Fresh and hot, so load up.
- Sounds like some of the major news services are prepared to go to the mats over the new SEC media policy.
- Mark Bradley goes fishing with Joe Cox.
- Bob Stoops thinks that mediocre quarterbacks make SEC defenses look better than they actually are. I’ll give him credit for having nerve.
- HeismanPundit posts that 2010 will be crunch time for Florida’s offense – but not for the reason you think.
- Why do I have the sense that Mike Gundy’s sphincter has begun to tighten?
- I’m having a hard time picturing Kade Weston hidden behind anything, but here’s a good piece on the third man in the DT rotation.
- If somebody had told you last year that Jonathan Crompton and Chris Todd would be facing off against each other as starters in 2009, you’d probably be thinking that their schools would enjoy pretty good 2008 seasons. So what are you thinking now?
- Florida discussed playing Utah. Big deal. It’s obvious this is being tossed out there to ameliorate the criticism of the Gators’ Charleston Southern opener, which is perhaps the most lopsided match up of the entire 2009 season. In related news, Georgia discussed playing a top ten team on the road in its opener… oh, wait a minute.
Get The Picture 
I don’t really get what Stoops is saying. The points he and Low make are based on this year’s QB’s, but the perception of SEC defenses has been built up over the last decade or so.
In that time, defenses have had to deal with the following QB’s — many of whom are now playing in the NFL:
Matt Stafford
David Greene (Record for most wins)
Tim Tebow
Eli Manning
Peyton Manning
Jason Campbell
Jamarcus Russell (Pretty good back in college)
Matt Flynn
Jay Cutler
Not to mention many others that would have easily set school records at Colorado, Baylor, A&M, OSU, Kansas, and Kansas State.
No doubt the Big 12 has more highly touted QB’s this year, but the reputation of SEC defenses isn’t based on this year’s QB’s.
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And I forgot to mention that SEC defenses seemed to do alright the last few years against highly touted QB’s like Troy Smith, Colt Brennan, Graham Harrell, and … who was that guy who quarterbacks for Coach Stoops?… oh yeah, Sam Bradford.
And as I recall, those defenses seemed to have some problems with our QB’s.
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Bob Stoops should read this…
http://www.lukekohler.com/2009/01/09/why-cant-big-12-quarterbacks-succeed-in-the-nfl/
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Also in the it doesn’t really matter, UF had UCF lined up as its first opponent for this season before they backed out of the contract to play another game in their new(ish) stadium.
Not that a win over UCF is any less likely than a win over Charleston Southern, but they are a better team.
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Play some non-FSU BCS teams, please. I mean…don’t you think the world needs to see more of this Tebow guy? You don’t serve his fame any favors by relegating your games to community access.
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When our schedule is consistently ranked low, we’ll talk. Until then, I’m not too concerned.
I’d rather play teams like Hawaii, Marshall, and Troy versus teams like Charleston Southern and Western Carolina, though.
Either way there’s no chance of losing, but at least it’s slightly more interesting.
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Not to be that guy, but “Ask God For Help” in the weight room? Georgia is still a public university, no?
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Yeah, but only since 1785 and it takes awhile to get that whole separation thing straight. The counter-balance pumping iron quote in the weight room is from Chef Boyardee, “Ask the Flying Spaghetti Monster for Help.”
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Stoops has some nerve suggesting QB play in the SEC makes the SEC defenses look better.
Oklahoma points in 2008:
57 52 55 35 49 35 45 58 62 66 65 61 62
That is a RIDICULOUS average of 54 points per game. Bradford threw for WAC-like numbers. A 180.84 rating, 4700 yards and 50 touchdowns. But there was one more point total to consider.
14
That’s 14 points against Florida and it ticked me off to see Florida win and Stoops’ guys pee their pants. But it speaks for itself.
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D.N. Nation, the “Ask God for help” sign is part of 7 weight room admonitions like “Be on time” and “watch your language” and other things that relate to character, effort, and integrity. “Ask God for help” is the last one, and the players are invited to do that if they like. If you don’t understand how important that is to Van Halanger and Richt, then you’ve been under a rock the last 9 years. It’s part of who they are and part of our program. Moreover, it’s one of the reasons we’re recruiting the way we are, because most kids want to be a part of an atmosphere that cares about them beyond the football field.
As for being a public university…that’s true. But, as I’m sure you’re aware, the Athletic Association is a private organization which does not use taxpayer dollars. The bottom line is that Mark Richt handles his faith in the right way, so it’s not a big deal. You never heard guys like Musa (who was muslim) complain because he treats everyone the same. That can’t be said for everyone in our conference. I’m thankful that our coaches are encouraging our troops to look beyond themselves for some of the tough answers in life.
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Its clear that CMR’s God is a Bulldog fan.
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And also a FSU fan who maintained His neutrality during the Georgia v. FSU Sugar Bowl by staying in the Quarter relaxing in the piano lounge at Pat O’Brien’s instead of going to the Superdome.
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Yes, I’m well aware of Richt’s spiritual side…if it’s something that makes him a better man and leader (which it would appear is true), then it’s fine. FWIW, I’m an Episcopalian married to an Atheist- many ways to make a world, yes.
“But, as I’m sure you’re aware, the Athletic Association is a private organization which does not use taxpayer dollars.”
That’s probably the real point, the more I think about it. That and it’s an invitation more than a demand; recall the cheerleading coach who got the boot back in ’04.
I guess I’m more shocked at “watch your language.” C’mon, coach!
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Richt is much smoother than that cheerleading coach. His life does the talking. And things like “watch your language” matter. One day a week is family day at practice where the coaches’ kids come to practice. It’s a safe place for their families to be. Want to know why Garner and Searels keep sticking around Athens for less money? Because they want to work for that man and they want their family in that environment. And, he’s preparing those guys for real life.
We all know that life in a locker room is a little different. But if you translate that life into life in the boardroom, you’ll fail miserably. I really think that kind of stuff matters to CMR.
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We only fire those who retaliate and because that one just so happened to a female, it’s not a coincidence. It’s just what happens in the Chinatown that is Butts-Mehre. Maybe she should have produced more revenue.
http://atheism.about.com/b/2004/08/31/georgia-uga-coach-fired-for-religious-discrimination.htm
http://origin.www.ajc.cimedia.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/sportscolumns/entries/2007/05/15/move_over_harri.html
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Not at all. CMR’s God is a people fan. So why wouldn’t God be interested in the people that wear silver britches?
It’s because he truly cares about his players. If you’ve ever been to a full contact practice in Athens, then you’ve seen CMR gather the team together before they go live and pray for safety for every player. He actually cares about his guys. And he happens to think that his God does, too. I’m pretty sure he could care less about whatever we think it all means or separation of church and state or whatever. I think he cares about his kids…and that trumps everything else. Let’s be glad we have a coach like that, and one that wins, and go kick some Pokes back to the stone age.
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Stoops may have just “man enough-ed” Oklahoma State for their biggest home ever.
Rivalries are a wonderful thing.
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I guess when you play for a BCS championship three times and loose three times it is difficult to handle. Especially, when two of those losses are from the SEC. The conference Stoops’s considers to have overrated defenses and mediocre qb’s. Which makes me wonder if he felt that way about his defenses at Florida?
I am not sure why he was considered to be an expert on today’s SEC defenses and qb’s anyway? Maybe it’s because, he was a dc ten years ago. Maybe it is because, he has lost two National Championships to the SEC?
Coach Stoops should be worried about his own conference. Considering, the best pass defense in the BIG12 last year ranked nationally 72nd and the worst 117th. That is only one of the problems for defenses in the BIG12 with there best total defense ranking was 51st by Texas. Could the terrible pass defenses be the reason the qb’s are overrated in there confernce? That is the question Coach Stoops should be answereing!
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Just so you are clear about the whole separation of church and state thing.
The statement separation of church and state was never a part of any official government documents. The phrase was made by Thomas Jefferson to assure Baptists that the government would not interfere in the free exercise of their religious beliefs. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Rehnquist observed in Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38[1985] 92, 106-107.
“It is impossible to build sound constitutional doctrine upon a mistaken understanding of constitutional history, but unfortunately the Establishment Clause has been expressly freighted with Jefferson’s misleading metaphor for nearly 40 years… The ‘wall of separation between church and State’ is a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphor which has proved useless as a guide to judging. It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned.”
Before you jump into something don’t base it on bad constitutional history or misleading metaphors. According to U.S. Justice Rehnquist the sign should stay.
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Last time I looked, it took a majority of five on the USSC to create binding law. Rehnquist dissented in that case, did he not?
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Yes. If my memory serves correct it was a dissent based upon the Everson v. Board of Education (1947) case that he felt was flaw because of this wording.
It is my understanding that he feels that the Establishment Clause is flawed because of the basis of it being a statement by Jefferson being used inappropriately. His point was the the Establishment Clause should not be used to establish a “sham secular purpose” in government. To this effect he points directly to the Establishment clause and states that purpose of the District Courts decision was to establish voluntary prayer rather than a opportunity to exercise free religion.
He continues to endorse the fact that the courts decisions are based upon bad history and that the courts are inconsistent with the Constitution in this regard. He points to the Establishment Clause and says that it is too restrictive.
“The element of truth in the United States’ arguments, I believe, lies in the suggestion that Establishment Clause analysis must comport with the mandate of the Free Exercise Clause that government make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. Our cases have interpreted the Free Exercise Clause to compel the government to exempt persons from some generally applicable government requirements so as to permit those persons to freely exercise their religion.”Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38[1985] 92, 90-91.
So the dissent by Rehnquist was based upon the District Courts “sham secular purpose” in that it tried to establish religious prayer at the expense of a secular purpose. Yet his ultimate understanding of Constitutional law is that the Establishment Clause is too restrictive and that is the reason he wrote what he wrote about the separation of church and state.
I think Rehnquist is saying that the Wallace v. Jeffers case requires a dissent based upon the law but that law is too restrictive and based upon bad history and misleading metaphors.
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