It’s going to be a big week for the Head Ball Coach
The late Jim Valvano used to tell us that the NCAA Basketball Tournament was really about two things: “Suvive and Advance.” In basketball, it’s March. In football, it’s November. You win, you move closer to a championship. You lose, you are pretty much done. So what did we learn in the first week of November?
1. This is going to be a pretty big week for the Head Ball Coach: Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina football team was pretty lousy in getting beat 41-20 by Arkansas Saturday night. The Gamecocks looked disinterested against an Arkansas team that has two losses (Alabama, Auburn) to teams that were ranked No. 1 at the time of the games. But South Carolina and Spurrier have a chance to go where no other Gamecock team has gone before if they can find a way to beat Florida in the Swamp on Saturday. The winner advances to the SEC championship game on Dec. 4 where they will probably play Auburn (Auburn needs to win one of its last two games with Georgia or Alabama to get to Atlanta). It’s hard to see South Carolina going down to Gainesville and winning, but Spurrier has a knack of coming up with something for these big games. We’ll see. All I know is that the Gamecocks are 0-12 in Gainesville.
2. TCU is pretty darn good, folks. I’ve said all season that a one-loss SEC champion would have an excellent shot of jumping over an undefeated Boise State or an undefeated TCU for a spot in the BCS championship game. But I was very impressed with what I saw Saturday when No. 3 TCU went to No. 5 Utah and won 47-7. Utah trailed 20-0 at halftime and 37-0 going into the fourth quarter. The Utes didn’t even cross midfield against the No. 1 defense in the country until the fourth quarter. TCU has allowed only 23 points in their last five games, with two of those games being shutouts. Look, if No. 1 Oregon and No. 2 Auburn win out, there won’t be a huge argument. But if one of those teams loses, TCU is going to put up quite a fight in the arena of ideas. Here’s the problem for TCU when it comes to the voters: The Horned Frogs get San Diego State (7-2) this Saturday in Fort Worth. They take a week off and then their last game is at New Mexico (1-8) on Nov. 27. TCU does not play on championship Saturday, Dec. 4.
3. Quit your whining about Les Miles. The man can coach: For about a minute back on Oct. 2 we thought that Tennessee had beaten LSU in Baton Rouge. One review and one toss sweep later LSU had won the game. But I heard from a lot of LSU fans in the aftermath of that game that Les Miles had to go–immediately if not sooner. You called him everything from a clown to names we can’t repeat here. Well, The Mad Hatter coached one of the best games of his career Saturday and it was good enough for No. 10 LSU to upset No. 6 Alabama 24-21. Miles called one daring play after another: A fake punt; a reverse on fourth and one; putting Jarrett Lee back in the game just to throw a long pass out to get LSU out of a hole. Now LSU looks like a team capable of finishing 11-1 and getting back into the national championship discussion. Look, he may not have the stern personality or the rock star aura of a guy like Nick Saban or Urban Meyer, but the man can coach. He has taken a whole lot of garbage from fans and his players have decided they’ve got his back. In fact, his players gave him a game ball after Saturday’s game because of all heat he has taken.
4. Looks like Tennessee has found its quarterback: Yes, the opponent was Memphis, which is a really bad football team. But when you’re Tennessee and you’re looking for something positive to build upon, what freshman quarterback Tyler Bray did on Saturday is encouraging. Bray threw for 308 yards in the first half to set a Tennessee record for two quarters of football. He finished with five touchdown passes. Now, after a most difficult October, Tennessee can at least THINK about being able to win its last three games with Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Kentucky to finish at 6-6. Yes, the odds are against it but given what Tennessee’s been through just to be able to have the conversation should be a positive. Ole Miss comes to Knoxville on Saturday. Vanderbilt is really struggling. The game with Kentucky, which has lost 25 straight to Tennessee, will be very interesting.
5. Heisman voters must be fair to Cameron Newton: I wrote this last week and it was only emphasized on Saturday, when Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns in one half ont he way to a 62-24 win over Chattanooga. Someone has suggested in print that even if there is no evidence that Newton or his family has done anything wrong during this investigation, just the mere suspicion should keep him from winning the Heisman Trophy. How absurd. As my CBS colleague Gary Danielson said on the air Saturday and repeated it to me on Sunday: “The Heisman Trophy is not that important.” What he means is that next to someone’s integrity, which has not been proven to be lacking, you don’t just deny someone something they may have actually earned by their performance. My take: If Newton wins the trophy and has to give it back down the road because of facts that are uncovered, then so be it. But right now there are no facts that have become a part of the public record.
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“Barnhart and Durham:” Today we welcome Jeff Monken, the head coach of the Georgia Southern Eagles, who knocked off No. 1 Appalachian State Saturday night in Statesboro. We will also be joined by Gary Stokan, the President of the Chick-fil-A Bowl, who has a special announcement to share with our listeners. We will break down the latest BCS numbers and start making some bowl projections. Please join us at 10 a.m. at www.790thezone.com.
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392 comments Add your comment
geaux tigers
November 8th, 2010
6:34 am
1
Saint Simons
November 8th, 2010
6:44 am
(((( 34 – 31 ))))
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
War Eagle 30082
November 8th, 2010
6:52 am
Hey Tony,
“Suvive and Advance”? Should be “Survive and Advance”.
As far as South Carolina is concerned, they never have been able to keep it together for the entire season. I really thought this year might have been the year that they did it. The only way they can really salvage this season is to get to the SECCG.
I’m inclined to paraphrase (and poke) the Head Ball Coach himself:
You can’t spell suck without SC.
War Eagle 30082
November 8th, 2010
6:52 am
Saint Simons, you need to get over yourself…
Nesbitt for Heisman
November 8th, 2010
6:59 am
Nobody likes a Spelling Nazi
Bama Fan #2
November 8th, 2010
7:05 am
The reason why LSU won the game against Alabama is simple, THEY WANTED IT more
then Bama and kicked Bama’s butt in the 2nd half. The Mad Hatter did out coach Saban
and his assistants. TCU looks like the real deal but the ducks and god I hate to say or
think the Auburn tigers will play for for the crystal trophy!! RTR
Tony....
November 8th, 2010
7:13 am
Another great SEC update.. hopefully one day you will learn that not everyone in Atlanta is an SEC fan. I know thats hard for you to believe, but its true.
If call yourself “Mr. College Football” .. then cover college football… not just the SEC
Georgia
November 8th, 2010
7:18 am
The head ball coach? Who are you talking about? There are what, 500 or so in the US?
ATL is TigerTown
November 8th, 2010
7:22 am
I think Les Miles is a disgusting excuse for a man. He’s arrogant and unpleasant and I don’t see a whole lot of intelligence emanating from his pointed head, however, props for that win on Saturday. Any time someone can wipe that smug smerk off the faces of Bama fans, I’m down with it. I’m not convinced Bama will beat Miss St. either. I sure as hell hope and think Auburn will hand them another loss.
I’m pulling for UF to beat SC just because I’d prefer beat the Gators in Atlanta. My Tigers have already taken care of Spurrier. No point in going down that road again.
I agree with War Eagle 30082, Saint Simons is living in the past and it’s getting very, very old. Grow up, get a grip and get a life, it’s 2010.
Very much looking forward to seeing Cam accepting Auburn’s third Heisman Trophy. I have no doubt that he deserves it.
War Cam Eagle!
JB
November 8th, 2010
7:26 am
If ya don’t like what TB writes than don’t read it. Sheeeesh!
Tis never a bad thing to see ol’ Saint Nickie lose.
HBTD!!!
Dawg_Mike
November 8th, 2010
7:27 am
Cumberland Island said your schtick is getting old SS.
By the way, 28-21……Hokie!
Hackjobs
November 8th, 2010
7:33 am
“Nesbitt for Heisman
November 8th, 2010
6:59 am
Nobody likes a Spelling Nazi”
Uh…I like them when the copy editor isn’t doing their jobs. This isn’t an internet chatroom or forum, this is a newspaper. I think TB probably should be held to a higher standard.
2 cents
November 8th, 2010
7:33 am
1. It’s a big week for everyone. Like you said, it’s November.
2. TCU is good. But Boise is better..and they’ve been proving it for the last couple of years…including beating TCU in last year’s bowl game.
3. You wouldn’t be saying Les Miles can coach if his trick plays didn’t work. His luck is about to run out and his clock management woes will result in another ugly bowl loss.
4. The fact that the Vols have found a quarterback is great. Now try finding the endzone against teams outside the state of Tennessee.
5. If Heisman voters were fair, then Peyton Manning would have won the trophy instead of Charles Woodson.
6. I agree with another poster….great recap of the SEC. In case you missed it, Joe Paterno won his 400th game on Saturday. That’s more than all the SEC coaches have COMBINED.
BAMA dude
November 8th, 2010
7:35 am
A fake punt; a reverse on fourth and one; putting Jarrett Lee back in the game just to throw a long pass out to get LSU out of a hole.
Nailed it Tony. Those three plays won the game. I still have to wonder what Milliner was doing on the Lee pass; defend that and Bama very possibly scores to tie or win. Typical freshman crapping his pants in a big spot, I guess. Congrats to LSU on the win. Hopefully Bama can win the last three and have a shot at a BCS bowl. Since Oklahoma lost, it appears that they would have a great shot at getting in if LSU loses one (Arky?) since tOSU and MSU won’t both win out.
MURPHY
November 8th, 2010
7:36 am
Congrads to LSU-What a great defensive effort. Jeffereson at q.b played well.
Spurrier will win in Gainesville.
Dawgs at AU-I just done see anyway in stopping the freight train called Cam.
BAMA dude
November 8th, 2010
7:37 am
Uh…I like them when the copy editor isn’t doing their jobs. This isn’t an internet chatroom or forum, this is a newspaper. I think TB probably should be held to a higher standard.
Actually this is an internet forum. This blog post doesn’t appear in print and isn’t subjected to copy edit. If it bothers you, leave. You won’t be missed.
GATA
November 8th, 2010
7:40 am
Cmon Man ! more Lu for Georgia Southern Mr Barnhart ? glad to hear Coach Monken will be on your show !
MURPHY
November 8th, 2010
7:41 am
Tony : post at 7:13am
Then maybe you should become a SEC fan or go somewhere else for your sports reading
Boise Dawg
November 8th, 2010
7:48 am
TCU is pretty darn good, but they did not deserve to jump Boise State. All that game did was prove to me that Utah is more on a level with Hawaii and Nevada and not nearly as good as Boise or TCU.
Everyone was saying TCU was pretty darn good at the end of last year as well because of how badly they were blowing everyone out. In fact, some were saying maybe they deserved a shot at the national title. TCU took Utah to the woodshed as well last year beating them 55 – 28 and a highly ranked BYU team 38 – 7…. but then look what happened in the Fiesta Bowl. They were held to only 10 points and lost 17 – 10 to an even better Boise State team.
If Auburn falls to Georgia and Alabama it will be a huge injustice if Oregon and TCU get to play for the National Championship and Boise is left out. Two teams they beat by more than a touchdown last year and you can’t tell me both of those teams are so much better and Boise isn’t this year.
ratherBgambling
November 8th, 2010
7:49 am
USCe gets slaughtered in Gainesville.
UF v AU in the SECCG.
Enjoy the Capital One Bowl Bammers
Palladin
November 8th, 2010
7:55 am
Congratulations LSU fans. Great game. Bama needs to improve across the board to compete in the upper echelons of the SEC again. The lack of efficiency in their running game and the number of sacks leads me to believe that most of that improvement is needed on the offensive line.
I still don’t want Auburn to win the Iron Bowl, but I’m torn about that, because they probably won’t play in the BCSCG unless they finish undefeated.
m
November 8th, 2010
7:57 am
Tony, you have been wrong so often for so long that it is amazing that you have the gall to keep writing your biased column.
The BSbcs needs to be abolished. Let the teams decide it on the field.
Who you thought was good and deserving has been proven wrong week after week.
We need a 16 team playoff. We need to keep idiots like Tony out of it.
MURPHY
November 8th, 2010
7:59 am
Boise Dawg,
Just my opinion. I have seen both TCU and Boise play twice this year and I believe TCU is the better team.I say this on defense side only.I think Boise can score with anyone but their defense is suspect while TCU looks to have it on both sides of the ball. Boise has earned a shot but I wouldnt vote them over TCU this year.
Say What?
November 8th, 2010
8:02 am
Maybe the sheer number of quality teams in major conferences that are out of contention for the Championship will lead to the perennial Cinderella teams being put in their place at the end of this season. I hope so.
I’m sick of hearing the whining about how great BSU and TCU are. They don’t play in the same league as the PAC10, BIG10, BIG12 and SEC teams.
MURPHY
November 8th, 2010
8:02 am
Boise Dawg,
Would be very interesting to have the plus one system in place this year.Let Boise and TCU play each other with winner playing for a National Championship.
From Where I Sit
November 8th, 2010
8:03 am
Simple:
FL will beat SC and Auburn and win the SEC.
Enough Said!
Say What?
November 8th, 2010
8:03 am
If Boise plays, then James Madison should play also.
Call it
November 8th, 2010
8:04 am
Agree, From Where I Sit,
GO GATORS!!!!!
Kellen more prances around like he is g a y
November 8th, 2010
8:04 am
Have you watched dude roll out? Just sayin………
Say What?
November 8th, 2010
8:04 am
Florida could very well win the SEC. They appear to be much improved.
Spokesman for the SEC East
November 8th, 2010
8:07 am
It took Urban 7 games to finally become involved like he has been in the past and look what the results are. Hate him or not the man can flat coach football. Gators run the table and play in the Sugar Bowl against Boise in the Orange and Blue Playoff Bowl!!!
What is wrong with Bama?
November 8th, 2010
8:09 am
It’s simple; Saban has already received the call from Jerry Jones and is a lame duck coach. Get ready for the long decline rednecks.
Nesbitt for Heisman
November 8th, 2010
8:10 am
James Madison has lost 5 games Mr. Boise Hater
Boise Dawg
November 8th, 2010
8:12 am
Murphy, I would probably agree with you however most were thinking along those same lines last year. Despite Boise knocking off Oregon last year, TCU had much more of a wow factor when you looked at the scores of their games. It’s funny I convinced several Boise State fans before last years Fiesta Bowl that Boise could hang with TCU and I saw the game going either way…. most Boise State fans knew were worried TCU was going to blow them out. I see it no different this year. Could TCU beat Boise? Sure… but I think Boise is just as good and maybe better. Unfortunately we probably won’t get to find out.
I think both teams are pretty evenly matched and would give either Auburn, Oregon, Alabama, LSU a heck of a game.
Lum
November 8th, 2010
8:13 am
You donpt have to hate Boise State to understand thet they are not capable of staying on the field with top SEC, Big Ten, Pac-10 or even ACC teams. Get a grip.
StatesBurr
November 8th, 2010
8:14 am
I wonder about the MENTAL state of Alerbammer now that they are looking at 3-4 losses this year….
Shug
November 8th, 2010
8:14 am
Since when has Cam Newton’s integrity found not to be lacking? He’s a thief, i.e., a criminal! My gosh, is there anything a super talented athlete can’t get away with?
MURPHY
November 8th, 2010
8:15 am
Boise Dawg,
I think any top team matched with Boise ot Tcu would be a great game. I think voters are more likely to give the nod to Tcu because of the way they hammered Utah this weekend.That LT game for Boise hurt them a little with the voters. I would like to see TCU and Oregon or Boise and Auburn then the 2 winners play for the title. We can always wish.
knuckledragger
November 8th, 2010
8:16 am
Tony, I don’t think that South Carolina lost to Auburn when Auburn was ranked #1. That was earlier in the year, before Auburn got much attention.
War Eagles
November 8th, 2010
8:17 am
Tell it like it is, Shug. As an Auburn grad, I wonder what we’ve gotten into with this character. Great player, but bad news justs oozes out of him.
MURPHY
November 8th, 2010
8:17 am
Lum,
I see you forgot to mention the BIG 12 in your 8:13 post. haha
MURPHY
November 8th, 2010
8:18 am
Lum,
I think Boise St could win the ACC.
Your Editor
November 8th, 2010
8:20 am
Tony, get the proofing staff up to speed. Too many typos. Consider each typo a turnover. Unacceptable.
Palladin
November 8th, 2010
8:22 am
@What is wrong with Bama?
There is nothing “wrong” with Alabama. They just aren’t good enough to win it all this year. They’re still one of the best teams in the nation and they will be back (with Coach Saban) next year. You’re just going to have to deal with that.
RTR!!!
Number 6
November 8th, 2010
8:23 am
we also learned that aj green has a big a mouth and added unnecessary bulletin board material for a game they already had little chance of winning.
redneck 61
November 8th, 2010
8:23 am
Tony Barnhart told a preacher friday that he should burn in hell. Tony you were wrong for that.
What is wrong with Bama?
November 8th, 2010
8:25 am
Palladin, wake dude the man is gone to the Big D. Book it!
Blewturf
November 8th, 2010
8:25 am
22 BIG WINS in a row… and we do it the right way.
Beast from the East
November 8th, 2010
8:25 am
1….UF versus USC for the right to get slaughtered in the SECCG! What a way to end a season! LOL!
2….TCU looked good Saturday night. Not sure how good Utah is but TCU was impressive regardless. What a defense!
3….I tip my hat (pun intended) to Miles. They had a great game plan and executed well. Very entertaining game.
4….UT looks to be much improved next year. Win out and they could go to a bowl this year. Not bad considering all the adversity the last couple of years.
5….If Newton doesn’t win the trophy then it will have totally lost any meaning. He IS far and away the best player in college football this year. No one else is even close.
Say What?
November 8th, 2010
8:26 am
@redneck 61
I guess that’s supposed to work the other way around, eh? Usually it’s the crooked preachers telling everyone else that they’re going to burn in Hell.