man is losing touch himself!
Chris F
September 9th, 2009
6:02 am
sorry my first post should have said “good read”
War Eagle Eddie
September 9th, 2009
6:38 am
reagle beagle WAR DAMN EAGLE!!! Go Tigers
War Eagle Eddie
September 9th, 2009
6:46 am
Auburn Beat Pole 2009
1 La Tech
next Miss St.
Spike
September 9th, 2009
6:51 am
Anybody that claims the ACC is equal to or superior to the SEC, Big 12, PAC 10, Big Ten, etc is kidding themselves. Whaat a sorry opening weekend. Wiliam and Mary? Richmond?
William
September 9th, 2009
6:58 am
Tony, saw your show last night for the first time. Really enjoyed it. In college football, can the clock be challenged? I thought there was 1 second left. The play was reviewed. How about the clock?
Where have you gone jim Bob Cooter ?
September 9th, 2009
7:01 am
All of you “fans” calling for Mark Richt’s job are I-D-I-O-T-S. ((take out the hyphens and it spells “idiots”). You are not real UGA supporters at all. Your worthless,pathetic lives are centered around whether you get your ego stroked by the team you follow winning on Saturday. OSU is good. We have known that for a long while. It was certainly no surprise that they beat UGA in their own stadium in their biggest game in years. But after 60 minutes of football ,you want to throw away 9 years of hard work and program improvement because you think that there is someone better just hanging around waiting for your call? Maybe you don’t remember what things were like in the long span between Dooley and Richt ,but I do. No SEC championships,perpetual also ran status and being content with 8-3 seasons (played 11 in those days). Richt is a dramatic upgrade from those days.
Good thing that UGA is not a democracy,because the mob wants a new man at the top after every loss. High standards and big expectations are good , but you people are fools. You are the very definition of “fair weather fans”.
I am really tired...
September 9th, 2009
7:02 am
…of Richt and the AJC writers saying that UGA needs “more” receivers. Richt says 4 is not enough – good grief, we only play 2 at at time, so four is plenty. If they get tired (and how could they when the offense goes 3 and out every other series).
Then he says they want to spread the ball around – well, duh, tell that to the QB, all Bobo can do is call plays, if he keeps calling them for the guy (Green) who is double covered all day then that is a coaching problem, not a fault with the receivers and their abilities.
Coaching, coaching, coaching – see Meyer, Saban, Peterson(Boise State), Carroll, Brian Kelly(Cincy), the guy at Utah, and – oh I hate to say this – but even Johnson at Tech if you want to see what real coaching is supposed to look like.
BullDawg Rick
September 9th, 2009
7:08 am
Coaching is the problem. PERIOD!!!!
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
7:11 am
Dont worry fans, I’m taking the boys swimming this week, they are a little down on themselves and have been working way to hard and need some good ole time in the pool. By the way, watch for me on the high dive.
#2 BAMA FAN
September 9th, 2009
7:13 am
The FSU and Miami game was the best game of the weekend and living in Nashville the UcheaT crowd believes they are going to win 10 games this year after beating WKU. GO UCLA BRUINS!!
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
7:20 am
Next summer I’m gonna take the boys to the zoo in Atlanta. That will be fun for the guys to see all the furocious animals.
VanDSIRROM
September 9th, 2009
7:21 am
Indeed, “Let’s see how LSU does against Vanderbilt on Saturday”.
On Saturday in Death Valley, David may just stand up and slay Goliath.
For certain, we will learn if LSU’s defense is as bad as it looked against the Huskies. And we’ll learn if Vanderbilt’s offense is as good as it looked against the Catamounts. The answer to both is probably no; however, Bobby Johnson has coached against John Chavis for 8 years now and Vandy’s defense is improved over their outstanding defense of ‘08 which won 4 SEC games and single handedly beat Boston College in the Music City Bowl. (Don’t forget, BC played for the ACC Championship last year.)
If Vanderbilt wins in Baton Rouge, it will be because Coach Johnson ‘out coached’ Les Mile & John Chavis.
Tune in to ESPNU Saturday night because ‘there’s gonna be a rumble on the bayou’.
bull-gator
September 9th, 2009
7:26 am
You Dawg fans need to back off the negative remarks about Richt and his staff. The first game was away, playing a top ten team, with a sick and inexpereinced QB. Give Cox a chance. The kid hasn’t started a game since he was a senior in high school. UGA’s only loss in the SEC East this year will probably be to UF (maybe). Play each game one at a time and when the season is over, compare the W’s and the L’s. I predict a 10-3 or 11-2 season. At worst, 9-4. Not bad after losing Stafford and Moreno. Keep it in perspective. You fire Richt and then what? Another disaster like Michigan and Rodriguez?
lakerat
September 9th, 2009
7:35 am
No, bull-gator – we fire Richt and we get someone like Peterson from Boise State or Kyle Willingham from Utah, and then we see whether UF continues its mastery over UGA! Until then, it looks like UF will continue to own us!
dandydawg
September 9th, 2009
7:38 am
I’m getting sick of all this. This season has already turned into a damned circus. This is getting very repetitive of the last year of Jim Donnan.
Tony, as I’ve already stated…you and Mark Bradley are doing nothing but adding fuel to the fire here.
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
7:40 am
Trust me I’m not the answer. Keep living with 1980 and Munson announcing Herschel at your tailgating. I’ll keep you living in the past.
Ramblin Rick
September 9th, 2009
7:40 am
Prediction: Tony picks UGAy to win Saturday, they lose, the mutts cry all next week.
P
September 9th, 2009
7:40 am
Maybe it’s time for Richt to orchestrate another team wide event this Saturday night? Maybe the bench empty’s after the first first down?
Mr. Imperfect
September 9th, 2009
7:42 am
The UGA fans who have been blasting the coaches and the players need to grow up fast. Your immature and ingrateful attitude for everything Coach Richt has done for Georgia needs to come to a halt. You are doing the program you love more harm than any loss or any scandal. You contribute nothing positive to the program. Jealous of Florida or Alabama? Then go be a fan! And when they have a down year go be the number one fan of the number one team somewhere else. That way you can contribute nothing and never know what it means to have goal to work towards. You know, I would very much like to have the opportunity to see Coach Richt and the players come into your job, and into your home, and observe your execution. Let’s see how you do in your life. The first time you make a mistake, I hope they scream for your job. I hope they write letters to the newspaper hoping that your wife divorces you and that your children never speak to you again because you are such an embarrasement to the family “program.” You p**s poor fair weather UGA fans screaming about Joe Cox or Coach Richt know nothing about anything except that you are a fool. You are a disgrace and an embarrasement.
dandydawg
September 9th, 2009
7:42 am
Ramblin Rick -
Why don’t you just shut up Rick! Quit coming on our boards and badgering us you redneck!
BullDawg Rick
September 9th, 2009
7:44 am
Of course, I’m a problem too!!!! I’m a complete idiot!!!!
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
7:44 am
Good suggestion P, I’m gonna have my team dance after we get our first tackle, but I’m going to act like I didn’t know about it like when I told them to go out and get a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Florida and then lie about and hide behind my squeeky clean image.
Ramblin Rick
September 9th, 2009
7:45 am
Hey guys, I love UGA. Let me get in the tickle pile with Coach Richt and Coach Bobo.
Coach Paul Johnson
September 9th, 2009
7:46 am
Hey Richt,
Forget the teams this year. Why don’t I just kick your ass on the 50 yard line?
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
7:46 am
Maybe we can swim in the aquarium? Anybody know?
JB
September 9th, 2009
7:47 am
Bama,VT,Miami,heck even the Vols looked played like a 2009 type program. Dawgs looked like 1974.
I’ll take a wait and see attitude and see what the next 2-3 games look like. I was encouaged by the D. The offense and questionable calls put a little damper on their performance. I’m concerned we got NO pressure from the edge against a big 12 so so line. We must blitz more than twice a game. I don’t think we have the studs to shut down a passing game when the QB is under NO pressure. Bobo scares me. A high school coach could call a better game.
Coach Paul Johnson
September 9th, 2009
7:47 am
Hey Richt,
Why don’t I drown you in the aquarium?
ex-coach
September 9th, 2009
7:48 am
Someone give me Bobo’s credentials? One freaking year at Jax St, please. I don’t give a damn if he wore the colors or not. What about Martinez……………………….good grief!
Coach Paul Johnson
September 9th, 2009
7:49 am
Hey Richt,
Why don’t I take that little pinhead of yours and squeeze the ever loving clean image out of it? I also hate your high hair line in the back. Next time you get a haircut leave it at a normal length in the back instead of halfway up the backside of your head. Dweeb.
Mr. Imperfect
September 9th, 2009
7:49 am
Hey “BullDawg Rick”! I’m sure you are. Now that you’ve confessed your sin, make some changes for the better.
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
7:50 am
You can’t drown me Paul. I’m an excellent swimmer. Haven’t you seen us swimming on tv when all the good teams are practicing in the summer? It brings us together as a close nit family.
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
7:52 am
Hey Paul, talk smack when you can beat the Dawgs on the field!!!
JB
September 9th, 2009
7:53 am
One more thing about bobo. We must show more to the opposing D than a play package of 10-12 plays.We are so predictable, vanilla and simple. Easy to prepare for. spread it out in the wildcat with Gray and Brandon Smith taking direct snaps. let them BOTH roll out in that formation and throw a dump pass to TE or Fullback to keep them honest. Hell, do something different.
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
7:54 am
Hey JB send me your application. I’m afraid Bobo will take the Michigan job or Natre Dame job next year. Yes, he is that good.
Roswell Ed
September 9th, 2009
7:56 am
Dissention in Athens, funny as hell.
WDE
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
7:58 am
I got it boys. I’m ordering a “BLACKOUT” for saturday night. I’m back on track, we win easy.
utfan1
September 9th, 2009
8:02 am
The most telling statistic about a Chavis coached defense is 3rd down conversions. For too many years I have seen way too many 3rd and 7’s converted because of d-backs playing 10 yards off the line. I know Coach Chavis is a fine coach and a good man, but from someone who has screamed at the tv and at him in Neyland his “Mustang Package” does not work.
45-42
September 9th, 2009
8:04 am
Maybe swimming does bring you guys together, but it sure doesn’t help your guys learn to tackle.
War Jacket
September 9th, 2009
8:06 am
Hey Tony, what difference does it really make if a team’s plane ride to an away game is four hours versus three? You make it sound like it’s such a burden (LSU’s long trip to Washington, blah, blah, blah). Auburn makes a three hour bus ride to Athens every other year and no one cries about that.
Coach Paul Johnson
September 9th, 2009
8:07 am
Hey Richt,
I did beat you on the field. That’s 1 and 0. 2-0 come November. Pucker up buttercup.
m
September 9th, 2009
8:08 am
Tony, your obsession with putting down the ACC is pathetic and insane. The ACC is just fine. Anything can and will happen on the football field…that is why they play the games.
Why don’t you talk about how one of the top SEC teams went out to play a lowly big 12 team (you know the league that plays no defense) and beat the crap out of the sec team.
Bottom line the ACC beat the sec 6 out of 10 last year in the regular season and will win the majority out of 7 games this year.
The sec is the most overrated overhyped league ever. But you have a problem. Ga Tech is the only team in the nation that is voluntarily playing three sec teams and will beat the crap out of all three. So much for the sec hype.
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
8:11 am
Sorry Paul, forgot about you beating me last year. Are you sure?
Steve
September 9th, 2009
8:12 am
Richmond is ranked 1 in the 1-aa poll. Why is that a upset? duke is near the bottom of the 120 teams. is that’s equivalent to a team ranked 50th losing to a 70th ranked team in div 1. the other game is sad with va losing to w&m. wait until the end of the season before jumping the gun tony. one week doesn’t make a season. but i know you sec lovers will always try and paint the acc as bad. must have drove you nuts when fsu was winning in the 90’s.
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
8:17 am
I’m here to read how Tony Barnhardt writes that I’m the greatest and always gives good excuses for my team. It’s always good for some homer self assurance. Where are all my dawg fans. You shouls also listen to Buck Belue, he said yesterday for the 5th straight year we are playing some young pups, young pups I say.
Thanks Tony and Buck for having my back.
YT
September 9th, 2009
8:17 am
Notice how Tony makes excuses for sec teams when they sputter but when an acc does it, it’s oh wow that’s bad. They suck., Ohh that game saved them. Your love affair with the SEC is getting old Tony. What are you going to do when Timmy is gone from Fla. Then it’s back to a wide open field. I bet you wish you could have 2 sec teams in the bcs NC game.
m
September 9th, 2009
8:18 am
Maybe William & Mary can join the ACC, we need them bad.
Coach Mark Richt
September 9th, 2009
8:19 am
Get off my back. Were playing young pups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please make it stop Buck, help me!