The 2006 SEC Championship game marked the third time that the Arkansas Razorbacks reached Atlanta since joining the conference in 1992. Unfortunately, it would also mark the Hogs third loss in Atlanta. The Razorbacks were matched up against the Florida Gators, in their second year under Urban Meyer and the eventual National Champion.
Arkansas had a surprising season, with no one ranking them in the Top 25 in preseason polls. They suffered a disastrous defeat to USC on the first week of the season without Darren McFadden in the lineup. However, they bounced back quickly, making national news with their defeat of Auburn (then ranked #2 in the nation) early in the season. Then they followed that victory with a win over Alabama in overtime. However, in the annual Battle for the Golden Boot, they were unable to get past LSU.
Coming into the conference Championship game, the Florida Gators had only one loss on the season. That loss came to the same Auburn Tiger team that Arkansas had defeated a couple weeks before. The Razorbacks had worked their way to a #8 ranking, but knew they would have an uphill battle against the #4 Gators, especially after it was announced that USC had been upset by UCLA. In the second half, Arkansas scored 14 unanswered points to take a 21-17 lead. However, Reggie Fish made a horrible decision by attempting to catch a punt over his shoulder on the Razorbacks own 5-yard line, resulting in a fumble and a go-ahead touchdown for Florida. The Razorbacks continued to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties and bad tackling. Even a touchdown by Felix Jones could not pull out the game for the Hogs and the Gators went on to win the conference and national titles.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
2005 SEC: No Big Surprises
The 2005 SEC Championship game featured the second time in three years that the Georgia Bulldogs would face the LSU Tigers in Atlanta. It was also the third time in four years that the Bulldogs would see the inside of the Georgia Dome for a chance to be crowned kings of the SEC. Mark Richt and the Dawgs would avenge their loss from the 2003 season and win the game by a score of 34-14.
The 2005 season was quite a year for all of college football, but particularly for the SEC. Steve Spurrier returned to the SEC, taking over the South Carolina Gamecocks program and leading them to a 7-5 record in his first year. Les Miles took Nick Saban's place as LSU's head coach and would continue the Tigers' winning ways. Urban Meyer saw his first year as Florida's head man, beginning the process to returning that program to the top of the SEC after the Ron Zook debacle. Auburn continued to be a factor in the SEC West, losing only one conference game. That loss was to LSU, however, and was the tie-breaker that kept Auburn from returning to Atlanta. Alabama continued to languish in mediocrity under Mike Shula, adding NCAA sanctions to the pain of four consecutive losses to Tommy Tuberville. All these factors made for an interesting but middle-of-the-road SEC season, and no team was a real factor in the National discussion, though (as usual) many believed any number of teams could have been worthy.
It was the first time in a while that the BCS would not see any major controversy (thought that changed pretty quickly) and it would see the USC Trojans go down to the Texas Longhorns in the Championship game, despite USC being the defending National Champs and the favorite to repeat. LSU destroyed Miami in the Peach Bowl despite an injury to JaMarcus Russell (current NFL flop), but Georgia would be surprised by the game plan of West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl and lose that game.
The 2005 season was quite a year for all of college football, but particularly for the SEC. Steve Spurrier returned to the SEC, taking over the South Carolina Gamecocks program and leading them to a 7-5 record in his first year. Les Miles took Nick Saban's place as LSU's head coach and would continue the Tigers' winning ways. Urban Meyer saw his first year as Florida's head man, beginning the process to returning that program to the top of the SEC after the Ron Zook debacle. Auburn continued to be a factor in the SEC West, losing only one conference game. That loss was to LSU, however, and was the tie-breaker that kept Auburn from returning to Atlanta. Alabama continued to languish in mediocrity under Mike Shula, adding NCAA sanctions to the pain of four consecutive losses to Tommy Tuberville. All these factors made for an interesting but middle-of-the-road SEC season, and no team was a real factor in the National discussion, though (as usual) many believed any number of teams could have been worthy.
It was the first time in a while that the BCS would not see any major controversy (thought that changed pretty quickly) and it would see the USC Trojans go down to the Texas Longhorns in the Championship game, despite USC being the defending National Champs and the favorite to repeat. LSU destroyed Miami in the Peach Bowl despite an injury to JaMarcus Russell (current NFL flop), but Georgia would be surprised by the game plan of West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl and lose that game.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Mostest Dumbest Mascot's II
The next offender on the dumbest mascot list is none other than the University of Hawaii. While their current mascot (warrior) is not so bad, but until 1974 the teams was known as the "Rainbows". As if the "Rainbow" is not bad enough from 1974 to 2000 the team was the "Rainbow Warriors". So with out further delay my reasons for the "Rainbow warrior" as mostest dumbest mascot:
1. Rainbow Warriors sounds more like the name of a San Francisco street gang then a NCAA mascot.
2. If my three year old niece finger paints one at her grandmothers house it does not belong in the NCAA as a mascot.
3. The fact that the university officially changed the mascot speaks for itself.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Mostest Dumbest Mascots
In anticipation of the of the upcoming season I will be presenting, on a daily basis, the mostest dumbest mascots in the NCAA.
The first offenders in this category is none other than the Oregon Ducks. please let me be clear I have nothing against the the University of Oregon, but let's be honest, a duck is a ridiculous choice for a mascot. I say this for the following reasons:
1. If my three year old niece can pet one with out fear, it has no business as a mascot for an NCAA school.
2. If said mascot is also a mascot for and insurance company it has no business as a mascot for an NCAA school.
3. The picture above communicates my point sufficiently
2004 SEC: Ire of the Tiger
It seemed that the BCS controversy just became stronger and stronger for four or five years running. From 1998 to 2001 the formula seemed to work. But in 2002 there were some questions about the ability of the program to produce a true champion. In 2003 those questions were given legitimacy with the sharing of the National title, and in 2004 controversy became synonymous with the BCS for all time. After the '04 season there were loud calls for a playoff system, calls that persist and have grown to this day.
In the SEC, the Auburn Tigers faced the Tennessee Volunteers in the Championship game in Atlanta. It was another battle of teams that met twice in a year, and it was especially significant for Auburn. They had already beaten the Vols in Knoxville, and were playing in what was essentially their third rivalry game in a row. They had played Georgia in a huge game on November 13 in Auburn and Alabama on November 20 in Tuscaloosa. They absolutely unloaded on the Bulldogs in their game, allowing only six points while scoring twenty-four of their own and the crowd was lit. Then in the Alabama game the Tigers increased their winning streak over the Tide to three in a row (a streak that would extend to six straight wins under Tommy Tuberville). Alabama went into halftime up by a 6-0 score. However, Auburn would respond on their first possession of the second half with a long pass from Jason Campbell to Devin Aromashadu and a touchdown run by Cadillac Williams. The next two possessions would also result in touchdowns as the Tigers advanced to the Championship game by a final score of 21-13. This loss would typify the Mike Shula era for the Alabama football program.
The BCS formula would rear its ugly head at the SEC's 2004 set of Tigers. Unfortunately for Auburn, they were not the only team to go undefeated that season and there were several candidates for who would play USC in the National Championship game. Because they had started the season on the lower end of the Top 25, the Tigers were ranked third in the polls and thus were not given the opportunity. Added to that was the fact that Auburn would not have a chance to play the other highly-ranked team that was shafted, Utah. USC won the Orange Bowl by a landslide against defending champs Oklahoma, leaving many to resume their speculation concerning the BCS formula. Auburn would finish the season ranked #2 in both the Coach's and AP Polls.
In the SEC, the Auburn Tigers faced the Tennessee Volunteers in the Championship game in Atlanta. It was another battle of teams that met twice in a year, and it was especially significant for Auburn. They had already beaten the Vols in Knoxville, and were playing in what was essentially their third rivalry game in a row. They had played Georgia in a huge game on November 13 in Auburn and Alabama on November 20 in Tuscaloosa. They absolutely unloaded on the Bulldogs in their game, allowing only six points while scoring twenty-four of their own and the crowd was lit. Then in the Alabama game the Tigers increased their winning streak over the Tide to three in a row (a streak that would extend to six straight wins under Tommy Tuberville). Alabama went into halftime up by a 6-0 score. However, Auburn would respond on their first possession of the second half with a long pass from Jason Campbell to Devin Aromashadu and a touchdown run by Cadillac Williams. The next two possessions would also result in touchdowns as the Tigers advanced to the Championship game by a final score of 21-13. This loss would typify the Mike Shula era for the Alabama football program.
The BCS formula would rear its ugly head at the SEC's 2004 set of Tigers. Unfortunately for Auburn, they were not the only team to go undefeated that season and there were several candidates for who would play USC in the National Championship game. Because they had started the season on the lower end of the Top 25, the Tigers were ranked third in the polls and thus were not given the opportunity. Added to that was the fact that Auburn would not have a chance to play the other highly-ranked team that was shafted, Utah. USC won the Orange Bowl by a landslide against defending champs Oklahoma, leaving many to resume their speculation concerning the BCS formula. Auburn would finish the season ranked #2 in both the Coach's and AP Polls.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A Game That Should Have Been Played
O.K., it is no secret that BCS has been the center of some heated debate over the last twelve years. The controversies go all the way back 01-02 season when Miami played a Nebraska team that did not even win there division, let alone the Big 12. Since then the BCS has given a few great games, some good games and a large crop of mediocre games. But it is the match up that we never got to see that I am most interested in.
From the seasons of 03-05 we never saw LSU play USC. In 04 LSU (12-1) was crowned national champoin by defeating Oklahoma (12-1) in the sugar bowl. USC (11-1) had to settle for a Rose Bowl win.
The following year USC (13-0) crushed Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, While LSU (10-2)was not in a BCS bowl game. Even though LSU (10-2) was in not in the BCS picture there were still a top team in the country finishing the season at number 12.
From 02-09 LSU and USC have had some of the greatest teams. Both teams have had a combined 9 BCS appearances, including 5 national championship appearances with two national titles apiece. So my question is this: why have they not played each other in the BCS era? I can't believe that these two have not played each other. it seems strange that we can see match ups like Hawaii vs Georgia, TCU vs Boise State, Utah vs Pitt or Florida vs Cincinnati but we cannot see two of the best teams of the last decade. Am I right?
There are rumors of a possible 2011 regular season match up but it seems to me that moment has passed. I think that the sanctions on USC coupled with the poor leadership of Lane Kiffin will be the destruction of Troy (yeah, I said it). That coupled with my belief that LSU will not eclipse a 9 or 10 win season makes me think that a match up in the next season or two would be a disappointment.
From the seasons of 03-05 we never saw LSU play USC. In 04 LSU (12-1) was crowned national champoin by defeating Oklahoma (12-1) in the sugar bowl. USC (11-1) had to settle for a Rose Bowl win.
The following year USC (13-0) crushed Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, While LSU (10-2)was not in a BCS bowl game. Even though LSU (10-2) was in not in the BCS picture there were still a top team in the country finishing the season at number 12.
From 02-09 LSU and USC have had some of the greatest teams. Both teams have had a combined 9 BCS appearances, including 5 national championship appearances with two national titles apiece. So my question is this: why have they not played each other in the BCS era? I can't believe that these two have not played each other. it seems strange that we can see match ups like Hawaii vs Georgia, TCU vs Boise State, Utah vs Pitt or Florida vs Cincinnati but we cannot see two of the best teams of the last decade. Am I right?
There are rumors of a possible 2011 regular season match up but it seems to me that moment has passed. I think that the sanctions on USC coupled with the poor leadership of Lane Kiffin will be the destruction of Troy (yeah, I said it). That coupled with my belief that LSU will not eclipse a 9 or 10 win season makes me think that a match up in the next season or two would be a disappointment.
2002 SEC: Dawgs vs. Hogs
The 2002 football season was quite the affair, particularly in the West. Georgia went into the SEC Championship game ranked 11-1 and ranked #4 in the nation. Not surprisingly, their only loss came to Florida. The surprise was that the Gators were actually the underdog, being in their first season under Ron Zook (who brought the program to its lowest in years). The Bulldogs ran into problems while D.J. Shockley was in at quarterback and could not quite pull out the game.
The Arkansas Razorbacks entered into the Georgia Dome with a record of 9-3. They lost (sadly) to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. However, the Crimson Tide were ineligible to play in the Championship game because of NCAA bans. The loss to Tennessee came in 6 overtimes, much like the 7-overtime thriller in Oxford the year before (the difference, of course, being the winner). The Tennessee game was not the only big-time game for the Razorbacks that year. On November, 29th the LSU Tigers came to meet the Hogs at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with LSU leading 17-7 in the fourth quarter. However, Fred Talley scored on a 56-yard touchdown run to put the game at 17-14. After LSU scored a field goal, Matt Jones connected on two huge passes, including one to Decori Birmingham in the back of the endzone, tying the game at 20 with nine seconds. The extra point won the game for the Razorbacks by a final of 21-20. This "Miracle on Markham" came two weeks after the Tigers beat Kentucky on a last-second Hail Mary in the "Bluegrass Miracle" game.
The Razorbacks could not find the magic they needed in Atlanta, however, and the Bulldogs rolled to a 30-3 victory. Georgia did not get a chance to play for a National Championship that year, instead defeating Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia would reach the SEC Championship game again in 2005, and Arkansas would return in 2006. Matt Jones would go to the NFL as a wide receiver.
The Arkansas Razorbacks entered into the Georgia Dome with a record of 9-3. They lost (sadly) to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. However, the Crimson Tide were ineligible to play in the Championship game because of NCAA bans. The loss to Tennessee came in 6 overtimes, much like the 7-overtime thriller in Oxford the year before (the difference, of course, being the winner). The Tennessee game was not the only big-time game for the Razorbacks that year. On November, 29th the LSU Tigers came to meet the Hogs at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with LSU leading 17-7 in the fourth quarter. However, Fred Talley scored on a 56-yard touchdown run to put the game at 17-14. After LSU scored a field goal, Matt Jones connected on two huge passes, including one to Decori Birmingham in the back of the endzone, tying the game at 20 with nine seconds. The extra point won the game for the Razorbacks by a final of 21-20. This "Miracle on Markham" came two weeks after the Tigers beat Kentucky on a last-second Hail Mary in the "Bluegrass Miracle" game.
The Razorbacks could not find the magic they needed in Atlanta, however, and the Bulldogs rolled to a 30-3 victory. Georgia did not get a chance to play for a National Championship that year, instead defeating Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. Georgia would reach the SEC Championship game again in 2005, and Arkansas would return in 2006. Matt Jones would go to the NFL as a wide receiver.
Monday, August 23, 2010
2001 SEC: Vols Surprising Losses
The 2001 SEC Championship game featured the LSU Tigers against the Tennessee Volunteers. LSU entered the game with a 9-3 record. The Vols had a 10-1 record and were looking at an attempt to go back to the National Championship game which was to be played at the Rose Bowl that year. The two teams had met once before that year, and LSU was looking to avenge an 18-26 loss. They did so, holding Tennessee to a field goal in the second half and rallying behind quarterback Matt Mauck after Rohan Davey went out of the game with an injury.
The Vols had lost another big game earlier that year that probably helped keep them out of the national conversation. The Georgia Bulldogs came to Knoxville for the annual rivalry game between the two schools. Mark Richt was in his first season as the Dawgs' head coach, and the season would be an up-and-down affair. However, on this day Georgia came out on top when freshman David Greene threw a touchdown pass to running back Verron Haynes. Larry Munson would make the famous comment that would result in the game being known to Georgia fans as the "Hobnail Boot."
There was another very interesting game that year in the form of an NCAA record-breaking, 7-overtime game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The two teams went back and forth late into the night before the Hogs finally came out on top by a score of 58-56. The week of the SEC Championship game there was a lot of national drama, with several teams (including Tennessee) dropping out of the National Championship race. Ultimately, the Nebraska Cornhuskers would lose to the Hurricanes of Miami. LSU defeated Illinois in the Sugar Bowl and Tennessee would win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
The Vols had lost another big game earlier that year that probably helped keep them out of the national conversation. The Georgia Bulldogs came to Knoxville for the annual rivalry game between the two schools. Mark Richt was in his first season as the Dawgs' head coach, and the season would be an up-and-down affair. However, on this day Georgia came out on top when freshman David Greene threw a touchdown pass to running back Verron Haynes. Larry Munson would make the famous comment that would result in the game being known to Georgia fans as the "Hobnail Boot."
There was another very interesting game that year in the form of an NCAA record-breaking, 7-overtime game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The two teams went back and forth late into the night before the Hogs finally came out on top by a score of 58-56. The week of the SEC Championship game there was a lot of national drama, with several teams (including Tennessee) dropping out of the National Championship race. Ultimately, the Nebraska Cornhuskers would lose to the Hurricanes of Miami. LSU defeated Illinois in the Sugar Bowl and Tennessee would win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Annual Countdown Time
We are now exactly two weeks away from opening day of the College Football season and it has been a long time coming. I was just telling someone yesterday that I have been having football dreams for at least two and a half months now. And, as with most blogs dealing with sports, we'll be doing counting down the days by reliving the past in the form of lists. I'll be looking at the winners of the SEC for the last 10 years as well as some memorable (or forgettable, depending on your perspective) games from that time period.
The 2000 season was the third season of the BCS which had seemed to work until that point. Auburn and Florida met twice that year, the second meeting being in the SEC Championship Game. Both times the Gators beat up on Auburn, the Tigers never scoring more than a touchdown. The two teams shared something in common that year: both were upset by the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Florida's was a difficult loss as they came into the game ranked 3rd against an unranked Bulldog team and Steve Spurrier once again did his best to prove the maxim that if you have more than one quarterback you don't have any. The Gators rotated three quarterbacks that day, senior Jesse Palmer (current ESPN analyst), and freshmen Rex Grossman (current NFL benchwarmer) and Brock Berlin (current who knows) who would transfer to Miami.
Tommy Tuberville was only in his second season that year and was improving his Auburn team, which would eventually go undefeated in 2004. Spurrier would resign as Florida's coach in 2002 to go to the NFL's Redskins, a decidedly horrible move. Florida would not win another SEC Championship after their defeat of the Tigers until 2006.
The 2000 season was the third season of the BCS which had seemed to work until that point. Auburn and Florida met twice that year, the second meeting being in the SEC Championship Game. Both times the Gators beat up on Auburn, the Tigers never scoring more than a touchdown. The two teams shared something in common that year: both were upset by the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Florida's was a difficult loss as they came into the game ranked 3rd against an unranked Bulldog team and Steve Spurrier once again did his best to prove the maxim that if you have more than one quarterback you don't have any. The Gators rotated three quarterbacks that day, senior Jesse Palmer (current ESPN analyst), and freshmen Rex Grossman (current NFL benchwarmer) and Brock Berlin (current who knows) who would transfer to Miami.
Tommy Tuberville was only in his second season that year and was improving his Auburn team, which would eventually go undefeated in 2004. Spurrier would resign as Florida's coach in 2002 to go to the NFL's Redskins, a decidedly horrible move. Florida would not win another SEC Championship after their defeat of the Tigers until 2006.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
One Month Away
It is August the 4th and that means it is one month away until kick off. The first weekend celebration starts on Thursday Sept 2nd and ends on Monday the 6th. Yes, in less than one month we get to watch our favorite teams play good quality opponents like Western Michigan University, Stony Brook College and Samford. These first cupcake games are a very important confidence boost for our teams, but provide nothing but local interest.
There are, however, a few games that I am interested in on the first weekend. Obviously I am interested in N. Texas at Clemson but there are actually some other games that grabbed my interest, the first being LSU vs UNC. With all the the projections that UNC will have one of the best defenses in the country, a traditionally though LSU will provide the first and one of the biggest tests for UNC.
The Second is Pitt at Utah. I speculated in a previous post that Utah stands to benefit most for the out of control spiral of USC. This first non-conference game could a good chance for Utah to smack an east coast team around and get some national attention for future recruiting.
The third and final game that I am interested in is Boise State and Virginia Tech. both teams had good seasons last year and are looking to get on to the national scene and are looking to make a run at a national title with in the next few seasons. that being said each team has something to prove and should make for some interesting play on the field.
There are, however, a few games that I am interested in on the first weekend. Obviously I am interested in N. Texas at Clemson but there are actually some other games that grabbed my interest, the first being LSU vs UNC. With all the the projections that UNC will have one of the best defenses in the country, a traditionally though LSU will provide the first and one of the biggest tests for UNC.
The Second is Pitt at Utah. I speculated in a previous post that Utah stands to benefit most for the out of control spiral of USC. This first non-conference game could a good chance for Utah to smack an east coast team around and get some national attention for future recruiting.
The third and final game that I am interested in is Boise State and Virginia Tech. both teams had good seasons last year and are looking to get on to the national scene and are looking to make a run at a national title with in the next few seasons. that being said each team has something to prove and should make for some interesting play on the field.
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