Why I have no use for personality driven media.

For a number of reasons, I don’t defend David Pollack’s inartful comments about who should serve on the playoff selection committee – my guess is that even Pollack won’t now – but I will say that Erin Andrews’ umbrage over them is just as stupid.

While reciting headlines for the day in college football, Andrews improvised: “Besides my real one, my second headline is going to be ‘I’m a female, thanks for having me in college football.’”

I’m not slagging Ms. Andrews’ work ethic or popularity here.  She’s earned what she’s got.  But she’s also got to be kidding us if she thinks this wasn’t a big part of what got her career started:

Again, whatever works.  But don’t try to sell me on the stunning resume she brought to the start of her sports journalism gig:

Andrews attended Bloomingdale High School in Valrico, Florida, where she was a member of the cheerleading team, student government, and the National Honor Society.^[5] Following her graduation from high school in 1996, Andrews attended the University of Florida, graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Telecommunications.^[2] While in college she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority,^[7] and the Florida Gators Dazzlers dance team from 1997 to 2000.^[2]

So, yeah, to answer your sarcasm, you’re welcome.  And I’d appreciate it if ESPN would quit trying to sound holier than thou when it creates both sides of an argument.

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UPDATE:  Pat Dye on Condi Rice: “That goes back to politics. Which one she likes the best. Which one’s the smoothest talker. The game is played on the field.”

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Mark Richt has lost control of Mark Richt.

Coach gets grumpy, apologizes.

Two choices

It wouldn’t be hard for this Georgia team to feel a little sorry for itself this morning.  Brutal injuries are already causing plenty of folks to reevaluate the rest of the regular season schedule (and isn’t it a little weird how this year’s Missouri game has flipped the narrative from last year’s?).  But I don’t see these guys wallowing in misery.  I don’t think Richt will let them.

Richt was asked Sunday about the offense carrying the defense in several games this season.

“I don’t think that,” he said. “We’re one team. We’re Georgia. We know that regardless of the situation or the score, we’re expecting our defense to get stops. Whatever it takes to win is all that we’re worried about right now.”

“Worried about” is the right attitude.  This team can’t take anything for granted from the defense, with the shaky way it’s played through the first five games, or its special teams play, which has been anything but.  What we know it has for sure is a quarterback who may be on the most remarkable run I’ve seen from a Georgia player at that position, and, perhaps even more remarkably, an offensive line that has been better than expected for the most part.

Add to that what we hope – that the depth from recruiting at running back isn’t a mirage and that Coach Ball seems to be capable of manufacturing new receiving talent on a weekly basis – and maybe, just maybe, there’s enough to eke by, at least for a while until some of the walking wounded can get back on the field.  It would be nice if some of that edge might scare the underperforming units straight into becoming steady contributors.  Or at least avoid being steady detractors, as it’s really doubtful special teams can continue to leave seven to ten points on the table week in and week out without the team paying a price for that.

Richt faces a similar juggling act to the one he managed in 2003.  Maybe even tougher.  It’ll be interesting to see what he does with it.

No surrender

I hate to say it, but I have the feeling that if the NCAA had to choose between paying players and granting “increased rights to players, including more due-process protections involving alleged NCAA violations, fewer restrictions on transfers, and more negotiating power”, the NCAA would pick the money, without hesitation.

A true sign of greatness

Aaron Murray finished third in total QBR this week, hatas.

RK	PLAYER	TEAM	RESULT	QBR
1	Bryce Petty	BAY	73-42 vs WVU	98.7
2	Jameis Winston	FSU	63-0 vs MD	96.7
3	Aaron Murray	UGA	34-31 @ TENN	95.6
4	Connor Shaw	SC	35-28 vs UK	95.2
5	Marcus Mariota	ORE	57-16 @ COLO	94.9
6	Derek Carr	FRES	61-14 @ IDHO	94.2
7	Jalen Whitlow	UK	28-35 @ SC	93.8
8	Keith Wenning	BALL	48-27 @ UVA	93.8
9	Caleb Rowe	MD	0-63 @ FSU	93.5
10	Terrance Broadway	ULL	48-24 vs TXST	93.4

I eagerly await the next bullshit statistic.

My Mumme Poll ballot, Week 6

Ah, feels good to be back in the swing of things again.  Here’s my top ten (* tiebreaker):

• Alabama*
• Baylor
• Clemson
• FSU
• Georgia
• LSU
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Stanford
• Texas A&M

Others considered:  Ohio State, UCLA, Washington

Only tough call was at number ten, where I went with TAMU.  I know the Aggies’ defense is nothing to write home about, but that offense is good enough to beat the other three teams I considered there.

This was my first ballot of the season, and I tend to be very deliberate with my research.  Still, I had ‘er done in thirty minutes.  Approval voting, for the win!

If you haven’t voted yet, get over to the site and do it.

Fabris Invitational results, Week 6

This week saw a clear winner, for once.

STANDINGS for WEEK 6

Rank	Selection Name	Standings Adjustment	W-L	Pts	Tie Breaker Game 40-30
1	ShockleyforHeisman	Adj	9-1	9	30-20
2	castleberry	Adj	8-2	8	35-17**
2	Scubadawg	Adj	8-2	8	34-20
2	HahiraDawg	Adj	8-2	8	30-24

Congrats to ShockleyforHeisman!

Meanwhile, the season race remains the same.  We’re all still chasing Trbodawg.

SEASON STANDINGS through Week 6

Rank	Selection Name	W-L	Pts
1	Trbodawg	44-16	44
2	AuditDawg	42-18	42
3	remlapmit	41-19	41

My SEC Power Poll ballot, Week 6

The top of the conference seems to be solidifying, while there’s still a fair amount of jockeying for position going on elsewhere.

1. Alabama.  It’s always impressive to see how many Tide fans show up to watch a scrimmage… wait, that was a real game?
2. Georgia.  Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water – Missouri shows up in the AP, which means the Dawgs are facing their fourth ranked opponent in six games.
3. LSU.  It took the Tigers a while to shake off the funk from the Georgia loss, but shake it off they did. In style.
4. Texas A&M.  There are three SEC teams that have played one more game and given up less yardage than the Aggies’ defense.
5. South Carolina.  The ‘Cocks have entered into a disturbing pattern of losing interest in the second half of their games.
6. Florida.  Is Murphy a better quarterback than Driskel?  With that defense, it’s not that important a question.
7. Missouri.  A quality team, or a tribute to soft early season scheduling?  We’re about to find out.
8. Auburn.  With their fourth win in five games, the Tigers have already won once more than they did all of last season.
9. Mississippi.  Maybe it takes more than one great recruiting class to become an upper-tier team.
10. Vanderbilt.  When your three wins are against Austin Peay, UMass and UAB, can it be said that any of them are good ones?
11. Mississippi State.  Played LSU well for three quarters, and still lost by thirty-three.  That’s a pretty good summary of where MSU football is right now.
12. Tennessee.  The Vols proved they can play with any team in the country missing its top three receivers and top two running backs.
13. Arkansas.  Brandon Allen averaged 4 yards per pass on 41 attempts, with no touchdowns and one interception.  Yecch.
14. Kentucky.  UK lost by a smaller margin to South Carolina than it did to Western Kentucky.  I don’t think that’s particularly significant, but what the heck, I thought I’d mention it.

Musical palate cleanser

This one’s appropriate for the morning’s weather.  Get your week started with this remarkable, stripped down version of one of the greatest soul songs ever recorded, Ann Peebles’ “I Can’t Stand The Rain”.

Takes your breath away, doesn’t it?