Early Top Five for 2011: Oklahoma is No 1

Steve

January 13th, 2011
8:24 am

first

Black Coffee & Bourbon

January 13th, 2011
8:28 am

Some early love for the ‘Noles? I like it. The rest of the ACC should be very worried about the boys in Tallahassee.

Special K

January 13th, 2011
8:35 am

Looks about right. Can’t argure with it. RTR!!!!!!!!!!!

The rest of us

January 13th, 2011
8:36 am

Where is THE Ohio State the best team in the Big Ten, err plus two?

Hobnailbooty

January 13th, 2011
8:36 am

I’m not sure how to react without a Ohio State reference in the top 5. I thought that was a proclamation by GOD.

FSU!!! REALY????

January 13th, 2011
8:37 am

quit living in the past. FSU and the Canes get the hype every year and they don’t come close to living up to it. FSU was an avgerage team in a weak division in a average conference.

Steve W

January 13th, 2011
8:38 am

Looks good Tony; FSU headed in right direction but I think one more year to get to Top 5. Going into bowls, almost half of Top 10 were teams that were 8-5 previous year (Stanford, Ark, OU and Auburn) so I think I’d include one even bigger reach then FSU. So I’ll say Notre Dame – 17 returning starters, played well late and 2nd year of new coach. Usually it’s the 2nd year that you get the big breakthrough and Kelly has proven to be able to turn programs quickly. Thought about picking Gators but that’ll be hard with a first year coach.

Analyst Urban Meyer

January 13th, 2011
8:38 am

The Gators return a senior at quarterback and Ahmad Black returns and the Gators aren’t top five? I disagree.

Auburn Fan

January 13th, 2011
8:39 am

Back to life, back to reality……

Dog Island Gator

January 13th, 2011
8:39 am

Looking foward to Will Muschamp running the Gator program. It may take a year or two, but they might be in the hunt sooner than later. Gator nation feels good today.

Franny

January 13th, 2011
8:39 am

Not a huge stretch for FSU in the top 5…A great amount of quiet optimism for the Noles in 2011 with NC hopes for 2012…

What's a d a w g?

January 13th, 2011
8:42 am

Where’s Georgia? And how dare you rank UAT at the bottom of your list. Don’t you know they’re God’s team and they have the right to be ranked number 1? It’s blasphemy! You’ll surely burn in Hell for this.

78 DAWG

January 13th, 2011
8:42 am

Montez Robinson just got arrested again.
and so did Dowtin.
Do these count toward the 2011 Fullmer award or 2010?
Seriously I’m glad Boykins coming back, not many players can dance and strut after every play of a 6 – 7 season, like he can.

merculf

January 13th, 2011
8:42 am

If Newton and Fairley return don’t you think Auburn should be ranked in the top 5? I mean this past season Auburn rose from nowhere to #1.

bird

January 13th, 2011
8:42 am

How many times has a sports writer picked a team early and said, ” they have to rebuild their offensive line but…” only to be burned by it later? FSU has great skill players, but the O-Line is too important to ignore. They’ll be good, but not top 5 good. Not yet anyway.

FSU

January 13th, 2011
8:45 am

FSU deserves it. Division champ in a fairly improving conference that beat down a quality out of conference opponent. Returns most everyone. I’m glad they are in the Atlantic though. I don’t see why Ohio State isn’t ranked though. They don’t play anyone while the “Big 5″ are suspended, save Miami.

Mtn Dawg

January 13th, 2011
8:47 am

You forgot Stanford.

UGAFan

January 13th, 2011
8:47 am

Ain’t it great to totally be off the sports media radar?

Tony, just curious. Would you have ranked UGA if Richt had demoted Bobo and gotten some NFL – offensive genius?

And, would you have UGA ranked if say, McGarity had fired Richt, and hired Dan Mullen?

Gatorzip 74

January 13th, 2011
8:48 am

Analyst Urban Meyer,
Gator fan here. Ahmad Black played his last game, AS A SENIOR, with you in the Outback Bowl. I think it’s Janoris Jenkins you may be thinking about.

UGAFan

January 13th, 2011
8:52 am

So did the Big 12 do away with the North/South divisions?

Gatorzip 74

January 13th, 2011
8:52 am

Tony,
I’m a huge SEC homer, but how can you leave Stanford out of your Top 5? Yes they lose their HC, but they return almost everyone, to include the Heisman favorite, their OC and DC. Plus Harbaugh’s recruiting classes put a lot of depth in that program. That will be a very dangerous team next year!

Les Miles

January 13th, 2011
8:54 am

Why do you think I’m returning to LSU? Who wants to rebuild a program in the ditch when I’m coaching a team competing for the national championship in 2011 and beyond? I’m too old to start rebuilding a program. Give it to the younger coaches.

PMC

January 13th, 2011
8:55 am

I like FSU to win the ACC next year too…. but putting any ACC team in the top 5 is a little rich.

gt45

January 13th, 2011
8:57 am

Dog Island, wish I was there!

78 DAWG

January 13th, 2011
9:00 am

I don’t care what anybody says, Todd Grantham deserves to the the 3rd highest paid coordinator in college football! At UGA we’ll pay whatever it takes to be below mediocre!

Dawg_Mike

January 13th, 2011
9:03 am

Why did the Big 12 discontinue their Championship game?
I thought this was something that other Conferences would eventually have to do to keep up with the SEC.

dawgfan

January 13th, 2011
9:05 am

Does anybody want to mention that Mettenberger was getting beat out by Murray for the UGA job? Say what you will about the state of Georgia football, but Richt and Bobo still know how to evaluate QBs. Lot’s of hype about a guy who has yet to take a college snap. He’s going to LSU so he must be a stud. And of course nobody is trashing LSU for taking a guy that can’t keep his hands to himself after having a few drinks, underage no less.

What a joke.

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:13 am

Most have my Dawgs 8th, 9th……………………..But that’s in the SEC pecking order………..But some on here will say we’re close….. Close to last I say………….Geez……………2012 can’t get here soon enough.

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:16 am

Also, didn’t realize Boise is being so well thought of for 2011. Tough first two weeks for Dawgs.
Carolina is loaded with returning players, and for those who study the SEC, they are always tough AT THE BEGINNING of the season before they nose dive.

Don

January 13th, 2011
9:17 am

Tony gets it wrong again – Auburn was the LSU this year (has two crystal gonads)

SoonerFan

January 13th, 2011
9:17 am

Tony – that is Ryan Broyles – not Jones.

Dick the Weasel

January 13th, 2011
9:18 am

When you say LSU could be next year’s Auburn, are you implying that Mettenberger is getting paid to play?

FSU

January 13th, 2011
9:18 am

FSU went 2-0 vs. the great SEC last year they have a ton of talent coming back and finally have a coach that can recruit and develop talent. Good call on FSU.

I think Stanford should be in top 5.

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
9:19 am

I know Urban Meyer. Urban Meyer is a friend of mine. And you, Analyst Urban Meyer, are no Urban Meyer.

saban

January 13th, 2011
9:20 am

What will I do with all the Georgia Recruits?

Hard to say.

Another National Championship coming up.

Wonder if the dawgs will make a bowl game next year? Nah

Joe Bob Thibodaux

January 13th, 2011
9:22 am

Tony: LSU the next Auburn?

LSU is the real Tiger, Tony.

JBT

ratherBgambling

January 13th, 2011
9:22 am

F$U?????????

Calling that a ‘flyer’ is an understatement. They will lose a minimum of 3 games and will get destroyed in Gainesville. Rebuilt O-line a new QB is a recipe for disaster. See Texas and UF this year.

Steve

January 13th, 2011
9:23 am

It will be funny to watch the one man team Auburn go 7-5 or 6-6 next year. You morons who love Gene Chizik and think he is a good coach crack me up. The ONLY reason Auburn did good this year was because they cheated to get sCam Newton. Think about it, in 2009 they had almost all of the same players and went 8-5 yet ONE PLAYER comes along and they go 14-0. One man team! Plus, the NCAA will be taking away your little title in a few years anyway.

Paul N Destin

January 13th, 2011
9:23 am

Alabama will win it all in 2011.

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:23 am

The Slot machines were closed down at Victory Land In Shorter, Alabama a few month’s ago with McGregor arrested and going to Trial, Could be a rough recruiting year For Auburn.
Doing things the “Auburn Way’ make have to change course…..LOL

Nole77

January 13th, 2011
9:27 am

Love what CJF and staff are doing in the post-Bowden era – but think we are still 1-2 recruiting classes away. Top 5 teams have depth and that is what has been lacking.

Doug Barfield

January 13th, 2011
9:28 am

Auburn cheats and always has

Doug Barfield

January 13th, 2011
9:29 am

Can Nick Fairley read a childrens’ book?

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:30 am

Nole77…… Can’t believe you guys didn’t want Richt Back……. What do FSU fans think of Mark Anyway.?…I know he’s getting kicked around up here pretty good, But he has a good record of winning in the SEC, just not the last 2-3 years.

ratherBgambling

January 13th, 2011
9:32 am

Doug-

All Nick needs to know is how to sack the quarterback and cash $50 million worth of checks.

kh

January 13th, 2011
9:32 am

@JB ur just a dawg basher. Uga return 4 of the 5 starters on OL there te an 3 rbs along a yr under Murray’s belt. The defense returns nearly everyone once Houston says he’s staying to an with a yr of actual play under the 3-4 they will b way better. Don’t forget Alabama went from losing to Louisiana Monroe under the 3-4 yr one to SEC champ game. Write it down uga wins the east

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:35 am

Doug Barfield…………..Georgia folks have always liked AU…..And the feelings from last year will fade…But My opinion is there are 2-3 powerful, rich men down there who have been allowed to have way to much influence and say so in the program, and not the right way. It has tainted them. 99% of AU folks are good folks who just love their team……….But because of that group, there is a stench.

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:37 am

kh……………………….Care to bet………let’s start at 1,000 if your serious…… and returning 4 of 5 of the OL IS PART OF THE PROBLEM………… I have a big heart for Dawgs also, But I also have a mind and eyes.

Nole77

January 13th, 2011
9:38 am

To JB
As much as Dawg fans don’t want to hear it, CMR is a better head coach than he was OC and we were trying to get rid of him a year or 2 before he left. Brad Scott was the real innovator of the FSU offense and Richt came along and removed all the innovation – play calling became very predictable and stale (if I can predict what’s coming from in the stands then I am sure that every opposing DC can also). That’s why I thought it a mistake when he assumed play-calling duties at UGA.

Thuga

January 13th, 2011
9:39 am

AU won eight in ‘09 with a terrible QB, very little depth on the DL and average play from the OL. They easily would have won 9-10 this past season with Trotter or Caudle at QB as they had one of the best O lines and D lines in the nation. Not to mention increased depth throughout the roster. They will finish with a top rated recruiting class like last year and continue playing at a high level. 2011 will be tough due to the schedule and loss of many seniors but, watch out for AU in 2012! War Eagle!!! 2010 National Champs!!! Deal with it……

msnole

January 13th, 2011
9:44 am

FSU is not completely rebuilding their O-line. And EJ Manuel is not a new QB for us. FSU is getting a great recruiting class this year. The momentum is swinging back our way.

Buckeye

January 13th, 2011
9:47 am

I’ve seen OSU at # 10 and # 6 so far. Not to worry, inside the top 5 at years end. That’s what we are – a top 5 program.

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:47 am

Nole77………….I don’t know how much Georgia football you watch, but being predictable is still a big problem for Richt. Bobo is just carrying out Richt’s game plan. We run a scripted offense, unless we are 3-5 TD’s behind, which is often lately. We run a certain play based on down and distance and field position. These blogs are full of Georgia fans who say their wife can guess the play 8 of 10 times. A well schooled DC shuts us down. In hid early years, he wasn’t that bad. also, we can start off running the ball and having big success, and then start throwing long, incomplete passes, the the Defense see’s that out passing is not working, loads the box and stops the run…….No. I’m not a coach, but after watching the NC game, I know more than ever we need help.

Sdumper

January 13th, 2011
9:48 am

Noles are on a roll no doubt about it and to say we have to rebuild the offensive line is a stretch.
We lose 1 key starter Rodney Hudson but we have tons of experienced line depth behind him with playing time.

Almost the entire team is back with the exception of Ponder who played hurt and missed 3 games.
EJ is healthy and is just as good probably better than Ponder. That said I still think were a year away from being a top 5 team and would have us maybe 9 or 10 to start. The Noles have a lot of proving to do before folks are going to be ready to declare them back.

GStateBen

January 13th, 2011
9:49 am

FSU belongs here. If they beat Oklahoma at home they will likely be in the Top 5 for the duration of the year. Take a look at the ‘Noles schedule and players returning. 9 starters on offense, 9 starters on Defense and a consensus Top 3 (and rising) recruiting class.

For the dopes who call this team average, they won 10 games and destroyed Florida (who still finished 2nd in the SEC East) with an injured QB and a 4th string RG.

The Lost Decade is Over!

Tom

January 13th, 2011
9:51 am

Gotta love all the Auburn hate. I guess that is what happens when you are #1. Because everyone strives to be there everyone must try to bring you down to their level. Yeah, if Newton and Fairly both leave Auburn won’t repeat, and with the schedule prob couldn’t even win the West, but to sit here and say that Auburn will be back to their old ways and back to reality in a sarcastic way as if we never accomplish anything is funny. What reality? You mean the reality of 710 wins which is 13th of all teams? You mean winning head to head records on UGA, TENN, FL, FL STATE, MIAMI, CLEMSON and pretty much every other team in the south? What, a six game deficit to Alabama and a 3 game deficit to LSU? That reality? And lastly, name me another BCS conference team that has gone undefeated 3 times in the past 17 years…good luck. Once in a lifetime my butt. WAR EAGLE.

Mindy

January 13th, 2011
9:51 am

I’m not sure how to react without a Ohio State reference in the top 5. I thought that was a proclamation by GOD.

Buckeye

January 13th, 2011
9:52 am

Oh, by the way, UGA is not. Face it, your a wannabee.

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:53 am

I know Muschamp knows that also..FSU will have their best team in 10 years in his first. That sucks up the press, the recruiting,the glory etc. But, He is loaded with talent if he can get it to work.

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:54 am

Mindy…………priceless.

Mindy

January 13th, 2011
9:54 am

If they beat Oklahoma at home they will likely be in the Top 5 for the duration of the year.

Didn’t Stoops used to be the OC at FSu before the Oklahoma job? I think he has FSu’s number (the only bowl he’s won, besides the one this season, was the BCS Championship against FSu).

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
9:54 am

I think anyone watching the FSU-USC bowl game got a peak into the future. The people returning, plus the recruiting class Fisher is putting together shapes up to be a heck of a team.

I wish the SEC could trade Vandy for FSU…buy the Titan’s stadium and throw that in for boot.

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:55 am

Tom……………….As long as the money don’t dry up……..LOL

RTR22

January 13th, 2011
9:56 am

Your 57 NC did not include bowl appearance due to probation. Your 2010 will probably have an asterisk in front of it for obvious reasons. AU and you have to deal with it…..

Tom

January 13th, 2011
9:57 am

JB…don’t suffer from the delusion that we all don’t pay….and no…the money won’t dry up.

Tom

January 13th, 2011
9:57 am

RTR…you do realize that Alabama was no probation when they won last year don’t you? Same thing dude.

Mindy

January 13th, 2011
9:58 am

The Noles, Florida and Miami’s strengths are their home grown talent. A lot of the players like to stay close to home, (not too close tho;) so that mom and dad can see them play.

Tom

January 13th, 2011
9:58 am

on probation

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
9:58 am

Tony,

I think Stanford should be in the Top 5.

1. OU
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. LSU
5. Stanford

OU has an unfair advantage in that the Big 12 has no title game.

JB

January 13th, 2011
9:59 am

Tom, and by the way, congrats….all kidding aside, the AU players played a great game. You guys have had to take all the Circus news with Cam, but at the end of the day, you guys rocked. Now, that’s not hate, it’s respect.

Family

January 13th, 2011
10:00 am

You UGA fans are pitiful. Haters gonna hate. Guess what? NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! And Cam Newton IS coming back. BOOK IT. Unfortunately for y’all, but luckily for the rest of the SEC, so is Bobo. Hang your hat on us having the crystal taken away, I would too after losing UCF and a 6-7 season. Ain’t gonna happen boys. It’s great to be in Auburn Tiger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
10:01 am

Some other teams that could make a run to the Top 5 in 2011:

FSU
S Carolina
Florida
Okla State
Texas A&M
Notre Dame
Ohio St

Silver Britches, Red Panties

January 13th, 2011
10:01 am

Tony, I think Our Beloved Dawgs will be right in the mix! Coach Richt is doing a great job and things will only get better!

Tom

January 13th, 2011
10:01 am

It was tough….got kind of old hearing we were a one man team and all the distractions. I think the rest of our players showed we have some talent. Ill be glad to see Cam go, but if he decides to return that would really clear his name…

Dawg_Mike

January 13th, 2011
10:01 am

Regarding the comments about Nick Fairley being illiterate let me say this-
Looking at some of his messages on Twitter he comes across better than most other players I have seen. He actually uses punctuation and grammar and …..wait for it……you can understand him !!

If you don’t believe me go on there and look at some of our ( UGA ) defensive players and see what I’m saying.

Of course, if someone is doing the tweeting for him all bets are off

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:01 am

jumbeauxtiger

Has Stanford replaced Harbaugh? I’ve lost the thread a little this week, and the coaching carosel spun a few times when I wasn’t looking.

JB

January 13th, 2011
10:01 am

Family………………..We’re hanging on to 2012…………..Enjoy it.

sec rules

January 13th, 2011
10:02 am

SEC News at http://www.secsportsworld.blogspot.com

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:03 am

Later this year, Nick Fairly won’t have to read children’s books. He can buy a child, and have them read it for him.

Bill Stanfill

January 13th, 2011
10:04 am

GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS!!

Winner of the DAY award (Dirtiest player of the Year), Nick Fairly of Auburn, is going to be drafted by the BUFFALO BILLS!!

Sports fans from South Carolina to Oregon will never have to watch him play again as he will be exiled to the tundras of the north county.

Talk about snow and ice fatigue!

Start shopping for a good sled, St. Nick!

Silver Britches, Red Panties

January 13th, 2011
10:04 am

3rdN8, FSU would never join the SEC. They like having to only play one or two teams a year that can match their physical talent.

News Article: Latest Bama News 1/14/11

January 13th, 2011
10:05 am

[...] is No 1 Barnhart is no friend of the Tide,but even he has Bama at #5, in his early top five. Early Top Five for 2011: Oklahoma is No 1 | Mr. College Football Reply With Quote + Reply to Thread « Previous Thread | Next [...]

JB

January 13th, 2011
10:05 am

Tom…….We have Dawg fans that want to extend Richt’s contract, were as I would say 20 of the top 25 teams in this years final poll would have fired him after this year. The entire SEC is rooting for Coach Richt. GEEZ.

Nole77

January 13th, 2011
10:06 am

To JB
Don’t watch much UGA but I hear about it from friends who say the same thing – predictability, lack of innovation, scripted plays, etc. Sounds like he needs to hire a good OC and leave him alone? Gotta say also, though, that occasionally CJF will dial up a real head-scratcher which cause the Nole faithful start convulsing at the CMR flashbacks………….

JB

January 13th, 2011
10:07 am

Tell Nick there ain’t no fried Chicken in Buffalo. Or Grits

Tom

January 13th, 2011
10:09 am

JB…football is crazy. I do believe Richt is a fine coach but sometimes they just can’t turn it around. I would argue Richt is suffering from what Tuberville did and it normally happens around the 10 year mark. If you haven’t won it all by then you probably wont unless you reinvent yorself. Tubs tried to by going to the spread and it cost him his job because no one on his staff wanted to run that system. Richt is facing a similar situation. He has to turn this thing around mentally and physically and I personally think he has lost the team. Sometimes you just need a new spark. Chizik was a fresh start for Auburn. Who will UGA’s be?

JB

January 13th, 2011
10:09 am

I would give Richt 3 more years on one condition. He hire Leach as OC and get out of his way.

kh

January 13th, 2011
10:10 am

@JB…. I’ve got eyes as well an who will beat them outta the east. South Carolina comes to Athens tenn still young not vandy or Kentucky an that leaves FL who is getting a new coach an changing schemes. Not to mention FL wont make it through the month of Oct after lsu au an bama. Uga wins the east purely from the stance of familiarity.

DawginLex

January 13th, 2011
10:10 am

Nole77,

CMR flashbacks?

Like back to the days when FSU was relevant?

Jimbo has a good start going but when Richt left, FSU went into the crapper.

Richt now faces his biggest challenge EVER heading into 2011.
He is fighting for his job.

Guarantee you he ends up calling plays while not throwing Bobo under the bus publicly.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:11 am

I think Oregon will be in the pre-season top 5. But after watching the game, I think there are four or five SEC teams that could beat them….I would add OU and FSU to that list.

During the NC game Oregon’s line of scrimmage was moved about three yard back on almost every snap…that’s why they could never establish the run. Unless they overhaul that OL, you’d see the same thing aginst other top tier teams.

BTW – they didn’t get much press (except for Fairly), but I thought the AU defense had an outstanding season. Give me a Josh Bynes on my team any day.

Tom

January 13th, 2011
10:13 am

kh…..right there is UGA’s problem. How can you sit here and already be counting victories. Your fans do this every year and it trickles down to your players..ego and mental are huge in football and UGA just seems to think they can beat anybody because they are UGA. UGA will have to fight and claw all next year to go to a bowl.

K-Stater

January 13th, 2011
10:14 am

@jumbeauxtiger

Oklahoma has no advantage. Despite the Big 12’s elimination of the title game, schools now compete in a round-robin format. OU will have to play every school in the Big 12 now. That will bolster it’s schedule.

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
10:15 am

3rdN8, this was posted by Jon Wilner with the Mercury News in the Bay Area on Tuesday:

” I’ve been told by multiple sources that the Stanford administration was caught off guard by Jim Harbaugh’s departure – that, as late as the Orange Bowl, university officials were under the impression Harbaugh intended to return.”

Interesting.

JB

January 13th, 2011
10:15 am

Tom……Well said and true. loyal to assit coach’s. Most our coach’s did not even play the positions they coach when they played. You made a GREAT point. He is Stuck on his way, and won’t change. We had a seasoned, veteran OL this year, with depth, and were horrible.
Georgia will be back. Haters on here will say back to what? That’s somewhat true. We have too much talent in this state and too much money ( second most profitable program in Div 1) not the better than we are.

Nole77

January 13th, 2011
10:16 am

To DawginLex

Yes, flashbacks – CMR co-opted Brad Scott’s offense (yes, THAT Brad Scott) and managed to ruin it, getting by on talent alone. The decline when CMR was not due to him leaving as much as it was due to Chuck Amato leaving (yes, THAT Chuck Amato) causing us to lose our So FL recruiting base (notice when Chuck the Chest went to NCSt how many from So Fl were on their roster). Took a while to build that base back up.

JB

January 13th, 2011
10:17 am

kh……………I pray you are right….and admire your optimism.

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
10:18 am

K-Stater, Yes but that round-robin format will not include Nebraska.

One less game against usually a ranked division winner is an advantage in my opinion.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:18 am

Upon further investigation, I would scratch Stanford from the list. The top name to replace Harbaugh is Tom Williams, the HC at Yale.

I thought they might name Vic Fangio as the new HC. I thought he was the difference maker for Stanford….much more than Harbaugh.

Tom

January 13th, 2011
10:19 am

JB…UGA will be back. There is too much talent in Georgia. Any Auburn fan will tell you that. We have got some good ones over the years from Georgia. I think if UGA fans will calm down and learn humility and go back to fundamentals then their players will play with an edge again. But right now it seems like the players think they can just show up and beat a team. That is exactly why they lost to UCF. They thought the game was beneath them..and maybee it was in some aspects…but man you have to win that game…Where is the pride? It’s Richt’s job to make sure that doesn’t happen.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:20 am

jumbeauxtiger

Apparently the powers at Stanford are a bit new to the big-time coaching world.

Arthur Redding, Jr.

January 13th, 2011
10:20 am

Fairly is going to be drafted by Buffalo?

That’s kinda like going to hell, isn’t it?

Sorta fits him, I guess.

Tom

January 13th, 2011
10:21 am

I’m out. WAR EAGLE.

JB

January 13th, 2011
10:23 am

Tom…..It starts at the Top……. And kicking a FG from the 3 yard line on fourth and one against Central Florida after running it down their throat in a meaningless crapper bowl game is one big example. Think Chip Kelly or your own Chiznik would have done that. Friends of mine at the game said our players just hung their head and never recovered.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:24 am

For all of the AU fans out there.

Good Ole Al Borges has surfaced again. Apparently he will be Brady Hoke’s new OC at Michigan.

Interesting hire.

Nice Job SEC East

January 13th, 2011
10:27 am

Steve/JB
Been out of the country for a couple weeks. Please tell me that Georgia didn’t really lose to UCF 10-6. Seriously?
Just as Auburn fans have been saying all season, AU was not a one man team. Newton played well enough Monday night but the game was won by a defense led by Nick Fairley and a true freshman running back. I know it’s tough being a GA fan now, but after a few more years you can get back to 7-5.
Tony, don’t know if it will be next year but Seminoles are on their way back.

War Eagle

January 13th, 2011
10:28 am

Looks like a good predication, LSU, Bama, Miss State and Ark. will be very good football teams. I think there is a good chance Cam Newton will return, this will change West situation if this happens. If not, Auburn will be 8-4 or 7-5, with a pretty tough road schedule.
I know there are young “whipper snappers out in blogland today , but being a former player on the 1957 Auburn National Champioship and played against Pat Dye, Fran Tarkenton, and other great UGA players, I have been totally shocked at the negative blogs since Auburn won NC.
This negativism can cause future rivarly betwwen the two schools. We have always considered UGA a family rival and bama a HATE RIVAL
The Auburn-bama rival is unprecedent to any in college football. I don`t want Auburn and UGA in the same mode as this rival. I was born and bred in Georgia and I like UGA except when UGA is in the stadium.

atltiger15

January 13th, 2011
10:29 am

JB

i always go back to the preseason when Richt decided to go to one days instead of two adays.I beleive that is where the toughness sets the tone for the upcoming season. The state of GA has some of the best high school coaching in America with talented players to fill at least 2 sec rosters… the Dawgs will be backed in a corner and come out swinging. Richt knows he must win now and and the players will sense the urgency..Sometimes this is what it takes players to realize we must bust our rear ends, Granted, it should never come to that, just sayin

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:30 am

jumbeauxtiger

Who will Miles pick to replace Crowton? Looks as if Mack Brown has already hired all of the top notched coaches that are available.

Matt

January 13th, 2011
10:31 am

My Top 5 for 2011:

1) Alabama – I just think there’s too much talent and the hunger to get back to the top will be back with this team in 2011.

2) Oklahoma – Yes, they do return a lot of people…and I think they could be on a collision course with Alabama to play for the 2011 BCS Title…

3) Oregon – Nobody in the PAC-10 (or 12…or whatever they are now) can compete with Oregon…Stanford comes close, but you’re right, they’ll be down a touch due to the Harbaugh thing.

4) Ohio State – Yes, they do lose a lot of players to begin the season due to the suspensions, but I don’t expect them to lose any of the games they’ll play without Pryor and Co. and while the Big 10 is a bigger league this year, there aren’t a lot of teams that scare you, including this one…but they are the best of the bunch.

5) LSU – A new QB (Metzenburger) will help steady an offense that has needed a true drop-back QB since Flynn left a few years ago. There is a LOT of talent on both sides of the ball, and Les seems to get those players to play hard.

Dink

January 13th, 2011
10:31 am

Pretty good Tony, but I’m not sure about the Seminoles. I think I would have to put the Buckeyes (can’t believe I said that!) in the 5 hole.

Thanks for all of your great work this past season, Go Dawgs!

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
10:33 am

K-Stater,

The Big12 loses it’s championship game because it lost two of it’s best teams. With Tubby actively destroying Tech, Only Oklahoma and Texas have a real shot at the Top 10, and Texas sucks.

Auburn Man

January 13th, 2011
10:36 am

This is a bunch of crap. The idea you can tell me in January what a team is going to do 8 to 10 months later is just BS! If anyone could do that Los Vegas would have been out of business years ago. The reason we get schools over ranked is because the media picks a darling, bandwagon each other and we get teams picked as a top 5 or so and then another team is overlooked and they get screwed at the end of the year because they had too far to rise. The best thing for college ball is to remove the media from poles and not have a pole until October 15th. By then the cream is rising or not and we have a much better idea of who is doing what. You know better than this kind of crap Tony…. This smacks of a mail it in effort by Mark Bradley, I thought you were better than this.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:38 am

Re: Newton coming back for 2011.

My question is: why would he? He’s already done everything you can do in college football. As of yesterday, he’s projected to be in the top 25 of the NFL draft. I can’t imagine his stock rising a lot by playing next year. He would be playing behind a rebuilt OL, and the odds of an injury go up dramatically.

Can’t see it happening.

atltiger15

January 13th, 2011
10:38 am

WAR EAGLE

I think you’re dead on as far as next season goes.I think Cam leaves though..Dont see him being able to enjoy another year will all the inneundo surrounding him and his dad..With 4/5 OL gone, granted several backups cross-trained OL positions and got experience, still tough down in the trenches in the sec..We recruited the OL and DL positions last year really well, so next man up..I’ve always said it will take Chizik 3 to 5 yrs to get us where we wanted to be. Didnt know there was a Cam Newton out there….The way this staff has bonded and gone after the top players in the country, the future hant been brighter in y 31 years on earth. WDE, thanks for your service to AU

K-Stater

January 13th, 2011
10:41 am

@jumbeauxtiger

Okay, I misunderstood you. Sorry. I thought you meant, in general, that missing a title game was an advantage. Do you mean the loss of Nebraska? Because I think that they’ve become irrelevant in the B12 the last few years (Callahan and Pelini). They look a lot better because of the division in which they play. All of that aside, however, the fact remains that if a school runs the table in the Big 12, they ought to go to the national title. That isn’t a slight to the SEC, however, as it remains the top conference in the country.

Analyst Urban Meyer

January 13th, 2011
10:42 am

Gatorzip 74

January 13th, 2011
8:48 am

Analyst Urban Meyer,
Gator fan here. Ahmad Black played his last game, AS A SENIOR, with you in the Outback Bowl. I think it’s Janoris Jenkins you may be thinking about.

Sorry, I get all my family members mixed up. I love all these guys and sometimes forget who they are without their numbers. Yes, Jack Rabbit is the one who’s coming back.

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
10:43 am

K-Stater,

“if a school runs the table in the Big 12, they ought to go to the national title”

There are plenty of Tech fans around here who feel the same way about the ACC.

atltiger15

January 13th, 2011
10:44 am

TB

Has anyone at the U of Phoenix stadium ground crew members given any explanation to the horrible condition of the surface?

Paul in RDU

January 13th, 2011
10:45 am

A preseason top 5 right now is just a way to fill out a blog
It would be nice if Tony took a leaf rfom Bradley and wrote a column on how his predictions for the previous year worked. Here is Tony’s top 5 from August 2010
1) Alabama final AP ranking 10
2) Ohio State – finished 5
3) Texas – finished NR
4) Florida – finished NR
5) Boise State – finished 9

atltiger15

January 13th, 2011
10:45 am

i know the new sod came in fron Oregon but damn did they water it for 5 days stright or what

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
10:46 am

atltiger15,

The explanation is simple. The grass was soaking wet. You need to ask the BCS why they scheduled a game in such a Podunk location to begin with.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:47 am

re: pre-season pick for Oregon.

What am I missing here. I agree that they’re a fun team to watch, and that they have speed out the wazoo in thier skill positions. But look at their last two bowl games. OSU,and AU shut them down. I’m unconvinced that offense works well against a solid defensive team.

The telltale for me was the goal line stand AU made. Oregon didn’t try one play bewteen the tackles.

K-Stater

January 13th, 2011
10:49 am

@Huh?

You can’t possibly rationalize that the ACC is even close to the Big 12 in terms of competitiveness. The Big 12 is the consistently the second best conference in Division 1-A. Without a doubt.

atltiger15

January 13th, 2011
10:52 am

K Stater

No argument here. There were 5 to 6 teams in the Big 12 that could have won ACC

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
10:52 am

I never said they were good. My only point is that fans tend to be biased.

NoGaGator

January 13th, 2011
10:54 am

Way too early but at this point, list looks good – with exception of FSU. They finished strong but play in ACC and still have some ground to cover to be in top 5. I’d put BSU or Stanford in for now.

I think UF will be better than last year (Weis>Addazio for starters) but they have too much ground to make up considering the needed gelling of a new coaching staff. They’ll also have one of the toughest schedules in the country w/ LSU, UA and AU from the West in addition to USCe and FSU.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:54 am

K-Stater

I’d be a little careful there. My tally has the ACC 2-0 vs the SEC in the bowls. Looking at VaTech, FSU, and UNC I think the ACC is climbing the hill.

UGA=Yawn

January 13th, 2011
10:55 am

No matter what he thinks – Ohio State will be pre-season Top 5. Always have been – always will be. To exclude is just silly. We-do list with OSU in Top 5.

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
10:58 am

K-Stater, I understand what you are saying. I think Nebraska is much improved with Pelini with my point being one less game for Oklahoma is an advantage. This gives them an extra week to prepare for a BCS title game, they don’t have to take a chance with someone getting injured in a 13th game and likely will not have to face another ranked opponent.

K-Stater

January 13th, 2011
10:59 am

@3rdN8

I refuse to let a sample size of 2 games affect my conclusion. Over the years, time and time again, the Big 12 is the second best in the country. And really, the ACC is likely behind the Pac-12, Big 10, and MWC.

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
11:01 am

3rdN8, I have not heard who Miles will hire to replace Crowton. Crowton denies that he is fired but I would bet Miles has told him to look for another job. Miles typically tells coaches to look for another job rather than fire them which allows the assistant to save face.

It would not surprise me if Billy Gonzales is named the OC. He is the Passing Game Coordinator that was the WR coach with the Gators in 2009.

GTBob

January 13th, 2011
11:04 am

Are the Big 12/8 developing conference coat riders like the SEC now? You guys really should strive to be different from them.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
11:04 am

Love it. In 2009 we were replacing a QB, had the number one recruiting class, and were ranked #5 preseason. That turned out well.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:05 am

How long is it to September?

2011 should be one of the more intersting seasons ever in the SEC.

I look for Florida to come back quick. Muschamp has put together a great staff, and Meyer left him loaded with talent. Spurrier gets a lot of talent back as well. If Dooley keeps trending up, the Vols are going to have some big wins. UGA is a question mark, but may be the dark horse.

I look for LSU to be the team to beat in the west. Bama is the team that can (?) beat them. Arkansas is a close third, with AU and MSU the dark horses.

Top to bottom, this will be as good as the SEC has ever been. I suspect the survivor will play for the NC.

JB

January 13th, 2011
11:06 am

Bobo will be available in 2012….maybe sooner for those planning ahead.

BrianMAC

January 13th, 2011
11:07 am

Auburns title will get pulled! Idiot Aubies keep sayin they also have onein 57 but thats a joke. They got in trouble for paying two players 500 dollars a piece and wernt elligable. lol. Sound familiar.lol.. look it up cause historys repeating its self.

Fink

January 13th, 2011
11:09 am

Lets take a look at the pre season rankings since 2000

Notice specifically the higher-ranked teams from the SEC.

One of the pre season top 10 SEC teams will always disappoint.

So…..don’t put too much stock in LSU

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:09 am

jumbeauxtiger

I’ve noticed the same thing about Miles, and think it’s pretty classy. For all of the grief he takes about clock management, the guy can coach. Year in, and year out, LSU plays as hard as any that I see.

DeeNole

January 13th, 2011
11:10 am

Agree that #5 for FSU is a reach. Possibly top 10 with a top 5 in 2012.

JB

January 13th, 2011
11:11 am

Les is living large… if he get’s fired tomorrow, they owe him 28 mil…..Sweet

JB

January 13th, 2011
11:12 am

What did Shannon leave in the cupboard at Miami? Anyone.

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
11:13 am

bamadude & 3rdN8,

Did you guys hear McElroy on ESPN Radio’s Gameday on Monday? He was in the Hartford studio and I listened to it just after he started speaking. I thought he was one of the regulars! He was very knowledgeable and polished. I was impressed.

JB

January 13th, 2011
11:14 am

2012 predictions. Christian LeMay will be the starting QB at Georgia under new head Coach Kirby Smart ( he get’s it by default,ala Dooley) and Dawgs win 10 games.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
11:15 am

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
10:54 am
K-Stater

I’d be a little careful there. My tally has the ACC 2-0 vs the SEC in the bowls. Looking at VaTech, FSU, and UNC I think the ACC is climbing the hill.

They beat a four loss and a six loss team. Their other two wins were West Virginia and ECU. They lost to Nevada, Air Force, South Florida, and Notre Dame; their champion got annihilated by Stanford, the Pac 10’s second best team. The only wins they had that could be considered “quality wins” by any remote definition were the USCe and WVU games, neither team being ranked in the final polls. I don’t think they’re heading anywhere.

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
11:16 am

3rdN8, the most impressive thing about Miles to me is that the players play hard and never seem to give up.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:16 am

jumbeauxtiger

I didn’t see McElroy on TV, but one of my sons (an AU grad) was saying the same thing. McElroy is a smart, articulate young man. I’m quite sure he will succeed in any endeavor he chooses.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
11:17 am

GMac definitely has potential in the broadcasting booth. He’s acting as though he may go that direction with all the in-game tweeting and what-not.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:17 am

correct….McElroy was an the radio

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:17 am

“ion”

JB

January 13th, 2011
11:18 am

Gonna be interesting watching Muschamp, Dooley and Smart, all good friends, compete in the SEC.

DawginLex

January 13th, 2011
11:22 am

Gary Crowton out at LSU as OC

Bobo a candidate?

CAN WE TAKE UP A COLLECTION?????????????????????

xAl Goldenx

January 13th, 2011
11:23 am

Hilarious “journalism” here Barnhardt. Florida State? Bobby’s gone, you don’t have to suck up to them anymore.

It will be Golden showers for you Mr. Barnhardt.

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
11:23 am

K-Stater,

You really can’t compare the ACC vs SEC in bowls games as the ACC’s higher seeded teams play the SEC’s lower seeds. An example is the #2 ACC team, FSU dropped down to Atlanta and played South Carolina, who was the 6th team in the SEC bowl pecking order. The Chick Fil gets the 6th choice after the BCS, Sugar, Capital One, Cotton & Outback.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:23 am

BAMA dude

My point was….I don’t see the ACC being substantially inferior to the new Big 12. Butch Davis should have had a contender this year, but had a meltdown instead.

It’s really hard to judge the PAC 10/12 without USC in the mix. As good as Stanford looked in the bowl, I’m unconvinced that will happen very often.

sectime

January 13th, 2011
11:24 am

Actually, a Ohio State university might start in the top 5. But, you have to win when it matters to stay there.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:28 am

Someone posted earlier that an SEC top 10 pick “always disappoints”. I wonder why that is?

Look at the coaching staffs at Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, MSU, Florida, USC, and UT (sorry UGA)…..and tell me why on earth a given team will disappoint.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
11:29 am

I don’t think the ACC has anybody that will compete on an annual basis with Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, and Florida. Those are the top five programs right now and comparing middle-of-the-pack teams within conferences is pointless in my opinion. Will other teams pop up from time to time and have great seasons? Sure, and some of these schools will have disappointing seasons. Realistically though I think you’ll find those five programs in the top ten fairly consistently over the next several years. That’s what made this year seem odd to me- all five had subpar seasons by their standards with the possible exception of OU.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:37 am

Breaks of the game.

To run the table like AU did this year, and Bama did last year, you gotta get the breaks.

You don’t plan on winning a game by blocking two 4th qtr field goals. You don’t plan on winning a game by punching a ball out on a TD run, and have it roll 7 and 1/2 miles through your opponents endzone. You don’t plan on completing a pass when you’re backed up inside your own 15, and it’s third and seventy-five (by your backup QB no less).

You do plan on having your team in a position to win those games…..every week. That’s what good coaching staffs do, and that’s why the SEC is so fun to watch.

Dawg Tired

January 13th, 2011
11:40 am

Have $Newton$ and Fairly announced they’re leaving early or are you, like everyone else, just assuming they are. Obviously if they come back, I would put Auburn at # 1. Otherwise, they are about 16.

FSU is problematic because of the weakness of the ACC. I think they will win the ACC, but does that translate to the top 5? I say no.

As to the Ohio State thing. I’m with you because the Big 10 12 teams are so weak as once again demonstrated by the bowls (their victory over AK notwithstanding). However, they will be rated once Herbstreet gets through repeating over and over again on national TV how good they are even without Prior and company for the first 5 (which will become 2 or 3 after the NCAA hears the appeal).

I would put Bama higher just on coaching ability.

blord

January 13th, 2011
11:41 am

I like the FSU call. EJ has received a lot of playing time the last couple of years and the team is focussed under new leadership. The Oline is the key however the defense can carry them until they gel. Fear the Spear!

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:42 am

BAMA dude

I don’t disagree re: your assessment of the ACC….now. But I think that is changing. UNC is no fluke, neither is VaTEch. FSU is making huge strides (look at the 2011 recruiting boards). I’m not sure what to make of Miami…..as Don Meridith used to say: “potential is the heaviest burden in life”.

Dixie Redcoat Band

January 13th, 2011
11:43 am

We always keep a copy of the pre-season Top 25 then check it with the final Top 25…whoa….how the experts can be very wrong..amazing.

GTBob

January 13th, 2011
11:44 am

I agree that the ACC is terrible and should probably drop down to Division 3 but if the SEC is such a godly conference then shouldn’t any of their bowl teams be able to beat any of the ACC bowl teams? Isn’t that why the bowls match them up that way? Sounds like the SEC is making excuses. The ACC is 4-0 against them the last two years in bowls.

Miles

January 13th, 2011
11:45 am

Any bigger idiot in college football than Chip Kelly?

Geaux Tigers!

bill

January 13th, 2011
11:45 am

Our delusional UGA fanbase is out again…

Gtjack

January 13th, 2011
11:53 am

1. Oklahoma
2. LSU
3. Stanford
4. Oregon
5. Bosie St.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:53 am

GTBob

Not defending the SEC….just an observation. Over a considerable span of time, the SEC usually has about four teams that can compete with anyone. I think that number is up to six or seven next year.

If you look at the bottom half of the conference…not so much. Sending 10 out of 12 teams to bowl games makes that point.

The only big surprise to me in the bowls was the sloppy game Arkansas played, and the way USC (or KY) didn’t show up. Bowl games are not Spurrier’s strong suit. I don’t understand it, but it seems to be the case.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
11:55 am

@ Miles

agree re: Chip Kelly. He seems to be one strange fellow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a HC more uncomfortable doing interviews. Makes you wonder how he ever landed that job in the first place. Maybe it’s the cameras.

Steve Is An Idiot

January 13th, 2011
11:55 am

To the idiot “Steve” on here claiming Auburn was a 1-man team this year, did you watch the NC game at all? Cam was off his game and had a bad night, and AU won anyway. Hell he almost fumbled the game away on the last drive, threw 2 INT’S, and ran for basically nothing. Michael Dyer, the OL, and the Defense won that game. Yes Newton has been awesome this season and carried AU on his back many times this year, but a 1-man team Auburn wasn’t. That’s a BIG mis-perception.

Kenny Rogers Is A Known Liar

January 13th, 2011
12:05 pm

So the question becomes, why did Kenny Rogers tell many people/employees/boosters at MSU that the Newtons were looking for money? What had to have happened is that Kenny Rogers thought that he could be the middle man for the money transactions between MSU and the Newtons.

If that happened, then Rogers could pocket the money and keep it for himself. Why would he be able to pocket the money? How would Rogers get MSU boosters to pay the money? By saying that Newton wasn’t coming to MSU unless he got paid, and Rogers had to say that it was the Newtons that were telling him all this, when in reality, they had no idea that he was shopping their son. Rogers has already proven himself to be a liar and a sleazy salesman . This would be not be out of character for him to pull a maneuver like this.

Tide4u2c

January 13th, 2011
12:08 pm

We have a long way to go before we should talk about polls. But I think we can all realize that Alabama will again be very hard to beat as usual. Alabama was plagued with nagging injuries and yet still was tough to beat.If Alabama had not been plagued with injuries Alabama could’ve very well have been playing for the NC.South Carolina played the best game they have ever played in order to beat Alabama this past season and remember they and all of the other SEC teams had two weeks to prepare on how to beat Alabama.The Bama/LSU game is always a tough game decided by a touchdown or less and Auburn did not beat Alabama Alabama beat Alabama in that game if Mark Ingram holds on to that ball and Trent Richardson catches that pass on the goal line Alabama wins that game.

See I aint bragging but we 13 time champions working on 14 so ya’ll teams better be practicing.Rammer Jammer give’em hell Bama we scream it loud cause we proud its the new anthem home of the Tide Toscaloosa Alabama come down to Bryant Denny and watch their boys get hammered!

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
12:11 pm

@ Kenny Rogers Is A Known Liar

Please…..PLEASE!!!!!…just drop it already.

I don’t care where Cam Newtin came from, who he is, how he got to Auburn, or where he’s going.

He beat my team, in our house, after spotting us a 24 point lead. I may never get over that one. I still flinch when Bama punts.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
12:11 pm

“Newton”

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
12:13 pm

Tide4u2c

You may want to give your meds a little more time to work.

Crimsom Pride

January 13th, 2011
12:17 pm

Will UGAG be the pre-season #1 ?

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

DawginLex

January 13th, 2011
12:17 pm

13 titles??

you can’t count the 5 awarded by the boys down at the counter at the Tuscaloosa Drug and Sundrie

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
12:18 pm

“if Mark Ingram holds on to that ball and Trent Richardson catches that pass on the goal line Alabama wins that game.”

If my Aunt Wille had balls, she’d be my Uncle Bill.

Kenny Rogers Is A Known Liar

January 13th, 2011
12:19 pm

Leave it to a Bama Fan to post two paragraphs of run-on sentences. Hey Tide4u2c learn how to use punctuation, what a load of bogus gibberish. We took that game from Bama, they didn’t “give it away”. Carter chased him down and made the strip. Fairley made the sack on G-mAC, STRIPPED THE BALL, and made the RECOVERY. Clueless mullet….

Kenny Rogers Is A Known Liar

January 13th, 2011
12:22 pm

Ohmy bad there are periods and commas there, they are just in the middle of the sentence instead of the end.

Is This Even English?

January 13th, 2011
12:23 pm

See I aint bragging but we 13 time champions working on 14 so ya’ll teams better be practicing.Rammer Jammer give’em hell Bama we scream it loud cause we proud its the new anthem home of the Tide Toscaloosa Alabama come down to Bryant Denny and watch their boys get hammered!

404

January 13th, 2011
12:23 pm

Well, the BCS checks have now been cashed.
The SEC and PAC10 have been paid their BCS share.

Since the FBI had already opened an investigation
of Cecil Newton several weeks ago…

What’s the Over/Under for how many Days/Weeks it wil take
for the money trail to be exposed, leading to:

1. An indictment of one or more Auburn boosters
2. A forfeiture of the BCS title
3. A forfeiture of the Heisman trophy
4. Indictment of Cecil Newton for money laundering

It took 4+ years for USC and Reggie Bush to finally pay the price.

Dont think it will take that long here.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
12:25 pm

@ Is This Even English?

Trying to read that the first time was plenty. But…thank you.

Silver Britches, Red Panties

January 13th, 2011
12:25 pm

“UNC is no fluke, neither is VaTEch.”

So you’re saying that losing to James Madison was a true reflection of the strength of the ACC champion?

Tide4u2c

January 13th, 2011
12:26 pm

DawginLex,

If you deny Allabama has 13 then you have to deny all the other records Alabama has set. Like the most wins, the most SEC championships,the most bowl game wins,the most bowl games played and all the others too. By the way Alabama set a new record this past year when they beat Michigan st, no other team has won as many games as Bama has in 3 years.

Oh and what about the times when Alabama went undefeated but was screwed out of the NC to a team like Notre Dame because of the sports media’s bias toward Nore Dame and bias against the south.

Kenny Rogers Is A Known Liar

January 13th, 2011
12:26 pm

AU will be better than you think next season. Yes we will have weaknesses, but this season was proof you never know what will happen.

CaliNoleFan

January 13th, 2011
12:26 pm

RatherB is an idiot. You think FSU will get destroyed in Gunsville just because EJ is now the starter – Um, maybe you didnt see the asswhipping FSU gave UF this year, and the score would have been worse had EJ been allowed to deploy the full gameplan. For you to think that just because its in Ben Hill is idiotic. UF’s defense got shredded and it will only be worse next year. You UF clowns cease to amaze me lol. UF will be LUCKY to come out .500 much less win anything other than their regular dose of creampuffs. FSU is on the rise and the train is only pulling stronger. Urban left for a reason – He knows that UF’s little “run” is over and now the program will go right back to where it used to be – in the s**t patties that cover Gainesville and all of the ACR’s doorsteps in their trailors.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
12:27 pm

I guess we’re back to 500 consecutive posts either damning, or defending Cam Newton.

Think I’ll leave now, and go get a root canal.

CaliNoleFan

January 13th, 2011
12:36 pm

BamaDude,

With the exception of UF, Bama, TX, LSU and OU are top teams. UF is done – their program is a mess and the NCAA is about to pound them with violations. Look at their recruiting compared to FSU and then compare his classes from the last 4 years – complete meltdown. No doubt they had their little run, but calling UF a “Top” program right now is laughable, especially when they just hired a brand new staff and have now lost 9 recruits.

Does this mean I think that my Noles are Top 5? No, but we’re certainly Top 10 – If we beat OU at Doak next year, look out.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
12:37 pm

GTBob

January 13th, 2011
11:44 am
I agree that the ACC is terrible and should probably drop down to Division 3 but if the SEC is such a godly conference then shouldn’t any of their bowl teams be able to beat any of the ACC bowl teams? Isn’t that why the bowls match them up that way? Sounds like the SEC is making excuses. The ACC is 4-0 against them the last two years in bowls.

That’s an absurd concept. No, bottom feeding Tennessee shouldn’t be able to beat any ACC team. Hell, they couldn’t stay on the field with UGA this year. The only reason they are in a bowl is because of the rule change allowing teams to go with one FCS win in their total of 6. Here’s the bottom line: The SEC’s champion is far superior to the ACC’s champion. The SEC #2 is far superior to the ACC #2, and so on down the line. I guess when we get to the bottom we can compare Ole Miss and Duke. The ACC might get a wash in that one.

CaliNoleFan

January 13th, 2011
12:37 pm

Cam Newton = Reggie Bush 2010. Thats all that needs to be said.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
12:40 pm

CaliNoleFan

January 13th, 2011
12:36 pm
BamaDude,

With the exception of UF, Bama, TX, LSU and OU are top teams. UF is done – their program is a mess and the NCAA is about to pound them with violations. Look at their recruiting compared to FSU and then compare his classes from the last 4 years – complete meltdown. No doubt they had their little run, but calling UF a “Top” program right now is laughable, especially when they just hired a brand new staff and have now lost 9 recruits.

Does this mean I think that my Noles are Top 5? No, but we’re certainly Top 10 – If we beat OU at Doak next year, look out.

At this point I’d suggest two things:

1) I don’t think you’re gonna be 5 TD’s better in that game than you were this year, and

2) Until they regain some measure of consistency I would still have to put them below those five with any great season being just that, a great single season. Back in the 90s there’s no question that FSU and Miami would have bot been in that top 5, but with TV money changing the game it’s gonna be hard to catch up with those five.

Driving Ms Dooley

January 13th, 2011
12:45 pm

Bama Dude. I’ll take Ole Miss in that one.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
12:48 pm

Agreed, Dooley.

CaliNoleFan

January 13th, 2011
12:49 pm

I see Bama – you’ll become a believer when FSU starts having 10 win seasons on a regular basis? Makes sense.

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
12:50 pm

hey i think next years national championship in my opinion should be two teams from the sec west…….. thats by far the most dominate division in the nation, but since thats not gonna happen im gonna go ahead and predict that bama will be one of the teams in the national championship game next year. as far as who they will play i have no idea but whoever it is bama will beat them. now with that said im a die hard notre dame fan and before anybody gets upset im not saying that the irish are national championship material, and i know they couldnt be a top 5 team competing in the sec week in and week out ( mainly the west). but with brian kelly as our coach and floyd and pretty much the rest of the team coming back, and with the teams that we do compete against ( which our schedule is no cake walk) i think the irish could end up a top 5 team at the end of the year definatly top 10…..

Auburn Guy

January 13th, 2011
12:53 pm

3rdN8 from 12:27 – Save me a place at the dentist’s chair too. Gawd!

CaliNoleFan

January 13th, 2011
12:54 pm

That’s an absurd concept. No, bottom feeding Tennessee shouldn’t be able to beat any ACC team. Hell, they couldn’t stay on the field with UGA this year. The only reason they are in a bowl is because of the rule change allowing teams to go with one FCS win in their total of 6. Here’s the bottom line: The SEC’s champion is far superior to the ACC’s champion. The SEC #2 is far superior to the ACC #2, and so on down the line. I guess when we get to the bottom we can compare Ole Miss and Duke. The ACC might get a wash in that one.

If the SEC was so vastly superior, what happened to South Carolina when they played FSU?

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
12:55 pm

Thank God the season is over and we don’t have to discuss the Lee County Mafia any more. Now if the Aubies would just STH up about it… You got your little trophy Barners. Enjoy it while it lasts. It’s not owned, it’s leased.

Kenny Rogers Is A Known Liar

January 13th, 2011
12:55 pm

Cam Newton= Heisman Trophy Winner and National Champion. That’s All That Needs To Be Said.

Kenny Rogers Is A Known Liar

January 13th, 2011
12:57 pm

Nice try “Huh” but the trophy’s already been shipped and it’s staying in Auburn. It won’t be on display at Wal-Mart either….

CaliNoleFan

January 13th, 2011
12:58 pm

hey i think next years national championship in my opinion should be two teams from the sec west…….. thats by far the most dominate division in the nation, but since thats not gonna happen im gonna go ahead and predict that bama will be one of the teams in the national championship game next year. as far as who they will play i have no idea but whoever it is bama will beat them. now with that said im a die hard notre dame fan and before anybody gets upset im not saying that the irish are national championship material, and i know they couldnt be a top 5 team competing in the sec week in and week out ( mainly the west). but with brian kelly as our coach and floyd and pretty much the rest of the team coming back, and with the teams that we do compete against ( which our schedule is no cake walk) i think the irish could end up a top 5 team at the end of the year definatly top 10…..

Alabama will be without their top RB and QB – Bama is in rebuild mode. I would be surprised if Kelly didnt have some success this year, but Top 5 , Top 10? Be happy if your Top 25. Another 2-3 years and Kelly will have ND back in the right direction

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
12:59 pm

“If the SEC was so vastly superior, what happened to South Carolina when they played FSU?”

The same thing that happened when they played Auburn, Arkansas and Kentucky. Just because the SEC is vastly superior doesn’t mean that South Carolina is. FSU beat a 4 loss team. Go out and celebrate!

root4au

January 13th, 2011
1:00 pm

you uga fans are sore losers. get on AU all you want, but we kicked your butts this year and will for years to come. AU is stocking talent and will be a good team in 2011 and a great team in 2012. Believe me it was not all Cam that won 14 games for us. BTW….Cam is coming back for his sr. season. Choke on that one…

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
1:02 pm

@CaliNoleFan

Bama was “without their starting QB” in 2009. Have you seen Richardson, Lacy and Goode run the ball? I didn’t think so.

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
1:03 pm

@root4au

That right there’s funny… I don’t care who you are!

Driving Ms Dooley

January 13th, 2011
1:03 pm

@ ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
12:50 pm

You sure sound alot like “Buckeye” from previous days. A fresh start for you maybe?
Notre Dame has to have one good season before people start making those predictions. I’m actually a Notre Dame fan. Have been since the days of Notre Dame football playing the re-runs of Saturdays games on Sunday mornings. That’s right, only three channels on TV. The days of Joe Montana etc. Showing my age on that one.

BUT, the promise of a new coach isn’t enough to make a top 10 prediction. Even a smart guy like Brian Kelley. He’s got a big hill to climb.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
1:04 pm

CaliNoleFan, USCe was the sixth-place team in the SEC. Let’s do this. Tell me who you would take in the following matchups on neutral fields:

Auburn vs. VT
Arky vs. FSU
LSU vs. Maryland
Bama vs. NC St.
Missy St. vs. Miami
USCe vs. UNC
Florida vs. BC
UGA vs. Clemson
UT vs. GT
UK vs. UVA
Vandy vs. Wake
Ole Miss vs. Duke

I’ll concede that the bottom half would be competitive. The top half wouldn’t.

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
1:05 pm

Georgia Tech will be relevant again in CFB before Notre Dame is.

Driving Ms Dooley

January 13th, 2011
1:08 pm

@root4au

January 13th, 2011
1:00 pm
you uga fans are sore losers. get on AU all you want, but we kicked your butts this year and will for years to come. AU is stocking talent and will be a good team in 2011 and a great team in 2012. Believe me it was not all Cam that won 14 games for us. BTW….Cam is coming back for his sr. season. Choke on that one…

Agree with you except for the Cam part. But that shouldn’t hurt you too much. My question is: What’s the over/under for days before Dawg fans start to come up with complaints on Mettzenberg (sp)? Whatever his name is. I can see it now. they will be lining up with stories about his unpaid traffic fines and how his character wasn’t good enough for their football program. Then next years victory over them won’t count either.

Hahaha

January 13th, 2011
1:09 pm

People are talking about UGA? lol? They suck and will never regain relevance.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
1:10 pm

Bama in rebuilding mode next year? Ha! Did you watch the defense in our bowl game? They finished sixth nationally and return 10 starters, plus have two stud juco linemen coming in and already enrolled. Four starting OL return as well as the top backup OL in Alfred McCullough, plus another juco kid in OT Aaron Douglas (assuming he can stay out of trouble) that already started for a season in the SEC. We have two four star Qbs competing for the starting job next year. The backfield will include Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, and the National HS player of the year in Dee Hart. Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks return at WR. But yeah, I guess we’re rebuilding. Only 17 starters return.

Gator Mike

January 13th, 2011
1:13 pm

@CaliNoleFan
As a Gator, I am curious in why you believe the NCAA is going to hammer UF. What are your sources?
Have a great day in Nole lala land.

Mick Shrimpton

January 13th, 2011
1:13 pm

Florida does NOT deserve to be a preseason Top 5 team, nor does FSU. I would put TCU in the Top 5 and move Bama higher. With all the over signing Nick Saban is doing he can’t help but put an All Star team on the field. At Bama if you don’t run a 4.40 Forty, your scholarship is history.

josh

January 13th, 2011
1:14 pm

Fsu is only losing 2 lineman, everybody needs to understand that, yes prolly the most productive but trickket is doing a great job i see them fill the void very quickly, but number 4 is a jump maybe # 7-8

Huh?

January 13th, 2011
1:15 pm

This was Alabama’s “rebuilding” year. Ten wins ain’t too shabby for a rebuild.

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
1:16 pm

driving ms dooley actually my roomate is a buckeye fan. im not that big of a buckeye fan i respect them but im gold and blue. i agree with you except that i think notre dame is closer than people think. i mean i dont know what kelly did on that week off following the tulsa meltdown but you gotta admit the irish looked like a totally different team especially on defense and the last 4 games was probably the toughest part of the schedule for the irish counting miami. now im not in no way saying that notre dame is back to the holtz days and are gonna cruise to a title, im just saying that with pretty much there whole team coming back and prob one of the best linebackers and receiving corps in the country, prob a top 10 recruiting class, and the fact that they dont play in the sec and im pretty sure they will start the year off ranked no lower than 22, with the way the media and polls love notre dame if they can win 10 games next year they will be top 10 or 12… i mean if you think about this season which was some of the worst adversity notre dame has had in one season they still got to 8 wins and in all actuality were two plays away from 10 wins i dont see why they cant be a 10 win and top 10 0r 12 team next year… i could be wrong but thats my opinion. oh and as far as your vols i think they got the right coach definatly the right qb and i predict them to win 8 or 9 games next year, and slip in the top 25 by the end of the year…

Nigel Tufnel

January 13th, 2011
1:18 pm

Driving Ms Dooley -

You’re just a sore winner with a chip on your shoulder. After AU’s first NC you’ve got to defend it from the inevitable asterisks that’s coming. With all the talent exiting the program and sanctions on the way. I see another 4 game UGA winning streak against the Might War Tigers! LOL.

Fink

January 13th, 2011
1:20 pm

2009- Ole Miss (ranked 9th, 9-4 record)
2008- Georgia (ranked 1st, 10-3 record)
2007- Arkansas (ranked 9th, 8-5 record)
2005- Tennessee (ps – ranked 9, 5-6 record)
2003- Auburn (ranked 3, 8-5 record)

I’m not saying a preseason top 10 SEC will be a bust, I’m just saying that it’s pretty much a guarantee that one of the higher ranked SEC teams will disappoint. Top 10 teams are supposed to have min of 3 L. And certainly a preseason no. 1 shouldnt have 3 L.

This once again shows the strength of the SEC. Each game is a challenge.

Driving Ms Dooley

January 13th, 2011
1:23 pm

all good points ndirishfan26
What coach Kelley needs for immediate impact is a stud QB and some speed at wide out. And by stud QB I mean the drop-back passer kind. The kind of kid who will be an NFL QB with the right college coach. Kelley is one of those guys who can take that situation and make a run with it. If that happens, I’ll be on that bandwagon.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
1:26 pm

Mick Shrimpton

January 13th, 2011
1:13 pm
Florida does NOT deserve to be a preseason Top 5 team, nor does FSU. I would put TCU in the Top 5 and move Bama higher. With all the over signing Nick Saban is doing he can’t help but put an All Star team on the field. At Bama if you don’t run a 4.40 Forty, your scholarship is history.

1) Florida’s talent should put them near the top ten, but not top five. FSU? We’ll have to see but yeah, #4 preseason would be a reach I think.

2) TCU lost 26 seniors including 8 offensive starters and 6 defensive starters. Now THAT’s rebuilding.

3) Have noted your use of excuse #26 from the book “Excuses to Explain Why Nick Saban Wins More Than Your Team’s Coach.”

GIVE TCU SOME LOVE

January 13th, 2011
1:26 pm

the #1 defense in the country. beat wisconsin in the rose bowl. what’s it take to get some horned frog love up in here?

Fink

January 13th, 2011
1:32 pm

Kellen Moore is back in Boise? Uh-oh for UGA.

Gator Mike

January 13th, 2011
1:33 pm

@Give TCU Some Love
No disrespect because we all know that TCU is very good. The simple fact that the AJC is SEC and ACC country. We are all basically homers who do not watch much of what happens in other conferences.
Your Horned Frogs did great. Congrats!

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
1:35 pm

@ driving ms dooley, kinda agree in most circumstances but kelly runs a spread so a drop back quarterback isnt really a need plus i trust kelly and he took a cincinatti team that most people didnt really even realize they had a football team to back to back bcs bowls and one undefeated season with 5 different quarterbacks with that said i think kelly knows how to plug a quarterback into a situation and make him at least get the job done. look at rees definatly not a brady quinn but he wins why? cause kelly knows how to use a not so good quarter back and find his strengths and win games….. plus it did help alot that we have really good recievers, i think floyd will be one of the best next year. and our defense did step up out of nowhere, which is something you couldn’t say about notre dame in a couple decades. are you a tn fan? i know i was referring to you like you are if not sorry?

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
1:38 pm

driving ms dooley… haha dont get me wrong i would kill for another quinn at nd… not gonna lie so i wasnt dissagreeing with you.

Tide4u2c

January 13th, 2011
1:38 pm

It is neat to see how Nick Saban’s recruiting classes work out down to the numbers. Even when a player decides to go play pro-baseball instead of play football,etc.Saban knows what he is doing and it shows.

Driving Ms Dooley

January 13th, 2011
1:38 pm

@ Nigel Tufnel

January 13th, 2011
1:18 pm
Driving Ms Dooley -

You’re just a sore winner with a chip on your shoulder. After AU’s first NC you’ve got to defend it from the inevitable asterisks that’s coming. With all the talent exiting the program and sanctions on the way. I see another 4 game UGA winning streak against the Might War Tigers! LOL.

I wish I was a sore winner. I’m not an Auburn fan at heart although I did attend school there breifly before transferring home to TN. I’m a Vol fan but I appreciate good football and I’m enjoying the dominance of the SEC. Auburn had a hell of a season and Cams performance in the second half of the season (sans BCSCG) was amazing to watch.

Personally I hope your Dawgs regain their winning form so the SECe can rise again. It’s hard living in Atl and witnessing the agony in Athens.

When the NCAA turned a blind eye on the 5 Buckeyes, I think the message is clear. Their will be no astericks this year and it’s business as usual in the world of big time college football. And with Auburns top recruiting class, they’ll be hard to be beat for a couple of years. I see them as maybe 10-2 next year. And IF your dawgs and another SECe team beats them, I will be cheering for you.

But that’s a big IF.

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
1:40 pm

driving ms dooley an example look at the 05, 06 seasons… quinn put that team on his shoulder and took them to the bcs games not weis… when quinn was gone lokk at weis record and supposedly he had more talented teams the next 3 years…. too bad quinn so far is a bust in the nfl….

Noles1929

January 13th, 2011
1:41 pm

“F$U?????????

Calling that a ‘flyer’ is an understatement. They will lose a minimum of 3 games and will get destroyed in Gainesville. Rebuilt O-line a new QB is a recipe for disaster. See Texas and UF this year.”
1. You have NO clue how deep FSU is at O-Line. We’re only losing two starts Ryan (average O-Lineman) and Hudson (Huge lose, best O-Lineman in the history of FSU football.) We also have three O-Linemen coming in as Early Enrollees.
2. EJ is not a new QB, he’s started 6 games and has only lost 2 of those games. This kid started studying Jimbo’s playbook his senior year in HIGH SCHOOL. All the snaps with the first team this spring and summer and having two warm-up games before going against real teams will make him even better
3. Gonna call B.S. on your FSU-UF prediction. What do you think is going to be better: a Gator’s offense under a new system in its first year or a Noles’ defense under its second year that held last year’s UF offense to 7 points and drasitcally improved from the 2009 season?
4. Now, do I think FSU should be in the top 5? No, I’m tired of the media giving us preseason hype just for us to underachieve and make our season look even worse. We should be ranked 10-15 and if we beat Oklahoma then and only then should we be considered to be in the top 5.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
1:45 pm

GIVE TCU SOME LOVE

January 13th, 2011
1:26 pm
the #1 defense in the country. beat wisconsin in the rose bowl. what’s it take to get some horned frog love up in here?

Here is some TCU love I’d be happy to give.

Driving Ms Dooley

January 13th, 2011
1:47 pm

@ ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
1:35 pm
Yeah I’m a Vol born and raised. But don’t feel sorry for us just yet. We’ve got a ton of 18 year olds with experience under their belt and we have hope at QB and receiver. I’m patiently hoping for respectability in 2011 (8-4 maybe) and a chance to compete for the SECe in 2012. Maybe 10-2.

It sucks to get knocked down but I think we’ve seen the bottom and as our new Coach said in his opening press conference last Jan, “It’s time to dust off our britches and get back up” .

We’re headed in the right direction. With that said. I’m out.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
1:49 pm

Noles1929 – you may be right, or you may be full of it….but I’m glad to see FSU is at least back in the discussion.

ndirishfan26 – I’m hoping Bama and ND can renew a home-and-home series. They had some of the best football games I’ve ever seen in the 1970s. The way they all ended left me a raging alcholoc for several years, but I’m better now.

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
1:52 pm

I’m glad that some fan bases have a sense of humor. We all could use a little more.

Here are posts made by Michigan State fans during the Capital One Bowl:

“Julio takin’ us to schoolio”

“why are they allowing Alabama to play with 35 players on defense?”

“I think their punter is currently drinking around the world in Epcot.” (from the early 3rd quarter)

“If we played 10 times, they would win 15″

“If Cam Newton costs $200,000 for a season, how much is a 2nd half rental?”

“and now Cousins is dead” (referring to MSU’s starting QB)

“If I was our QB I would hire an attorney and sue them for negligence or intentional infliction of physical and emotional distress.”

“I’m ready to accept MSU boosters paying for an offensive line. If we get caught I can deal with it.”

“This is getting out of hand…an Alabama d-lineman just popped out of my TV and threw me 10 yards behind my couch.”

“Do you think this is how Custer felt?”

“We’re going to have a wing named after us at Orlando Regional Medical Center by the time this game finishes.”

“This is embarrassing. So are we officially a basketball school again?”

“I want to know how many times in the history of organized football that teams have punted on 4th and goal”

“So this is what they mean by team speed”

“if i’m Maxwell, I fake an injury on the way to the huddle” (Referring to the backup QB, who was knocked out of the game three plays later)

“good lord. Their 4th string running back just ran through our entire defense and all we could do was swing our purses at him.”

GTBob

January 13th, 2011
1:53 pm

The same thing that happened when they played Auburn, Arkansas and Kentucky. Just because the SEC is vastly superior doesn’t mean that South Carolina is. FSU beat a 4 loss team. Go out and celebrate!

So we agree that the ACC Atlantic division was better then the SEC East this year? And we agree that FSU was better then Alabama?

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
1:56 pm

GTBob

January 13th, 2011
1:53 pm
The same thing that happened when they played Auburn, Arkansas and Kentucky. Just because the SEC is vastly superior doesn’t mean that South Carolina is. FSU beat a 4 loss team. Go out and celebrate!

So we agree that the ACC Atlantic division was better then the SEC East this year? And we agree that FSU was better then Alabama?

As long as we agree that James Madison was better than everybody in the ACC.

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
1:59 pm

driving ms dooley, tenn will be alright people can laugh but like notre dame they are a traditional power and eventually will be back.. there are some teams in college football that are one hit wonders and some that just go through bad periods, hopefully tennessees bad period wont be as long as notre dames hahah, man im ready to see my team be on top again. its been a hard few years i think the last 4 statistically has been the worst in irish history hopefully kelly is the right guy. but like i said i dont think the vols win the sec or anything which isnt a bad thing cause its definatly saying something to win the sec i mean hell you can be a solid good football team and still be 4th or 5th in the sec which is where i will put tenn next year. i mean it cant get much worse for the vols, they got 4 guarenteed wins, i think they beat either ga or fla maybe both, and i think they get at lest 1 or two upsets against teams that nobody thinks they will get, and i think they def get the kentucky and vanderbilt wins as usual. so i think its a good 8 or 9 win season and descent bowl.. one thing i noticed about tenn cause i live here is that they have a strong fan base that goes to bat for them and fills there stadium and i think that helps them play better than they sometimes are cause they get that momentum and they know that on any given sat they got 90k plus fans that believe in them and got there back.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
2:00 pm

A week of heavy flow is a bad period. Notre Dame is in menopause.

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
2:02 pm

3rdn8, iv heard that there is talk about renewing that rivalry when the miami series is up, yea no matter the outcome that would be awesome to see those two teams on the field together. definatly would sell tickets and get the ratings. id love to see that in the future, we;ll see……..

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
2:04 pm

i dont think it will happen but i wouldn’t be shocked if it ended up being tenn and bama in the sec championship next year…. as long as it isn’t auburn im happy….

jumbeauxtiger

January 13th, 2011
2:06 pm

3rdN8, Crowton has confirmed that he is going to Maryland.

Schlomo

January 13th, 2011
2:07 pm

Biggest problem for Bama in 2011 will be lack of experience at QB.

Hopefully in 2011 the NCAA’s investigation into the corruption and cheating at the barn will proceed full steam ahead.

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
2:09 pm

bama dude, A week of heavy flow is a bad period. Notre Dame is in menopause

hahaha man can’t say i disagree, i hope the future is looking better for us irish fans tired of living the delusional life that is being a notre dame fan. im ready to see results…

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
2:13 pm

schlomo, i dont see why everybodybody keeps saying that about bama i mean in theory that makes sense but iv seen there backup qb come in in some pretty tough games this year and he lokked pretty good, and last time i checked it looked like bama had 3 or four qbs that look like they could all prob start on other teams. im not jumping the bama bandwagon not a fan but i follow college football and lets face look at bamas roster and recruiting class they are becoming the new pet carrols southern cal they don’t rebuild they reload……

3rdN8

January 13th, 2011
2:13 pm

jumbeauxtiger

any guesses as to the replacement? The Boise State OC is as good as they come, but think I read where he is going to Texas.

BigTimeTECHFan

January 13th, 2011
2:15 pm

My Top 5:
1. Oklahoma State – Weeden and Blackman returning, Defense will be better
2. Alabama – Trent Richardson will explode being primary back
3. Florida – New coaching with all that talent, watch out
4. Stanford – Will beat Oragon
5. TCU – Will sweep Big East schedule

Georgia Tech – 17th, will beat FSU

Oklahoma loses to FSU then Ok State knocking them out

Funny

January 13th, 2011
2:19 pm

Georgia Tech beating FSU…you had your chances and they are now over.

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
2:21 pm

my preseason college football top ten…. 1. alabama
2. lsu
3. miss st
4. auburn…..hahah no seriously… 1. alabama 2. oklahoma 3. lsu 4. stanford 5. wisconsin 6. oregon 7. oklahoma state. 8. boise state. 9. miss st 10. ohio state…….

ndirishfan26

January 13th, 2011
2:23 pm

although i dont know realistically maybe the top 5 teams in sec west should be the top 5 teams in the nation especially after this past bowl season.

slone1980

January 13th, 2011
2:35 pm

Way too early on FSU. Two good recruiting years doesn’t make a top five team. They have no depth and we don’t know if their young talent will develop well or not. They will be better in the next few years, but not quite yet.

Terry

January 13th, 2011
2:36 pm

I don’t have a problem with you ranking FSU the way you did. They have improved drastically under Jimbo Fisher, Mark Stoops, Eddie Gran, Rick Trickett, etc. I wouldn’t worry about the O-Line, they have to replace two and it isn’t like the replacement players haven’t had any game time experience. As for others comments concerning Ohio State, let them not forget that IF Pryor comes back he and three others will have to sit the first five games along with a fifth that has to sit the first game.

Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE

January 13th, 2011
2:43 pm

Steve, I hope you realize how much of a pea brain you are as much as any good SEC Fan would. If you really think that AU is /was a one man team going 14-0 you are a bigger moron than we think you are!

You may want to get to the neurologist when the snow/ice melts or better yet get to a rubber room b/c you can’t handle the truth…or sharp objects. Your skull is soft pea-brain,,,

WAR DAMN EAGLE, great to see ALL the AU haters but just remember these stats, what other SEC team haz gone undefeated twice in 6 years???

AU Tigers are the only ones, check the record 2004 & 2010 Auburn Tigers Undefeated, Untied…

WAR DAMN EAGLE, Steve pick you nuts up and go get inthe corner & sulk…little bitch.

Ted Brogan

January 13th, 2011
2:49 pm

“Kenny Rogers Is A Known Liar
January 13th, 2011
12:57 pm

Nice try “Huh” but the trophy’s already been shipped and it’s staying in Auburn. It won’t be on
display at Wal-Mart either….”

First of all congrats to auburn from a bama fan as hard as it is to say it. BUT I remember how much hell we caught for the Wal-Mart display last year from auburn fans. Well guess what Auburn fans:
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/01/auburns_bcs_trophy_coming_to_a.html

So I guess were all in-bred red necks as you called bama fans last year, ha ha….

do-dah do-dah

January 13th, 2011
2:49 pm

You are leaving Stanford out. Both LSU and Alabama will NOT be in the top 5- one maybe but not both!!!

Zachary

January 13th, 2011
2:59 pm

I love the Noles at 4. Jimbo has that team turned around and going straight for the top. Blowout wins againt uf and miami show that they are the far superior team in the state of FL. They also completely shut down South Carolina’s offense, which were the SEC East Champs. Obviously the SEC is a tougher conference, but next year Jimbo will definately be eating some Oranges in South beach on January 1, 2012

Hank

January 13th, 2011
3:02 pm

I think FSU’s defense can take them there. Defense wins championships, right? The win against South Carolina was just their intro to potential!

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
3:06 pm

Yep. The Barn’s crystal football is on display at Wal-Mart. At least ours had a nice shine to it. Theirs looks a little dirty.

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
3:15 pm

BAMA dude—-Thanks for thinking of our boys, but I think the Gators deserve to be ranked somewhere between 22nd and “also receiving votes” to start the 2011 season. The 2010 Gators were an 8-5 team (4-4 SEC), and the 2011 Gators will have a new head coach, new OC and DC, and a new offensive scheme in 2012. There’s plenty of young talent, but it will take at least a year to have the Gators back in serious SEC/BCS contention.

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
3:18 pm

TEST 2

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
3:20 pm

I hate when this blog software eats my posts for no apparent reason and then tells me “You’ve already said that” when I try to repost. @#$%

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
3:21 pm

Bama and LSU will contend for the SEC Western Division. Auburn will finish no better than third in the West, and are more likely to play the spoiler role with Arkansas that they are to contend for the conference championship; the Tigers will have too many losses on both sides of the ball to repeat.

dap01

January 13th, 2011
3:22 pm

Alabama should be very good. They now how 109 on their roster.

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
3:26 pm

The blog software won’t let me post anything with more than four lines. Apparently the AJC now thinks I’m BuLLdawg. @#$%

gdawginkalamazoo

January 13th, 2011
3:41 pm

Atlanta Gator, I can only predict that there will be a football season next year and that Coach Richt will be in the library studying football. He starts with Andy Griffith’s “…football is what is was..” to get the fundamentals down. Then he goes fishing with Coach Bowden on Lake Lanier.

Polly Wolly Doodle All Day

January 13th, 2011
3:47 pm

Stanford will be lucky to break the Top 25 next year. How many times will the Ducks have to be Plucked in post-season before we stop pretending that they belong in the Top 10?

Polly Wolly Doodle All Day

January 13th, 2011
3:50 pm

Atlanta Gator,

Make sure that your post don’t include a word with a syllable that contains these four letters in sequence: C O C K

AJC has a zero tolerance policy for such words.

Chickens!

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
3:57 pm

gdawg~zoo—-As a Gators fan, it may not be my place to say it, BUT . . . You get to be a 51-year-old man and ten-year veteran head coach in the SEC, you’re not supposed to be learning football fundamentals or questioning the program’s management. You may tweak and evolve, but here, I see a crisis of confidence in Athens, and whether it’s Richt’s fault or not, there may need to be a change. The Dawgs have been going in reverse for the last two seasons, and that’s in spite of the fact that SEC East competition has never been weaker since we went to the two-division format in 1992. Richt will get another season, but if he doesn’t improve to at least 8 or 9 wins in 2011, the long knives will be out.

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:00 pm

Yup. You’re right. The software just ate the following:

“South Carolina Gamec@#$ks.”

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:02 pm

With all of the trashy nastiness that gets posted on the AJC’s blogs, that’s kinda funny. If I were a South Carolina fan, I would be miffed.

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:03 pm

On the other hand, Gators fans don’t wear t-shirts that say “Super C@#$k” on them. I suppose there’s obnoxious, and then there’s obnoxious. LOL

gdawginkalamazoo

January 13th, 2011
4:04 pm

Atl Gator, IMO Richt does get it turned around. Grantham gets some great recruits to come and contribute right away, we get a couple of great kids for Murray to throw to and a solid RB that can take time off the clock. We are not as bad as it appears.

How do you like the Wei$$ hiring? I don’t think it will work out due to Wei$$’s ego. Didn;t hear a lot of positive things out of SB when he was up here.

gdawginkalamazoo

January 13th, 2011
4:04 pm

Enter your comments here

AUGUYinATL

January 13th, 2011
4:06 pm

WAR EAGLE to the AUBURN family. It was a great trip to Glendale that I will never forget. Finally, a BCS Championship in my lifetime. We took over Phoenix, and Sedona the next day, and I’ve never been prouder of the way we represented Auburn and the SEC. And props to my home state of Alabama..back to back Heismans and BCS Titles… that won’t happen again.
Next Year Top 5:
Oklahoma
Oregon
Alabama
Standford
LSU

gdawginkalamazoo

January 13th, 2011
4:07 pm

ATL Gator, good thing you said miffed and didn’t put an L in there. Your post would have been banned.

NewnanDawg

January 13th, 2011
4:08 pm

Surely Auburn will pay somebody to get them in that top 5, right?

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:12 pm

gdawg~zoo—-I think hiring Charlie Weiss as the new Gators OC was probably a good move. Complements Will Muschamp’s biggest weakness. Biggest complaint I’ve heard about Charlie Weiss as Notre Dame’s head coach is that he was a so-so recruiter. Big difference between being the head coach and OC, though. Just ask CMR.

Teasing aside, who would have been a better pick for a pro-style offense? Foley, for whatever reason, apparently decided he didn’t want Dan Mullen. Maybe he thought only Urban Meyer and the right recruits could really make the spread offense win SEC championships. Dunno. Based on the relative pay scale, Foley is apparently a lot smarter than I am.

= )

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:13 pm

You mean like MILFed?

Big Gator Fan

January 13th, 2011
4:13 pm

My breath is really nasty.

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:15 pm

MILF! MILF! MILF! MILF! MILF!

Take that blog software filter!

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:16 pm

BGF—-

Drink less alcohol, and remember to brush and floss after snacking on Dawgs canal-side.

UF Alum 06

January 13th, 2011
4:16 pm

I expect us to win the SEC Champship next season!

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:18 pm

gdawg~zoo—-

There are apparently still a few holes in the filter. But definitely no “Gamec@#$ks.”

Big Gator Fan

January 13th, 2011
4:20 pm

It has been too cold lately to wear jean shorts. Aw, heck I have been wearing them anyways.

Blog Software

January 13th, 2011
4:21 pm

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
3:20 pm

I hate when this blog software eats my posts for no apparent reason and then tells me “You’ve already said that” when I try to repost. @#$%

___________________________________________________________________________

You’ve already said that … too

Big Gator Fan

January 13th, 2011
4:21 pm

I am unfamiliar with the concept of “deoderant”.

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
4:27 pm

So, if I read this correctly, we’re all disappointed that the blog eats C0Cks?

Why Did Rogers Change His Story?

January 13th, 2011
4:29 pm

First he said that he hadn’t had contact with John Bond in 20 years, that he had no contact with Auburn and that the Newton’s never asked him to solicit money from MSU. Here’s his interview.

Kenny Rogers, the man at the center of accusations surrounding Cam Newton’s recruitment last year, spoke on ESPN Radio 103.3 FM in Dallas tonight, trying to clear his name.

Rogers’ former MSU teammate John Bond told ESPN.com Thursday that an ex-teammate — which ESPN identified through unnamed sources as Rogers — asked for $180,000 from Mississippi State to sign Newton last year when he was coming out of Blinn (Texas) Community College.

Rogers said he has not seen or spoken to Bond in at least 20 years.

Rogers said he has never had a school pay him money for a player. Asked if he ever had contact with Auburn, he said: “No. No. No. None at all. None at all.”

Here’s the full radio transcript of what Rogers said:

(Have you ever received money for a recruit)

“Heck no. I’ve never done that. A school has never paid me for a kid. An alumnus has never paid me for a kid. Period. Point blank. That why when all this stuff was coming out like this, it was crazy. No. 1 it’s crazy to me because they’re making me seem like I was the person that called John and talked about it, but I hadn’t talked to John in over 20 years. Now I’m asking for money on behalf of my own school. That’s just kind of … I don’t know. That’s just kind of crazy.

(On working for Elite Football Preparations, where parents can help him place students to better situations)

“Exactly. It’s Elite Football Preparations. I help find schools for kids. Most of my kids are junior college kids. Some will go D-I, some I-AA, but most of them are junior college kids.

(Why do you think your name came up?)

“I have no idea where my name came up in this. I was at the game, I had been talking to Mr. Newton, because he had been asking about Mississippi State. And I was telling him. He was asking about the culture of Mississippi State because that’s a small town. We would just talk back and forth about Mississippi State. … But I have no idea. I’m just[..]uming because I was there with him and I was talking with him. I had never met Dan Mullen before. So when I was there that night, actually Mr. Newton introduced me to Dan. So that was my first time meeting coach Mullen in person. So I have no idea how my name jumped out there.”

(Any contact with Auburn?)

“No. No. No. None at all. None at all.”

(Any idea of what former teammate of Bond’s it might have been?)

“No. I don’t even want to go there. Noooo. Hell no.”

(Anything you want to say about this situation to get off your chest?)

“I help kids get in school. The only thing I was doing is just like every other kid. Cam Newton left Florida, I would try to get in touch with that kid. When I see a name go across the screen, I try to get in touch with that kid to see if he has any opportunities to see if I can help him. That’s pretty much it. That’s how I do things with the kids. The parents will call me and say, ‘Well, I’ve got a kid.’ OK. I get some film. I look at the film to see what I can do. I let them know what level I think they can play on and then we go from there.

“These last few days (exhales), that’s hard to explain. Especially in the state of Alabama, because that’s where I’m from. So that really hurt me. That hurt me bad right there.”

So why did he change his story? And can he be trusted knowing that he’s basically a liar? And why has no one else asked this question?

gdawginkalamazoo

January 13th, 2011
4:29 pm

Atlanta Gator, When the ice gets cleared off the roads down there the blog police will be knocking on your door. Oh wait I forgot they fly the black helicopters so listen out for those.

The Wei$$ thing had nothing to do with running an offense or recruiting. It had more to do with personality and ego than anything.

“Drink less alcohol, and remember to brush and floss after snacking on Dawgs canal-side”.

Did you just say that you eat dawg a $ $?

Saban Looks Like Willie B

January 13th, 2011
4:32 pm

BAMA Dude eats C0cks too I believe….

uga is last in the sec

January 13th, 2011
4:33 pm

Not Georgia, they suck big tyme…..

BAMA dude

January 13th, 2011
4:37 pm

Maybe the long winded poster should ask why Cecil changed HIS story?

Al Barber

January 13th, 2011
4:38 pm

Tony please look at the schedules. Alabama will have the tough ones coming to their place. I would place them at least at number two. I expect their defense to be awesome.

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:39 pm

gdawg~zoo—-

I am a Gators fan, an alumnus of that fair university, a human being. Real alligators eat dogs in Florida all the time. Personally, I prefer sushi over Dawg a $ $.

Saban Looks Like Willie B

January 13th, 2011
4:45 pm

How many chance meetings with players do you think Saban had the last two years?
My favorite up till now is when Saban arrived in an RV flying an Alabama flag showed up for the Foley spring practice. He then walked across the field with an entourage that included former Alabama stars Lee Roy Jordan and Kenny Stabler walking with him as he “indirectly had contact” with Julio Jones.

This leads into the SEC’s top seven infractions . One guess of which school is #1. No one will replace Saban in a couple of years when he leaves because that “barrel of a gun” the NCAA warned them about will shut them down for a few years.

The Red Elephant Club is brazenly passing around pre-paid credit cards to high school kids in Alabama, it is said. Win at all costs is the biggest part of “The Process”. It’s going to bite them in the a$$, and the whole country is going to laugh even harder at these rednecks.

It’s just a matter of time.

do-dah do-dah

January 13th, 2011
4:45 pm

Why Did Rogers Change His Story? Cam in the SI story said that his Dad made the decision for him to go to Auburn. After the Heisman ceremony he told Chris Fowler that HE ALONE made the decision to go to Auburn. Why did he change his story?? Now that we know that he is a liar can we expect to believe anything that he says; now or in the future?

gdawginkalamazoo

January 13th, 2011
4:46 pm

Atl Gator, I know it’s just a figure of speech. One of my favorite movie lines from Happy Gilmore is when Shooter McGavin says “I eat pieces of sh ! t like you for breakfast” And Happy says ” Really you eat sh ! t for brekafast?” Or something along those lines.

Big Gator Fan

January 13th, 2011
4:48 pm

Jean shorts and a sport coat is perfectly acceptable to wear to an afternoon wedding.

Atlanta Gator

January 13th, 2011
4:53 pm

gdawg~zoo—-So, what do you think of the Wei$$ hire?

Saban Looks Like Willie B

January 13th, 2011
4:56 pm

Sports Illustrated writer Lars Anderson on December 2nd. “Sources inside the NCAA say the Cam Newton case is closed. It’s over, done, dead. People need to move on.”

ESPN writer Joe Schad on December 3rd: “The NCAA is happy with the Cam Newton investigation. The case is closed and the files are put away. It’s over”

Good Picks

January 13th, 2011
4:56 pm

I agree with stanford. I see FSU as a top 10 team. They will be favored in all of their games except for oklahoma because UF is going to struggle for a few years. It will be a fresh year for new teams to rise though.

Al

January 13th, 2011
5:01 pm

Tony please check the schedules. Alabama will have the tough ones coming to their place, and their defense will be awesome. Also, A..J. will be a much better passer. I would rank them number two.

Saban Looks Like Willie B

January 13th, 2011
5:12 pm

Watch This BAMA dude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXmZCd_059I

Hello Newton ( no soup for you)

January 13th, 2011
5:28 pm

How bout them Dawgs??? We have Murray, no AJ, no coach, we should be at least in the top 100!!!

Not so much...

January 13th, 2011
5:40 pm

Free Shoes? LeSU? Hype.

Oregon, Bama and OU? Legit.
If ole Cammie comes back, Auburn will be top 5 again.

TrishaDishaWarEagle

January 13th, 2011
6:04 pm

Nobody cheats as well as we do!

WAR CAM EAGLE!!!

do-dah do-dah

January 13th, 2011
6:06 pm

FBI Family- ALL IN!! You betcha!

scnolesfan

January 13th, 2011
6:17 pm

Folks, FSU on the rise. 2 bad plays from 12 – 2 this year, in the 1st one with Jimbo in charge and a new D coordinator. Jimbo’s building an SEC program in the ACC using Saban’s script and Bobby’s folksiness, if lighter on both. I’m not saying 2011 top 5 yet, I gawked when ESPN had us at 7. The O line will be fine, Trick has that covered, the BEST OL coach period. Jimbo will have success with a more dynamic EJ under center and his backup is Ponder part II. Running backs galore. A reciever needs to be the man though. Defense loaded with studs. The talent is getting developed and much more is coming. We’re on nearly every worthy player’s list, even where we’re already loaded. State of Florida champs repeat, take the ACC, get into the BCS, top 10 very likely, Top 5, well, Ummm, I’m hopeful. NC title in 2012 is likely. GO NOLES!!!!!

Saban Looks Like Willie B

January 13th, 2011
7:12 pm

he FBI investigates criminal activity. They do not give a flip if every player in the country sells his trinkets to an agent or if every school in the country pays players to attend their school. These things are against NCAA rules but they are not illegal.
Those of you waiting breathlessly for the FBI to “reveal” things about this need to adjust your thinking to the fact that the FBI is not conducting an investigation into violation of NCAA policies and they will not be doing so. They have their own responsibilities and could not care less about NCAA policy.

Mr. MacGlue

January 13th, 2011
7:22 pm

The Ohio University Bobcats will March across the NCCAA landscape like the Pharaoh’s army, beating Ohio State so bad Jimmy will be waiving his sweater vest as a surrender flag by the end of the second quarter. They will push on to a glorious undefeated season. Pardon me while I put some more model airplane glue in the bottom of my paper bag before I pronounce Wake Forest National Champion!

Whiskeydawg

January 13th, 2011
7:24 pm

The Dawgs will be number 1 !!!! (well, I can still dream, can’t I?)

Tell the truth

January 13th, 2011
7:40 pm

Saban Looks Like Willie B Well I know for one that I am so impressed with your first hand knowledge of the current state of the investigation in the state of Alabama. Perhaps you could log on daily and continue to impart more of your special insight to us unwashed masses.

Tell the truth

January 13th, 2011
7:42 pm

Please tell us that the FBI are no longer in the state while investigating any type of illegal activities. I feel confident that you know.

south

January 13th, 2011
8:05 pm

fsu….no way top 5…maybe top 25. The auburn deal is not over….starting to heat up again.
Alabama will win it all next year.

HeWhoKnows

January 13th, 2011
8:20 pm

To those of you who think the O lline at FSU is being “Rebuilt” the term “reloaded” would be a better term. Trickett used nine (9) offensive linemen this year as starters, only lost two, and gained the best two JUCO O linemen in the country. I also would not say “new” to EJ Manuel at QB…He has started (and WON) FSU’s last two bowl games…I believe he is 4 and 1 (two bowl games) as a starter and has plenty of back up time. Tony should have known all this…maybe he did since he rated them so high. They are definately a top ten team, but we will find out how good when Oklahoma visits them in September.

ike

January 13th, 2011
8:24 pm

FSU is back and they will prove it next season. Only Question is the O-line really. EJ has already proven that he can win games under pressure and with weeks notice. He’s 2-0 in bowl games and he’s got 2 more years of eligibility & he’s not your typical run first QB he can actually throw the ball. Defense returns all but 1-2 starters. The real test will be week 3 OU v’s FSU. For the Big Ten u saw there bowl games they’ll be lucky to have 1 team in the top ten. As for the SEC, LSU is definently front runner Bama loses key guys and no QB’s with any real experience so they wont be there at season end. SEC will have a down year. Oregon will make another run but will fall short with one loss.

puppydawg

January 13th, 2011
8:24 pm

Probation is coming for Auburn because of paying players and recruiting violations long before Newton arrived. He just gave the NCAA more reason to investigate. FBI has nothing to do with it.

daldevs

January 13th, 2011
9:58 pm

FSU is definitely on the rise. Time will tell, but I think we are absolutely a top 10 team. I noticed a post about our O-line. We’re not rebuilding that line, we are reloading it.
Trickett is an excellent line coach that has taken 3* talent and turned it into the best offensive guard in the country (and it’s not close). He’s now getting elite talent at offensive line, but even more importantly he’s getting elite talent that can play and start NOW.
The best JUCO offensive lineman (6′4″ 320) is already on campus and will be taking over Hudson’s spot at LG. At RG, our oft-injured starter will be returning in 2011, but it ended up being a blessing in disguise that he missed so much time. We had FOUR different starters at RG this season…all underclassmen.
Aside from Fahrenkrug, the rest of our 2011 incoming Oline crop is also stout – we’ve got 2 in the top 10 at their position coming in and 3 in the top 15 at their position. Don’t worry. We’re good.

ckgator

January 13th, 2011
10:10 pm

FSU is a trendy pretender. The 90’s are gone…FSU is in a 2-division ACC now. Much has changed and the Noles will never have what they had under Bowden in his prime. Plain and simple…

Gabby

January 13th, 2011
10:15 pm

Um stupid, LaMichael James was a redshirt freshman, so in football land, he’s a junior.

Bayou Tiger

January 13th, 2011
10:17 pm

Geaux Tony, Geaux Tigers. Great analysis. Cancel the SEC championship game, cancel the BCS, let the top 2 SEC teams regardless of division play on 1-1-12 to decide the national championship.

Hey Spineless Barhhart

January 13th, 2011
10:36 pm

“how good Bama can be” What the hell, MSU did not show up. Anybody that has competed against someone knows whent he other team was not even on the field. Said another way. Bama plays MSU 10 times. Avg margin of victory 42 point? Yeah, and you have a backbone too.

Again, you said nothing about Saban’s debacle against Auburn or Spurrier’s debacle or loss in the bowl. Integrity eludes you…..consistently.

Not Yet

January 13th, 2011
10:37 pm

Diehard Nole here, and yes, it is a year early. Jimbo hasn’t had control of the defense long enough to make have a top 4 DT. We still can’t collapse the pocket, and the new guys take a while to develop at the position.

TrishaDishaWarEagle

January 14th, 2011
2:33 am

If Mettenberger leads LSU to an SEC championship, the heads of UGA fans on this blog will literally explode..and amusing as that would be, nobody likes to see a sexual assaulting creep succeed..except pittsburg fans…so I hope MSU wins the sec west..IF AU is not going to win it, of course..Coach of the year GENE CHIZIK is a man of awesome recruiting and coaching skill, as the TWO national championship rings(and the 3rd special year ring because AU was undefeated and untied in 2004) on his hand attest..

“Who printed up the ‘Together we thrive’ t-shirts at such short notice for a memorial service? You stay classy, Obama. What an arrogant ass”

JASon

January 14th, 2011
2:42 am

Mr. College Football, I hope you didn’t injure yourself doing research for these picks. Sounds like you just picked the teams you knew off the top of your head. What is it with you and Alabama are you on their payroll or something? What makes you think both LSU and Alabama make it in the top 5, considering they play each other. Do you have a learning disorder

BAMA dude

January 14th, 2011
6:41 am

Wow, the Noles are doing a lot of talking for a team that gave up an average of 39 ppg in four losses, including 44 to Virginia Tech in the ACCCG.

Grim Reaper

January 14th, 2011
8:08 am

This just in, “JIMBO FISHER HAS BEEN THE HEAD COACH AT FSU FOR THREE YEARS NOW! HE’S RECRUITED THE PLAYERS THERE FOR THOSE THREE YEARS! Puh’lease, E.J. Manuel they bent over backwards trying to give him the QB spot when they finally had to let Ponder have it. The jump ball offense only works when you have 6′6″ recievers, like the Benjamin kid they just got. ACC? “All Coast Clear” for FSU and Miami and the stepchildren that follow them. A “reach”? You got a better shot of hitting the lotto then trying to fix the broken axles on that beat up old busted down Bandwagon know as FSU. I can still see that half empty erector set stadium at halftime of the Wake Forest debacle a short two years ago, the grave has been dug for them for somtime now, it won’t be long till Jimbo is fired faster than Richt should’ve been. FSU back? Yeah, like George Costanza, and we all know how that ended…

Tigers Rule

January 14th, 2011
8:34 am

LSU will win the BCS title in 2011—bet the house. The Tigers are loaded on both sides of the ball and will beat OU next year in New Orleans for the title, easily.

For The Bammer On Here Trashing Auburn....

January 14th, 2011
8:43 am

Tell The Truth you are way off here. The FBI is investigating vote-buying in the state senate tied to bingo legislation NOT AUBURN UNIVERSITY. You and all these other idiots are spreading mis-information. The only outlet that has reported McGregor being probed is TMZ. If you get all your news infrormation from TMZ you are even more mis-informed & clueless than I thought. Since you know so much, I’m sure you are also aware that several Alabama Crimson Tide boosters and supporters are also being probed. You can’t be a legislator in the state senate without having ties to both state universities. Wouldn’t it be ironic if this probe ends up bringing down Bama and exonerating Auburn? Bob Riley wanted to kill the bill, so he had his opponents investigated and locked up. Read some of these quotes:

I told them under no condition should they be discussing bingo and money together, don’t do it, don’t joke about it because we’re all being watched…I don’t know what all is about to happen around here but you get the feeling that all hell is about to break loose.” – Rep John Rogers (D).

“We believe this is a blatant attempt to undercut the people’s right to vote on the bingo issue, something that a large majority of citizens support, and to ensure the death of this legislation. This is about intimidation and killing bingo. The timing proves it…” – Joint statement issued by Senators: Zeb Little, Rodger Smitherman, Lowell Barron, Hank Sanders, and Roger Bedford, (all Democrats).

“If someone has done something wrong, they need to be investigated and prosecuted…But if no one has done anything, it is a shame to see the criminal justice system used as a political weapon. It’s wrong and it’s been going on too long.” – Senator Roger Bedford (D).

“The governor is using everything in the book to deny the people the right to vote…” – Senator Zeb Little (D).

“I can’t think of a legitimate law enforcement purpose to do something like this…” Doug Jones, Alabama Democratic Caucus.

“It smells of a desperate attempt to keep Alabama from getting this issue…” Attorney Brett Bloomston, representing Country Crossing lobbyist Jarrod Massey.

TrishaDishaWarEagle

January 14th, 2011
8:46 am

We got away with it this year. We will probably have to wait another 50 years to attempt it again, but I just LOVE IT when a plan comes together.

Thank you Bobby Lowder, Pat Dye, Jimmy Rane, Milton McGregor, Trooper Taylor and Coach Chizik. There is no goal that we can’t accomplish when we’re ALL IN and we come together as a Family. Besides, I think asterisks are pretty. They look like little stars!

For The Bammer On Here Trashing Auburn....

January 14th, 2011
8:57 am

Governor Riley received a bunch of cash from Indian casinos for his campaign, then he turns around and goes after Alabama for gambling. Riley’s using this probe to sink his political opponents, even a mullet troll can see that. It just so happens that almost every person arrested is a Democrat. Hmmmm…..Most Unusual.

For The Bammer On Here Trashing Auburn....

January 14th, 2011
9:01 am

Where did Governor Riley go to school: You guessed it….The University of Alabama. He also stole the election in 2002.

Riley did not run for re-election to the House in November 2002 (as a supporter of term limits, he imposed a three-term limit on himself), instead running for Governor of Alabama and defeating the Democratic incumbent by approximately 3,000 votes – the narrowest margin in the state’s history for a gubernatorial race. The result was controversial, as the initial election night count showed a 2,000-plus vote victory for Riley’s opponent, Don Siegelman.

For The Bammer On Here Trashing Auburn....

January 14th, 2011
9:03 am

n November 2005, Riley was linked to the Jack Abramoff scandal when his former Congressional press secretary, Michael Scanlon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the matter. It further emerged that, as a Congressman, Riley signed a letter on behalf of the U.S. Family Network, opposing expansion of casino gambling in Alabama.[29] The U.S. Family Network was revealed to be an Abramoff front, funded by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which operated competing casinos.[30] Riley has denied knowing the source of this funding.

For The Bammer On Here Trashing Auburn....

January 14th, 2011
9:07 am

Let’s see Riley has ties to Jack Abramoff. Who is he you ask:

In late 2004, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee began to investigate Abramoff’s lobbying on behalf of American Indian tribes and casinos. In September he was called before the Committee to answer questions about that work, but pleaded the fifth.[75] In August 2005, Abramoff and Kidan were indicted by a federal jury in Miami on wire fraud charges related to their dealings with SunCruz Casinos.
On January 3, 2006, Abramoff pled guilty to three criminal felony counts related to the defrauding of American Indian tribes and corruption of public officials, in a Washington, D.C., federal court.[76] The four tribes Abramoff and his associates had been involved with included Michigan’s Saginaw Chippewas, California’s Agua Caliente, the Mississippi Choctaws, and the Louisiana Coushattas. Abramoff was accused of defrauding the tribes of tens of millions of dollars on issues associated with Indian gaming.[77] The following day he pleaded guilty to two criminal felony counts in a separate federal court, in Miami, related to the SunCruz deal.[78]
On September 4, 2008, a Washington court found Abramoff guilty of trading expensive gifts, meals and sports trips in exchange for political favors and he was sentenced to a four-year term in prison, to be served concurrently with his previous sentences.[79][80]
Abramoff served most of a six year sentence after pleading guilty in January 2006 to charges of conspiracy, honest services fraud, and tax evasion. For the mail fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion charges stemming from the influence-peddling scandal in Washington, Abramoff was sentenced to four years in federal prison on September 4, 2008, by U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle. He had faced up to 11 years in prison.[81] Abramoff cooperated in a bribery investigation involving lawmakers, their aides, and members of the Bush administration.

savh dawg

January 14th, 2011
9:08 am

Hey Analyst Urban Meyer, maybe you are not ranked top 5 because you return that overated senior quarterback

FSU-Fan

January 14th, 2011
9:33 am

I don’t think FSU will have to rebuild their O-Line as much as stated. Yes they lose two great players, but they have several backup who played a lot this year (and very well) and are ready to start, as well as the top Juco OL player who is ready to go. All that being said, the team still needs to mature, and it is a little premature to put them in the top five. I think somewhere around 10 is right. 2012, though should be a great year.

Tom

January 14th, 2011
9:37 am

Merculf comment: AU top 5….funny, Newton / Fairley dont dare stay risking NCAA sanction that AU gets, title vacated, etc, etc…they should run to the NFL where they get paid legally. Looks like Newton just got a pay increase for 2011!!

SmackDown

January 14th, 2011
6:10 pm

LOL @ Gator acting like returning Brantley is a good thing! By the way, EJ Manuel has started 6 or 7 games already, and FSU is not “rebuilding” the offensive line as 3 starters return and the other two have starting experience already. FSU is a complete team and deserves to be in the top 10 at least.

Wesley

January 15th, 2011
10:37 pm

Ok, for starters any of you who honestly believe that “the Ohio State” is a legitimate national title contender need a seriously reality check. The Big Ten has for the last ten years been a complete joke when compared to the SEC. Look at this year for example, Michigan was beat by 38, Michigan State ( which tied Wisconsin and Ohio State for the Big Ten Championship) lost by 42, Wisconsin lost to TCU, and yes “the Ohio State” beat Arkansas, BUT Arkansas by almost anyone’s account was the worst defense in the SEC….. I give absolutely no credit to Ohio State going into next year purely on the basis that the Big Ten has and will continue to be a joke in college football. Urban Meyer’s offense never managed to play a good game all season, and I don’t care whether they were “inspired” or not, they moved the ball up and down the field against a Penn State team that only one their games BECAUSE of their defense. Illinois beat Baylor, and Iowa beat Missouri. If I had to give any Big Ten team credit for playing well this bowl season it would be Iowa. Now onto the question as to who does deserve to be in the Top 5, I believe Oklahoma with their watered down Nebraska-less Big 12 schedule will waltz through their in conference schedule, but they will have an early test against a tough Florida State team that is playing in Doak Campbell Stadium which is arguably as big of a home field advantage as you can find. Florida State may not play in the most difficult conference, but they soundly beat the 1 and 2 finishers in the SEC East. Florida will continue to be a joke next season until Will Muschamp can get his system installed (don’t worry gator fans, they will be back to form within 2 years at most). Oklahoma is my preseason #1, and Alabama is my # 2, after those two the Top 3-8 are pretty fluid containing a tough Oregon team that has yet to win the big game, Stanford who has the Heisman favorite going into next year, LSU which has alot to prove on offense but will still give Alabama all they can handle, Florida State which will finish with the top recruiting class and is arguably on the biggest roll going into next season and is also returning one of the best defenses in the country, Boise State which has alot to prove without Kellen Moore’s go to receivers, TCU which will try to recover from some heavy losses, and an Oklahoma State team that won’t surprise anyone if they are undefeated when Oklahoma comes to Stillwater. I honestly have to say that many people who discount teams like Florida State and Texas A&M are going to feel really uninformed when they see one of those two vying for a slot in the national title. Beware, whichever of those two beat Oklahoma (and FSU has the edge there) will be heavily considered for a spot in the title game. Florida State has two season changing games next year, @ Florida and hosting Oklahoma, if they win those and run the table in the ACC they should be in the Top 5 and possibly in the BCS championship. Texas A&M is the same if they run the Big 12 and can conquer Oklahoma in Norman. Also keep an eye out for a team like USC to play spoiler to an Oregon or Stanford in the Pac-12 title game. My final team to watch in 2011 is South Carolina solely because of their defensive returners, Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery. They have a shot to repeat as SEC East winners.

Dawgs in 2011!

January 16th, 2011
7:55 am

With richt spending more time on just football and a bunch of returning talent, look for UGA to wiin big in 2011!!! The dawgs should easily win the SEC east—florida and sc will be way down and tenn has nothing. Ga plays lsu for the title—mark it down!

Visuallogic

January 16th, 2011
2:27 pm

Noles DOMINATED florida and miami. We now OWN the state. Get used to it, and stop living in the past. Expect another spanking this year also. Dont hate… Relate

Jeremy

January 16th, 2011
7:11 pm

I think FSU in the Top 5 is well deserved. They lose Ponder, but EJ played very well and is now experienced. The defense returns great players. This is a team that lost all but one game by less than 3 points!

aggie94

January 20th, 2011
12:01 pm

NEB will stun the Big 10…play and lose to a SEC team….I’d bet on BAMA. OU will lose one or two games…

Early Top Five for 2011: Oklahoma is No 1

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Early Top Five for 2011: Oklahoma is No 1

342 comments Add your comment

About Mr. College Football

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