Tuesday's News & Notes

After suffering another ACC loss on Saturday to Georgia Tech, legendary Head Coach Bobby Bowden is under fire from the Florida St. fans, alumni and trustees and it's looking more and more like this will be the last year for the iconic coach.  This is a coach that has gone 384-141-4 over his career (311-95-4 with the Noles') won two National Championships (see photo on left), won fourteen conference championships and has had an unprecedented string of fourteen straight years of being ranked in the Top 5.   Oh and an amazing Bowl record of 21-10-1.   But through all of the accomplishments, recent history doesn't lie.  The Noles have not finished in the Top 10 since 2001.  I believe the year by year downslide began with losing excellent coaches like current Georgia Head Coach, Mark Richt and Chuck Amato (now back on the staff).  They were not just great position coaches but excellent recruiters.  Also, Florida's rise to power (beginning with Steve Spurrier) and now taken to a new level by Urban Meyer has snatched talent away from Florida St. as well as excellent recruiting by Miami Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon.  I am not a big fan of the "Head Coach In Waiting" scenerio.  Jimbo Fisher came heavily hyped from his days at L.S.U. and although the offense has clicked this season, has not been consistent.  Longtime Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews has had less talent to work with and it has showed on the field.  The always stingy defensive line is undersized and being physically dominated at the line of scrimmage and although Florida St. does have speed, it is often times undiciplined, jumping patterns and overpursuing allowing for HUGE gains as evidenced by their yards and points given up this year.  Bowden deserves better but in this age of "what have you done for me lately" , it's evident that the Seminoles have to go a differnet direction and rebuild their once proud program.  I would like to see Bobby Bowden ride off into the Tallahassee sunset happily ever after, but this thing could be long, drawn out and ugly.

Can the Florida Gators win another National Championship without the services of Tim Tebow ?  Now, it's not like Tebow is lighting it up this year.  Statistically speaking, this is the worst year of his career.   The one thing Tebow has always brought to the field is he is a WINNER.  It might not be pretty but he gets the job done.  It's almost as if he can "will" the Gators to victory, even on those days when everything looks against them.  I thought Tebow played well in Saturdays 13-3 victory over a tough L.S.U. Tiger team, especially after not having a full week of practice.  I believe the Gators are one of the best 3 teams in the nation but the bottom line is they cannot win the SEC Championship and National Championship without Tim Tebow.

What is going on with Ohio St. quarterback Terrelle Pryor ?   I hyped him before the year as did every publication and pre season talk show.  So far, very dissapointing.  It looks like he has almost regressed !  His poor throwing motion has not changed and although he is completing 56.3% of his passes, from fifteen yards out, that stat drops to 40%.  First thing, I don't think this offense suits his talents.  I know Pryor wants to be the pro style drop back passer but that is NOT what he is.  He needs to be on the run, sprinting right and left, making defenses chase him down.  Running quarterback draws and keeping those linebackers close so it can open up the middle of the field.  He would be the PERFECT signal caller for a Michigan style offense or West Virginia offense but he is stuck in Columbus.  The jury is out on Pryor and more sub par games will only drop his once soaring stock.

Memo to Joe Paterno.  Please, Please, Please start scheduling some semi tough non conference teams !  AKRON, SYRACUSE, TEMPLE & EASTERN ILLINOIS (not to diminish those teams but.....) and then take on Iowa at home and are completely shut down offensively and dominated physically.  Joe Pa. is 1-7 in his last seven meetings with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz.  I know Paterno is alot like Bowden wanting to coach until he can no longer do it but the writing is on the wall.  I think it's time to hand over the reigns to either a long time assistant (Tom Bradley) or possibly Rutgers head man, Greg Schiano.  Now, all you Nittany Lion yahoos relax.  Penn St. will most likely win 9 or 10 games (because the Big-10 is so mediocre this season) and go to either a BCS or mid level bowl, but don't expect them to win a bigtime bowl game anytime soon.  Does anyone remember last years Rose Bowl ?   How they continue to get Top 15 recruiting classes boggles my mind..they must have some amazing co-eds at Penn St....they don't call it "Happy Valley" for nothing !

What's with this Dez Bryant situation ?  Time for the NCAA to just relax and get a clue !  Now, if the kid was sitting with Deion Sanders and an agent, collecting greenbacks and cell phones and a Rolls...fine, suspend him.  But because he is friends with an EX-pro football player and didn't tell the truth about his relationship with Sanders to NCAA investigators that they hung out and talked ?  C'mon, the kid isn't cheating in class, hasn't committed any major crime, hasn't robbed a store or even signed with an agent !   He is a kid and was scared about losing his eligibility status for his junior season and possibly his career.  Get over it and let him play !

OTHER NEWS

The Miami Hurricanes have lost their top tackler in linebacker Jordan Futch to a knee injury.  From all reports it looks like the freshman linebacker will be lost for the remainder of the year. 

Michigan quarterback Tate "The Great" Forcier suffered a slight concussion during the Iowa game but has been cleared to play this Saturday in the Wolverines non conference matchup with Deleware St.

It sure looks more and more like Florida, Alabama and Texas have distanced themselves from the pack and it's a three team race for the National Championship.  Of course, the Tide will lose to South Carolina, Texas to Oklahoma and the Gators will be upset Georgia....lets hope not !  Lets break down those top 3 teams:

My number one is ALABAMA.   The Tide have a suffocating defense that can stuff the run, rush the passer and cover man to man.  They have forced some good quarterbacks (hello Jevan Snead and Tyrod Taylor) into multiple mistakes while their offense can run the ball down anyones throat.  First year starting quarterback Greg McElroy has played mistake free football and is looking like a seasoned pro with each passing game.

My number two is FLORIDA.  The Gators have Tim Tebow and that is a pretty good start !  Although the Gaors can run the ball (averaging a ridiculous 7.8 ypg), they will not be able to do that against the Tide (if it comes to that).  Tebow is excellent at the read option and knows when to cut it up inside or make that last second pitch to their speedsters.  The Florida defense is ranked second behind the Tide in the SEC and playmakers like Brandon Spikes and cornerback Joe Haden have All-American written all over them.

My number three is TEXAS.  The best defense in the Big-12.   They all can run and can gang tackle with the best of em'.  Watch DE Sergio Kindle...a real stud.  On offense, Colt McCoy has struggled some in the first half of a few games but has made the plays when needed.  His favorite target, his roomate Jordan Shipley (8 TD's).  The Horns' defense will keep them in every game, even with the inconsistent offense, but once they have to play a Florida or Alabama, they lack the running game to beat either of those two teams.