Superlatives from the first 5 SEC bowls
We’re five games in on the SEC’s bowl season, and it’s time to announce our first batch of superlatives.
Best Pharaoh Since Ancient Egypt: Pharoh Cooper
As South Carolina concluded a 6-6 regular season with a nice bowl win over Miami, the star of the game was Pharoh Cooper who went for 178 yards on nine catches. Cooper spent the Independence Bowl making the Miami secondary look silly and reminding SEC fans why he should be one of the top SEC playmakers in 2015.
Frankly, my only concern with Cooper is the fact that fans and the media are not fully utilizing the name of Pharoh Cooper. Can we get a good nickname for him before 2015 kickoff? At a minimum, can we start crafting better sentences when mentioning Cooper? For example, Pharoh Cooper plagued the Miami secondary all night. Or, Pharoh Cooper’s legacy is embalmed forever at the Independence Bowl. You get the point…
Most Hated Human Being: Michael Richardson
At first, I thought Twitter was going crazy about the actor who played Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld beating up on West Virginia players, then I saw the clips of some of the most laughable and inappropriate tough guy moves that I’ve seen in a football game in some time. Apparently as we cross over into 2015, not everyone yet knows that cameras catch basically everything on the field of a football game. Michael Richardson is now aware. Maybe he’ll go on to do something awesome, and eventually we’ll have a 30 for 30 on the story of this former-Texas A&M-player-with-medical-scholarship-turned-student-assistant. Probably not…
Best Postgame Comments: Les Miles
After losing to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl, the topic at hand was the possible departure of LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis to Texas A&M. Les Miles did not dodge the question:
Miles on it losing Chief to A&M would look bad: "I don't know how it looks, to be honest with you, nor do I give a damn." #LSU
— Ben Love (@BenLoveTSD) December 30, 2014
Biggest Freak: Leonard Fournette
LSU lost the game, but Leonard Fournette succeeded in reminding us that he has the potential to be the best in the country. Fournette lit up the game with a 100-yard kickoff return as well as an 89-yard touchdown. Why isn’t this guy permitted to go to the NFL again? He sure looks ready.
Worst Blown Call: LSU Fake Field Goal
Les Miles pulled out a fake field goal as the first half came to a close. The play was called down short of the goal line, and after the refs reviewed the play, the call stood due to lack of clear video evidence. Regardless, it was a blown call that hurt LSU mightily.
Biggest Surprise: The Texas A&M Run Game
Aggies running back Tra Carson had the first 100-yard rushing game for Texas A&M since November, 2012. Trey Williams also had a nice game including the following touchdown run:
As a unit, the Aggies rushed for 235 yards against the Mountaineers.
Roughest roughing the kicker penalty: West Virginia Kicker
No comment.
Best Twitch For Bowl Season: Bielema’s downward horns
The internet thoroughly enjoyed the photo that circulated of Bielema doing a “downward horns” sign while shaking hands with Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong. Later, it was widely discussed that the photo was photoshopped.
During the Texas Bowl, ESPN got to the bottom of the supposed photo when they caught Bielema doing a hand twitch revealing the downward horns sign. Check out the video below:
Most Overused Gesture: The Manziel Money Sign
When the backup West Virginia quarterback is throwing up the Manziel money sign after a touchdown, you know it’s time to retire the gesture. As Manziel flushes his NFL career down a Cleveland toilet, it’s time to throw the money sign gesture in with it.
Most embarrassing performance from a team not coached by Bob Stoops: Texas Longhorns
My theory is that Charlie Strong’s Texas squad was completely psyched out by Bielema’s beard, but whatever the reason, the Texas Longhorns had a miserable performance against Arkansas in the Texas Bowl. The Longhorns managed 59 yards of offense the entire game against the nasty – I repeat, nasty – defensive front of the Razorbacks.
The best news of the day for Charlie Strong was that the other Big 12 power, Oklahoma, got annihilated by Clemson down in Orlando. Well done, Big 12.
Biggest Freak Not Named Leonard Fournette: Nick Chubb
Nick Chubb matched Fournette’s bowl performance with some stellar numbers (267 rush yards!) and some impressive touchdown runs including the one below:
The Most Danny Kanell Tweet From Danny Kanell
Congrats on the SEC going 3-0 to start the bowl season. Against teams with a combined record of 19-20. Wow. Impressive.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 30, 2014
We love Danny Kanell.
Most Public Firing: Sumlin’s Pool Guy
You just lost your job!RT“@mcfarlandrk8: Just cleaned Sumlin's pool. Saw him on the phone, hopefully with our new DC!”
— Kevin Sumlin (@CoachSumlin) December 30, 2014
Enjoy the rest of bowl season!