U G L Y we aint go no alibi

The worst season continues For the Seminoles, who were destroyed on Friday night by Boston College…in football. There were no silver linings, just complete domination. This team has quit on Jimbo. The FSU roster is full of highly touted “4/5 star” players, who are losing to teams with 2 and 3 star talent, without anywhere near the depth.

For the Gators, who were blown out by a very good Georgia team in the Cocktail Party. Franks still looks tentative and in way over his head. It was so bad, that on Sunday the University of Florida fired the coach. The same coach who took them to Atlanta in his first 2 seasons, to play for the SEC championship. What have you done for me lately? The impotent offense cannot be tolerated in Gainesville and coach did not endear himself to the orange and blue faithful, nor the administration.

He also spurned the old ball coach’s offer to consult on the offense. Not cool and not a good career move. Spurrier revolutionized the SEC with his aggressive offenses and at a minimum could have helped. Oh well.

Ohio State played a fantastic 2nd half and especially 4th quarter to come back and beat Penn State. Not a fan of OSU, but that was clutch football. Still think their loss at home to Oklahoma should keep them down lower than they are…Notre Dame handled NC State and again, as much as I hate to admit it, played like a Top 10 team…dang it.

Tennessee again found a way to lose a close game. Would of, should of, could of. Butch has lost this team, but the error of margin is so thin, that this team could EASILY have a stellar record. The games against Florida, South Carolina and now Kentucky, all could have gone the VOLS way, they were that close at the end. Then UT would be 5-2 with losses to Georgia and Alabama, the #1 and #2 teams in the nation. It is not only the losses, but how they keep finishing weak that will cost Butch the job… I heard from Durham that the Firebirds beat their strongest opponent to date, and now are off to the playoffs. The only highlight of my football weekend was the Friday Night Lights variety.

Crestview beat arch rival Niceville 35-14 at the fish heads home bowl. That wrapped up the district title and the highest seeding in the Panhandle for the 6A playoff bracket. The updated MaxPreps rankings shows my Bulldogs as the #159 in the country and 18 in the great state of Florida. I’m confident that this is the highest ranking WE have ever attained. The LAZ index, a Florida power rating, has CHS up to #17 in the state, all classes combined. Finally, they have had Niceville in the top 5 all season, in spite of the thrashing they took in Texas. Watching on Facebook is fun, as all the other viewers can provide comments and “howdy” to everyone else. A virtual reunion of sorts! All sorts of folks from my hometown, and a lot of names are recognize and remember, even though I left 39 years ago. My dad played for Crestview, my uncle Harold was the starting center on the basketball team and played football. My cousin Rick Jellison and I played at the same time, as did cousin – law Greg Boshell. Mike and Mark Josey, Larry Josey, on and on. My ROOTS are planted deep down there.

Also down in Florida, Mt Dora Christian Academy continues their best football season ever, still undefeated and on to round two of the Sunshine Athletic conference playoffs. Locally, Friendship finished the regular season undefeated, as did Mt Juliet. Noah Josey and Brentwood Academy did the same. The smaller number of teams in Tennessee allows for quicker playoffs than back in Florida. The World Series has been fantastic! Hope it goes 7 and Astros prevail. The first weekend in November looks like this for me: Fly down to Florida on Friday night, while Crestview plays the International School of Broward (Ft Lauderdale), and crash in Cairo with the in laws. On Saturday AM, slide down to Tally to meet up with Tyler and Frank for the FSU game with Syracuse. Noles are 5-2… Excited to spend the time with the cousins, but expect a LOT of empty seats at Doak Campbell…I need some new stadium cups to annoy my wife. Did I mention that she and Autumn took our / MY Charlie Ward cup to Knoxville to use as the cat food cup. Talk about using a Rembrandt for a table cloth! How mean or ignorant can you get? Gators play Mizzu under interim coach Randy Shannon. DO not expect much fight from Florida, but hope I’m wrong. Bedlam, the battle for Oklahoma looks to be the best national game this weekend.

3rd Saturday in October

For a long time, the "Third Saturday in October" had a special excitement around it. Tennessee vs Alabama usually meant a great matchup. Not so much anymore. The demise of Tennessee and the domination of Alabama (not just Tennessee) leaves us with a lot less excitement around that spot on the calendar... Well, only one of my teams lost this weekend. Not a great slate of games this weekend, at least from my recliner, as the Gators were off and not Friday Night Lights (on Facebook) with my Crestview Bulldogs. Florida State is now 2-4 on the season, as they let the Louisville game slip away. Pitiful really. Jimbo Fisher then invited a heckling fan to come down out of the stands to face him…ugly in Tally. Hard to say exactly what is so wrong. Yes, the starting QB is out, but it is FLORIDA STATE, there are supposed to be 3 other guys (5 stars) just waiting to get their chance. Nope. Lamar Jackson, please go on to the NFL. Next up, a Friday night at Boston College.

Sorry Noles, but I am far more excited about the Crestview @ Niceville game. Cancelled all plans Friday night so I can cast this one on the big screen.

Last Friday night, I took in the Lebanon at Wilson Central game. Lebanon has been awful since I moved here 5 years ago, but they have really turned it around this season. I have now been to all the Wilson County stadiums for Friday Night lights. 19-7 Blue Devils by the way.

Gators had the bye week to get ready for Georgia, who also scheduled their bye week before the Cocktail Party. Line is probably Dawgs by 20, but I haven’t given up on Florida just yet. They have that “puncher’s chance”. About 3% worth, but better than zero.

Kentucky got steamrolled by Miss State and now they get Tennessee. Poor Vols and poor Cats. BTW, Miss State hammered LSU but somehow they are ranked below Bengal Tigers… Oklahoma squeaked by Kansas State and UCF continued its roll by beating Navy. Notre Dame destroyed Southern Cal dang it. Penn State demolished Michigan. Think about how good James Franklin is, he made VANDERBILT good! Penn State and Ohio State this week, should be a good one. The fighting Irish better not sleep on the NC State Wolfpack. Cmon Pack!

While Noles and Gators struggle, Miami remains undefeated albeit barely. To make matters worse for Tally and Gville fans, USF AND UCF are both still undefeated and ranked. The pundits think the Bulls are better than the Knights, but I don’t. I have watched them both play and I like the fire power that UCF brings every week. OH how I wish we had some of that offense in Gainesville and Tallahassee! The “War for I-4” will be for a bunch of marbles this season! It will be on the Friday night of Thanksgiving weekend! Winner hosts AAC champ game the next week in their home stadium.

Titans pulled out a very ugly w against the woeful Browns. Titans are average at best, but the NFL is a roller coaster ride. No Alabama teams in the NFL, that just crush the opponent every week. In the same way that if I sell stock, the stock price will immediately sky rocket, WHEN I drop a fantasy football player from my roster or starting line up, 100% that the players will have career day. EVERY SINGLE TIME!

DURHAM Road Trip

Durham: It was a football kind of weekend. Crestview steam rolled Fort Walton Beach 56-14. I didn’t watch the entire game, but a good bit of it on Facebook while sitting in my brother’s living room. On Saturday AM, we drove over to Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh and watched the Firebirds play the Raiders. Christian played a lot and played very well, from his outside linebacker spot – kind of a hybrid DE/OLB. Several good open field tackles! Terrific facility and it was a cloudy cool morning.

As soon as the game was over, Marty, Christian and I headed to Duke to catch the Florida State game. By the start of the 2nd quarter the fog had burned off and it was beautiful warm day. Duke is now 0-20 against the Noles in football, but this one was close to being that first W…Blue Devils are very well coached, but FSU is for some reason, not FSU. They held on to win 17-10 in front of a good, but ~65% capacity stadium, many of which were leaving long before the game was really decided. Guess they really are basketball kind of folks. Nole host Louisville this weekend. Hope they play a little better than they did last year, when Lamar Jackons won the trophy that night!

As we walked back to the car, I watched the end of the Tennessee v South Carolina game on my phone. Vols, as they are accustomed to doing, squandered a wonderful chance to win an SEC conference game. The freshman QB was pedestrian and the Vols Defense finally wore down. Horrible clock management at the end and the most puzzling part, was no RPO for this highly mobile QB, OR no touch for John Kelly (AGAIN) at the end. He is a ferocious runner, and not many guys tackle him one on one. Butch just can’t do what the folks in Knoxville need him to do. Great recruiter and probably a strong coach back at the Group of 5 level. After dinner, we loaded up and drove to Bunn, NC for the Firebirds SECOND game. It was over an hour drive and the Gator – Texas A&M game kicked off about the time we got there. Phone was recharged, so I watched the Firebirds live and the college game on my phone. Gators have a “pedestrian at best” QB in Franks and I am keenly aware of all the players that are suspended and injured, but would of could of should won that game, but didn’t. Bye week before the Cocktail party in Jacksonville. Georgia will be a huge favorite… The Titans kept me up late Monday night, but go the W over Indy. Up and down is the only way to describe them. With Clemson, Washington State and Washington getting upset this weekend, a lot of radio talk now about Notre Dame. What a free pass they get every year. Lost to Georgia by one at home and only good win is against Michigan State. Reckon I need some cheese with my whine. Also think Va Tech is over rated, but that guy is apparently a really good young coach. Their game with Miami will be for a place in the ACC title game. The New York Yankees have always been my LEAST fav baseball team. Their mercenary approach to buying championships is lame. However, a former co worker and friend of mine, KEVIN MORAN, loved his Yankees with so much passion. Kevin dies suddenly last week and so, in his memory, I'm OK if the Yankees win it all this season...

Dabo is my fav coach now. what a class act.

Notre Dame vs USC on Sat night. Can't stand Notre Dame (although that was Kevin's TEAM in football). They get some much free pass every season! Go Trojans!

I Beat Biddle and McGrotha

I Beat McGrotha! I did. Way back when in Tallahassee when Bill McGrotha was the institutional Sports Editor for the Democrat. Got my young man mug in the mullet wrapper in late 1988 when I was not yet 30 years old. Had 3 jobs and two sons. LOVED Tally back then!

 Last week I Beat Biddle. Biddle is a Sports something another for a Nashville TV station and he has a contest that I stumbled upon. So, I’m a pretty big deal!  For all the picking I’ve done (for a while I was in a snail mail “league”) and all the contests I’ve been in, I have never gambled on football. Well, I have bet on specific games with friends and family, but I have never stepped into the world of putting my money on the line, against the spread and all that good stuff. I think I would do pretty well, but I don’t want to mess up my enjoyment of the game worrying about a late pick six or field goal …

Rough start to ROCKTOBER Florida botched a PAT hold and fell to LSU by one in the Swamp. Boy do they miss Luke Del Rio. The tribute to Tom Petty was solid. If I were a gambler, I'd take A&M this weekend...sadly. Florida State came roaring back to take the lead over Miami with just over a minute to go, only to let the Canes zip down the field and win with 6 seconds left. They also dearly miss their QB Francios. No tears for UF or FSU, as programs at their level are expected to have depth at every position, including QB. Noles are 1-3…1 and 3…dang. The best news for me over the weekend was that Crestview steamrolled Milton Friday night. Spotted them 7 and then dominated. The FWB Vikings are next, before a bye week and then NICEVILLE!

Titans, also without their starting QB (theme right now isn’t it!) only put of 10 and lost to Fins 16-10. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Watched nephew Nate Baker coach up the GMC Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon at Austin Peay. GMC pulled away from Hocking College thanks to a couple of pick 6es late. Way to go coach! Here is Nate coaching up his Offensive line!

No report from Durham on the Firebirds, but rumors of player suspensions have been floating…Will get to catch them this Saturday, supposedly TWO games! Can't wait. Me and the Noles invade Durham...my 1-3 Noles... Oklahoma goes down to Iowa State…wow. Michigan goes down to in state rival Sparty, and Washington State straight up beats Oregon on the road. South Carolina looks to have found their mojo, just in time for a trip to Tennessee. Kentucky escaped Mizzu, in part thanks to a ref who WALKED to get the ball as the clock wound down… that was weird and ugly for Mizzu. JJ Watt and Odell Beckham Jr went down with season ending injuries… OBJ was my best fantasy player…toast!

Rocktober is here!

Rocktober is here! It was an awful weekend for football in the state of Tennessee. UT, Vandy, MTSU and Memphis got smoked on Saturday and on Sunday, the TITANS gave up 57 points to division rival TEXANS. I was in Texas all weekend, so while I flinched for the state, I was surrounded by Baylor and Texas fans in Waco. I heard the Durham Firebird won on Saturday (X2 according to brother).

Driving from Dallas to Waco, I was able to listen to Crestview High School again on Friday night. My Bulldogs beat up on Choctaw. I’m 56 and it is still fairly rare that we beat the big green Indians. The once feared Milton Panthers are next on the schedule. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ The Gators were in a battle with Vandy, but managed to pull away. WE lost Luke Del Rio for the season, dang it. He was our best chance, not from an athletic perspective, but from an understanding of the game. Now, we go back to Franks. LSU comes to the Swamp on Saturday afternoon, reeling from losing to TROY…yep.

Florida State sucked up the field most of the day, but somehow squeaked out a W vs Wake Forest. Noles looked pitiful. Can’t blame it all on the rookie QB, because the running game was lame. Up next, the CANES come to town! Miami beat Duke in Durham, so look out…I simply don’t have confidence in this Jimbo lead bunch.

On the National scene, it is still Clemson and Alabama at the top of the heap. Nobody in the ACC is close to Clemson, as they showed in Blacksburg. In the SEC, Auburn and Georgia are the closest to Alabama, but not really. The Tide is SO much stronger, deeper and better coached…

Southern Cal lost to Coach Leach’s Washington State Cougars, so drop them and Sam Darnald. In the big12 (with 10 teams) Oklahoma and TCU are the unblemished. The PAC now boasts only Washington (very well coached), while the big 10 (with 12 teams) has Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin still undefeated and Ohio State with a strong 1 loss roster. My opinion is that Wisconsin is good but not great, but will be in the Championship game (conference). Which coach gets fired first? Butch or Ed? @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ On a rare Sunday college game, I will go to Clarksville, TN (campus of Austin Peay) to watch Georgia Military play Hocking College. Go Coach Baker!!

Anchor Down and FSU out of Top 25 Vandy poked the bear and got flat out demolished. I expected a better game than that…

FSU just got whipped at home by a good but not great NC State team. And, while bummed, I was not at all surprised. Sad but true... Florida continues to be the luckiest team in the country and I feel a little bad for Kentucky fans…At least Del Rio will get the start against Vandy. Probably not as strong an arm as Franks, but a much more confident QB. Vandy will be tough Saturday, despite how awful Bama made them look. The suspended players now have felony charges...oh boy... Empty stadiums in some college football venues, as we fans are indeed fair weather at times, not just the climate of course.

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* The real issue to address is the NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. When Kapernick did it, it angered me because I considered it a publicity stunt. I will have a hard time not thinking of him as a punk and do not think he is good enough to be a NFL QB, but I’m not a GM. Then the CHIEF EXECUTIVE TWEETER got involved. NEVER has democracy had a leader determined to polarize a country than this. I guess Mr. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation riled up some folks, but good for Abe. After the tweets, I’m all for the NFL folks to do what they want, just to spite this Tweeting Donald. I’m a patriot and I sure wish they would find another way to make their point, other than “defiling” the national anthem. But, they have the right, as long as their employer(s) allows it. I long for leadership that UNITES this country, and it appears that we are at least 3 ½ years away from the possibility. Use terms like “SOB” in private if you must, but don’t tweet that crap. This from a man who says “punch her in the pu***”. And somehow has so many of the far right worshiping him…God help us. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& In prep ball Mater Dei continues to roll and hold onto the MaxPreps top spot. If they run the table with that schedule, they get my vote. The IMG all star team is #2 and have just as impressive a resume. St Thomas Aquinas and Grayson out of Atlanta also have #1 caliber schedules and resumes. Crestview beat West Florida, who was ranked higher and favored, so at this point, it sure looks like my Dawgs are one of the better teams in north Florida (Navarre and Niceville will have their say eventually). Speaking of Dogs, Georgia showed Miss State who the big dogs are in the SEC. A trip to Neyland will not likely be fun for the Vols, who barely escaped UMASS… in football. The Firebirds won big!

Also in Durham, the Dukies beat rival UNC over the weekend and now they get MIAMI on a Friday night special. Trip to Tejas on the weekend agenda!

Vols and their Achilles BOOT OR: POOR OLE ROCKY TOP…

Years ago in this blog, I would make fun of UT coach Fulmer (Fat Phil), and his replacement Lame Kiffin. At the heart of my ridicule was a rivalry, between the Vols and the Gators. UT was strong under Fulmer and not only beat the Gators from time to time to claim the East, but even beat the Noles in the national championship game (without Weinke!). Over time, Tennessee started sliding, starting with Kiffin’s short stay and then Derrick Dooley. Butch Jones came in and has recruited very well, every year. With the East down for at least the last 5 years, UT could and should made their way to Atlanta – at least the last 2 seasons. Even with Josh Dobbs on point, they could not get to the SEC championship game. Instead, we had Mizzu twice, South Carolina and the Gators the last 2 years.

I’m more familiar with the UT program now, having lived in Tennessee for 5 years. I admire and respect their fans and even have a VOL in the family, as my Autumn is a junior in Knoxville. So, it was OK when UT beat the Gators last year in Neyland, to get the oh for Eleven monkey off their back. I don’t have the same disdain that I used to have for the reasons stated above – they are not as formidable a rival and I really love many of their fans. I’ve been following college football for nearly 50 years and I can’t think of another series where one team (UT) just finds ways to lost to the other (UF), year after year. The beauty of football is that one play can make one coach the hero and the other, “burned in effigy”. No way Tennessee should have let the Gators heave a game winning 63 yard bomb on the last play of the game, but they did. Now, the VOLS have to beat Georgia in 2 weeks, or Butch is likely gone. Their schedule is rough, with Bama coming up, and both Kentucky and Vandy playing much better this season. Throw in a wounded LSU and it is going to be tough for UT… Florida got lucky, again. They are not a good offensive team, not be SEC or even CUSA standards. Jim is hard to figure, came into Gainesville with offensive guru reputation, but has not shown it at all so far. Florida fans want electric offense! We also want as clean a program as we can get, but it feels like weak control at best. 9 players suspended and possible felony charges on the way…ugly. Georgia is on the rise and FSU is not looking to slip anytime soon. An uphill climb for UF.

A trip to Lexington Saturday night is up next. The Gators are 30 and zero against the Cats in the last 30 tries…but I don’t think they can get to 31. Kentucky is better coached, even if they are not quite as talented. Vandy beat KState and it was what we expected. A defensive slug fest and a close game. Dores are impressing me with their fight and discipline, but the TIDE comes rolling in on Saturday…yikes. Clemson throttled Louisville and even without DeShaun Watson, I have them as my #1 team, right there with Bama. Oklahoma, Penn State, Michigan, Ok State and USC are all in the mix for a playoff spot, as is Washington.

Texas played very well in LA against the Trojans, so the future really will be bright again in Austin in a year or 2. Miami and FSU was postponed, so we still don’t know enough about either team in term of Top 10 worthiness…stupid Irma! Noles get NC State this weekend and better bring their A game.

Colorado and Washington and USC and Cal highlight the west coast action. Cal could be trouble… Arkansas and A&M play to see which coach can rival Butch for the hottest seat in the SEC… Mississippi State embarrassed LSU with a beat down and now get to test themselves in Athens against Georgia. Should be a dandy! TCU and Oklahoma State will be the premier match up in the big12… Michigan will have its hand full with Purdue, at least for 2-3 quarters.

IRMAgeddon and fantastic inter conference match ups

Stupid hurricane looked like it might wipe out my home state, so many games were cancelled, even in the areas that were dry and beautiful all weekend. No Crestview vs Navarre showdown, No Gator game (and they needed it) and no Noles game. Even this weekend’s FSU vs Miami game has been postponed…Disappointing but as a “Native” you can’t afford to take hurricanes lightly. I will say that I am OVER the media and their FEAR and HYPE machine… ********************** Weather permiting, Crestview goes all the way to Tampa to play T Catholic. That one should be a shootout of Arena football proportions! UPDATE: Cancelled  At least Concord DelaSalle and Bishop Gorman paly a good one. ************************************************************************ ********************************** *************************** Georgia pulled off the win at Notre Dame. Oklahoma crushed Ohio State at the horseshoe and Clemson showed that their “D” is playoff caliber. USC battered Stanford and South Carolina shut down the Mizzu offensive juggernaut.

After all that excitement, Week 3 is a letdown. Game Day will be in Louisville for Clemson’s visit. Was a great game at Death Valley last season… Tennessee going to the Swamp is easily my top game and it does not carry near the excitement it has over the years. Florida is simply weak and they needed to play that No Colorado in a big way. I don’t think UT is very strong either, but I see the Vols as a 10 point favorite on the road. That is how pitiful the Gator offense appears to be. Now, it could be that Michigan is Alabama in Maize & Blue and I do think there is some truth to that…Hope the rowdy reptiles are civil to Autumn and Clayton. The SWAMP is not known for being civil to visitors…

Kansas State and Vandy might be a dandy! Kentucky and South Carolina will absolutely have impact on the SEC East race. I’m also interested in the MTSU game against the Minnesota Gophers. After getting bullied by Vandy, the Blue Raiders won AT Syracuse…Texas is gonna get “laid” by the Trojans (as clean as I could word it) and Ole Miss going to Cal should be entertaining. Other than that, Power 5 vs sisters of the poor slate. ############################################################################################### The Durham Firebirds played last week, but nephew Christian was in New York for a wedding, so NO UPDATE :) My Top 12 on September 12th: Alabama Clemson Oklahoma Michigan Southern Cal Penn State Washington Louisville Oklahoma St Ohio State Georgia LSU

Great Weekend for College Football

That title applies to the past weekend and the upcoming one. Even though the Gators looked even worse than I was afraid of, and the Noles lost a really terrific young QB for the season, it was still an amazing weekend of football, capped off by the thrilling 2OT win by the VOLS over Ga Tech late last night.

There were ridiculous upsets – Liberty over Baylor, Howard over UNLV and Maryland beating Texas in Austin. Western Michigan gave USC all it could handle and so did Purdue to Louisville! There was the “one of all time” comeback with UCLA overcoming 34 point deficit to beat A&M! which I missed because I went on to bed… Alabama was Alabama. They are deep, disciplined and never panic. They don’t beat themselves. FSU played very well for 3 quarters and then got very sloppy. Special teams and make or break you! Ohio State looked human in the 1st half but pulled away from Indiana. Clemson may have lost the “once in a lifetime” Deshawn Watson, but that PROGRAM may be the 2nd best in the nation now. Oklahoma looks good, as does Oklahoma State. Michigan is going to have a say in the big10. They destroyed Florida, flat out destroyed them.

One of the best games of the weekend was South Carolina and NC State. Gamecocks held on, but both teams will have good seasons. Muschamp has a great young QB and I have to elevate them as a contender in the East. Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee, heck in Florida and Vandy. And Mizzu has the best offense in the East…

A quick high school paragraph. Crestview beat St Martin out of Mississippi and it wasn’t even close. Navarre this week, so it gets REAL! Mater Dei (sp?) beat the team in Vegas (Bishop Gorman) that won the last 2 national championships, so it is a shame that one wasn’t on national TV. IMG beat a strong team out of Cali. $$ $$ This week in college we get some more fantastic intersectional and big conference games. Auburn and Clemson is the big one for me, while Oklahoma goes to the horseshoe to play Ohio State. USC and Stanford is a dandy, as is Oregon and Nebraska. Pitt and Penn St, Arkansas vs TCU and Georgia goes to Notre Dame (I have to be Dawg fan this week).

My blog has been hard to prioritize the last few years, and the sad thing is that I am now in the “empty nest” stage. It is reasonable to assume that this stage provides me with MORE time to hammer out some narrative and predictions around high school and college football. I guess it always comes down to what we really feel is most worthy of our time…

With that precursor, I am excited about football season. This past weekend, there were several big inter-state high school games, and a couple of real live college games. Most of the televised prep games involved the big name private schools like IMG, St Thomas Aquinas, the one in Vegas, and the Cinci catholic powers. Here in Tennessee, we are already on week 3 of regular season prep football and after 5 years that is still “different” (early) to me. Thanks to this internet thingy, I can watch my Crestview Bulldogs on my computer. They routed PC Bay 38-2 to open the season and this week host Ocean Springs out of Mississippi. Should be a good one. Last November I was able to go back "home" and take my dad to the game against the Niceville Eagles (fishheads!) for the district championship. It wound up being in my top 5 football experiences of all time and I'm really glad dad got to go. He absolutely played a big role in me developing this rediculous love for football and it is something we still share at this stage in life. One of my earliest memories of live football (well 2) was uncle Harold playing for the Bulldogs against Niceville (who he later coached for). Last week I watched his grandson play for Brentwood Academy. The other earliest memory of live football was Choctaw and it was their band that was unforgettable. LONG indian headresses make an impression on a kid! When we moved to Lebanon, Friendship Christian became my team because my daughter was a “Commander”. They are off to a 2-0 start, while the school/team closest to my home, the Lebanon Blue Devils, is likely going to suffer through another abysmal campaign…Cousin Bryan has moved from the Borro, to Brentwood, so that football prodigy Noah could join the Brentwood Academy juggernaut. He is only a freshman, but Noah Josey is already the size Bryan was as a senior at Tate (Pensacola). Back in Mt Dora, the “Bible School” as it was called for decades has been renamed Mt Dora Christian Academy. They added football after Denton graduated, but this off season they constructed a very nice stadium, in a setting that is perfect for football (or soccer as it was back in the day). The big private school recruiting schools are intriguing to watch for the inter or cross state competition, as well as the collection of sick size and talent. But my heart will ALWAYS belong to the small towns where there is just a single high school and the “whole” town shuts down on Friday night to support their boys. I know it is fading like and old Norman Rockwell, but THAT is what made me fall in love with high school football. I’m so thankful that Okaloosa County did it so well, heck the panhandle did it well! Nice set up to transition to college. My passion for high school football is still sort of rare or at least a niche, and I’m cool with that. It keeps me talking to myself, as I provide narration through my days and my “story”. **** My college 2-team disorder (bi polar) is still in play and will always be. I guess it is kind of 2.5 team disease for another couple of years, as I do hope the Vols do well while Autumn is one of the VFL’s! Predicting football is silly unless you are a TV network trying to build hype, but it is also fun and tests one’s research, insights and prejudices. So here I go: The ACC unseated the SEC at the end of last season with Clemson beating Alabama, AND with FSU, Louisville, Miami, Va Tech and Miami playing really good football. It is no longer the Noles and the dwarfs, which was an apt description for a good 20 years. It is good for college football for the ACC to rise up, for the big11 to have more good teams than just Ohio State. It is good for the game when Oklahoma has some competition in the big12 (it still slays me that these conferences with such academic acclaim can’t count!). And it is good for the Pac boys to have some parity as well.

My projections for the ACC: Atlantic (and who knows the Atlantic vs Coastal lineup?) Clemson – Dabo has this program clicking. Destroyed Ohio State before the thriller v Bama FSU – loaded on defense, but will stumble a couple times when they shouldn’t. I’m sorry to say. Louisville – A bit like A&M, open the season like the Patriots and then fade down the stretch LAMAR… NC State – have a shot at really making a splash…IF they can get by South Carolina this weekend BC, Wake and Syracuse are not worth the typing. Coastal Miami – I don’t like the Canes, but Mark Richt will make Georgia regret it Va Tech – don’t think they are ready this season, but I like this coach. Pitt, Ga Tech and Duke. Will win some and even upset some, but not consistent enough. UVA… *** *** SEC, SEC, SEC East Who do you take? Not Tennessee. Maybe Florida and maybe Georgia with an outside maybe KENTUCKY. I’m leaning towards Georgia because of the schedule and the QB situation. Eason is better than any of the 3 that UF might trot out. UGA gets Auburn and Miss State from the West. IF they win in South Bend, I think it propels them to a momentum season. 10 starters on defense back. The Gators (ones not suspended) will beat some of the good teams, but until I see a real offense, I’m reserved at best. On the schedule side, if Michigan over powers them (my fear) I think we have a negative momentum situation. They get LSU and A&M from the West and that is tougher than Georgia’s draw, so even if they beat the dogs, could still be looking up in the standings. Kentucky plays with a LOT OF GRIT. Nowhere near the talent in Athens or Gainesville, but I just keep thinking they are going to rain on the parade in the East. They get Ole Miss and Miss St from the West, which might be the most favorable draw of all. Tennessee will be what? Better, the same? With Alabama as their every year West foe, the deck is stacked against them. I think last year was their shot and do not see them making it to the SEC CG anytime soon. Vandy and SC will be up one week and down the next and Mizzu will be down most weeks.

West Alabama is so deep and so well coached that they have to be at the top. Other teams have questions, even the good teams, Bama just doesn’t. Then it is this crazy free for all of really strong teams – Auburn, A&M, LSU and Arkansas. I guess Auburn will be the biggest threat to Bama and LSU has the talent, and there will be at least one game where Arkansas up and destroys a really good team and you just think “how do they do that every year but play so inconsistently the following weeks”? Ole Miss will be spoiler while Miss St just doesn’t have the depth to survive the gauntlet that is the SEC West. Bama vs Georgia is my guess. Hope it is as good as that same game 4 or 5 years ago! *** *** National picture Playoff teams – Alabama, Clemson, Washington and Ohio State Where are Oklahoma and Southern Cal you ask? Maybe in the playoff, perhaps probably USC, but I like that coach at Washington…and Lincoln Riley is so inexperienced…Penn State and Oklahoma State could find their way into the final four, as could Georgia if the breaks fall their way. I don’t spend time on the NFL. I watch when nothing else is going on and I try to be a fan of the Titans. After resisting for 10 years or so, I started doing fantasy football and while I don’t love it, I don’t want to stop either. There is so much more parity in professional football, AND it is so much more QB dependent at this stage in the evolution. That is why my picks look like this: Packers to win the NFC over the Seahawks, Falcons and Cowboys (maybe the Panthers). Patriots (shocking) should emerge out of the weaker AFC, over Steelers, Raiders and hopefully Titans (really not sure that they are all that yet, but they are in a weak division). Maybe Aaron Rogers will get to raise the trophy this time. *** *** Ed Cunningham. He up and quit his job this week as a college football broadcaster. Says the brain injuries that football is causing, is just too much for me to continue to “glorify the game” (my words). Very interesting. I guess I had at least a half dozen concussions playing football and I didn’t play past high school! I wanted my sons to play because I loved it so much and because I learned so much about myself. Now, I’m not so sure I will want my grandsons (if I ever have any) playing tackle football. Heck if heading a soccer ball is bad for you, big boy football is dangerous! *** *** My nephew Christian is 12 and plays for the Durham Firebirds. We plan to go watch him play in October. He LOVES football 

*** *** My goal is to hit this blog at least every other week this season. We will see. Go Gators (the ones that are not suspended) and Go Noles!

Football 2016 

Not counting the Cal vs Hawaii game down under last weekend, the college football season kicks off in a big way this Labor Day weekend. High School football has been going for a couple of weeks (depending on the state) and the NFL will start its regular season the week after college’s debut. Alabama is the kind of the hill, given their run over the last 5-6 years. Ohio State and Michigan are legit in a conference that really isn’t. The Big 12 has Oklahoma, but not much else (nationally). The Pac 12 has some good teams, but not one that is expected to stomp the rest. Notre Dame still gets preferential treatment and that stinks. The ACC may actually be the 2nd best conference this season and I have not been able to suggest that in an awful long time, if ever. With Clemson, FSU, Louisville, North Carolina and maybe Miami, the basketball conference has 4-5 teams that probably stack up really well with all the other conferences, except the SEC… Here is my take as the season gets ready to start (finally). ACC Clemson has Watson, who came oh so close to beating Alabama in the championship game last year. He is special. But they lost a bunch of quality players too. Dabo is proving he is the real deal, but if FSU’s QB is mediocre, I like the Noles in the big match up in Tally in October. Dalvin Cook is the best running back I have seen in Tallahassee in a long long time. Neither the Tigers or the Noles can afford to sleep on Louisville. They are dangerous. So are the Tarheels. IF UNC plays even a little bit of defense they should win their bracket of the ACC. Mark Richt and the Canes might be their toughest challenge, if that heralded QB throws to HIS team. Va Tech hired a bright young coach, but don’t expect him to be able to be too magical in year 1. Opening weekend we get UNC vs Georgia and FSU vs Ole Miss. SWEET!

SEC West: Alabama has a new QB and that does not bode well, but they have Saban and are 5 deep at every position. Every position. LSU is getting a bunch of hype, but I am not buying the Bengal Tigers. Les is on the hot seat and they do not have a proven QB. Fournette is amazing, but you still have to be able to complete a pass… I like Ole Miss and Auburn to give Bama the closest run for the SEC West. Alabama Ole Miss Auburn Arkansas LSU Texas A&M Miss State East: Tennessee is getting all the love as their opener with App State approaches on Thursday night. Georgia with Kirby Smart is getting some love and the Gators hope to be in the mix in the East. The Vols hype is legit. I think they are the deepest team in the league outside of Tuscaloosa. IF Dobbs is decent passing on 3rd down, I think Tennessee can win the East … and the SEC Championship. If Saban had Butch’s roster, he WOULD win the national championship. So, while Dobbs if my biggest question mark, Butch is the 2nd biggest. He really got tight in big games last year, and it cost the Vols, big time. Georgia has talent, as Richt did not leave the cupboard bare. Can the rookie head coach work magic? I’m a little skeptical, especially if they go with the true frosh QB.

Last year, UF surprised everyone by winning the East in Jim McElwain’s first year. They spanked Ole Miss and got lucky and upset Tennessee on a desperate 4th and 17…as the time was winding down. They the golden boy QB was disqualified for illegal substances. The Gators sucked after that, getting embarrassed by FSU, Alabama in Atlanta and then Michigan in the bowl game. A decent QB can make ALL the difference. BTW, the Gators have beaten Tennessee ELEVEN years in a row. ELEVEN. I only say that to remind the Big Orange to be careful. Neyland will be insane on September 24th! I don’t think Vandy, South Carolina or Mizzu will make much noise. I keep waiting for Kentucky to break through and close a season with a decent finish. Maybe this year. The SEC West continues to be much stronger than the East, primarily because the weakest teams in the conference are in the East. TENNESSEE Florida Georgia Kentucky Mizzu Vandy SC Tennessee will beat Alabama in the regular season, but then lose to them in the SEC Championship game. Coaching makes a big difference in college football, and there are none better than Nick. Big10 Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State are legit, although Dantonio lost a lot of his better Spartans. Nobody on the other side is that good, although Iowa will have a fantastic regular season record…because they play a weak schedule. It would be good if Nebraska became good again, but I have come to like the Gophers…

Big 12 Oklahoma has a chance to have a special season with Baker Mayfield slinging it around. Opening with Houston is not a layup and then the Buckeyes come to Norman. Kudo’s to Stoops for maybe the best nonconference schedule of all. TCU and Baylor will be decent, as will the Cowboys and Red Raiders. The question is what will the Longhorns do? Beat Notre Dame…please! Playoffs: Alabama vs Michigan FSU vs Tennessee Tennessee over Michigan…???? it could happen How about some High School football conversation? Opening weekend was fun, with a lot of interstate match ups. The all-star team in Vegas (GORMAN) is amazing. The rising allstar team in Bradenton “IMG Academy” is LOADED. They beat the #1 team in Georgia (Grayson) in a game billed as FL vs GA. Kind of bogus, as half of the IMG roster is from out of state. Mikee Jones played freshman and sophomore seasons at Friendship Christian here in Lebanon, but now is in boarding school down in Florida. I get it, but I don’t like it. I LOVE my town’s best against your town’s best. That is what I was raised and that is “pure”. Once we start letting kids go where ever they want, the innocence is lost. Oh well, the athletes are incredible, but we have lost something special with these all star institutions. The top teams in Tennessee have taken it on the chin against teams from Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia. Hey, Tennessee is a baseball state anyway. Just cheer for Goodlettesville little league!