Alabama-Georgia: agony and ecstacy (and to be discussed forever)

(This has been sitting for about a day or two, finally have it up).

   If walls and chairs and blades of fake turf could talk, the ones at the Georgia Dome would be yakking for days about the fun they had.

    As it is, plenty of humans can't stop talking about the remarkable event that took place Saturday afternoon and evening, between those walls on the turf and with chairs filled.

    The SEC championship - and championship almost understates it - will live on, to be replayed and relived and maybe repressed for awhile.

    You do everything but win the game, and it'll leave a mark. We tend to save the "shame somebody had to lose" for high school athletes and younger, but it fits. It was pretty glorious to watch if you didn't care who won.

Is it finally Georgia's time?

            As Georgia players gather on the Georgia Dome turf for the first time on Saturday, they should stop and look around, and think about something:
            "Ah, so this is what it feels like to be on the inside looking out."
            For a long time - seemingly back to the leather-helmet days, to some - Georgia has been on the outside looking in whenever the discussion was about national title contenders.
            The Bulldogs were in the conversation, but it was almost perfunctory. They were a nice team, they're good, but not quite on that next level.
            Georgia has had one unscheduled but regular opponent for so many years: a hump.
            That hump has been better than Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and everybody else. Georgia could beat those other teams, but the hump always seemed to prevail.

And the defense shall lead them

Assorted notes and quotes from both the UGA and UF camps:

 

Georgia Post-Game Quotes

Georgia vs. Florida

EverBank Field
October 27, 2012

Head Coach Mark Richt

On the win…

"I’d say we were not soft. The defense rose to the occasion, and everyone fought their tails off. There was a lot of emotion and two really good football teams getting after it. We came out on top. I’m really proud of our players and coaches, and our fans were tremendous. Our seniors played well, and I know it’s a game they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

On the defensive struggle…

“All games with two really good football teams come down to making big plays. We were struggling on offense, but we kept battling. They had their struggles with our defense as well. A lot of times defenses tend to bow their necks in games like this.”

On Malcolm Mitchell’s touchdown…

“We had a chance to catch the ball and get in free space, and I’m glad I put Malcolm (Mitchell) back in the game. I think he learned his lesson. I was very, very impressed with that play in particular.”

On Georgia’s defense…

“We held them to field goal attempts early on, and right before the half getting the pick in the red zone was huge. It killed their momentum they had created.”

On Jarvis Jones…

“I don’t even know for sure what all he did, but I know he did some big things. It’s unfortunate he hasn’t been healthy, but he just gets right back up. He led like I’ve never seen him lead before. I’m just proud of him and the whole defense.”

On Todd Gurley…

“He ran it 27 times and didn’t fumble it, which is huge. I’m proud of him, no doubt. He’s getting yards after contact, and he’s a very physical kid.”

On the Ole Miss game next week…

“I saw that Ole Miss won earlier, and I’ve been watching them from afar. I’ve been impressed with what they’ve done. They had a big victory over Arkansas today. I know we have our work cut out for us. We haven’t won the east yet, but we’re in control of it,

Quarterback Aaron Murray

On the first half….

“I was disappointed but knew that we were still up 7-6 and had an entire half to play. I knew that we could come out and make some things happen in the second half. We got a fresh start and had 30 minutes of game left.”

On the win….

“This is a huge win. Anytime that Georgia and Florida play it’s big. It was a No. 2 vs. No. 10 match-up and the east was on the line so it was a big deal.”

On the post game celebration….

“It was awesome. Everyone was going crazy. I felt like we were out there for 20 or 30 minutes. There isn’t a better feeling.”

Running Back Todd Gurley

On Georgia’s blocking…

“I had great blocking all day. I couldn’t have done it without those guys. I’ve got to give it to (#46 Zander Ogletree), who came into the game and did great after Merrit (Hall) went down, the wide receivers and then the offensive line.”

On making improvements…

“We have to stop the turnovers, but the defense kept giving us great field position. We need to work on finishing, but I thought that we finished better than we started.”

On the first touchdown of the game…

“That was a great feeling. To score against that kind of defense, especially when it’s against Florida is a great feeling.”

Safety Bacarri Rambo

On the mood this week...

“I’ve never seen us work as hard as wee did this week. Hats off to all of the guys—they’re all my brothers.”

On the game and moving forward…

“We haven’t won the East yet. We still have two more games left. We have to get back to practice on Monday and work hard for next week.”

Linebacker Jarvis Jones

On the game this week….

“This was a great game for us. Shawn (Williams) gave us a challenge this week and everyone stepped up. This makes me feel better. We played every snap like it was out last and executed the game plan.”

On his career day…

“I had a great game, but it’s about what we did as a defense. All of us did what we came here to do. We beat the No. 2 team in the nation and it’s a great feeling.”

On Shawn Williams’ challenge this week…

“I think that Shawn (Williams) issues us a challenge this week and everyone stepped up to it. Today we came out ready to play. I’m proud—this was a great Georgia win.”

 

#12 Georgia Postgame Notes: Oct. 27, 2012 vs. #3 Florida

Georgia Posts Huge Win: For the first time in the series since 1988, Georgia held Florida without a touchdown. That year, Georgia won 26-3. Also, Georgia handed the Gators their first loss of the season, spoiling a perfect start for the first time since 1966 when they were 7-0 entering this game (27-10 Bulldog win). Today’s 17-9 win was Georgia’s first over a top five team since beating fifth-ranked Auburn 37-15 in Auburn on 2006. Also, today marked the highest ranked team Georgia has beaten since winning the 2005 SEC title with a 34-14 win over third-ranked LSU in Atlanta.

 

Bulldog Start Streak: For the first time since a three-year stretch from 1987-89, Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC) has won two straight over Florida, who fell to 7-1 overall, 6-1 in SEC. The Bulldogs improve to 49-40-2 in the series.

Another Monster Game By Jarvis Jones: All-American linebacker Jarvis Jones registered a career-high 13 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 3 sacks. Last year in the win against UF, he had 4 sacks. In his two-year career at Georgia, he has tallied 22 sacks which ranks 7th in school history.

 

Points off Turnovers: Georgia came in on the season even in turnover ratio while the Gators were +11 with only four turnovers on the year. Today, Georgia got 10 points off six Gator turnovers while UF got 6 points off three Bulldog miscues. Junior OLB Jarvis Jones recovered a fumble caused by sophomore Damian Swann on a sack on Florida's opening possession. It led to a TD (10-yard rush by freshman Todd Gurley). With 1:44 left in the first quarter, Florida notched an INT off of a tipped pass from Aaron Murray. It led to a Gator fumble at the Florida 48, caused by Jones and recovered by senior Cornelius Washington. It led to an INT on a tipped pass at the UF 5. UF converted it to a field goal. UF got another INT at the UGA 11 and turned it into a field goal.

In the second half, Georgia’s Swann got an interception at the UF 25 as the Gators matched their turnover total for the year. It was Swann’s second this year. It led to a 29-yard field goal by freshman Marshall Morgan for a 10-6 edge with 8:34 left in the 3rd quarter. Jarvis Jones recovered a Gator fumble at the UF 26. It led to a missed field goal of 37 yards. Jones got another forced fumble to stop a UF drive in the Red Zone and recovered by Sanders Commings. The Gators ranked the second in the league with a 93 percent scoring mark in the Red Zone coming in.

Gurley Goes Over A 100: Freshman running back Todd Gurley's 10-yard TD gave the Bulldogs an early 7-0 advantage. It was Gurley's team-leading 11th TD of the season including 10 rushing with one on a kickoff return. He finished with 117 yards on a career-high 27 carries. He has 739 yards for the year. Georgia improved to 51-5 under Mark Richt when they have a 100-yard rusher.

 

Impressive Effort By Defense: Georgia’s defense forced a Gator fumble on UF’s first possession that led to a TD, and then the Bulldogs stopped UF on downs at the Georgia 35 on their second possession. On UF’s third possession, they forced a three-and-out. UF got an INT and took over at the Georgia 45 on its fourth possession. It led to a Gator fumble in heavy pressure, caused by Jarvis Jones and recovered by Cornelius Washington. Georgia eventually gave it back after they had reached the Red Zone on another tipped pass for an INT. UF drove it 70 yards and then was limited to a 38-yard field goal as the Bulldogs kept a 7-3 lead with 7:05 left. UF got another turnover at Georgia 11, and the defense limited them to a field to keep a 7-6 edge with 2:44 left. Then, the half ended with a Red Zone stop, Baccarri Rambo notched an INT in the endzone. It was more of the same in the second half, keeping the Gators out of the endzone for the game.

 

Rambo Moves Up to 2nd in INTs: Senior Bacarri Rambo moved in to a tie for second in Georgia history with 14 career interceptions. He got his first of the year to end the second half to thwart a Gator scoring attempt as he got it in the endzone. Rambo is third in school history in Interception Return Yards with 259.

 

Rare Picks For Murray: Coming in today, junior QB Aaron Murray had only four interceptions on the year in 199 attempts and just 26 in 944 career attempts. In the first half today, Murray had three interceptions and was 4-for-8 for 34 yards. Murray’s career-high for INTs is three as he had three against UF in 2010 and three against Miss. State in 2011. Murray finished the game 12-for-24 for 150 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs. He connected with Malcolm Mitchell for a 45-yard TD to cap a 75-yard drive and a 17-9 lead with 7:11 left in the contest and that ended up the final. Mitchell finished with 5 catches for 74 yards.

 

Captains: Today's captains were junior Aaron Murray (QB), redshirt sophomore Connor Norman (FS), junior Chris Burnette (OG) and senior Cornelius Washington (OLB).

Injuries: FB Merritt Hall injured a right ankle on Georgia's first possession. He did not return.

Up Next: Georgia plays host to Ole Miss next Saturday. Game time will likely be 3:30 p.m. or noon.

#

 

2012 Florida Football Postgame Quotes

Florida Players

Georgia 17, Florida 9

October 27, 2012

Defensive Back Jaylen Watkins

On normally being a strong second-half team:

“We have total confidence in ourselves that no one can score on us in the second half, and that’s what our goal was. They got a touchdown on us but I think we did a good job getting the offense the ball back.”

On turnovers:

“We hadn’t had a lot of turnovers this year so it’s just kind of a shock to everybody.”

On SEC East Championship chances now:

“I think we fought hard this year and I don’t really know how it falls as far as who’s going but I just know that we’re going to come in Monday and keep fighting like we’re still going.”

Nose Tackle Omar Hunter

On Jordan Reed:

“Even if he had held onto the ball, you can’t predict what would have happened. We’re all behind him.”

On what the message will be to the team:

“Getting back on Monday and telling everyone that it’s just one game. We have four games ahead of us and we still have to go out and win those games, nothing else matters now.”

Quarterback Jeff Driskel

About what Coach Muschamp and the coaching staff told them postgame:

“To the whole team they said, ‘keep your head up.‘ We played hard; we made too many mistakes and that’s what it comes down to. Like I said, we are just going to have to keep playing and finish out the season strong.”

About his own play tonight:

“I made some critical mistakes, that’s what it comes down to. When you have a defense like they do, you just can’t turn the ball over. They’re going to make stops, you can’t force things and you just got to take points. There were a couple of times there where I just took points off the board and out our defense in tough spots.”

About this being out of character (six turnovers):

“Like I said, it comes down to the basics. We have to work on it in practice and football’s about taking care of the ball. We didn’t do that tonight and when you have six turnovers, it’s hard to win any game.”

About what was at stake tonight (SEC East), how was locker room?

“Well, obviously after a loss like that you’re going to be down. And, it’s just like a win – if you come in after a big win, you’re going to be excited and you can enjoy it for 24 hours so obviously were not happy right now. We’re going to have to keep pressing forward and learn from our mistakes and keep practicing like we have the whole year.”

2012 Florida Football Postgame Quotes

Will Muschamp, Florida Head Coach

Georgia 17, Florida 9

October 27, 2012

Opening statement:

“I’ve said all season long - we’re not a team that has a lot of margin of error. Obviously, six turnovers led to 10 points, critical plays in the game. You’ve got to rise up to those opportunities you have and you have to make those plays. You’ve got to give them credit. They did and we didn’t, but six turnovers, wow. That’s tough to overcome.”

“We had a hard time establishing some things in the running game, and they have some good players defensively.”

“That’s the end of the game in my opinion – six turnovers.”

“It was great effort on Georgia’s part trying to get the ball into the end zone, we just got to do a better job of the ball security.”

 

On if Jeff Driskel had a rough game:

“When you become one-dimensional, it’s hard. It puts a lot of pressure on him.”

On not letting one loss become two losses:

“That’s what I told the team in the locker room. You’ve won well together, now we’ll figure out how we handle adversity as a football team.”

 

On going forward:

“I think we’ll be fine in the long run. We just need to push through this. There’s no question – there’s a lot of football to play. I’m very disappointed with the outcome of the game, not disappointed with the effort.”

On what went wrong:

“We can’t go out and lay it on the ground six times. That’s not what we can do. We have to take advantage of field position, which we didn’t. We have to take advantage of turnovers, which we didn’t. We’ve just got to go back and regroup.”

 

Cocktail Party not as lopsided as some think

            A few weeks ago, I was pickin' UGA over Florida, and with confidence and a clear conscience.

            The Dogs had a little something to 'em, a little swag, spring in the step, confidence/mild arrogance.

            Then South Carolina took them out back and hazed them. Schooled them. Showed what happens when you're overrated as a player.

            And Georgia, again, has overrated players, based on the asburd ratings of those who rate. Of course, they're overrated by those who sign and recruit them without the wise counsel of people outside of a small circle.

            Anywayyy ...

The Yanks are done, and A-Rod's social calendar has opened up

            It's a blue-skyed, 65-degrees-at-noon Saturday.

            Straight to the guessing.

 

CALL THE BOOKIE REVIEW

            Auburn giving 9.5 to Arkansas: OK, Arkansas has a pulse and Auburn doesn't. Lesson learned from here on out.

            0-1

            Virginia Tech getting 6.5 at North Carolina: Dang, what the hell's going on in Blackburg?

            UNC is a touchdown favorite in football against a non-North Carolina school and runs away from covering?

            0-2

            Houston giving 12 to North Texas: Coogs had it covered by halftime.

            1-2.

            Clemson giving 11 to Georgia Tech: We knew Al Groh didn't have many weekends left at Tech, we just didn't know this would be the last one.

            Clemson covered. Yay.

            2-2-

            Oregon giving 24 to Washington: Went on straight gamblin' numbers: Washington is 0-7-1 against the line in the last eight meetings, and the favorite it 10-1-1.

            Twas a wise move. Ducks won by 31.

            3-2

            Don't touch: WVU plus 7, won by 3; USCE minus one, hammered Georgia; Florida gave a couple to LSU, won

Texas giving 7 to WVU (don't worry the line, just enjoy the game); USCE giving 1 to Georgia (again, you know the rule with Georgia and lines; and again, just enjoy the game); Florida giving a couple to LSU, won by eight.

            Record is 12-13. Sniffing .500 is good.

 

CALL THE BOOKIE THIS WEEK

 

            Virginia Tech getting 11 at Clemson: Tech is trying to regroup and needs a statement win. Clemson is thinking it's a matter of time before Florida State l - oops, that's right, Maryland leads the division.

            And Tech is also 2-1 in ACC play. Still, Clemson is the better team and at home.

            Take the Tigers. Barely.

            Auburn getting 6.5 at Vandy: Some competent organization and clock management would have given Vandy a chance to maybe beat Florida, but it wasn't there.

            Yo, Jimmy Franklin, you still need a two-minute offense if you're a run-oriented team.

            And Auburn aspires to reach the level of dumpster fire.

            Take the Dores, and maybe big.

            Boston College getting 14.5 at Georgia Tech: Neither team is very good, but Boston College is just bad.

            BC to ACC: another example of eyes being bigger than brains. The Eagles are 20-25 in the last 3.5 years and going backwards.

            That continues today as Tech bows up and covers, thanks to a strong fourth quarter.

            N.C. State giving 4 at Maryland: Pure gamblin' info says Maryland is 0-9 against the spread in last nine home games.

            Yeah, the Terps are doing better than expected, and that will stop at some point. Today seems good.

            State covers, and probably by double digits.

            Kansas State getting 3 at West Virginia: This is one of the day's marquee games.

            WVU is at home, has been smacked awake to be more versatile on offense and remotely competent on defense. As good as K-State is, WVU at home at night is just what the doctor ordered.

            Mountaineers cover midway through the fourth quarter.

            Don't touch: LSU giving 3 at Texas A&M (still not sold on A&M, and LSU has clarified nothing, but I lean hard toward A&M); USCE getting 3.5 at Florida (very much not sold on UF, and picked the Gators, but I think the Cockadoodles pull it off); Pittsburgh giving 9.5 at Buffalo (that's just kinda sad); UGA giving 25.5 at Kentucky (yeah, that's tempting for some, cuz UK is sucking, but the Dogs are always confusing).

 

 

LOUGHDMOUTHINGS

            Twitter equals big mouth, no brains, misplaced ego attention deficit.

            From Ohio State backup QB Cardale Jones;

            "Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come to play SCHOOL, classes are pointless."

            A) Jones is an idiot, regardless of how "young" he is; B) may fit in well with the new boss; C) Jones is thirrrrd-string, so maybe he ain't come to play that much after all; D) decision-making like that can lead to a loss to Michigan.

            If he gets in. ...

            From Brian Manzullo of the Detroit Free Press:

            "Georgia State football, at 0-5, needs a way to bring students to its home games.

            "Dropping cash from the rafters might do the trick.

            "During halftime of today's game against New Hampshire, students will be brought onto the Georgia Dome field for a $10,000 "cash drop" sponsored by Georgia's Own Credit Union."

            The flyer for the event also mentioned it is "family weekend" at the game. Well, nothing screams "family" quite like a pile of students scrumming for money.

            Announced attendance for the Oct. 6 game: 9,531. ...

            I'm tellin' ya, don't be surprised if Tennessee does a little somethin-somethin against Alabama tonight. Alabama is the nation's best team, but the Tide isn't as good as they have been. And UT might be the best 3-3 team around. ...

            And really, Twitter is about as good a way to avoid being taken seriously as you can get. It's still ahead of TMZ. ...

            Note to schools with young football programs or soon-to-be young football programs: it's not automatic.

            Georgia State made a mistake and will not stop paying for it. It blew the organizational plan and is moving up to I-A before doing anything even respectable in I-AA.

            Nothing's automatic. Not being in a big market - which is irrelevant in college sports - or playing in an NFL stadium or hiring a name coach.

            Now they're "name" head coach is retiring, and will likely do so with a 10-23 record at Georgia State.

            The Panthers won't get back to .500 record in my lifetime. ...

            A giggle, courtesy of Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel:

            "Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman gave Patriots quarterback Tom Brady an earful as they were leaving the field after the Seahawks' upset win on Sunday. His brashness prompted two quick questions:

            "1. Could anyone really criticize the Seahawks for a little bragging, given their storied tradition of wins and championships?

            "2. Who's Richard Sherman?"

The most memorable popup ever?

            The longer version will come later, and my God, I've never been more exhausted from a popup.

            Yes, the Braves got screwed by a call. It happens. Every game, every day, everywhere.

            No, that in no way cost them the game. It only made it tougher for them to dig out of the hole they completely dug for themselves by themselves. They still had the shovel. And, after that play, still had runners on base that they didn't advance them.

            Again.

Adults: worst thing about kids and sports

            Yet again, the worst thing about kids' sports are the adults.

            A 10- and 11-year-old team in California is being accused of a kids bountygate. The Tustin Junior Pee Wee Red Cobras apparently were offered cash – hell, what happened to ice cream or pizza? – for big hits and knocking out other players.

            Wow.

            That'd be funny if it wasn't so absurd. We see what happens to adults with too many concussions. The noggin of a 10-year-old is still forming itself. To inspire the bruising of another kid's head?

            Man, those involved should be forced to watch a youth sporting event while bound and gagged. Such dirtbags can't help but meddle.

            And are we to believe that parents knew nothing about this? Parents are good at knowing nothing, but this is doubtful.

            Roger Goodell said there will be no replacement team, and the kids are being suspended with no Spongebob or Xbox.

 

CALL THE BOOKIE REVIEW

            Bowling Green plus 22 at Va. Tech:

            That was the Va. Tech we're used to: come out pissed off and hammer away. Hokies won 37-0 and easily covered the 22.

            UTEP plus 16 at Wisconsin: Wisconsin will not be playing for the Big 10 title, and yes, more assistants may get fired before the season is over.

            UTEP went into Madison and gave the Badgers a conference-level game before losing 37-26, and, dammit, covering, which means Wisconsin didn't.

            Again.

            We interrupt this to note that Duke was a 24-point favorite aaaaand pushed, winning 38-14.

            Eastern Michigan plus 28.5 at Michigan State: "The Spartans should have a first-quarter hangover after staggering to the 20-3 loss to Notre Dame."

            Unfortunately, the hangover pretty much lasted all game, and the Spartans needed 14 in the fourth quarter to muddle past EMU 23-7.

            We interrupt this guessing to point out that Northern Illinois, of the MAC, was a 10-point favorite over Kansas, but only won by 7.

            Missouri plus 9 at South Carolina: The Gamecocks are on a roll, and the Tigers are on a learning curve.

            USCE cruised 31-10, as expected.

            LSU minus 19.5 at Auburn: The Les that drives folks crazy was back on The Plains.

            LSU won 12-9, could have easily lost with better timeouts management and decent quarterbacking.

            Of course, it's all part of Les's plan to lull everybody else into a sense of overconfidence.

 

            Don't touch: Florida -23.5 vs. Ky (Florida 38-0: UF followed up, UK's coaching search has started); Arkansas -2 vs. Rutgers (Rutgers won by 9: good seats increasingly available in Fayetteville and Little Rock the rest of the year); Clemson plus 14 at FSU (Florida State 49-37: I believe, Noles, I believe; but Clemson ain't done yet) UGA minus 16 vs. Vandy (Georgia 48-10: am starting to believe in the Dogs).

            Bonus: Cal plus 15 at Southern California: The Trojans got 10 n the fourth to cover by 3.

            I'll take it.

            Record: 2-3 for the week, 6-9 for the season.

            Come onnnn, October.

 

CALL THE BOOKIE THIS WEEK

            Baylor getting 11.5 at West Virginia: The Mountaineers struggled against Maryland, who they should have hammered.

            Baylor barely got past Louisiana-Monroe.

            WVU hasn't flexed in a week or two. Prepare for flexing.

            Take the Mountaineers and smile.

            Penn State getting 1 at Illinois: Hold on there, bubbaboyyy.

            Illinois, of the Big 10/11/12, got beat 52-24 - that's 28 points - Louisiana freakin Tech. At home.

            Both teams are 2-2 overall. Penn State should be 4-0. The Lions might not match LaTech's romp, but it'll be close.

            Take the Nittany Lions and a point and giggle.

            La.Monroe giving 19 to Tulane: How bad is Tulane? Good grief.

            ULM is 15-7 against the spread against losing teams, and Tulane is 17-38 against the spread in the last 55 on turf.

            Yeah, I got analytical.

            It's a lot, and it's at Tulane, but apparently the Wave are that bad.

            Take ULM and 19, but you'll sweat it out.

            Tennessee getting 14.5 at Georgia: Holy crap, here we go, a Georgia game, and a rival game against a team that pretty much needs a win, or least a quality effort.

            And would a 14-point loss to the No. 5 team in the country count?

            Derek Dooley is under more heat than he should be, and losing by 17 or 21 to Georgia but playing well is OK.

            Georgia is getting a swagger. Richt is playing info games and leaving starters in longer than he should.

            Take the Pooches and 14.5.

            Clemson giving 7 at Boston College: BC is a comical program.

            Arrogantly left the Big East, where it wasn't doing much, for the ACC, where it's doing less.

            Clemson gave Florida State three good quarters, so the Tigers know they can play - at least on offense - with a national title contender.

            BC can't even contend for the New England title.

            Take Clemson and, after a moderately sluggish first 20 minutes, the seven and guffaw.

            Don't touch: Texas A&M minus 13 vs. Arkansas (at some point, Arkansas will get it together; and A&M hasn't played anybody since Florida); Central Florida giving 2 to visiting Missouri (wow, Missouri is really impressive in the SEC, being an underdog to a team that did beat a crappy Boston College team by 27 early last yearr and then lost to a crappy UAB team six weeks later);

             That's five games without even hitting the dinnertime schedule.

 

LOUGHDMOUTHINGS

 

            It almost would have been quite a magical and shocking baseball season.

            Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the postseason?

            We almost had it.

            Baltimore has the lead in the AL wildcard.

            Unfortunately, Pittsburgh ain't gonna make .500. The Pirates got no-hit on Friday and are five games under with five left.

            Baltimore's season will continue, and Pittsburgh still had a nice and surprising season, a sign that at least the Pirates are progressing. ...

            So, college football playoff lovers, as it stands, two teams from the best conference are on the outside, as is the team that gave Oklahoma its fourth home loss under Bob Stoops.

            Indeed, it is mighty clear that Alabama, Oregon, LSU and Florida State are the four playoff teams.

            Georgia, South Carolina, Stanford, WVU, etc.? Suck it up. The people demanded the clarity and fairness of a playoff, and they got it.

            Well, until Notre Dame starts sniffing the top 5 and it's late November. Then an already paranoid nation becomes more so. ...

            The Phillies deserve something of a high-five for their second-half of the season. Nobody expected them, even with Ryan Howard for awhile, to suck so bad, but they made a run at the wild card and can finish above .500.

            Considering where they were, that's an accomplishment. ...

            Funny – and not surprising – how anti-union people were suddenly for the NFL refs union. ...

            UAB challenges Ohio State, UTEP pesters Wisconsin, Central Michigan wins at Iowa, Eastern Michigan hangs around Michigan State, Louisiana freaking Tech abuses Illinois by 28 (28?).

            Big 10, meet ACC. Now, both of you, head to the psychiatrist office. ...

            We'll have Southern Cal back in the top 5 soon enough, and West Virginia might be the national championship wildcard.

            And yup, them Georgia Bulldogs are a legit national contender. That, in reality, wasn't the case a few years back.

            Right now, South Carolina matches up better with Alabama – yup, looking ahead – in the SEC champeenship because of the swagger of its head coach and players.

            Georgia is slowly getting some of that pep in the step.

            As it is, the UGA-USCE game has national championship implications. Who'd have ever thought that? ...

            Have the Atlanta Hawks done anything this offseason? ...

            Let's note this.

            In the AP poll: Stanford, TCU, Louisville, Mississippi State, Rutgers, Boise State and Baylor

            Not in: Michigan, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State.

            And Louisiana Tech is getting more votes than Miami and all but three ACC teams.

Speaking of which, Ohio State will be out of the top 25 before college basketball practice starts. ...

            As for the refs formerly known as replacements, thankfully, that's over.

             A couple of the scapegoats, er, refs sat down and talked about it. It's enlightening, for those who actually can handle being enlightened.

            And for all of the idiotic fans out there, I wish their dad was a ref for a day.

            One other things for the dinbgats: would they rather have not had football than have officials who got it right more than the paying customers do in their jobs? ...

            Reggie Wayne of the Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel looks at a different version of bumping:

            "A video of NASCAR driver Tony Stewart grabbing the rear end of Kevin Harvick's wife caused a ruckus last week, but Stewart explained it's a friendly joke that's been going on for years.

            "Incidentally, that's not the first time Tony Stewart and rear end has been used in the same sentence."

            Let's skip the "get off the replacement refs' ass, they've had all of two days on the job" sermon and go straight to the field.

Falcons already look primed for playoff run

 

            Sure, it's been only a week and one game.

            But this is the new Falcons.

            Good riddance to coordinators Mularky and VanGorder. The massive differences in coordinators was evident from the start. Atlanta took a little bit to get going, and Kansas City matched the Falcons for the first half.

Call the bookie

            It's safe to say that New Orleans will do its best to not annoy Roger Goodell, now that he's been overruled.

            Somewhere, David Stern is smirking, "Let somebody try dat shit with meeee."

            It may be a loss for Goodell, but it's also safe to say that the NFL has gotten the point across on bounties and that kind of stuff.

            Of course, the level of paranoia we can expect from the Saints and moreso Saints fans will be nice and high.

            We are, you know, a country of paranoia.

 

CALL THE BOOKIE

            Five to make money on:

Welcome to the SEC, Mizzou; better get some ice

    

            The great thing about the first weekend of football is that we finally get a little idea about how good or bad teams are.

            The bad thing is, as the country is increasingly wont to do, the raging paranoia on one side or the other.

            Georgia's inability to really sock it to Buffalo has a fair number of Dog populace worried. Winning by only 22 points isn't terribly surprising, considering that Georgia usually is slugging against inferior teams and wasn't anywhere near 100 percent firepower.

            There were going to be issues. And, of course, there's the fact that most fans don't know much about teams outside of their conference, stat and brain. Thus, they don't know much about the vast majority of teams, like Buffalo.

Tee that bad boy up

            It's a little more humid than we'd like, especially after some fall-like days the past few weeks.

            But football's here.

 

LOUGHDMOUTHINGS

 

            Grew up in Pa., never was a Penn State fan, and as an adult, never even close to a Joe Paterno fan. Certain arrogance in Happy Valley.

            But again, I find myself sort of pulling for them a bit now. I like Bill O'Brien, and think Penn State got scuhrewwwed by the NCAA. People are making more of certain things than are necessary because it sounds good.

            And my bet is that Penn State will emerge from the four years with a winning record. ...

            Dear ESPN,

            Enough with Sparty and Meeechigan every freakin time you mention Michigan State and Michigan. Please, I'm begging you. It's not funny or cute or creative or indicative of personality.

            It's lazy. It's like every Berman reference to music is pre-1988 and his "oh yeah, this just in, ______ is good" and, well, every blasted thing he says. ...

I keep hearing this: Les Miles will reinstate Tyrann Mathieu next year.

            Really? Even Miles knows that would cause all sorts of hell.

            That's a little different than Richt-like compassion and simply helping a player. It would be disruptive as hell, and by October, LSU will have completely moved on from not having Mathieu. ...

            As I scroll through the cable guide, it says "college football" on five channels in the first 60. Sweeeet.      

            Quick picks:

            Buffalo at Georgia: Those playing for the suspended get plenty of playing time, and even their backups will. This shall make life better next week and all season.

            Georgia 65, Buffalo 13.

            Clemson vs. Auburn: Sources report that Auburn defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder is a candidate for the job at, OK, any one of 47 teams that have yet to announce an opening.         

            Clemson survives without Sammy Watkins.

            Clemson 24, Auburn 17.

            Michigan vs. Alabama: For some inexplicable reason, I almost want to pick Michigan.

            Playing indoors helps Michigan, which is pretty hungry. Both teams are without a few folks.

            OK, logic returns.

            Alabama 28, Michigan 17.

            That's all. Kickoff's here.