The Fire Mark Richt Debate… Expectations Outpace Mark Richt

September 28, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Optimist Prime.

Mark Richt is no longer able to compete in the SEC.

Yes, he HAS led the Georgia Bulldogs to nine consecutive bowl appearances, and boasts a bowl record of 7-2 in those nine games. He has maintained exceptionally strong recruiting classes during his tenure, and has twice been named the SEC Coach of the Year. And if he were head coach of a Big East or ACC program, that would be considered a wildly successful performance, and Richt would be at the front of the line for the next “elite” coaching job in college football.

The only problem is he already HAS that elite coaching job in the nation’s top football conference. And when you look at his performance, specifically over the past four years as the SEC has completely dominated college football, Richt has actually UNDER-performed.

BCS Shortcomings

In the nine full seasons since Richt became head coach at Georgia, he has coached his squad to a 2-1 BCS record, with no national championship game appearances.

Now, let’s compare that to some of his SEC colleagues:

Les Miles is 2-0 in BCS games since 2005, including a national championship with LSU.

Nick Saban is 3-1 in BCS games, with two national championships for two different SEC programs (LSU and Alabama).

Urban Meyer is 3-0 in BCS games, with two national championships.

Pop quiz, what is Mark Richt lacking? That’s right! A national championship, DESPITE being at the head of one of the supposed powerhouses in the SEC.

As for those two BCS wins, one came in 2002, back before the SEC had really developed into the conference powerhouse it is today, and the other came in 2007 against a Hawaii team that had no business being in the BCS, DESPITE an undefeated regular season record (don’t forget that Hawaii earned their record by playing the WAC, two different FCS teams, and the only team they played from a BCS-caliber conference was the 4-8 Washington Huskies).

While the SEC has improved, Georgia has declined

There is clearly a gap in talent between Mark Richt and the other premier coaches of the SEC. And with each passing year the irrefutable evidence indicates that the gap is widening.

Since Georgia’s last BCS win in 2007, while the SEC has improved as a conference, the Bulldogs have been on a steady and sharp decline.

Entering into the 2008 season Georgia was ranked as the top team in the country. How did Richt respond to that ranking? By losing not once, but THREE times that season.

Again, a 10-3 record (with a win in the Capital One Bowl) is not bad, but as the pre-season favorite to win the national championship, three losses equals to a HUGE disappointment.

Then in 2009, Georgia (who still managed a top-ten recruiting class) was ranked in the pre-season as the 13th best team in the nation, and they played on to a record of only 8-5… falling COMPLETELY out of the top-25 by season’s end.

Somehow, despite that slide even deeper out of SEC relevance, Georgia managed ANOTHER solid recruiting class and found itself once more ranked in the 2010 pre-season as one of the 25 best teams in the country.

And once again, Richt has failed.

So far this season he has managed to win only one game (against Louisiana-Lafayette), and his three losses (all of which have come against SEC competition) have him sitting in dead last as the worst team in the conference.

It is time for Richt to go

During his tenure, Richt’s performance at the University of Georgia has been good, but as far as the University of Georgia’s expectations are concerned, “good” in the SEC simply isn’t good enough. This is a program that has recruited some of the top talent in the country, but has failed miserably on the field.

Since 2007, Mark Richt has had top-ten caliber talent coming into each season, and has progressively dropped further and further out of contention. He has lost 11 times in the SEC during that time (compared to only four losses each by Florida and Alabama during that same period). This season, he has the Bulldogs off to their worst start in 20 years (they also started at 1-3 during the 1993 season).

The SEC has progressed to a level at which Mark Richt can no longer compete.

Three different head coaches have won national championships in the SEC over the last four years. Each one has progressively improved their program’s stature, elevating the conference in the process. All the while Georgia fans have been left on the sidelines with nothing but disappointment.

Mark Richt has had all the tools, and every opportunity, to improve his program right alongside the likes of Saban, Miles, and Meyer. But unlike those three, Richt has failed to capitalize on his opportunities.

While the SEC has gotten better, Mark Richt has gotten worse. The only way that Georgia can progress as a football program is if they leave Richt behind.

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The College Coaches Banning NFL Scouts Debate Verdict

August 20, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan.

Normally I subscribe to Machiavellian theory, that the end justifies the means. No matter how drastic the measure, if it achieves the end goal then I see success. But when I consider Nick Saban’s response to the current debacle going on between the NFL and college football, I am not so sure.

Bleacher Fan raises interesting points in his criticism of banning NFL scouts from college campuses. He points out that scouts really have not been identified as the problem, yet they are suffering massive collateral damage in Saban’s war on agents. He also proves an intriguing point that colleges and scouts have a mutually beneficial relationship, and it seems illogical for one interest to punish the other. Like cutting off one’s nose to spite their face, it just seems illogical.

Loyal Homer, however, does not subscribe to the notion that universities need scouts on campus. He highlights an obvious, but oft overlooked point that professional teams are afforded plenty of scouting opportunities between college games and the NFL combine. And it is hard not to agree with Loyal Homer, that college football should return to a more normal collegiate state… before under the table deals ruined the future of young promising athletes.

But in the end I could not find fault with the central premise of Bleacher Fan’s argument, that banning college scouts will eventually negatively impact the notoriety of a school. Regardless of past prestige and acclaim, universities that limit a college athlete’s exposure to potential NFL employers are going to lose out on many professional, career-minded recruits. When top recruits learn they will receive less exposure when playing for a given team (like Alabama) than they would playing for another comparable program (let’s say Texas), then it is only logical for athletes seeking to promote a future professional career to sign with the school that puts them in the best position to catch the attention of an NFL team. The obvious decision is for students to play for the team allowing the most exposure. The loss of top talent will be a detriment to school like Alabama that are taking a stand, principled or not.

Unfortunately for Loyal Homer he was forced to defend a decision that Nick Saban himself has backpedaled from. While the preservation of collegiate integrity by banning any and all problems seems commendable, it also doesn’t seem feasible for the longevity of a successful football program. Saban’s decision to lift the ban after a given date is evidence enough of that. College football needs to remedy the problem of outside interference, but banning the scouts is not the answer.

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The College Coaches Banning NFL Scouts Debate

August 19, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan.

It is plain to see that the NFL is creating quite a mess for college football programs these days. NCAA investigations into schools like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina – for allegations of improper contact – reveal that the problem of outside interference on college campuses is both very broad and very real.

Alabama head Nick Saban is taking matters into his own hands. He is currently refusing to allow NFL scouts to even attend practices. Other coaches like Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly don’t view scouts as the problem. Kelly has stated that the Irish won’t ban scouts, but will instead attempt to address the situation by better educating student athletes about the issue.

It seems logical that colleges would take steps to keep agents out. But scouts? These guys are not the ones offering cars and houses under the table to amateur athletes. They are the ones with clipboards and stopwatches sweating in the stands trying to earn a living by discovering the next big thing. Scouts help make college dreams of NFL success possible. Are these guys really to blame as well?

Loyal Homer believes scouts do share blame. He will argue that programs are well within their right to ban NFL scouts to preserve their programs. Bleacher Fan, on the other hand, believes scouts should be left to do their job.

One argument will prevail while the other will be shut out faster than a scout with a roll of hundreds at a Crimson Tide practice. Who has the right idea?

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The College Coaches Banning Scouts Debate… Solving a Non-Problem

August 19, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Loyal Homer.

Why do people go to college?

The answer is simple. They go to college to prepare for their future careers. A kid who wants to become a doctor will go to the absolute best medical school that they are able to attend. Likewise, those seeking a career in law will pursue the best law schools, those who wish to be executives in corporate America will pursue the best business programs, and so on.

Students approach college in this manner because it puts them in the best possible position for success AFTER college. Where you go to school can have an influence on the prospective employers that will take notice of you. For example, the top producer from the Wharton School of Business will in all likelihood have garnered more interest from potential future employers than would the top performing student from The University of Phoenix Online.

That doesn’t mean the top performing student from The University of Phoenix is any less equipped for success in the “real world,” but Wharton has a much more prestigious name. It has a reputation as turning out the very best and the brightest. As such, those prospective employers who are interested in hiring the elite graduates from business school tend to keep closer tabs on the students at Wharton. They will want establish early relationships with those students, and get to know them through networking opportunities.

How do colleges facilitate that relationship? Through internships, guest presenters, and work-study programs. Those are just a few of the ways that corporate America can tie itself more closely with the future workforce that will be coming out of college in the years to come.

So if every college, regardless of career path, offers that benefit to its students, why on earth should athletics be excluded?

I completely understand the need to protect student athletes from unscrupulous agents. But the notion that banning professional scouts from practice does anything to combat the problem is like putting a cast on your arm because you broke your leg. The logic is completely flawed.

If a student is attending college in hopes of parlaying that experience into a professional career, shouldn’t they be afforded the exact same benefits that a med student, or a law student receives? By allowing professional scouts in the college environment student athletes are given a unique opportunity to showcase their skills for the very people they are HOPING will hire them once their time in college is done.

That is an ENTIRELY different relationship for an athlete than when they are in contact with a professional agent who has no ties to any prospective future employer. More importantly, the relationship between professional scouts and colleges is one that is healthy, and benefits a lot of people.

Realistically, professional sports internships aren’t an option for these kids. Where a business student can establish a relationship with a professional organization WHILE still attending classes, rules are put in place that prohibit athletes from that opportunity. A college quarterback is not allowed to go practice with the New England Patriots, or dress for a game, or work out at their facilities.

This is not a situation where athletes are being provided with special treatment either, since every college student has access to professionals while they are in college, regardless of the career they are pursuing. Allowing professional scouts into colleges is the same as granting student athletes the exposure to professional America that every single other college student also receives.

And guess what – this practice is good for the universities, too!

Just like the Wharton School of Business has established a reputation as turning out the best potential executives for corporate America, certain universities have developed a reputation as turning out the best potential professional athletes.

Ohio State and Texas are two schools known for their football pedigree. Duke and North Carolina are basketball schools. Each university has established a reputation as giving students the greatest opportunity for future success.

That reputation has grown as the result of an ongoing cycle. Pro scouts flock to those programs because they know they will get to see the top athletes. As a result, the universities get to tout that reputation and higher caliber athletes will want to play for those programs because they will then get the increased exposure they so crave.

Scouts make the programs look better, and the programs make the scouts look better. It is a win-win relationship, and the only thing that would happen by banning scouts from having access to college athletes would be to negatively impact everyone involved.

The programs would lose much of their recruiting capability, which in turn would hurt the chances of sustainable success.

Professional sports teams, and their fans, would suffer because the teams would lose much of the insight that is gained from scouting athletes while they are still in college. While it’s possible to gauge a wide receiver’s speed, or a tight end’s blocking skills, simply by watching them play, it is not possible to gauge intangible qualities that are just as vital at the next level.

How does the athlete interact with his teammates? Is he a leader or a motivator? What is his work ethic like? Does he adapt and adjust well when given new techniques to practice? All of those things require much closer access to the coaches and the program than simply sitting in the bleachers on game day.

Finally, the athletes would suffer because they would have less of an opportunity to differentiate themselves from their peers, ultimately impacting their chances at obtaining top-level salaries.

The current system that provides professional scouts with access to colleges is beneficial to everyone involved, and I see no reason to change that formula for success.

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The College Coaches Banning NFL Scouts Debate… Beat It, Scouts!

August 19, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Bleacher Fan.

Whatever happened to the days on innocence in college football? Don’t laugh! It really was a reality not all that long ago. Just ask your dad and his friends. Obviously, it’d be too simplistic to put all of the blame on agents. But they do deserve much of the blame. You know who else deserve some of the blame? Scouts! Coaches have every right to ban those scouts from their practices. He’s trying to protect his program.

Nick Saban has been the face of the “Ban The Scouts” campaign and he has been very outspoken about it. He promised last month at SEC Media Days in his discussion about “pimps” that he may take action against scouts. True to his word he has done just that. They are no longer welcome at Crimson Tide practice until further notice. He has since softened a little bit, saying scouts could return to practice on August 25th at a pre-determined time. It’s unfortunate that it came to that, but who can blame the coaches?

Having anyone associated with their players, even innocent bystanders such as scouts, opens up a Pandora’s box of potential issues. I’m well aware of the fact that scouts are there to do their jobs, take notes, and click their stopwatches. But I’m of the opinion that they could be distractions, even if they have noble intentions.

Suppose the players notice that scouts from the NFL are in attendance. Would that make them practice any different? Would they press more? Would they tense up? Would it limit the chances of an effective practice? These are all questions that college coaches really don’t have to answer. If I’m a coach and I see a scout watching practice, you know what I tell the scout? I say, “Don’t take this personally, but if you want to know what kind of player he is, we’ve got a game every Saturday in the Fall. I’ll be glad to talk to you in the Spring at the scouting combine. In the meantime, there’s the interstate right over there. It’ll lead you right out of town.”

Fair or not, one bad seed has ruined the whole apple, where the bad seed is the agents. Agents are professionals, scouts are professionals, and that’s what worries coaches like Nick Saban. It’s a classic case of “guilt by association.” Saban said it correctly, “Agents are screwing
it up.” Look at it from the point of view from a coach. Maybe these scouts have relationships with the agents. These coaches don’t know these scouts personally. Why should they be trusted? If you give an inch, the next thing you know, your players will be taking their talents to South Beach to an agent-hosted party.

It’s a sad state of affairs. I respect that scouts have a job to do. But in light of the rash of agents hovering around players, coaches have no choice but to protect the amateur eligibility of the student-athletes. That’s the nature of the beast that is college football.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The NCAAF Over Signing Recruits Debate… Do Homework Before Signing

August 5, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Loyal Homer.

Whatever happened to due diligence? In today’s immediate gratification culture, cautious and responsible decision making seems like a thing of the past. Everywhere you look there are examples of people running headlong into risky situations. From credit card debt to the mortgage crisis and everything in between, it appears that people are no longer reading the fine print. It’s a dangerous game because when reality sets in it’s easy to be way over your head. There is no one else to blame but yourself.

That’s why I have no sympathy for college athletes who claim to be “victimized” by athletic programs that over recruit and over sign. Athletes know the risks involved with signing to play a sport in college. Or at least they should.

Let’s go back to that “due diligence” phrase I used earlier. For anyone not completely familiar with the expression, let me break it down for you. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the term as follows:

  1. “The care that a reasonable person exercises under the circumstances to avoid harm to other persons or their property”
  2. ”Research and analysis of a company or organization done in preparation for a business transaction”

Both definitions aptly describe the caution a student and their family should exercise when signing to play a collegiate sport. Especially when scholarship money is at stake.

Considering the amount of information about this controversial practice available on the Internet – there are even entire websites devoted to the subject (see oversigning.com) – that it stands to reason a college bound athlete would have means and the ability to research the situation they are getting into. If not, should they really be attending college in the first place?

The Blame Game

Athletes get cut all the time. The situation is unfortunate but inevitable. Whether an untimely injury or poor performance necessitates the cut, the simple fact is an athlete’s grasp on a roster spot is more tenuous than they would probably like to think. The problem is it just doesn’t sit well with the public when a player, one perceived to be a hardworking kid, loses his spot on a team and the scholarship that made college possible in the first place along with it. The public needs someone to blame for the “injustice.” But who?

Contrary to popular belief, coaches are not to blame. What is their great crime? Being proactive and planning for the future?

Coaches know that not every player they scout will turn out to be the player they hoped to get. Similarly, they would be fools to assume that no one on their team is going to get hurt. If schools don’t over recruit they unnecessarily put the program at risk.

Like it or not, college football is a business. The boss – in this case the coach – has to do what’s best for his business. Bosses make tough decisions about who to promote and who to fire all the time. It certainly isn’t easy, but it is a necessary evil. It’s an “evil” the boss does for the good of the company. Coaches are no different. They have to cut players that can’t stay healthy or don’t produce for the good of the team. Imagine the dysfunction that would ensue if an employer refused to fire underachieving workers or chronically absent employees. A football team is no different.

For all you bleeding hearts out there saying, “But Babe Ruthless, these are children. You can’t do that to them.” I say, “The kids have to grow up sometime.”

The real world is ruthless and brutal. The sooner that is learned the better. Colleges would not be doing anyone a favor by teaching athletes that there are no consequences for poor performance, or even just a bad break. Bear in mind that college football players are supposed to be student athletes, with the emphasis on the word “student.” Unlike professional athletes, they aren’t securing guaranteed money. If a student on a music scholarship could no longer perform at an acceptable level, or even at all, would anyone expect a school to continue to provide them with free tuition? Obviously not.

Regarding over recruiting, coaches are just trying to build the best program possible. To stay with the music analogy, it would be like an orchestra conductor bringing in a group of 30 musicians to compete for 20 spots. The director is simply trying to assemble the best ensemble possible. Will there be some hurt feelings? Maybe, but that is bound to happen anytime there is competition. Coaches know from experience that some guys won’t qualify academically, others won’t live up to their scouting reports, and some simply won’t pan out. So the coach is merely doing his due diligence, by protecting the team’s assets, when he accepts more letters of intent than scholarships. Sure recruiters may promise the world. But like anything else, unless a recruiting target has the promises in writing they really don’t have anything at all. There is a reason teachers and guidance counselors tell students not to put all their eggs in the athlete basket. Any number of reasons can knock an athlete off the fast track to a professional career, and college is no different.

No Foul, No Harm

Critics of over recruiting and over signing will be quick to point out the worst offenders as the norm rather than the exception, but this is an unfair generalization. While conferences like the SEC and teams like Alabama have a track record of overindulging when it comes to signing new players, they always end up complying with the NCAA’s cap of 85 scholarship players. There maybe some kids with bruised egos and broken dreams, but they will live. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. No one ever said playing sports is easy. While it may not sit well with everyone’s sense of fairness, if teams are acting within the rules, and there are no rules violations, cries of “foul play” ring hollow.

Surprisingly, the SEC is responding to criticism by imposing its own set of restrictions on over signing policies. The conference set a limit of 28 players per signing class in May of 2009. That’s three more signees than the NCAA limit of 25 players per class, establishing somewhat of a compromise. It will curb the major abuses of the past, when schools such as Ole Miss signed as many as 37 players in one year. This sort of self governance should be reassuring to those who fear the practice. It limits abuses of power while providing schools with the flexibility they need.

Programs are going to do what is in their best interests, and nothing is going to change that. Players have a duty to be well informed about the competitive scenarios they enter into when signing to play with a particular school. It is ultimately the individual’s responsibility to read contracts and understand all the fine print. The excuse of being “just a kid” only lasts for so long.

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The Most Impressive BCS Team Debate – Tide Rolls to The SEC’s Fourth Consecutive Championship

January 8, 2010

Read the arguments from Babe Ruthless and Sports Geek about which BCS teams they believe were the most impressive from this BCS bowl season.



Another college football season is in the books after the completion of the BCS national championship game. Looking back at the five BCS games, no game stands out to me. I really thought last night’s game would stand out. Truthfully, it does stand out, but only because Colt McCoy suffered an injury on the first drive. I hate that for him. That is tough for him personally, for the team, and all of the fans. Who knows if it would have been a different game. Texas fans will be contemplating that for a long time. I am still looking at the opponent of the Longhorns, though, and asserting that the Alabama Crimson Tide was the most impressive of the BCS teams.

The Crimson Tide got off to a horrific start. Absolutely horrendous. I am still trying to figure out what the Tide was doing when trying to throw for a first down on a fake punt on fourth and 23 on the first drive! The guys watching the game at my place all threw up their hands collectively and wondered, “What are you thinking Nick Saban?” That led to a Texas field goal. Two other special teams gaffes were unacceptable. But after the rough start it was a strong overall performance.

Oddly enough, I came away more impressed with Heisman winner Mark Ingram. How often do we hear about the Heisman curse and how Heisman winners struggle in the championship game? Well, Ingram ran right over that jinx, much like he has run over defenders all season long. Despite missing much of the third quarter with leg cramps, he still finished with 22 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns.

Obviously, Texas freshman quarterback Garrett Gilbert was thrown to the wolves with McCoy’s injury. The wolves, in this case, were Rolando McClain, Terrance Cody, and the rest of the Crimson Tide defense. Gilbert was only sacked one time, and that one time forced a fumble late that essentially wrapped up the game. But for much of the game, he had balls batted down at the line or was pressured into making a bad throw. In his defense, Gilbert played about as well as could have been expected and actually gave his team a chance to win. He was not helped out by his receivers at times, who dropped a handful of passes. The Tide defense, led by defensive coordinator and upcoming hot coaching commodity Kirby Smart, still forced five turnovers, including four interceptions. By the way, did you happen to notice that Alabama’s Javier ARENAS intercepted a pass by GILBERT?

Do I wish the Tide had put the hammer down in the third quarter? Yes, definitely. The team became a little conservative and did not allow quarterback Greg McElroy to make any plays (he only threw the ball 11 times). But the Tide won the game the same way it has won all season – a strong defense and a ball-control offense.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Best Game of THIS Weekend Debate – This One’s a No-Brainer!

December 4, 2009

Read Sports Geek’s argument and Loyal Homer’s argument about which will be the best game of THIS weekend.



FINALLY, we have some worthwhile football to watch this weekend. If last night’s unofficial Pac-10 Championship between Oregon and Oregon State is any indication of what is in store for us this weekend, then we are all in for a treat! With three premier games on the slate – #5 Cincinnati at #15 Pittsburgh for the Big East Championship, #3 Texas versus #22 Nebraska for the Big XII Championship, and #1 Florida versus #2 Alabama for the SEC Championship – Saturday should make for a college football lover’s dream come true!

That is, of course, unless you face a dilemma similar to Bleacher Fan’s this weekend. You see, the Bleacher Fan Clan (without soliciting any actual input from Bleacher Fan) felt that Saturday, December 5th, would be the PERFECT time to embark on an annual holiday tradition. That means that while the rest of America is settling down to enjoy some of the best college football games of the year, Bleacher Fan will be heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols. I, therefore, must choose between the three games and select the one that I most want to watch, sacrificing the other two all because the most enduring traditions of the season are best enjoyed in the warm embrace of kith and kin. Thith THTINKTH!

Fortunately, the decision is not a difficult one. Although the Big XII and Big East Championships should make for outstanding games, neither will be able to match the excitement (or impact) of the National SEC Championship Game.

Any time the top two teams in the nation play it is a game worth watching. This one, however, comes loaded with implications exceeding even those of your “normal” number one versus number two matchup. First, it is a championship game. The winner of the Florida–Alabama game will not only be named the top team in the country but also the 2009 SEC champions (a pretty good title to have when you consider that the last three SEC Champions have also gone on to become national champions).

Second, both teams are virtually GUARANTEED an invitation to the BCS, with the winner being offered the opportunity to play in the national championship game. For people who want to see a college playoff setup, this is about the closest that we can get. Two BCS-caliber teams will take the field with the winner moving along to the national championship game – I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a playoff setting to me!

There is even more at stake, specifically for the Florida Gators who are teetering on the brink of “Dynasty” status. Having already won national championships in 2006 and 2008, the Gators are very close to winning a third title in four years. Depending on the outcome of the other conference championship games, Alabama may be the last REAL opportunity for a school to prevent that from happening. When you consider that the Crimson Tide are conference rivals of the Gators, it is safe to assume that ‘Bama would love nothing more than to be the team that stopped Florida in its tracks.

Neither coach is a stranger to the BCS (Urban Meyer won national championships in 2006 and 2008, and Nick Saban earned one title while head coach of LSU in 2003), and both schools would be worthy representatives from the SEC at the title game in January. All we have to do is sit back and enjoy as these two titans battle it out on the field at the Georgia Dome this Saturday at 4pm. It’s a winner-take-all matchup between the best two teams in the country for the SEC crown and a shot at the national championship – it doesn’t get any better than this!

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The Best Game of THIS Weekend Debate – Conference Powerhouses Do Battle in Atlanta

September 4, 2009

Read Sports Geek and Bleacher Fan’s argument for what the best game of the weekend is.



After nearly eight months of pain and suffering, college football is back!!! Finally!!! Kickoff weekend is here and I could not be more excited. I was excited for the two games last night (South Carolina-North Carolina State and Boise State-Oregon). But, those two games were a big letdown for me. The four teams combined to score 37 points! Not very good at all and definitely not very exciting! Some teams may have that in the first half this weekend (Florida???). The most exciting thing to happen last night was after the Boise State-Oregon game! Anyway, that is over and done with (unless you are a running back for Oregon), and now we can focus on the upcoming weekend. After looking over the strong slate of games, I believe that the matchup between #5 Alabama and #7 Virginia Tech is the most intriguing.

The matchup is featured in the the second annual Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game that takes place at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. Perhaps more than any other game this weekend, this game has two teams that have not only a realistic shot at BCS game, but also a possible BCS championship bid in sight – even if it is somewhat of a long shot!

Virginia Tech, the reigning ACC champion, comes into the game ranked in the top 10 in almost every single poll. The buzz in and around Blacksburg is that this could be the Hokies’ best team since 1999. That was Michael Vick’s freshman year. But, Virginia Tech is inexperienced at running back after the season ending injury to stud running back Darren Evans. The ACC really needs a win from Virginia Tech. The ACC has taken a hit across the country, even from readers of this website, and a win by the Hokies would go a long way to start rebuilding the image of the ACC. No one has consistently stepped up to challenge the Hokies in the conference in recent years. If Virginia Tech wins, they would likely ascend into the top five, and would once again be relevant in the national championship picture early in the going.

The Crimson Tide jumped back on to the national stage last year with an impressive season, though it was dampened somewhat with season ending losses to Florida in the SEC Championship game and to BCS buster Utah in the Sugar Bowl. But, head coach Nick Saban, love him or hate him, has to be commended in how quickly he has brought the Crimson Tide back to superiority. The Tide will be replacing a quarterback and have new starters on the offensive line, but they return nine starters from the defense, including the very bulky Terrence “Mount” Cody!

You can bet the Georgia Dome will be filled mostly with Saban Nation, though Virginia Tech historically also travels well. To add to the buzz, ESPN’s College Gameday will be on the scene at nearby Centennial Park. With a primetime showing, the game will be a major draw on television. If you want to pick one game out to watch Saturday, then you cannot go wrong with a battle between Frank Beamer and Nick Saban! Enjoy the game!!!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

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