I was lucky enough to spend time today covering the SEC Championship from the fans' perspective with my colleague, Ari Russell, who is the founder of BeyondUSports.com - another site to which I'm a regular contributor. We shot a ton of awesome video with UGA and LSU fans all over the World Congress Center and Georgia Dome, plus a really kick-ass tailgate. I really understood a lot more about SEC football today...at the end of the day, despite being fiercely loyal to their teams, these fans love everything about SEC traditions. That means being classy regardless of the outcome of the game. There were fans from various SEC schools at the tailgates, FanFest, and the game itself just supporting the glory and tradition that is so deeply valued in the SEC.
The game started off with a bang. UGA came out swinging and held looked like they may just pull off the upset...until LSU decided to come alive. We all knew it was inevitable.
Intense LSU fan
Obviously, LSU won by a massive margin tonight, but I think UGA has a lot to be proud of. They came a long way after a shaky start to their season and proved many haters wrong (hey...haters gonna hate, anyway). So cheers to a great day, lots of fun and another fabulous college football season!
Check out the video coverage of all of the SEC Championship game events posted below or on BeyondUSports.com.
Ok. I feel like I need to write something. This "pre national championship" game has been mediocre at best thus far. I love that these two teams are major rivals and both fan bases are incredibly intense and passionate...but come on this is silly.
It's currently the 3rd quarter and this is what I've gathered: both teams have fantastic defenses, both teams have overrated offenses, neither team is playing quite right, and I've heard the guys in the booth mention Julio Jones one too many times (FYI: he's playing for the Falcons now...they obviously missed the memo). So...can we get something big going in the next quarter and a half? I know both these teams have it in them, and I get the argument that they're so evenly matched that of course this is a low scoring game. To that I say "duh." But, 6-3? Seriously? Sigh.
Stay tuned...full post-game recap to come tomorrow...hopefully with a few more points and a lot more excitement.
...til next time.
S.
**UPDATE** LSU just had a huge interception by cornerback Morris Claiborne. Glad they decided to inject some excitement into this game (finally). It was then lost on me when they couldn't convert and had to settle for another field goal...it's now 6-6...and I'm bored again.
When news broke that LSU would be without 3 players this week in their game against Auburn, all I could think was "here's your chance, Auburn...don't blow it!" Star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, leading rusher Spencer Ware and fourth leading tackler Tharold Simon are all suspended because they violated LSU's drug policy. These three, right here, are some of the best on this year's LSU team...and clearly three that make the dumbest decisions. Apparently bad decisions are kind of the MO this year for the Tigers - remember when Jordan Jefferson was suspended for his bar fight? Right.
Ok, let's be real for a second. Even without these three, LSU will likely still pull out a win (sorry, Auburn fans) but it puts a damper on morale and leaves holes for Auburn to strike. Prior to the suspensions, Auburn didn't have a prayer, now, they might be able to capitalize on the chaos.
Steve Franz/LSU Athletics
So, what does Les Miles say in all of this? Nothing, naturally. He was vague and non-commital, just saying it was an "internal" affair, which is fine, everyone was going to find out sooner or later. At least this didn't happen right before the LSU-Bama game. Can you even imagine? Yeesh. The timing is good for LSU, if it was going to happen at all. Here's the thing that makes me question the Tigers this year: can they survive all these distractions? I'm not sure they can. There's only so much bend a team can have before it breaks.
I will say this. I'm calling calling the much anticipated LSU v. Alabama match up now. It'll be a big ol' loss for the the "Mad Hatter" and his Tigers. Yup. I said it...'Bama will win.
Hallelujah, it's finally that time. It's September, cooler weather is coming, leaves are changing color, and guys put on pads to hit each other head on at full speed. Ah, football, how I love you. Welcome back!
What happened this weekend in the CFB landscape, you ask? Well, the answer to that is complicated but I'll answer it this way: a lot. Here are my top takeaways:
Doug Beghel/The Oregonian
Poor Oregon State - Yikes. An opening day loss to Sacramento State is ugly and unfortunate. It's clear that the Beavers' offense without the James brothers is a very sad one. A loss in overtime is always a tough one, but a loss in OT to a team that has nowhere near the amount of talent as OSU? Bummer. RB Malcom Agnew was the only bright spot in the Beavers' game, and even then it wasn't anything to write home about. Injuries and big mistakes were the downfall to the Oregon State team. What now? They have to redeem themselves, period, end of story.
LSU Rolls Over Oregon - Let's just say it. The Ducks have lost their swagger...at least for now. Even my personal favorite, LaMichael James, looked like a lost little puppy. The Oregon offense was stopped at every turn by the LSU defense and looked like they were miles away from the national championship caliber team they were last season. LSU, on the other hand, looked ready and poised for the national championship stage. I know it's early, but look for Les Miles' Tigers to bring the pain in the SEC - in my opinion, they're a top contender for the ultimate prize this year.
AJC.com
Mark Richt Might Want to Say His Goodbyes - Oh Mark Richt...he's a good guy and a great coach, but his time has passed at Georgia. The outcry for him to be fired has already begun after the Bulldogs' painful loss to Boise State in the Georgia Dome. UGA made the Boise State Broncos look like a pro caliber team. Messy mistakes and a weak offensive line were ultimately the Dawgs' downfall in their season opener. Georgia plays South Carolina next week and they had better win, or else Mark Richt can wave goodbye to Athens and the UGA football program. We all know UGA fans are some of the most vocal and dedicated in the country, and you can bet they won't put up with another losing season, especially in the ultra-competitive SEC.
Auburn Needs Work - Woah. That's all I could say while watching Utah State beat up on Auburn. Had USU taken advantage of a few missed opportunities (like that onside kick), they would have upset last year's National Champions. Auburn has lost many of it's strong starters (Cam Newton, Nick Fairley, etc) from last year, and has turned into a very young team that obviously has a lot of work to do. Head Coach Gene Chizik even stated that much in his post game press conference. If Auburn wants to defend their title and compete in the SEC, they had better make some real changes...fast.
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Notre Dame is Still Irrelevant - Sorry to my ND friends. Let's just be honest here, they aren't the same team they once were. Notre Dame has talent and with the right development, they'll eventually bounce back to the top tier of collegiate football, but they are far from that level right now. South Florida had the upper hand in this game and took advantage of a few big turnovers to pull a big win in South Bend. It's a huge win for the South Florida program, and surely an emotional one for head coach and ND alum Skip Holtz. This game was made extra interesting, though, by multiple delays because of weather. Let's just say this, metal bleachers + lightning = bad news. It was smart to evacuate the stadium in this situation.
Brady Hoke Makes his Michigan Debut - The much anticipated Brady Hoke era has begun in Ann Arbor, much to many fans' relief. Rich Rod is gone and it seems a breath of fresh air has been breathed into the Wolverines' program. Denard Robinson is still dynamic and the offense still works, but this opening game in the Big House showcased the improvements to Michigan's defense. Thank goodness, too, because it was a hot mes over the past few years. Look for Michigan to grow into a strong program once again under alumni coach Hoke.
Sue Ogrocki/AP
Yup, Oklahoma Deserves that #1 Ranking - One name: Dominique Whaley. Big story: the walk-on takes charge of the offense. Awesome. Whaley had the first 100-yard game by a walk on in 36 years...thirty-six years!! This kid is in for an epic season and I guarantee Bob Stoops is patting himself on the back right now. This kid will be the personal interest story of the season, and rightly so. He stuck to his goals and made a swift and serious impact for the Sooners. Beyond Whaley, though, OU does look like they deserve that #1 ranking. QB Landry Jones looks like he hasn't missed a beat and his favorite target, WR Ryan Broyles was a beast (as usual). OU is an obvious threat to the almighty SEC. Get ready for a battle this season.
Baylor's Stud QB Robert Griffin III is Awesome - I don't think anyone saw this one coming. RG3 carried Baylor to a stunning win over #14 TCU. Goodbye Horned Frog, hello Bears. It's obvious that RG3 and his receivers will make for a lot of fun this season - they're dynamic and work well together; however, it's Baylor's defense that needs work. They were ahead of TCU by a lot and let it all slip away, almost losing the game. Obviously, that kind of thing can't happen, so it's safe to say the Bears' focus will be on fortifying their defense from here on out. As far as TCU goes, they'll have to work on team dynamics on both sides of the ball, but don't count them out quite yet, they're still a strong program.
Other Things Worth Noting:
Marco Torres/HoustonPress.com
Texas A&M was looking good, which is a positive for them since they announced their departure from the Big 12
...And on that note, billionaire T. Boone Pickens announced the Big 12 was dead as both OU and OSU look to join other conferences. What T. Boone says goes, ya know.
BYU looked good in their win against Ole Miss, but then again, it is Ole Miss.
Andrew Luck is still a beast.
Blah, blah, blah, Virginia Tech is really awesome, blah, blah, blah.
USC looked mediocre at best...c'mon, they almost lost to Minnesota...at home!
The other USC (South Carolina) is really good, especially with Stephen Garcia starting. Note to Steve Spurrier: don't ever bench him again.
Can Dan Persa get well already? I really like him leading the Wildcats.
I think Case Keenum beat UCLA on his own. Welcome back, kid.
Colorado is still terrible. Jon Embree, good try, but you still have very little talent on your team. You had better recruit well, or else CU will be at the back of the Pac-12 rankings, sitting pretty with Washington State.
So what's the bottom line this week? Nothing makes me happier than the return of football season.
If you need my thoughts on the situation as a whole, read my update from yesterday here. I feel I need to explain something further, especially after talking with my buddy Ryan last night. Let's be real here. This is about the adults in the situation. These players were kids...likely kids who have rough backgrounds and of course are going to jump at money, gifts, etc dangled in front of them. WHERE was the administration in all of this and why is UM President Donna Shalala giving a half-assed "heartfelt" letter to the Miami family? Where is the statement of strength and conviction saying "YES, we will investigate this and we will go after Nevin Shapiro?" Ugh. Just ugh. Disgusting.
Yesterday, former UM Head Coach Jimmy Johnson went on the "Paul and Young Ron Show" and ripped Nevin Shapiro, calling him a "jock sniffer wanna-be" and a "scumbag." You can read more about Coach Johnson's reaction here. Of course it's a bit ironic given Johnson had a few scandals of his own, but he is a standup guy who fights for what he believes in, and he still considers himself a part of the Miami family, that's for certain. Today, UM blog "Beyond U Sports" wrote a piece about Shapiro and his cowardice simply because he had an axe to grind and felt "unsupported." Give me a break. Anyway, you can check that out here.
New UM Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst (finally) released a statement today. He said "I know our family is hurting right now and that is what has made the past few days so difficult...There are tough times ahead, challenges to overcome and serious decisions to be made...we will be stronger as a result... Now, the community, the coaches, the student-athletes and the University have my unconditional support as we move towards a better day. Now, the community, the coaches, the student-athletes and the University have my unconditional support as we move towards a better day. And there will be a better day." Now THAT is a statement I can get behind.
There's just a mixed bag out there, and ironies a-plenty, and it continues to get uglier by the day. I've read a mixed bag of opinions...some saying this will end with the death penalty for Miami, others saying "not quite" but that it will be close...either way it's bad news.
Oh one last great article sent to me by my boyfriend's father...separating fact from fiction. We'll see if any of it holds down the line.
Below is video of Coach Golden's presser this morning. Take a look - leave your thoughts in the comments.
Let me start by saying as a University of Miami Hurricane fan, my heart breaks. It breaks for new Head Coach Al Golden, who stepped away from a blossoming program at Temple to lead the new era for the U, it breaks for his new coaching staff who also came to Miami thinking they would usher in the new winning era for the team, and it breaks for those kids not involved in this. This is a disgusting display of an out of control booster, wrongdoing by coaches, and most importantly, administrators at the University.
I won't re-hash the allegations against Miami - you can read all the gory details here, as uncovered by Senior Investigative Reporter for Yahoo! Sports, Charles Robinson. It's so bad you want to look away. This very well could be the end for the Hurricanes football program. There are so many players and coaches involved in this thing, it wouldn't shock me to see the death penalty a la SMU. In my opinion, though, I think what happens to the U will be worse than death. I see a sentence far worse than what we see at USC and Ohio State, or any other school dealing with major NCAA infractions. It will be close to the brink, so much so, that they will be unable to recruit, unable to retain, and unable to reestablish. A fate, in my opinion, worse than death for the once great program.
Quite frankly, I'm at a total loss for words when it comes to the University of Miami administration's actions...especially those of UM President Donna Shalala. The administration KNEW that Nevin Shapiro had been illicitly involved with UM student-athletes. They knew that he was not a standup guy (altercations with the head of Compliance?! How was this not investigated?!) and knew of his transgressions...for over a year. How dare this program not tell Al Golden and his staff? It blows my mind.
The only statement UM can muster? "As stated this morning, the University of Miami takes any allegations seriously and will continue to cooperate fully in a joint investigation with the NCAA." Oh, so NOW you cooperate. Sounds good, Miami. This morning, more news comes pouring out from Shapiro's lawyer, stating that now former football head coaches Randy Shannon and Larry Coker were involved and knew full well of Shapiro's activity from 2002-2010. How is this man, currently incarcerated for being a crook and criminal, doing this? How could UM not have said "perhaps we should keep this guy away from our kids?" How could an administration knowingly not take action. There is so much wrong here, so many people wrong. To see guys that I respected as men and players on "the list" of those who interacted with him - Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Jonathan Vilma, Devin Hester, Sean Spence, Kellen Winslow, Jr, etc... is a brutal reality that this happened...and that it continued to happen and affects players currently on the roster (ie: Jacory Harris, Ray Ray Armstrong, et. al.). Unbelievable.
The University of Miami administration needs to step up and get in front of microphones and cameras and talk. This responsibility shouldnotfall on Al Golden. Period. End of story. In his presser this morning, Golden showed grace and class in this whirlwind of chaos and said "How did this guy, if he did, how did he get around our players like that? Me, as a head coach, wants to know." You're damn right he wants to know, and deserves to know what the hell kind of mess he just walked into.
What now? What about the kids who have been sold on Coach Golden and his staff...the new "Golden Era" at UM? It's reality check time. It won't exist. Al Golden was the future of this program, and because of past actions and disgusting behavior from previous coaches, administrators, and players, it is ruined. When I became a UM fan, I learned of the "U Family." My boyfriend of 4 years grew up in the Orange Bowl. He grew up loving guys like Ken Dorsey. He held the winning ideology of the program to his heart and he learned toughness from watching players like Devin Hester, Willis McGahee, and Frank Gore. Where are they at a time like this? As he said, "Some U family this is." He's beside himself. He has been a fan since he was a small boy, a lover of the orange and green, though the good and the bad. He truly loves Miami. He feels cheated, slighted, and is without words. You know what? He's right and he's justified in this feeling. Where is the U Family? Why aren't we working together as a family to prop each other up? This is beyond sad...it's heartbreaking.
I fear that we will soon learn more and become inundated with "Thug U" all over again. It's like a flashback, but worse this time around. There are more than just Miami players and coaches involved, here, and I'm sure they will be feeling the pressure soon (word is Clint Hurtt is already in deep). I'll be keeping my eye on this story and updating as I can...I'm sure it will be in our faces for some time.
Below is Coach Golden's presser this morning. Classy, tasteful, strong.
