Wednesday morning buffet

Let me light the chafing dishes… ah, there.

• Hell is other people, Corch.
• Looks like we’ve got another Year of the SEC Running Back coming up.
• You think Georgia underachieved?  Check out what Bruce Feldman had to say about Miami.
• Eight new defensive coordinators in the SEC this season.  I guess I lost count.
• Mark Richt isn’t digging the prospect of an early signing period.
• Hey, it turns out the WWL can take steps when a broadcaster shows his ass in public.
• Part of me thinks Jim Harbaugh’s a little over the top with this.  But there’s another part of me that kinda knows how he feels.
• How much did losing a head coach or offense/defense coordinator effect a team’s recruiting ranking and class this year?

Wednesday morning buffet

A warm buffet for a cold morning.

• I’d say stay classy, Auburn, about this, but what’s the point?  (UPDATED: Spencer Hall has some advice about dogs for Auburn players.)
• More from the annals of stay classy.
• Want a pretty good tell that a kid isn’t going to commit to your program?  This is one.
• Here’s a look at Georgia’s 2015 signees on the offensive side of the ball.
• Year2 checks out luck in the SEC, 2014 edition.
• Kansas is going to experiment with the use of impact-sensing mouthguards to monitor concussion risks.
• Phil Steele projects Georgia to crack the preseason AP Top 10.  (And you can click here if you want to listen to Steele and Schlabach discuss preseason Top 10 lists.)
• Will the pop pass survive the new downfield blocking rules?  Ian Boyd says yes, somewhat.

The inevitable destination of conference realignment

It was only a matter of time before somebody went there.

#UNC announces that it will play non-conference football games vs Wake Forest in 2019 and 2021

— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) January 26, 2015

Non-conference games against conference opponents.  Don’t you love new traditions?

And how long do you figure it’ll be before Joe Alleva suggests that for a way around those who want to keep the SEC’s permanent cross-division rivalry games?

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UPDATE: 

“This is a unique opportunity to play a regional rival in years that fall outside the normal conference rotation,” UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham said in a release. “We have a long history with Wake Forest that has historical value and will generate interest within our fans.”

In other words, instead of UNC and Wake Forest spending upwards of $1 million to fill a non-conference date with someone like Louisiana-Monroe or North Texas, they will play a more cost-effective game against a real rival, which will generate more fan interest and ticket sales.

Even though it’s a bit awkward and will create some confusion, it’s pretty much a win-win for those two schools. It’s also something other schools in the ACC could look to duplicate.

An awkward, confusing win-win.  That’s college football for you.

Wouldn’t it just be easier to add another conference game to the schedule?

Why the hostility, bro?

As Georgia was in the process of thoroughly emasculating Louisville, Spencer Hall, bless his heart, had the presence of mind to dredge up this Danny Kanell gem:

Louisville would sweep the SEC East too. Just FYI.

— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) October 31, 2014

Not that Kanell was averse to weighing in with some more ass-showing smack last night.

Congrats SEC. With the UGa win now move to 2-5 vs ACC and ND on the year.

— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 31, 2014

I dunno, maybe he’s jockeying for the Holtz seat opposite Mark May when Lou fades into the sunset.

You can’t put a price on a good squib kick.

Fortunately for the SEC, it wound up with two schools in access bowls, so Georgia’s loss in the regular season finale didn’t cost the conference anything.

But check out what Georgia Tech’s win means to the ACC.

Thursday morning buffet

Buffet on Thanksgiving?  Too much?

Nah.

• “I’d rather be remembered as a champion than as a completion percentage record…”
• Bobo promises to unleash the Rumph.
• Jerry Palm rips Jeff Long a new one.
• If Virginia Tech loses to Virginia this week, the Hokies won’t be bowl eligible for the first time since 1992.
• Georgia continues to dominate field position, statwise.
• It also remains among the élite in scoring efficiency.
• Nate Silver takes a break from polling data to analyze the odds for every college football playoff contender.
• Meanwhile, Kirk Herbstreit thinks the College Football Playoff committee should penalize SEC teams that schedule November games against FCS opponents.  Too much cupcake before Thanksgiving?  I dunno.
• Georgia Tech blogger not-so-cleverly refers to this week’s opponent in lower case.  That’ll show us!

“It’s one of those games that has to fall in the ACC win column this year.”

Andrea Adelson’s touching “you just gotta, ACC” beg is highlighted by a finger pointing in the wrong direction.

“Winning would help the league a lot but it’s going to be how does the media portray it?” Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said.

Gee, Coach, it doesn’t take a genius to see that you guys haven’t exactly given the media a lot to work with:

The last time Florida State, Georgia Tech and Clemson swept their SEC rivals was in 2000. The last time they posted a winning record against them was in 2008, when Georgia Tech and Clemson came out victorious. That also happens to be the last time both teams won their SEC rivalry game.

Adelson notes that Saturday isn’t a situation where Tech can’t afford to lose. Still, a win would be nice for the Jackets.

“The atmosphere is different about this week because it’s a must-win game,” Georgia Tech safety Jamal Golden said. “You don’t want to give them bragging rights for the next 365 days. You just have to hear it over and over again that you can’t beat them. It’s one of those games you look forward to playing.”

Hmmm… sounds like the voice of experience talking.