The Sports Oasis

The Hit or Miss Nature of Fantasy Football

2010-11-30T21:33:00.000-05:00

Fantasy football is anything but predictable, and I was reminded of this as one of my teams was eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend. While my team has suffered from having the 2nd most points scored against it(50 more than it's scored so far), the rest of the problems can be traced back to what I thought was a good draft. Altering just a few of my first picks on draft day probably would have had me in the hunt for a title.

Here are my first 5 picks(I had the #2 overall selection), and remember what the outlook was for each of these players heading into the season.

1. Adrian Peterson: 1016 rush yds, 8 rush tds, 331 rec. yds, 1 rec td
2. Larry Fitzgerald: 728 rec. yds, 5 rec. tds
3. Brandon Marshall: 693 rec. yds, 1 rec. td
4. DeAngelo Williams: 361 rush yds, 1 rush td, 61 rec. yds
5. Cedric Benson: 788 rush yds, 4 rush tds, 126 rec. yds, 1 td

Back in August, this seemed like a pretty good first 5 choices. In late November, it's easy to see why my team was struggling to get a playoff berth. Contrast my picks with the first 5 of the team in first place(who had the #1 overall pick):

1. Chris Johnson: 973 rush yds, 9 rush tds, 105 rec. yds
2. Calvin Johnson: 806 rec. yds, 11 rec. tds
3. Greg Jennings: 822 rec. yds, 9 rec. tds
4. Matt Schaub: 2752 pass yds, 15 pass tds, 7 ints
5. Arian Foster: 1147 rush yds, 12 rush tds, 453 yds rec. 1 td

My lack of a dominant #1 wide receiver coming from my top 5 picks really hurt. Mike Wallace & Jeremy Maclin(my 11th & 12th picks) have turned out to be my best options. LeSean McCoy and Matt Ryan have turned out to be good late-round selections, but three out of my top five picks consistently under-performing combined with what seemed like season-high point totals by my opponent every week kept my team from getting to the post-season.

All in all, it's just another learning experience in the unpredictable world that is fantasy football.

Is Meyer Behind the Newton Leak?

2010-11-09T20:41:00.000-05:00

The Cam Newton eligibility saga got a little more interesting today. First, it was reported that Newton was caught cheating at Florida, and left the school before appearing in front of the Florida Student Conduct Committee. Then, it came out that the FBI was getting involved, and would like to speak with John Bond.

Throughout the day, one thing has remained constant, the murmurs that somehow Urban Meyer and/or someone on his staff is behind this entire thing. Some theories paint Meyer as a jilted former coach that wanted to thrust Florida back into the spotlight while diminishing Newton's accomplishments. Others have him just being a "bad guy" that's looking to get Newton declared ineligible prior to a possible Auburn vs Florida SEC Championship Game.

In any case, what would Urban Meyer gain from leaking this info?

Meyer would certainly realize that any NCAA investigation into Newton's eligibility probably wouldn't be completed until after the SEC Championship Game, and even that is being quite generous with the timeframe. Leaking the info, and hoping for swift action from the NCAA isn't exactly a calculating move by a supposedly ruthless coach.

Meyer also seems to realize that leaking confidential student records is a serious offense, and has done his best to get out in front of those rumors. And what would he gain now from telling everyone that Newton was caught cheating at Florida roughly two years ago? If anything, telling prospective recruits that their secrets are safe within the locker room, and that the coaches will do their best to keep them insulated from outsiders should anything "bad" happen is a powerful recruiting tool. Meyer is fully aware of how the recruiting game is played, and there's little chance that he would risk missing out on 5-star recruits after being labeled a "snitch" or "tattle-tale".

Also, in case no one noticed, this is the biggest game week of the year for Florida. They win, and they're in the SEC Championship Game even after losing three conference games in a row a few weeks back. Do you think Meyer wants this distraction piled on top of preparing for the 'Ol Ball Coach coming back to The Swamp in search of his first SEC East title at South Carolina? He's got enough to worry about, and being asked if he was the source of these leaks this entire week isn't exactly conducive to stress-free preparation.

All in all, Meyer being the source of these leaks does far more harm than good. The most he could "gain" would be the possibility of Newton sitting out an SEC Championship Game that neither Florida nor Auburn is guaranteed to play in right now. On the flipside, being at the head of this would certainly tarnish any legacy Meyer is building, and only ratchet up the vitriol that some enjoy lobbing his direction.

Meyer may certainly come across as a dick to some people, but he's never been accused of being stupid. Meyer leaking this info would be nothing short of idiotic, possibly illegal and detrimental to his own football program.

In All Kinds of Weather...

2010-10-18T19:27:00.001-04:00

...We'll all stick together. For F-L-O-R-I-D-A.

I'm not sure this season is exactly what the composer had in mind, but hopefully we can all stick together and make it through this perfect storm of ineptitude that's hit.

There's a lot of noise in the machine right now calling for various changes. Some want Addazio fired. Others just want him to go back to being strictly an offensive line coach. And still others want Brantley benched in favor of Trey Burton. Three straight losses, two at home, will cause that sort of loud displeasure when the fanbase is used to the success that occurred over the past 5 seasons. So, what moves can be made to get the Gators pointed in the right direction?

First, I can't place any blame on John Brantley for how the offense has performed up to this point. He's being asked to run a system that doesn't fit his abilities, his receivers have dropped passes(*cough*Deonte Thompson*cough*) and at times it looks like there's confusion with the plays being relayed in from the sidelines. Too often during the game against Mississippi State it looked like Brantley either didn't know or didn't like the play being called. Also, I would ask Addazio and Meyer to watch these highlights of Brantley in high school. Remember this kid, guys? You recruited him to play quarterback at the University of Florida. Do you see him running the spread option?

Second, I agree that a change in playcallers is necessary. Not only is the offense as a whole underperforming with Addazio as the offensive coordinator, but the play along the offensive line has deteriorated as well. Both of those are his responsibility, and as of right now neither has looked very good. The only problem with making a change is that I'm not sure Addazio would accept a demotion, and there's a good chance Florida could be looking to fill both of those holes immediately if they asked him to step down as OC. Though, if some type of change isn't made regarding those two areas the offense will continue to sputter throughout this season and probably in 2011.

Lastly, in some ways this does feel worse than the Ron Zook era. I'm certainly not saying that Urban Meyer and Ron Zook are on the same level, but at some point you knew what you were getting with Ron Zook. There was a ceiling that those teams would hit, and never be able to rise above. However, with Meyer it's always seemed like he has an answer for every loss, and that he truly can correct the issues causing a lack of success. Yet, this is the first time in five years that he doesn't seem to have the answer, or maybe he realizes the tough decision that has to be made but is unable to make it.

Unfortunately, if he can't or won't make those changes soon no amount of foul weather gear will protect UF football fans from the type of storm that's brewing on the horizon.

6 Week Mini-Snapshot: Is it Just UF's Offense?

2010-10-12T23:23:00.000-04:00

The Gators are 4-2, and many fans believe that lackluster offensive playcalling is to blame for much of the team's woes. Voicing displeasure about the way offensive coordinator Steve Addazio has run the offense is quickly becoming a tradition much like the Gator Walk. So, is it really his fault? How do the Gators stack up on both sides of the ball when compared to the first 6 games of last season?

Of course, stats can be a bit misleading because an inefficient offense will place strain on even the best defense, but I have found a few data sets that I thought were insightful.

2010 Yards per Game: 323, 140 rush yds, 183 pass yds(6.42yds/att)
2009 Yards per Game: 470, 259 rush yds, 210 pass yds(8.9yds/att)

2010 Sacks Allowed(6gms): 7
2009 Sacks Allowed(6gms): 13

2010 3rd downs: 32/74, 43%
2009 3rd downs: 43/74, 58%

2010 Red Zone Efficiency: 21/27, 139pts, 13 rush td, 6 pass td, 2 fg
2009 Red Zone Efficiency: 24/30, 131pts, 10 rush td, 5 pass td, 9 fg

2010 Opponent Red Zone: 15/19, 80pts, 5 rush td, 4 pass td, 6 fg
2009 Opponent Red Zone: 9/12, 39pts, 2 rush td, 1 pass td, 6 fg

2010 Total Yards Allowed: 1840
2009 Total Yards Allowed: 1370

2010 Scoring Defense: 121pts, 20.17pts/gm
2009 Scoring Defense: 52pts, 8.6pts/gm

2010 Sacks by Defense: 13 sacks
2009 Sacks by Defense: 16 sacks

2010 INTs by Defense: 13
2009 INTs by Defense: 7

2010 Tackles for Loss: 37
2009 Tackles for Loss: 35

At first glance you can see that the offense is indeed lagging behind where it was at this point last season. It's gaining roughly 140 less yards per game, and despite the belief that there would be a more wide open passing attack there's been a drop of about 2.5yds per attempt. Pass protection, which some people have focused on, is actually a bit better so far this season, though, that obviously doesn't take into account the poor snaps that have occurred with alarming frequency.

Another trouble area is on third down. Granted, the offense has seen a number of 3rd down and intermediate or long situations, but it's converting roughly 15% less on 3rd than it did last year. I believe that just boosting that conversion rate would help immensely.

Red zone efficiency is at about the same point through 6 games, though, getting that up from the current 77% to 80%+ would be nice.

Looking at these stats it would appear that the offense probably does need to stretch the field a little more, and do a better job of converting 3rd downs. But what about on the other side of the ball? Has the buzz created by the criticism of Addazio drowned out questions about the defense?

As you can see, the defense is allowing close to 80yds more per game. On top of that, they're surrendering over 20pts per contest when at the same point in '09 they were giving up an average of 8.6. Those kind of jumps aren't exactly good.

And while it's nice to see almost double the interceptions through this year's first 6 games, it's not good to see that red zone defensive performance has plummeted. Opponents have scored roughly twice as many points from inside the red zone so far this year, and last year's bend but don't break ability has looked more sieve-like in the opening 6 weeks.

So what can be done to solve these problems? First, Florida's offense definitely has to play better. They don't have to score a ton of points or rack up a massive amount of yards. Though, that certainly wouldn't hurt. They do need to improve their performance on 1st and 2nd down so that they can be in a position to convert more 3rd downs. Just doing that would help sustain drives, and give the defense time to rest and make adjustments.

Second, the defense has to tackle better. In watching the first 6 games I can't remember a UF defense missing so many tackles. 2007 had some, but that unit was mostly plagued by young players learning on the fly and getting caught out of position(though, that's happened more than once in 2010). If the defensive players can get back to the basics and make good tackles instead of being overly aggressive and just throwing a hand out, then I think they can back down that yards allowed stat and start shrinking the field a bit. As it is now, getting into the red zone has been much too easy for UF's opponents.

Hopefully, there will be noticeable improvement in these areas as the season progresses, or else the Gators could find themselves out of the SEC race within the next few weeks.

At Least Someone's Getting Fired...

2010-10-10T02:05:00.003-04:00

...Right?

Seriously, tonight's loss to LSU doesn't feel like '07 where UF's offense was off the charts, but the defense was a sieve. Right now it's more like shoehorn Brantley into the offense instead of taking advantage of his strengths. And Demps? All reports indicate that he was game ready, yet he has no chance to contribute? Good call coaching staff. Honestly, the coaches better have their collective heads on swivels because the boosters won't take back-to-back losses quietly.

Ugh. I'll breakdown this inexcusable loss further on Sunday.

The Chris Rainey "Situation"

2010-09-16T19:28:00.005-04:00

By now, most college football fans are probably aware that Florida wide receiver Chris Rainey was arrested and charged with aggravated stalking this past Tuesday. It's been reported that he went to the home of a woman that he's dated on and off for three years after she missed a call from him. Then, after leaving, he sent her at least one threatening text message. Currently, Rainey is not with the team.

I've read and heard a number of opinions ranging from he should be booted immediately to he should be suspended indefinitely and assisted with any anger issues he has. There are also people questioning the severity of the incident, and seem to think it's along the lines of a boyfriend-girlfriend spat.

Personally, I can see the validity in just about all of those points of view, and I'm pretty torn on exactly what Coach Meyer should. Obviously, a lot is being made of the number of arrests under Meyer, and being a Florida alum I don't like seeing any school "representatives", be they athletes, coaches, AD's, etc., in trouble with the law. From that side I can see why people think Rainey should be dismissed from the team.

However, I've coached youth sports, and while it's not quite the same as being an FBS head football coach, I do have a little insight into how athletics can be the only release for some kids. Rainey has always seemed to have a pretty good relationship with Meyer, and I'm sure that the decision of whether or not to take football away from him is something that Meyer will agonize over. I would imagine that Meyer really feels like he can help Rainey through this, but because of prior transgressions with UF football players he might not get the chance to.

In the end, there can be a delicate balance between using your athletic abilities to achieve success, and using them to gain preferential treatment that allows you to escape what the public deems as proper punishment.

Ok, Commissioner Stern, I'll "Make Your Day"

2010-04-29T21:26:00.005-04:00

"And if someone wants to try me in the rest of this playoffs, you know, make my day. Because the game is too important and I don't think that the people who trash it are respecting it, and we'll do what we have to do-the players and coaches alike-because they give the impression to our fans that the referees somehow have an agenda." -NBA Commissioner David Stern

Apparently, Dwight Howard "tried" Mr. Stern with his recent blog post concerning the foul calls made against him the Charlotte series because he was hit with a $35,000 fine. It was the same amount that his coach Stan Van Gundy and fellow teammate Matt Barnes received. And you know what? I think it's weak.

I get that the commissioner has to stand behind each and every call the officials make, especially with the whole Tim Donaghy debacle still on the minds of some people(no matter how misdirected that might be). I also understand that coaches probably shouldn't be able to ramble on and on about calls without the fear of some type of punishment. However, I do have a problem with players not being able to voice their concern or frustration even just a little bit. Anyone that watched the Charlotte series probably felt at least one time that Dwight Howard was the victim of some very questionable calls.

Seriously, by the third and fourth games it became comical, and I was shocked if more than a few minutes went by without Dwight somehow drawing a whistle.

So you know what commissioner? I'm going to make your day, and question every call that I think is b.s. right here on The Sports Oasis. You might not have issued a directive to the refs but it feels like the NBA is gunning for an LA/Cleveland match-up in the Finals, and I'm going to document any of the bad calls that might contribute to making that a reality.

M15directed Hate

2009-12-10T18:58:00.004-05:00

Before we start put this on in the background.

In the past few years the coverage of Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow has reached epic proportions. Prompting a backlash from many that consider him overrated. However, Tebow isn't to blame for the hype that surrounds him. He doesn't claim to be the greatest of all time. He shares praise with his teammates and coaches after a win, and takes the blame when the team falters. No, the focus of the hate directed at Tebow should instead be directed at the ESPN's, Fox's and other major sports media outlets that have bombarded everyone with wall-to-wall coverage. However, to their credit they have to make money, and they know that anything concerning Tebow will generate page views, clickthroughs, comments and ad revenue.

They've done a great job at monetizing the aura of Tebow, and both the love and hate that comes with it. For the Tebow fans they see a college athlete that seems to be genuinely grateful for the opportunity that he's been given. One that loves donning the orange and blue, especially on game day. For the haters, they're tired of the stories about a quarterback they've deemed "overrated", and some can't stand that he's so open about his religious beliefs both on and off the field. Ironically, those people probably stand up at sporting events and proudly recite the Pledge of Allegiance that includes "one nation under God" then bash Tebow with a hearty "keep your religion out of my sports".

In any case, Tebow isn't his own biggest cheerleader. Yes, he does play the game with a lot of passion(sometimes leading to tearful endings when he feels as if he's let every Gator in the world down), but isn't that what we want from our team leaders? And maybe that's the bigger problem. Maybe the hate doesn't come from the overexposure, but from the fact that Tebow doesn't play for your team. The inability to see talent because of team affiliation is probably even greater when the athlete in question is seemingly everywhere. Tebow's not campaigning to be called the best college football player of all time, but some people seem to be convinced that he is. Sadly, those people would probably still denigrate Tebow even if he had won four Heismans and four BCS titles. Fortunately, one Heisman(as a sophomore), two BCS titles, and 140+ total touchdowns should be good enough statistics for anyone that's not an outright hater to see just how talented Tebow has been at the college level.

Why There's No Reason For The Orange & Blue To Panic

2009-10-11T11:36:00.003-04:00

So far this season I've heard more than one Gator fan talk about a win as though it were a loss. Close victories against Tennessee and LSU have been met with skepticism about the lack of a flashy, explosive passing game instead of enthusiastic banter about just how incredible this year's defensive squad is. Which is a bit odd considering that just about everyone in the country pegged Florida's returning two-deep defense as the reason they had a shot at repeating. Besides, is this year's team that far off from last year's through the first five games?

In one word, no.

In a few ways they're actually much better than last year's team was at this point.

The 2009 squad is undefeated, unlike the '08 team that started 4-1. They're also stronger on both sides of the ball. Check out the stats(through the first five games):

2008

Rushing Offense: 178.60 yds/gm
Passing Offense: 211.60 yds/gm
Total Offense: 390.20 yds/gm
Scoring Offense: 36 pts/gm

Rushing Defense: 99.60 yds/gm
Passing Defense: 165.40 yds/gm
Total Defense: 265 yds/gm
Scoring Defense: 11.40 pts/gm

2009

Rushing Offense: 284.60 yds/gm
Passing Offense: 201.80 yds/gm
Total Offense: 486.40 yds/gm
Scoring Offense: 39 pts/gm

Rushing Defense: 87.40 yds/gm
Passing Defense: 115.20 yds/gm
Total Defense: 202.60 yds/gm
Scoring Defense: 6.40 pts/gm

Last year's team really didn't get it going until the second half of the Arkansas game in week 5, and if this year's team improves at all on its current numbers it's definitely going to have a great shot at repeating.

Already, the offense is averaging more yards and points, and the running game that's been missing for a few seasons is running roughshod. The defense is stifling opponents, and is giving up an average of less than seven points per game. In fact, they've only allowed two touchdowns in five games so far. If they continue putting up those type of numbers, then they have a chance of being the best defense to ever take the field for the Gators.

So, cheer up Gator fans. Yes, there have been a few games where the score was closer than you might have liked. Though, I think that has more to do with the team playing a little under par in the red zone than anything else. This year's squad is every bit as good, if not much better, than the one that was able to capture both the SEC and BCS titles last year.

There Is Nothing to Second Guess

2009-09-27T10:16:00.003-04:00

If you're a college football fan, then you've probably heard that Tim Tebow was injured during yesterday's win over Kentucky and likely suffered a concussion. You might have also heard columnists, fans, "haters" and experts second guessing Urban Meyer's decision to have Tebow in the game at that point in the third quarter with Florida leading 31-7. Though, to me that shows how little they watch the game, and renders their opinion just about worthless.

It's common practice to give your starters two to three sets of plays in the third quarter of a game that was a blowout by halftime. The game has a different feel after the break, and you want them to be used to playing after sitting in the locker room between the second and third quarters. If Urban Meyer sat his starters in the games that became blowouts by halftime, then they would have had eight quarters of football under the belts leading into yesterday's game. They then would have played 10 quarters of football(through four games) as they take two weeks off in preparation for traveling to LSU. To me, that sounds like the perfect recipe for not having a team that's game tested as they head into an extremely hostile playing environment. After all, you can only simulate so much in practice.

What about the other coaches that kept their starters in the game when it seemed like they had it in hand? Colt McCoy was still on the field in the third quarter after Texas had run out to a halftime score of 47-7 against UTEP. Terrelle Pryor played all four quarters of the 30-0 Ohio State blowout of Illinois(the score was 23-0 heading into the fourth quarter). Greg McElroy was still taking snaps for Alabama as the Crimson Tide was up 35-7 in the fourth quarter against Arkansas. Yet, you don't hear anyone criticizing Mack Brown, Jim Tressel or Nick Saban for keeping their starting quarterback(or any other starters) on the field too late in the game. Though, that's probably because none of them suffered a freak concussion by taking a knee to the back of the head by an offensive lineman. Which is exactly what happened.

Though, if you are one of those people bashing Urban Meyer and not one of the other coaches that did something similar yesterday I'm curious to know if it's because you don't follow football closely, you hate the Florida Gators and Urban Meyer or both.

Vinsanity Comes to Orlando

2009-06-26T16:45:00.005-04:00

The trade that had been rumored during offseasons for the past couple years has finally come to fruition. Vince Carter will be playing for the Orlando Magic next season. For the most part, I like this trade, and it's not just because I'll get to watch hometown hero Vince Carter play night in and night out(Full disclosure: I grew up in the Daytona Beach area, and have always kept an eye on Vince's career).

The one part of the trade that I'm not too fond is the loss of Courtney Lee. He played extremely well as a rookie for the Magic this past season, and he's actually one of their better defenders. It would have been nice to have him locked up in a Magic jersey for years to come. However, this deal wasn't going to get done without him leaving town.

The rest of the trade is actually pretty good for Orlando. Alston was obviously unhappy with how his season ended. The damage done to the relationship between he and Coach Van Gundy could have been repaired, but I'm not sure there ever would have been good chemistry with Nelson starting and Alston coming off of the bench. Battie's contract made it necessary to shop him, and the strong possibility that Turkoglu isn't coming back made it imperative that Orlando make a move. Adding Carter lessens any blow that comes from Turkoglu leaving, and for those that say that Carter is too old, he's only 2 years older than Hedo.

Comparing the numbers, you'll see that Vince is a much better scorer and rebounder(Carter's career averages: 23.5pts/5.5 rebounds, Turkoglu's: 12.3pts/4.2 rebounds). Turkoglu probably shoots the 3 a little better. Even in his best season, 07-08, Turkoglu still averaged under 20pts/gm, whereas Carter has averaged 20+ pts 10 times in his career. Carter is stronger and more explosive, and can make it to the basket easier than Turkoglu. He can also shoot the mid/long range jumper fairly well, which makes him a good fit for the inside-out offense the Magic like to run.

The other thing to consider is that this trade relieves some of the pressure to resign Turkoglu to the big money deal he wants. While there's no doubt that he is talented player, Turkoglu doesn't warrant Orlando throwing a ton of money at him and putting a strain on any future signings.

Also, don't forget that Orlando is also getting Ryan Anderson. He's a quality forward that can shoot well, though, hopefully his defensive skills will improve just a bit.

All in all, I like the trade to bring Carter to the Magic. It not only helps the them on the court, but it also gives this small market team some big time press as they prepare to move into a new arena following the 2009 season.

The Mountain West Conference Requests A Bailout From Congress

2009-05-02T12:23:00.006-04:00

I get that people want a playoff in college football. I understand that some don't see it as a "perfect system". They want a +1, or even an eight team playoff. But does Congress really need to be sticking its nose into this matter at a time like this?

Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, who has introduced legislation that would prevent the NCAA from calling a game a national championship unless it’s the outcome of a playoff, bluntly warned Swofford: “If we don’t see some action in the next two months, on a voluntary switch to a playoff system, then you will see this bill move.”

Seriously, Rep. Joe Barton of Texas you think going after the BCS on the issue of a playoff while your governor is riling up crowds with speeches insinuating secession, and violent Mexican drug wars are spilling over the border into your state is the best use of your time?

It is true that an change to the current system is probably going to have to come from the outside. The bowl structure is extremely lucrative for the TV networks, and the schools/conferences that receive automatic bids. Everyone that gets rich off of the BCS year in and year out really don't have any motivation to change unless they're forced to. However, right now is probably not the best time for Congress to be pressing this issue. Though, the MWC probably thinks that right now is the perfect time to request a bailout from Congressional leaders.

Lane Kiffin Has 126 Problems

2009-02-05T18:06:00.003-05:00

Lane Kiffin has certainly made a splash in his short time in the SEC coaching ranks. Wait, before I go any further let's get a little background music going...

Anyway, his newest cannonball into the SEC pool produced allegations that Florida coach Urban Meyer "cheated" while trying to recruit Nu'Keese Richardson. Exactly what did Kiffin say?

"I'm gonna turn Florida in right here in front of you," Kiffin said, according to WVLT-TV. "While Nu'Keese was on campus, his phone kept ringing. One of the coaches says, 'who's that?' And he said, 'Urban Meyer.' "

Unfortunately for Kiffin, and the UT fans that rallied around his statement, there is no rule against that type of contact. NCAA and SEC officials confirmed that this afternoon.

So, not only did Kiffin try to pull a bitch move by "outting" Meyer over supposed cheating, but he did so without even being fully aware of what the rule did and did not prohibit. Now, he just looks like jackass, and has given Meyer and his team, you know the ones that won the SEC and the BCS last year, early bulletin board material for that September 19 showdown in Gainesville.

The Gators will be looking to extend their winning streak to four consecutive against the Vols, and Kiffin will probably be hoping that Meyer doesn't add too many more digits to those 126 problems that he's already dealing with. And exactly what are the 126 problems? That's the number of points that the Gators have totalled over that four game win streak, outscoring the Vols 126-53.

Welcome to the SEC, Lane. Try not to let your mouth write checks that your ass can't cash.

The Problem With This Year's (Not So) Super Bowl Ending

2009-02-03T21:00:00.004-05:00

By now, I'm sure you've read or heard all about how the Super Bowl ended with a controversial call. In case you didn't get to see it I've posted it below.

The biggest problem with the officials seemingly not reviewing a crucial call late in the game(eventhough, they said there was a quick look in the booth) is that it pushes many of the casual observers over to the Cardinal's side of the argument.

There were probably quite a few NFL fans watching who really didn't care which team won the Super Bowl. However, when the Warner "fumble" wasn't reviewed those same fans realized that it could have very well been their team(well, except for you Detroit fans) getting screwed, and they threw their support behind Arizona and the outcry from its fanbase.

I thought it was eerily similar to the Brady "Tuck Rule" play, and that it warranted a look under the hood by the refs. When I saw Pittsburgh snap the ball before any review I was a little bit shocked. Though, after a season that featured quite a few controversial calls I probably shouldn't be surprised that the season ended this way.

The Quiet Stars of The UF BCS Win

2009-01-11T14:54:00.002-05:00

For much of this(and last) season, most of the focus on UF's offense was on their proverbial homerun hitters. Tebow, Harvin, Rainey, Demps, James, Cooper, etc. Until Harvin's injury, wide receiver Louis Murphy wasn't mentioned all that often, and David Nelson was doing a great impression of the Invisible Man. However, when their team needed them most they showed up in a big way.

Against the Oklahoma Sooners in the BCS Title Game, Murphy and Nelson accounted for 12 of UF's 24 points. Murphy caught Tebow's first TD pass to put the Gators ahead 6-0, and Nelson caught Tebow's 2nd pass to basically ice the game at 23-14 with 3:00 left in the 4th quarter.

It was great to see these two players impact such a big game in such a big way, and for Murhpy it was an awesome way for him to close out his senior season in Gainesville.

Superman Returns

2009-01-11T14:36:00.002-05:00

At the BCS celebration in Gainesville today Tim Tebow let the college football world know what his NFL decision was, and he's decided to return for his senior season.

Florida junior quarterback Tim Tebow made the announcement all
Gator fans wanted to hear on Sunday. After his speech he turned around and said,
"Oh and one more thing, let's do it again. I'm coming back!"

Personally, I am a little surprised because he doesn't really have anything left to prove at the college level. Two BCS titles and a Heisman really speak for themselves. Hopefully he doesn't take too much punishment next season because I would hate to see him get injured. Though, it is going to be great to see him donning the orange and blue for one more year.

I haven't heard any word on if Harvin and Spikes will return or not.

Everyday UF Is Hustlin'

2009-01-09T20:50:00.004-05:00

Yes, that is a shitty screen capture, but thanks to FOX's reluctance to replay any game action at all it's the best I have. Anyway, it's Torrey Davis doing his very best Rick Ross impersonation. Which is fitting because the game was played in Miami, and the Sooners got hustled. Check out Davis around the 1:00 mark where he shows Bob Stoops that he's tha boss.

Florida's Speed Alters Time, Causes Large Scores

2008-11-21T19:11:00.004-05:00

Last Saturday's game against South Carolina was a blowout. The Gators put up half-a-hundred on the Gamecocks, and thoroughly destroyed their highly ranked defense. However, it wasn't quite as a big of a beatdown as the Orlando Sentinel would like you to believe.

Yes, it did feel like the Gators scored 423 points, but in reality it was only 56. Sadly, it probably felt like 500 points to the OBC.

Motherf@ckin' Computers

2008-11-09T21:02:00.005-05:00

I know that the BCS is not a perfect system. I know that right now it's the best we have. However, I can't say that I was exactly happy when I pulled up the latest standings and saw Florida sitting at #4.

I understand that if they win out, including a victory in the SEC title game against an unbeaten Alabama squad, they should play for the BCS Championship. I also understand that Texas lost to the current #2 team in the country, and that Florida's loss came at home against a middle of the road Ole Miss team. Those things I won't dispute.

However, what are the fucking computers doing ranking Utah at #4, and putting Oklahoma and Florida tied at 5th?

Seriously, Utah?

They play the 55th toughest schedule, and didn't beat their first ranked opponent, TCU(#11), until this past Saturday. In the 10th game of the season.

Obviously someone somewhere has a love affair with teams that "crash" the BCS. Hopefully they open one of those "A Card From Your Best Friend" e-mails, and their computer crashes next week.

We're Gonna Tase You Bro!

2008-10-18T11:52:00.004-04:00

Women wielding tasers is nothing new. Just think of them as the 21st century version of mace, or a well-placed knee to the crotch.

However, at least one of the females attending this party looks be readying herself for what could be a contentious finish to the college football season.

So, just remember that if you're the fan of a 1-loss team at the end of the season, and you don't think that the woman wearing orange and blue is serious about the electrical damage she's threatening to inflict, she most certainly is. And she's been practicing.

Ohio State Buckeyes: Still Having Problems Winning The Big One

2008-10-17T17:53:00.003-04:00

Back-to-back drubbings in the BCS Championship Game, and now this.

Over the past few days you've probably heard about "Joe the Plumber". Well, it appears that Joe is a Buckeyes fan, and that he's supporting John McCain in the presidential election. If the polls finish the way they stand today, then that means that 'ole Joe will have seen the "team" that he backed in the "big game" go 0-3.

Though, if the BCS has taught us anything it's that the polls can look a lot different week to week.

Mr. Laybourn And His Football Ascot Are Here To Crash Your Party

2008-09-27T00:26:00.004-04:00

The scene: Approximately three minutes left in the fourth quarter of the USC/Oregon State game. The Trojans are trailing by 7 points, and USC quarterback Mark Sanchez is preparing to lead his team on the tying drive. USC is ready to score and party on as #1. Until Greg Laybourn shows up.

Sanchez: Alright guys we have to get into the end zone, so we can go home, get to bed as the unanimous #1 and allow Coach Carroll to rack up his 15 minutes of sleep.

USC Offense: We hear ya. Let's get this shit over with, and hope that we can hang on to #1.

Greg Laybourn: Excuse me fellas, do you mind if I join you at your wonderful party?

USC: Uhhh, why don't you take your ascot and get the hell off of our field? Haven't you heard the hype? We're one of the best teams of all time.

Laybourn: Ascot? Why just for that I'm going to take your...uh....uh...actually, I'll take this motherfucking football thank you very much!

Laybourn snatches a Sanchez pass out of the air, and returns the interception back to the USC 2-yard line.

USC: Ahhhhh! Sonuvabitch! Not again!

Coach Carroll: [/tears][/does brain yoga to calm soul]

Oregon State: Screw you USC! We upset you yet again. Choke on our ascots!

Proof, that you should never fuck with a man wearing an ascot.

Urban Meyer's Misguided Anger

2008-09-25T17:35:00.002-04:00

Urban Meyer isn't a big fan of the new clock rules in college football. You know, the ones that were supposed to give us, the fans, a more exciting experience, but have really just cut some more time off of the game. Meyer thinks they're "awful", and is upset that they're costing the Gators snaps on the offensive side of the ball.

Florida Coach Urban Meyer is upset at the new clock-rule changes.

After being limited to what he calls 46 competitive plays Saturday against Tennessee, Meyer came out firing Monday about the new 40/25-second and out-of-bounds clock rules that have reduced the number of offensive plays. He called them “awful.”

Unfortunately, Meyer's anger about the reduced number of "competitive plays" in the Tennessee game shouldn't be directed at the clock. Instead, it should be directed at the Vols coaches and players.

They were the ones that robbed the Gators of more snaps on offense by allowing Brandon James to return a punt 78 yards for a touchdown. The Vols also took away more snaps by giving the Gators starting field position on the Tennessee side of the field for 3 out of their 5 scoring drives.

If anyone is to be blamed for robbing Florida of more competitive plays it has to be the Vols. Though, when the score was 20-0 in favor of Florida at the half Meyer had to know that it wasn't going to be a very competitive game.

Saturday Night: Junior T.O. vs. Little Randy

2008-09-24T20:27:00.004-04:00

If you thought this weekend's Alabama vs. Georgia game was just another SEC battle you would be partially correct.

It is going to be a knock down, drag out affair, but it's also going to showcase two of the best freshman wide receivers in the country. One, Julio Jones from 'Bama, has been called "Junior T.O.", the other, A.J. Green from Georgia, is known to some as "Little Randy".

And since YouTube videos are worth substantially more than 1,000 words I present you with some highlights of each player(prep). Just sit back, and let their amazing moves soothe your college football soul.

Can't wait for Saturday night now can you? Be patient my friends, you'll be seeing some amazing SEC catches in no time.

Peyton Manning Would Like A Shot At A Gold Medal

2008-09-24T19:25:00.003-04:00

Apparently, Peyton Manning did not enjoy seeing Michael Phelps win eight gold medals at the Olympics without being able to do something about it. Oh well, at least he performed better on Saturday Night Live.

Refusing to stand idly by Mr. Manning has decided to put his stamp of approval on a petition to get the Olympic Committee to include American football on its list of sports. And based on his words at weplay.com, it sounds like he's pretty damn serious about the whole thing.

And if you don't agree, then you're obviously being completely bogus.

(In the interest of disclosure, in the e-mail I received pertaining to this I was offered a $25 gift certificate to Eastbay for posting the "widget". However, putting this up for humor far outweighs any credit at Eastbay.)