10 things I'm absolutely overreacting to after Week 8 in the SEC
What a week, huh?
Alabama lost to Tennessee and Vanderbilt in the same season for the first time since 1984. Tony Bennett retired from coaching college basketball, leaving the ACC without an active NCAA title winner for the first time since 1981. Duke beat Florida State — in football — for the first time, ever. Indiana destroyed Nebraska, also in football, and is about to jump into the Top 10. Say it ain’t so, Tom O.
At least a few things were normal: Auburn lost again, SEC refs did their thing, and Kirby Smart again proved why he is the king of college football.
Those are among the 10 things I’m overreacting to after a wild Week 8 in and around the SEC.
10. Dawgs on top …
As boring and underwhelming as Alabama-Tennessee was, Georgia-Texas lived up to the hype.
It had everything.
The stage. The stars. McConaughey. There were big plays, backup QBs, building drama and missed opportunities. It also had the wildest officials’ reversal you’ll ever see … and even another strange special teams decision from Kirby Smart. (Really, I thought we were past that.)
Ultimately, it ended like just about every game Georgia has played for the past 3+ seasons: With a statement performance from Smart’s Dawgs.
I hope everybody understands that the only thing that prevented Georgia from 3-peating last season was the selection committee’s decision to stage a tournament without them.
The Georgia Dynasty didn’t go anywhere.
Except to Austin, Texas, on Saturday night.
10b. … but give it up for good ol’ Texas justice …
I’ve never seen this. Yes, the refs absolutely blew the initial call, but they blow calls more often than Jalen Milroe airmails an open receiver. That’s why we have review, after all.
How often do they huddle up on their own and change it?
Texas fans threw debris onto the field after an interception was called back due to pass interference.
The refs reversed the call after further discussion. pic.twitter.com/3PAgLcD1hQ
— ESPN (@espn) October 20, 2024
Well, it wasn’t all “on their own.”
Texas fans went nuts and started throwing debris on the field. While play stopped, Steve Sarkisian spent a good bit of it blasting every referee within earshot.
The refs then huddled, thought about it … and probably set an unintended precedent.
I laughed when they announced they’d reversed the call. I immediately thought I was watching a Saturday night version of “Friday Night Lights,” and tweeted this:
https://twitter.com/SatDownSouth/status/1847826581454033076
I’ve seen teams penalized for their fans’ poor behavior, but I’ve never seen one rewarded.
I’m sure no other fan base will try that …
9. The Playoff expanded, but not enough to include Alabama
It’s not even Halloween, and Alabama is done.
Miss me with arguments about how a 10-2 Tide team still could steal an at-large Playoff bid. This team ain’t winning 10 games, a’ight? Whatever remaining faith Tide fans had in Kalen DeBoer disappeared into the cigar smoke-filled haze — just like those Playoff hopes.
Wasn’t DeBoer supposed to be some kind of offensive whisperer? He’s setting a program record for incoming hero to hot seat. The fact that he arrived at this point faster than Hugh Freeze is remarkable.
Alabama’s offense is so lost it has put its entire future on the back of a 17-year-old true freshman wide receiver. Saturday, the Tide targeted Ryan Williams 19 times. Tide running backs ran it … 20 times for 64 yards. Unbelievable. That’s not balance; in a 1-possession game, that’s buffoonery.
No. 7 in the country? Are you serious? The Tide are closer to a 5-7 team without Williams.
The Playoff would have to expand to 64 before I’d put Bama in the field.
As for the Vols? Stay tuned. I mean, Vanderbilt had an easier time beating Alabama than Tennessee did.
8. Curt Cignetti is going to get a lot of coaches fired
Nick Saban used to be the serial coach-killer.
I always thought that was comical — firing coaches because they couldn’t overcome the greatest coach in the sport’s history. But that’s why Georgia fired Mark Richt, why Auburn fired Gus Malzahn, why LSU fired Les Miles, why Texas A&M fired Kevin Sumlin and Jimbo Fisher, etc., etc.
Want surreal? Watch what happens this carousel, where ADs at every underachieving/yet hopeful program look at their coach and wonder: If Curt Cignetti can win football games it at Indiana — In 49 states it’s just basketball … but this is Indiana — why can’t you get it done here?
Indiana’s rise is reaching historic heights. The Hoosiers are 7-0 for the 2nd time in program history. They could climb into the Top 10 as soon as today, a place they haven’t been in a full season since 1969.
With 7 wins, not only did they destroy Vegas’ projected win total (5.5) before Halloween, but they’ve already matched the combined total of Tom Allen’s final 2 IU teams.
There are probably 30 Power conference programs with furious boosters wondering how in the world they got passed by Indiana football, but it’s particularly terrible news for on-the-fence coaches Sam Pittman (Arkansas), Dave Doeren (NC State), Hugh Freeze (Auburn), Sherrone Moore (Michigan), Lincoln Riley (USC) and many others.
7. Speaking of Auburn and Freeze …
Tigers fans are over him, already and emphatically.
The questionable play-calling is bad enough, and losing to a team whose quarterback spent part of the game in the hospital is unique even by Auburn standards, but let’s remember this mess started with Freeze blaming what he inherited … which makes Cignetti’s overnight success at Indiana such a dramatic contrast point.
Bryan Harsin through 20 games: 9-11 (4-8)
Hugh Freeze through 20 games: 8-12 (3-9)
Harsin, of course, was fired after his 21st game.
— John Talty (@JTalty) October 19, 2024
That is all factual. This is unnecessary roughness — and probably targeting.
At least Hugh Freeze is a great guy and fantastic representative of our beloved university
— CJ (@Barner_01_) October 19, 2024
6. Doubt he’d leave, but Florida’s first call has to go to Dan Lanning
Colleges have spent the past decade-plus picking Nick Saban’s tree trying to find the next Nick Saban.
Turns out, Georgia did, in Kirby Smart.
Florida also tried to find its next Saban — 3 times, in fact — but that hasn’t gone nearly as well.
It should try a different tactic in its next search: Find the next Kirby Smart.
Dan Lanning, everybody, is the next Kirby Smart. And, almost as important, he is everything that Billy Napier is not. (Yes, we know Lanning spent 1 season as a grad assistant under Saban, but he developed his defensive prowess for 4 years under Smart at Georgia.)
In Week 7, while Florida fans were pulling out their hair over Napier’s play-calling, Lanning was pioneering against Ohio State. Want innovation? How about intentionally putting 12 defenders on the field in the final seconds, thus mitigating the chance of a big play, and happily trading a 5-yard penalty for 4 precious seconds.
That’s Spurrier-like, on the other side of the ball. Ohio State was so miffed about being out-plotted that it complained this week to add a rule — now — preventing it from happening again.
Lanning has everything he needs in Oregon and has zero real need to leave, but if I’m whoever will be making the decision on Florida’s next coach, I’m beginning and hopefully ending the search with Lanning … not Lane Kiffin.
Unless, of course, Alabama beats them to it.
And, no, Gator Nation, Napier didn’t save his job by beating Kentucky at home. You don’t want to reach a level where that qualifies as a breakthrough moment.
5. Predicting the 5 automatic qualifiers for Playoff
The 5 highest-ranked conference champions will receive an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff. After 8 weeks of ball, the picture is coming into focus:
- ACC: Clemson
- B1G: Oregon
- Big 12: BYU
- SEC: Georgia
- Group of 5: Boise State (Mountain West)
4. The SEC’s 3 Playoff teams are …
1. Georgia, 2. Texas, 3. LSU
Saturday night merely confirmed the order … and established the gap between 2 and 3.
Texas A&M is right there. The Aggies play LSU next week in a Playoff elimination game.
Tennessee isn’t far behind. The Vols’ Playoff hopes hinge on their trip to Georgia in Week 12.
Getting 4 teams into the Playoff remains in play, but somebody else has to emerge as worthy.
3. Coaches say the craziest things …
Kenny Dillingham said that ASU will be hosting kicking tryouts on Monday:
"Our kicking game is atrocious. If you can kick and you're at Arizona State, email me. We're going to have kicking tryouts on Monday … I'm dead serious."@DevilsDigest pic.twitter.com/tUsrZDP4Wi
— Justin LaCertosa (@LaCertosaSports) October 19, 2024
Arizona State missed 2 more field goal attempts in its loss to Cincinnati. The Sun Devils are now 7-for-13 on the season.
But is that really the problem?
ASU QB Jeff Sims was just 12-for-23 for 155 yards. The Sun Devils have thrown just 8 TD passes all season.
When are QB tryouts?
2. Parting thought on Tony Bennett retiring …
First, congratulations on a Hall of Fame worthy career. Bennett won more basketball games than any Virginia coach and brought the only NCAA Tournament championship trophy to Ralph’s House.
Also, it’s admirable that Bennett had enough self-awareness to step aside after realizing he wasn’t built for this new era of college athletics.
But here’s the thing about that: Really?
Terry Holland never made even $200,000 a year as Virginia’s coach. Bennett made more than $4 million last season. He was scheduled to make $4.2 million this season, not including bonuses, with guaranteed 5% raises through 2030.
Coaches never mind that part about the changin’ times.
I can just picture all the recent multi-millionaire coaches who retired, at least in part, due to the dynamic power shift in college athletics, huddled around the pool at one of their multi-million-dollar lake homes, whistlin’ tunes about the good ol’ days.
1. Seriously, FSU? Even Danny Kanell beat Duke … twice
Not sure what’s worse: Falling to 1-6 on the season with a coach you just extended through 2031, losing to Duke for the first time in program history — which marred your “official” 20-0 perfect start in the series (2 other wins were vacated) — or taking another L in the state of North Carolina.
Maybe the ACC ain’t for you after all.
“As boring and underwhelming as Alabama-Tennessee was, Georgia-Texas lived up to the hype.”
I didn’t understand this line at all. Bama vs UT was a good game.
It was a slop fest
Chris Wright is a hack. I was at the game and can say I was wore out after. It was an emotional roller coaster. Great win for the Vols!!!
The lead changes in that game alone made it worth watching, not sure wth that guy is talking about..
Being a fan that would have loved to see both teams lose, whichever team that was trailing at the time I was pulling for. It was one of the funnest slop feats I had the pleasure of watching so far this season. Braves1471, kudos to you and your fans in Neyland, that’s what won that game! The energy of the crowd was incredible
The most egregious think he said was Kirby Dumb is a good coach. He absolutely cannot coach. He has an embarrassment of riches, chokes often and blames everyone except himself. He is not just a very bad coach, he is an embarrassment to the SEC.
Hey moron, he went into Austin last night and shut that hype machine down. Were you watching?
At least this time he didn’t blame the fans, just the refs for making the right call. He got away with back to back targeting and offensive pass interference, then had the temerity to blame the refs. He has lost control of the program and culture, got away with assault just last week and the talent is carrying him in these games. Georgia should have destroyed Texas but barely won with the calls going against Texas. Kirby does less with more and he’s running out of people to blame.
Voltrain: You are terrific. I personally love the delusion and refusal to accept reality. You remind me of gwhite in so many ways. Bless your heart. Go Dawgs!!
When is Hype-L going to learn to recruit? If not now…when? Tick Tock
It’s not that he’s just a bad coach, it’s the way he goes about the culture. He blames everyone else. Nothing is ever his fault. 2 back to back targetings and an offensive pass interference in quick succession and he blames the refs? Mark Richt at least had the respect of the Nation.
UGA throttled Texas. I’d rather have watched the Bama v Tenn game.
I knew UGA’s D was gonna throttle that glorified Big 12 offense. With all due respect to Saban, the Texas OL is NOT built to win the battle against the UGA DL.
It was destiny for Texas to fall from their internal hype, combined with the fact that they finally met a superior team coached by a master. It couldn’t have played out any more realistically with a script.
Funny but last week one of these SDS writers said that Texas was unbeatable
I really like Heupel, but I’d take Kirby Smart right now any day. Not sure how anyone can say with a straight face that he is an “embarrassment.” Thats just stupid. Saban is gone…..Kirby Smart is now the king of college football. Tennessee/Alabama was sloppy at times, but to call it “boring?” I’m a Vol fan so I had an emotional interest in it, but sloppy games are not boring to watch to me. Sloppy is entertaining when it’s not your team providing the slop.
Kirby Dumb continually, repeatedly and demonstrably does less with more. He blames his own fans. He blames the refs. He attacks opposing players. He is out of control. His players are out of control. He lies. He whines. He cries. It’s never his fault. He is an embarrassment to all clean, good and decent folk in the SEC.
Are you high. Kirby couldn’t put together an offense if his life depended on it. 13 points vs UK? Kirby is the king of morons cry babies lol. Shoving players? Screaming at refs and players, while wearing a visor lol. Good defensive games are supposed to be sloppy moron lol.
It was a defensive game. They aren’t as fun to watch. It’s a slop fest to you because you saw two defenses that are better than UGA’s. lol And no one cares to watch friar tuck Kirby and his visor pitching fits and showing players while crying. lol After watching dismantle UK and score 48 on them vs UGA’s 13 points vs Texas, oh UGA is in huge trouble in Athens vs TN lol. That same Bama offense put how many on UGA in the first half? lol
Mediocre Florida held the Vols to 17 points in regulation on Rocky Top. UGA will shut them out in Athens. Book it!
Good game? Only from the rivalry aspect. And I love a jacked up crowd and the Vol fans were certainly that. But it was tough to watch with all of the penalties. Idk how many flags there were but seemed like about 100. The game had no rhythm.
But to say that UGA v Texas had it all? That game wasn’t even really competitive. Plus the fans basically threw a fit and overturned a call. I guess my idea of good football and yours (and Chris Wright’s) are different.
Both teams Texas and UGA isn’t what they were last year even. Both QB’s didn’t impress. Very few NFL throws and neither could run the ball much. Wasn’t impressed with either offense. uT’s QB’s are overrated and Carson isn’t a Heisman candidate. No real RB stars in this game.Lots of bad calls all night in this game as well.
If Carson Beck plays for a middle of the pack or lower NFL team, the NFL team will have wasted a draft pick and the money Beck gets…
Beck is fortunate he is the QB for Georgia; his success is based on many factors, factors that a sub-par NFL team isn’t going to have…
there are many…
many…
who could do what Beck is doing if they were quarterbacking the best team in the nation.
If Beck derails the Georgia train again this year, it will be an epic fail for both Kirby and Beck.
I agree, first half was painful to watch, 2nd half much more exciting. The refs were the refs, crummy as usual. Glad for the win, but another open date??
I snapped my fingers right along to every bad throw or other poor decision Milroe made.
My sneaking suspicion is that despite this transition period from legend to mortal, Alabama will be back in true form in 1-2 years. Think you’ve got problems? Try being a Gator right now!
It wasn’t like Milroe could just sit back there and wait for a receiver to break open.
That Alabama OL has serious issues. They make up for bad pass blocking with even worse run blocking.
I’ve written this multiple times on SDS: Alabama has the youngest roster in the SEC.
I watched Kayden Proctor get torched play after play and thought about all the Bama fans hysterical hype when he decided to transfer back to Bama for twice the money…be careful what you ask for. He was horrendous and Milroe’s blind side got punished by the UTV defense. Kudos to the Vols DC for exploiting that weakness.
Be that as it may, Nash, more than half of their starters are jr/sr. Add in, they seem to be the ones with the biggest discipline problems…and here are the results. But in time, CKD will have his type of players and Bama will become formidable again.
The way DeBoer is recruiting this year, it won’t take long.
Perhaps, but what DeBoer didn’t have to deal with at Wash was your entire 2nd team portaling out every year because they think they deserve more money and playing time…he will most certainly deal with that aspect more at Bama. It caused Saban to retire…can’t help but wonder how long Kirby can stand it. Tough when you vest so much effort in developing raw young talent, only to see them hit the revolving door faster and faster every year.
Alabama may have the youngest roster but Auburn has the youngest starters. Multiple true freshman start for them.
I get your drift Humper. Not much can be done about that until the conferences begin to share revenue and sign collective bargaining agreement with the players that limit TP movement.
There’s also a track record that’s beginning to develop, which Smart, DeBoer and others will be able to point to when telling those 2nd stringers that the grass isn’t always greener at another school. The Bear Alexander story is instructive.
Wright seems like another TEN/acc fan who is peeved he has to write about the SEC.
Really wish he could get his way and just… NOT BE HERE.
My takeaway from that game is Tennessee is a QB away from being the best team in the country, but as it is they’re just top 15 or so. Which is kind of strange since Heupel is (historically) really good at helping QB’s play better than they actually are.
My other takeaway is Bama (despite beating GA) is NOT a top 15 team.
It’s his first year starting and he is getting better. Nico has definitely been holding the team back so far. But yesterday he made plays to actually help the team win. Young players get better with time…just the way of the world.
I understand that, but right now, this year they’re a QB away. Next year he may be better but the team as a whole unit may not be what they are this season. That’s also just the way of the world.
I watched how many times yesterday Nico overthrew wide open receivers running behind their coverage and wondered how good he might be IF they “adjust” his throwing motion. Just get him to put a little less air under his long throws and the Vol passing game could be terrific.
Then, I recalled that overthrows were Bazooka Joe’s irreparable flaw. Good luck to Nico with that “adjustment.”
Players and teams get better in year (sometimes they get worse). Just the way of the world. You act like the team and player at week 1 is the same at week 10.
Nico is on schedule. Squirrel’s shoulder isn’t catching passes it used to. In a real game with the pressure on Nico hit a 50 yardish pass on the run to a target on the run. He followed that up with a touch pass TD in the corner.
He’s a 7 million dollar game manager that ran out of bounds with the game on the line
..and still beat Alabama.
But not Arky
well thats easily understandable as a fan of a team thats a good QB away from being a good team.
Excep Mizzou isn’t a QB away from being the best team in the nation, and we actually have a good QB, at least better than what TN has right now.
This is spot on booches. The hard thing to accept right now is that Nico was hyped to be the next coming and thats what we thought we were getting. He will good. I really believe that, but his development is well behind where it needs to be. Thankfully our run game and defense is great to but some time while they figure the passing game out.
Forgive this guy. He is suffering from BVS. Nico is an incredible talent and is on schedule.
See…this comment confirms my thoughts on them as well.
Call them cupcakes or over-hyped all you want, but the way that Tennessee started the season did (in my eyes) truly make them look like an elite team.
I still feel as if they have all of the pieces to be, and in many ways still are, but the biggest problem is that one of the most important players on the field appears to be (and maybe rightfully so) a player still searching for his confidence and footing.
It is just blatantly obvious to me that Nico is a redshirt freshman who is still figuring it all out, and like you said, I hate to see that happening when we have what might be our most complete team in a LONG time.
As a Vol fan, I hope this game gave him some confidence, but only time will tell.
On November 16th you’ll have a better idea of how far Nico will have come this season.
Quinn Ewers, with all his talent and experience, didn’t pass that test last night.
Georgia’s defensive game against Texas would have made it difficult for any QB…
a rusty Ewers, from lack of playing time because of his injury, looked like Nick Chopper the Tim Man; Evers was in need of some oil.
Arch Manning didn’t look much better when he went in there. Nico isn’t throwing as well as Arch and his OL is even weaker than Arch’s at Tx. That rabid Dawg D is gonna feast on that poor kid.
You do realize that Iamaleava is a freshman quarterback that has had some growing pains to work through, since he has only started and played in 8 games total, less than a full season, and only 4 SEC games. Heupel is really good at helping QBs play well, and I suspect that Iamaleava will be playing well sooner rather than later. He seemed to mature, and be much more effective after he was injured yesterday.
Top 15? TN doesn’t need another QB. TN needs that QB to be what he was on Saturday. Just good enough to make some great throws and plays. Don’t need a guy going for 300 a game. Just play smart. Stetson Bennett was just that and that’s all you need. Nico is every bit of the talent we and the scouts thought he was. Nothing’s changed that. He’s a Freshman who beat Bama and UF in the same season. Not even Manning did that in 4 years at TN. HE’s made throws not even Brady Cook have made. TN could be the best team in the nation by season’s end. Two more receptions over the last few games and that’s those are 300 yards passing games and around 30 to 35 points. He’s 6-1 and when you have a rushing game this good, rushing D this good and overall D this good, your always in the hunt. Top 10 team? Absolutely.
It was a good game, this writer is just trolling.
The first half was so sloppy I kept wandering off to do other stuff. The Vols’ D was the exception.
Gatorinbama, I agree with you, The first half was a slop fest, but the 2nd half was a really good football game. Nico started hitting passes and the run game came alive! If people like defensive games, then Tennessee’s “D” was great to watch also! I personally believe Napier is done @ Florida, but if he starts winning then you never know! One thing for sure that the reporter was right about is Florida going after Lanning, man what a get that would be, being a Vol fan, I would hate it! :)
SEC officials outdid themselves last night. And that’s very difficult to do.
They should be suspended.
Just win baby
Picking up where we left off, Dawgs2021…
facts about Kirby taking a knee and kissing Saban’s ring in the 2021 SEC Championship Game don’t need a source…
Kirby coaching like he didn’t care if he lost is the only source we need, to know Kirby was Sankey’s huckleberry in Sankey’s two-bit hustle that enabled them to use “selection” to rip-off every other Power 5 Conference in the nation.
The termites found a home on Dec 4, 2021, and the termites, doing what they do, have been busy…
rampant lawlessness in Kirby’s program…
Kirby telling everyone who will listen they tried to rob him, after Kirby received the greatest call reversal in the history of the game…
his antics on the sideline, acting like a lunatic, are eye-opening!
Grateful Saban did it with grace…
Kirby not so much!
Saban earned his given gold…
corruption gave Kirby his iron pyrite!!!
This was absolute truth. Every word.
Again, just win baby. And did you ever get that source Mr. Big Media Guy? And about laying down…what about the ol’ Ball State gameplan @GWhite.
But you keep on saying the same BS. When you get that source I’ll read it again, until then you seem to have nothing.
there is no source needed…
I stated a fact; Kirby’s docile demeanor on the sidelines of the 2021 SEC Championship Game, unlike his demeanor in any game he coaches, is what tells us that he didn’t care if he lost the 2021 SEC Championship Game.
Kirby was the huckleberry in a two-bit hustle that removed all doubt that the 2021 CFP Ponzi scheme scam was a boondoggle.
Who is this Saban thingy you are always peckergnatting about grrrtttzzzz, what team does he coach in 2024? I am not familiar with him…
The officials in the Mizzou/TAMU game a few weeks ago did the exact same thing. Called PI against Aggies, Kyle Field crowd went nuts. It was the correct call. Officials huddled because the stadium was booing so bad, picked up the flag. Replays showed it was obvious PI. What’s more amazing is how people are saying “I’ve never seen this before!!!” when it’s happened multiple times in this conference already this season alone.
Save democracy! Let the crowd decide the calls!
Like two wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner. Ah democracy.
That will lead to great outcomes!
Bring back Roman gladiators while we’re at it.
It Just Means More, in Texas!
Except, they didn’t throw a bunch of debris on the field which gave the official time to make the change.
No, we haven’t seen that before and it sets a bad precedent. Though I think the call was right, it shouldn’t have happened like that.
They didn’t throw debris on the field, but they were booing so loudly the officials eventually huddled up, delayed the game several minutes and eventually reversed the PI call with no explanation. So yeah, the exact same thing.
You literally say “they didn’t throw debris” and follow it with..”the exact same thing” Do you not understand what words mean?
Stopping the game while the ball is being placed, obviously distracted by the home crowd behavior folling the call, then hudling up and reversing PI call. This is not a new thing. Maybe it’s the first time they’ve done it AGAINST Georgia, but it’s not a new thing in the SEC. It’ll happen again too.
You have to be trolling. You can’t genuinely lack the discernment to know there is a distinct difference in debris being thrown on the field and the crowd doing what crowds normally do.
Or maybe you are genuinely dense.
No, the fact that officials have been distracted or even influenced by the crowd, stopped the game, huddled up and reversed a non-reviewable PI call to then be in favor of the obnoxious home crowd has obviously happened before. Throwing debris on the field has even happened before. Both will happen again. Sorry, but this incident really isn’t all that special, especially in the SEC.
Or maybe you feel so genuinely entitled you’re just shocked it finally happened against GA.
Are you nuts. The Ref announced the penalty. The ball was placed and the offense was huddled.
Bottles come down and while they clean them up and the officials decide to huddle up , while listening to TX coaches go crazy.
Please…
And what do you think happened in the game I mentioned above? I mean since you evidently watched it and saw something different, describe it.
Your hatred of everything SEC makes you delusional. Hope UGA gets you in the SECCG.
Mizzou won’t make it past a very flawed Alabama team next week. After that loss, stick a fork in ‘em.
Drinkwitz has a fair young staff and they are improving AT LEAST as fast and probably faster than he is. There is some defense for having every one of your assistant’s be better at their assignments than the head coach at any given assignment. He didn’t have his roster ready in week one and he is still improving but he and his assistants are handling some challenges with A grades. I honestly don’t know what their top end is but they have a lot more pedal to push down than the media blabber thinks.
Out of the 2 targetings and offensive pass interference infractions, which one is your favorite? The one they got right or the ones they got wrong?
@JTF: I said describe it. So, describe it.
OK, I just watched it on Utube (I encourage anyone who is interested to do the same). It’s not even remotely close to what happened @TX. The call was made, the REF walked down toward the action and the official immediately change his call. The penalty was never announced as PI and the ball was never placed at the spot of the foul and the refs never had a long conference a full 10 minutes after the call was made.
You’re being deliberately dishonest. That’s a shame.
@JTF: The only difference really was they actually got the call right in the GA/TX game by reversing it.
Pffff. Keep digging that hole.
No one agrees with you.
@Booches94
I believe you. I am becoming more and more convinced that some refs are deliberately cheating to influence the outcome of games. Not two much to hell a “favorite team” specially, but to help themselves now that sports betting is legal for college football.
Show me one time where the penalty has been announced on the PA and walked off then gotten reversed. Just one. We will wait chump
It’s golden…
to listen to Dawg fans talk about the officiating like they got ripped off; Georgia received the most generous, and most egregious call reversal in the history of the game…
and yet, they have the attitude of “What have you done for me lately?”
It would be humorous if it wasn’t so serious!
I already did. Pay attention chump, it’s actually free.
What happened in this case was:
Receiver using a push off to get open AND defensive back blocking the path AND holding the receiver to retain coverage. I think you have to rule in favor of the receiver.
Wow, if there ever was a game where the officials made every attempt to be noticeable. I’m no UGA fan, BUT, anytime you go into dkr you can expect things like that happen. Your team is always playing 22 guys and some jokers in stripes.
1. The PI or not??? Actually, I thought it could have been a ‘no call,’ a defensive PI, or even an offensive PI…yes, really. But what I can’t stomach is the, what, 5 plus minute, after bottles, and numerous replays, giving those character (refs) all the time they needed to overturn the call. Refs, at least have the cahones to stick with a call you made-and don’t use bottles or replay to make those kind of calls.
2. Targeting…WOW…Pretty sloppy and disjointed those were, huh? It’s one of those calls that really depends on what the refs really want to see as opposed to beyond reasonable doubt. Oh, by the way, when will offensive players be called for targeting since they, more often than not, lower their heads first and cause the helmet to helmet….I’m guessing that is a learned skill…coaches?
3. Taunting…yes UGA, your guys are very good at it. This is the SEC after all, but tu brings it to a whole new level….and they will always get away with it. It is the one thing they bring to the conference. I wonder what will happen when some opposing player does the horns down thing….
BTW…congrats UGA….you UGAd your way through it and got a big will!
Can’t wait until next Saturday, when the only 2 SEC unbeatens play…that should be another barn burner….
Anyone actually surprised that the lead referee has a child who’s a student at tu? Matt Loeffler should have recused himself from that particular game.
It was a great game. It’s all about media presentation. Texas and UGA combine for 7 turnovers, what elite defense. Bama and UT combine for 5, what atrocious offense.
“And, no, Gator Nation, Napier didn’t save his job by beating Kentucky at home. You don’t want to reach a level where that qualifies as a breakthrough moment.”
Agreed…beating UK at home shouldn’t be enough to save his job. Seeing Lagway play his first full SEC match-up however might be. Whatever it takes to get him to stay, we do. Bottom line. Hire Mike Norvell as OC…if it means Lagway stays, I’m ready for it.
I know it doesn’t match the SDS’s sacred narratives, but UF is improving and I’m pretty confident we get FSU at the end of the season. LSU/Ole Miss/Texas/UGA…how many of those does CBN need to win to keep his job? Will be interesting down the stretch as this UF team is actually playing better since the first bye of the season.
Agree on Lagway and new wave of talent. His ability to stretch the field is a game changer for sure. Starting two freshmen at QB/RB is real – Kentucky’s front seven is no joke.
I think the Gators have to win two of the next four, and beat FSU. That’s a tall order, but I agree we’re looking much better on both sides of the ball and keeping the faith! Go Gators.
“I’m pretty confident we get FSU at the end of the season”
I would hope so.
Well after UM and TAMU, I wasn’t so there is that.
Best to take nothing for granted right now, but if Napier can stay out of his own way …. we have a shot at 7-5. Realistically though? 5-7 and a new HC with some actual SEC level savvy on tap.
Lagway is playing better now that he is not looking over his shoulder. He can for sure throw the deep ball.
Going to need big balls not deep balls to save Napier though.
I fervently believe Lagway will be the next great college QB in the mold of Burrow and Stroud. However, if keeping Napier at HC is the price of keeping Lagway at QB, I wish the kid well at his next school.
Even with Lagway at his best, the Gators will NEVER win a championship with Napier as HC. Coaching to win high pressure, big time games (like at Tennessee last week,) is NOT in his DNA.
That’s where we’ll disagree. After seeing things like:
– Dilfer leading a team to a SB win
– Chizek winning a natty
– Orgeron winning a natty
I know that greatness (in the form of Ray Lewis, Cam, and Burrow) outstrips bad areas elsewhere on the team, even if that area is the head coach. DJ has it man.
The cryin’ shame is that DJ can elevate the team to play at a higher level commensurate with their actual talent, while the HC can’t.
Coach O assembled a great staff and recruited a monster of a roster and then let his coordinators play call, that’s the difference. Napier thinks he’s some offensive guru and insists on calling the game to the tune of head scratching losses.
Sunbelt Billy will get another shot in Austin three weeks from now.
That overhyped Texas squad is just as flawed as Tennessee. In fact, the Vol D is better than the Longhorn D, especially along the LOS.
I can almost guarantee that Billy will develop brain lock several times, go into his second half turtle shell and give away another close one, this time to Sark.
Vols defense is as good as any in the SEC including UGA.
Not buying that TN defense as good as any in SEC. Arkansas only had 277 yds total against LSU.
Surprise! Look who’s defense has gotten better.
Poptiger, I’d be truly worried about the LSU D if they had NOT held that pathetic Arky O to what they did.
On the other hand, the LSU O put on a playoff worthy performance against that salty Arky D.
The Bayou Tigers get their big test in College Station next Saturday.
He didn’t save his job, and yes DJ will make mistakes, and yes even with DJ at the helm they will in all likelihood lose to UGA and UT. But DJ showed a glimpse of what’s possible. He needs a real coach to help him develop in the intermediate game and process faster. Lanning and lagway would be the dream scenario. But I’d pick DJ and CBN over a DJ-less lanning led team, let’s just dream that lanning and lagway happens.
Hopefully CBN will be convinced to hire an OC for next year. Whatever faults CBN has, it’s impressive how he can hold a team together despite adversity.
“The Aggies play LSU next week in a playoff elimination game.”
Well, I don’t think that’s quite right. But yes, a win next week would maybe, possibly, get the Aggies out of this “honorable mention” category.
Another ridiculous take by Chris Wright.
The curious thing is that of all the one-loss SEC teams, only A&M and LSU are undefeated in SEC play. Given their remaining schedules, the winner of Saturday’s game has the inside track to one of the two spots in the SECC game.
Exactly. There will only be 1 team with a perfect SEC record this time next week. aTm has a better chance of running the table than LSU does with their respective remaining schedules, but there’s a decent chance we get a team at the end of the season that’s undefeated in SEC play, and it’s surprisingly not Georgia.
In the SEC, the schedule “just means more.”
UGA drew a tough slate compared to Tennessee, LSU, A&M, Texas, and especially Mizzou.
Mizzou will be eliminated by Alabama next week. UGA will eliminate Tennessee in November. That’ll leave the winner of next week’s game in College Station as UGA’s likely opponent in the SECC Game, because I believe Texas won’t survive their last game of the season in College Station with fewer than 2 losses.
UGAs schedule is the toughest but LSU isn’t that far behind at 7.
Hope y’all beat the Vols but stranger things have happened. It’ll be a real mess otherwise.
If LSU AND aTm both win out after this weekend, we could see them in a rematch for the SECCG…!?!
Well, you can see we at least respect LSU…can’t say the same for tu.
It’s just that Texas loves themselves so much they leave no room for anyone outside their own fan base to even respect them.
The number of penalties in Knoxville was ridiculous. Still not convinced Miami is a top ten team but at this point everyone looks beatable. Duke, BYU and Vandy fans are probably the happiest these days.
Miami is this year’s edition of last year’s FSU. Good ACC team, fast start, slow fade, working towards a disastrous finish when they play a real team in December.
With SEC teams cannibalizing each other and Miami playing ACC cupcakes, it’s hard to see them not making the playoffs, with or without a loss to Clemson in the conference championship game.
Where are all the yappy little Bammers?
“The SEC’s playoff teams are:
1. Georgia
2. Texas
3. LSU”
The order should be 1. Georgia, 2. LSU, 3. Texas (maybe)
LSU is going to run the table and finish 11-1. Texas on the other hand is going to lose at least 1 more game, possibly 2, depending on which Vandy team shows up.
You can say the exact same thing about LSU.. depending on which Vandy team shows up.
Why should LSU be number 2? Next week will most likely be a make it or break it game against TAMU and I have TAMU winning at home and being the dark horse playoff surprise. Don’t get too cocky talking about running the table just yet.
Well, if you were to re-read my post, you’d see I’m tagging LSU to run the table the rest of the regular season. That means LSU beats A&M. But yes, I’m not being cocky. I’m calling it as I see it. I’m seeing big improvements in the defense with each week. The offense stacks up well against any defense thrown at it because it takes what the defense gives it.
Agree with most. TN-AL was difficult to watch the first half, but the last two quarters were exciting.
Texas proved they had not played anyone and, after the first series, GA got their act together. I didn’t care for the post game interview with the drunk speeder Etienne. Keep that thug off the TV.
And no, Kirby is still no Saban.
“I’ve never seen this. Yes, the refs absolutely blew the initial call, but they blow calls more often than Jalen Milroe airmails an open receiver. That’s why we have review, after all.”
Chris Wright, the reason you’ve never seen this is, you can’t review a non-reviewable call. Unless you’re an SEC official who’s chosen sides.
The officiating was Atrocious and wildly one-sided. Texas was aided on both of their scoring drives by bogus pass interference calls, and their first TD was an illegal pick play. If I was Kirby, the next time I play Texas, I would call the same impossible to defend play, but then again, the officials would likely call it a penalty on Georgia.
Etienne was clearly across the goal line with the ball. It was easily seen on the replay, even Herbstreit and the announcer’s said so. The officials took that score off the board, which could’ve completely changed the outcome of the game. Oh, how they tried! Thankfully, Georgia still scored.
H E L L No! Nobody’s going to dismiss that illegal call reversal as nothing to see here…
It’s not even the first time SEC officials have huddled up and reversed a PI call THIS SEASON. It’s happened before and it’ll happen again. People who say they’ve never seen it before just don’t watch very much SEC football, and that includes a vast majority of SEC fans, unfortunately.
After the penalty was announced and walked off…yes it was
One thing for sure.
Ewers got beat the hell up. I bet he wishes TX had not pushed to get in the SEC a year early.
New theory…Texas was looking ahead to Vandy. UGA was a typical trap game. lol
That’s the best comment of the day, salute!
When SCAR smoked Okie, I thought maybe UTA might not be all that, the UGa defense validated that thought. Way to go Dawgs. Huge team win. Julian Humphrey is still a huge liability
You didn’t subscribe to the O’Gara “Texas and everyone else” narrative? You will be reported.
O’gara is from Chicago….enuff said, lol
Oh well, at least Auburn is consistent.
That was a dominant performance by ga, especially the ga D. A rude awakening for tx for what they are up against to win the sec. I don’t see ga losing another one honestly. UT found a way, again, but right now ga looks like a mountain too tall.
That UT D is special and been a long time coming. Heupel proved a lot of people wrong again on not caring about D. The recruiting has been heavy on D since he got here and it’s paying off now.
So much parity. The non-guaranteed playoff spots are up for grabs. 10-2 is no sure thing for anyone.
I don’t know anything about that Indiana coach but any coach who gets Indiana to 7-0 is worth a hard look. I still think Napier is gone and Riley may be gone at usc too. A few other big jobs and several good jobs at the P5 level may be in play as well. If I’m a G5 coach with a solid history I’m excited about my chances at one of those jobs.
I don’t see Auburn firing freeze this season but who knows.
Same for free shoes U and norvell. He probably has a huge buyout too so they may be stuck with each other for a while.
Hard to see lanning going anywhere. He’s on top right now and they will match or beat any offer from anyone. Bama or usc… maybe but deboer isn’t getting fired this season unless maybe they lose a few more which I don’t see. Even then it may not happen. USC kicking Riley to the curb wouldn’t be surprising and maybe even it’s expected now.
Side note: wonder if the Ryan kid is feeling that big hit today. He’s a special player but that was a hard hit.
AU can’t fire Freeze for financial reasons. Freeze knows this.
Same with FSU and Norvell. Maybe, they can work out a trade, straight up.
I disagree about ga not losing again. Ut could definitely beat them them, there defense is legit and Georgia’s offense is just plain bad. Receiver’s can’t catch, Beck throws to many picks and the line can’t run block. If Nico hits on a few deep balls they can beat anybody. Not to mention Florida is playing better and it’s a rivalry game and the trip to Oxford will be tough. Yes Georgia’s defense looked great lastnight but maybe Texas isn’t as good as everyone thought.
Nobody pays any attention to you.
Looks like you do.
^ :)
Right now seems a good time to remind you all what I stated previously: Texas will ruin the SEC.
I really thought Hugh was a good pick for auburn. He did good* at ole miss. Thought it would translate. I also thought Deboer would have a good first year. Turns out I’m not a good judge at those things
Well, he’s recruiting like crazy. I’ll give him that.
“Texas fans went nuts and started throwing debris on the field. ”
Temper tantrums from overhyped fans who believe their own rhetoric of being great.
I posted the other day that TX had an easy schedule up until their date with UGA. One poster stated that they’d played good teams like James Madison and LA Monroe.
UGA went into TX and stomped them into the ground.
Welcome to the SEC, oh privileged TX fans. Arch can’t save you.
Uh, Uh, Uh, they played oklahoma!
Yeah, so did AU and Okie barely got out of Jordan Hare with a win over a really poorly coached AU team.
I now understand why TAM fans can’t stand TX fans. My goodness they give the def of snarky an entirely new meaning.
“Tigers fans are over him, already and emphatically.”
No not really.
LANK
Alabama is still a “dynasty” but it’s now “die(ing) nasty”.
What? Bama Tenn wasn’t a good game? Didn’t it come down to the last play basically? And Texas UGA lived up to the hype? You’re joking right? That game sucked.
Oh and another thing, Tennessee fan actually lose to UGA and still get in. So that statement is completely false. In fact, ESPN stats project a loss and a playoff birth for the Vols. Do more research before writing dribble.
TN’s playoffs do not hinge on UGA lol. Sorry but you beat the #7 team no matter who they were or are and UGA lost to them. Period. You can’t stand on a hill and proclaim UGA king when they lost to a team that lost to Vandy and no, Vandy didn’t haven an easier time beating Bama. They scored 35 points on Vandy and in how many other games did Bama score anywhere close to that? That was the only SEC team they scored that many on. Respect to Vandy but it was 14 all in the 4th quarter against…..Ball state. If TN can hold UGA to 20, TN will beat UGA in Athens. Texas, wasn’t who we thought they were. Lack speed and Ewers isn’t Jayden Daniels. MSU scores 31 on UGA, Texas scores 15? lol ok. And TN didn’t beat a terrible UF team. 48 points on UK and UGA scores 13? UGA won despite Carson Beck’s turnovers and issues. LSU lost to USC whose what, 1-4. Your 3 playoff teams are UGA, TN, Texas. And only because Texas has the weakest schedule of those three teams.
Tennessee at UGA on Nov 16th should settle that argument on the field. For the record, it promises to be an Arky-like rock fight, with a more lopsided loss for Tennessee than the Hogs pinned on them.
BTW, if Napier could’ve resisted calling a jet sweep on 4th and 5 inches, or been able to count to 11 on that FG try, the Vols would already be sporting two losses.
One score loss in Tuscaloosa. You won by a score at home. Additionally we have wins over 2 teams currently ranked higher than Bama (Clemson, Texas). I know you need to hang your hat on the Bama win because they are really the only decent team you have played, but the actual data (or the stats for your sake) support that Georgia had a bad half and number 15 got them on the road. It happens. Meanwhile you run up stats against the Kent States of the world and give the hype train steam with big “ranked wins” against NC State and Oklahoma who it turns out were nothing more than overhyped preseason darlings. What happens when and if Bama loses to LSU and struggles to remain in the top 20. If you don’t beat Georgia (in Athens) you are a 2 loss team that hangs their season on beating a team that will be somewhere between 15-25 at home by one score (and lost to Vandy as you point out). Sorry GWhite, that resume isn’t good enough. Enjoy the Citrus Bowl.
True 30 years ago, still true today. You can’t spell Citrus without UT!