Why Muschamp was the Right Choice for Florida

  

      Even after a disappointing loss to an overrated Georgia team it's easy to see that Florida picked the right man for the job!  Will Muschamp has the Baby Gators on the right path turning an undisciplined finesse bunch into a physical hard nosed football team that can compete at an elite level.  The Gators are still in transition but the difference in Muschamp's second year is obvious and the future very promising!

     Taking over for Urban Meyer was tough in terms of expectations, but even tougher than expected because of the fragmented nature in which Meyer left the Florida program.  Muschamp was left with the remnants of an offense that simply didn't work anymore against the power brokers of the SEC.  He also had to deal with cleaning up a program in which numerous players had run ins with the law.  He had a rebuilding job to say the least in which he had refocus the program on a new formula to return the Gators to the top of the SEC.  Instead of a trash talking, individual based superstar culture, Muschamp adopted a concept that focused on the TEAM.  Instead of praising the glory of individual players, he focused on TEAM accomplishments.  No longer would one player dominate the headlines in Gainesville, instead the TEAM would be the story!  No longer in victory would one player's accomplishments be celebrated or in defeat one players' tears suffered!....Now that Gators celebrate and suffer as a TEAM! 

     Even though the job is not complete it's easy to see why the Gators will once again be the best TEAM in the east.  With a pretentious Georgia program and a South Carolina program that has seem to reach its full potential, Florida is well on its way to SEC East dominance.  The funny thing is he has done in two years what the Texas program is still struggling to figure out!

What is the State of Oklahoma Football??

     After another big game disappointment it seems as if the Sooners have come to a crossroad in whether they are National Championship contending program any longer.  With the exception of the Red River Rilvary the Sooners have historically struggled in BCS games that mattered.  In his 14 years at Oklahoma, Stoops has dominated the Big 12 winning seven league titles and one National Championship in four National Title Game appearances.  He also has got the best of Texas going 9-5 against their border rivals.  During his tenure Oklahoma has been held in high regard by the pollsters by giving the Sooners National Championship consideration year in and out...and the BCS system has certainly been VERY favorable to the Sooners.  So what is the problem??

     I find myself comparing Oklahoma to Georgia lately..but that isn't really fair to Stoops because he's won more consistently at a higher level .  But lately both Richt and Stoops seem to have similar struggles with their program, whether inexplicably losing games they are heavily favored in, losing big games, or dealing with player discipline issues.  Both Georgia and Oklahoma seem to lack a certain toughness that ultimately effects their ability to compete in tough close games.  Another factor is Stoops' fast start at Oklahoma where he won the National Title in his second year and Oklahoma really dominated the national scene for the first five to seven years of his run at Oklahoma.  His only fault was losing three National Championship games to LSU (03'), USC (04'), and Florida (08').  I believe this adds to an already anxious fan base that has been thirsting for a National Crown since the Orange Bowl victory over Florida State in 2000.  Has the pressure finally got the best of Stoops or is this just a bump in the road?  Is the Oklahoma fan base spoiled??  Should they be happy with dominating the Big 12...or has those days seen their end too??  Bob Stoops used to be known as "Big Game Bob" for a reason, now it seems to be a national punchline!

GSE Football Final

 
     We saw the BCS picture clear up a little as contenders separated themselves from pretenders.  Georgia reclaimed the reigns of the SEC East, Bama dismantled another challenger that didn't measure up, Oregon continued to quietly roll along, and Notre Dame proved they were for real in Norman. 

     The Georgia Bulldogs came to fight in Jacksonville bullying the young Baby Gators in a game that will ultimately determine the SEC East.  Both teams were sloppy and undisciplined in a game that was hard to watch.  Both defenses dominated, but the Baby Gators were the team this week to turnover the ball in crucial situations and learned how that fact can make the best team average...and that doesn't cut it in the SEC..even against the Bullfrogs!!

     Mississippi State came into Bryant-Denny Stadium looking for a program defining win and left with a clear understanding that Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide are at a different level.  The Bulldogs couldn't get anything going against the Tide as Alabama salted the game away early.  Bama continues to prove they are in a class to themselves, but once again next week they will face there first "REAL" challenge of the year at Death Valley!

     Where Bama gets respect, Oregon continues to be dismissed.  Along with Bama- Oregon has ended every game they played by halftime.  The Ducks are incredibly efficient and consistent, the only change are the wacky-cool uniforms!  Once again the Ducks zoomed out to a 56-0 halftime lead over Colorado and cruised to a 70-14 victory.  The Ducks are the only team that can contend with Bama in my opinion, and I believe poor Lame Kitten and the Trojans are in real trouble when this bunch shows up in LA next week!

     Notre Dame had their season on the line where they would either be exposed or prove themselves as a legitimate National Title contender.  The Irish physically punished a finesse Sooner bunch who once again failed in a big moment proving if you punch Stoops' team in the face they will falter!!  Notre Dame's offense responded nicely driving for a TD after Oklahoma tied the game late.  It will be interesting to see how this young Notre Dame team handles success in the upcoming weeks.

GSE Picks of the Week

     (11) Mississippi St. @  (1) Alabama     ESPN 8:30 est



     It's another week in which Bama plays it's first legitimate opponent .  Alabama has blown its way through the schedule with every game effectively over by halftime.  Dan Mullen has finally delivered at Miss. State and has his undefeated Bulldogs poised to make a program defining statement.  Both teams mirror each other statistically and both play the same physical brand of football.  State's Tyler Russell is having a breakout year at QB throwing for over 1500 yds 15 TDs and 1 INT.  The Bulldogs also play great defense giving up only 14.4 points per game making them probably the most complete team Bama has played all year.  Bama comes into to the contest with the overall #1 ranked defense in the nation surrendering 8.3 points per game, no surprise.  Bama complements the 'D' with an incredibly balanced and efficient offense.  AJ McCarron is completing 68.8% of his passes with close to 1500 yds - 16 TDs - 0 INTs.  TJ Yeldon and Eddie Lacy shine in the running game with both rushing over 500 yds and Amari Cooper is blooming into the go to WR and becoming the Julio Jones threat Bama has been missing since 2010.  Bama is favored by 24, Miss State is better than the line and will keep it close until the 4th....

Bama    - 31
Miss St - 17



     (5) Notre Dame @  (8) Oklahoma     ABC 8:00 est



      Can Notre Dame continue their comeback tour, can Oklahoma show up for a big game (besides Texas)!  The Irish bring in the #2 scoring defense in the nation hoping to upend the high flying Sooner offense.  The Sooners are talented on defense too and face a sluggish Irish offense that ranks poorly in most offensive stats.  The question is will the Notre Dame defensive pressure get to Laundry Jones and create some turnovers to keep the Irish in the game.  It would seem if the Sooners can get north of the 20 point threshold, they should win.  Even with Big Game Bob leading the way- I believe that the Sooners will still win!

Oklahoma    - 27
Notre Dame - 13


      (2) Florida vs  (10) Georgia     Jacksonville CBS 3:30 est


     It wouldn't be right if the Baby Gators weren't in the picks..now would it!!  This is just like the Red River Shootout.....The Greatest Cocktail Party in the World is owned by the Gators!!  Georgia legitimately has the most talented team in the SEC East, but Florida is the best TEAM in the SEC East.  In a big game that counts why would the Bullfrogs even show up, we all know Richt has struggled in this series and there is no reason to believe he won't struggle in this game.  The stats don't matter..the Gators secure their reservations to Atlanta!

Baby Gators - 41
Bullfrogs      - 24

The Great Escape!

     Coming off a big weekend in Gainesville where the Baby Gators dispatched their old coach and continued their march through the SEC East, one can't help to think of other former Gator coaches who left in their prime for greener pastures.   Many Gator fans frolicked in joy over beating a man who they felt betrayed Florida when he went to test the NFL waters in Washington D.C.  After a short stint with the Redskins, Spurrier realized the error of his ways and returned to Gainesville to retake the reigns of a struggling Florida program that thirsted for Spurrier's dominant Gator teams!  Only one problem - apparently Florida felt that the Ole Head Ball Coach needed to interview for the job!  Instead of making up -  Spurrier took his visor to South Carolina and Florida courted a young Urban Meyer who was coming off a Fiesta Bowl win with Utah.  I wonder if Spurrier interviewed at South Carolina?

     The prude decision to move on seemed to work for Florida as Urban Meyer compiled a 65-13 record during his six years at Florida.  During that time his teams won two SEC and National Championships while the Gator fan base had a national love affair with their infamous quarterback - Tim Tebow!!  It seemed as if the Gator Nation had turned the page on the Ole Head Ball Coach and  rekindled the magic of the the 90's.   As the 2009 season played out Tebow and the Gators were well on their way to back-to-back National Championships that would have capped off Tebow's career as supposedly the greatest college football player.  A third BCS Championship in four years amidst all of the Tebow hysteria would have conveniently erased any kind notion to the Ole Head Ball Coach in the minds of Gator fans everywhere.  So what happen to Camelot??

    December 5th, 2009 - SEC Championship
      A rematch from the previous SEC Championship where the Gators beat Nick Saban's #1 Alabama team with Tebow taking the game over in the 4th quarter to put the Gators over the top.  This time the #1 Gators returned looking to complete their first undefeated season and to finish Tebow's career in style.  Alabama came in ranked second looking for redemption and a shot at their first National Championship since 1992.  Bama romped to a decisive 32-13 victory in what was ultimately a changing of the guard as Saban ceased control of the SEC and National scene. 

     Meanwhile Meyer flirted with early retirement as he faced an uncertain Tebowless future but mustard enough inspiration to coach Tebow's final victory in the Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati.  Urban struggled with the notion of life without Tebow, but moreover the reality that his Gator team was no longer on top of the SEC.  He and the Gators struggled during the 2010 season in an uninspired 8-5 effort - to include another devastating defeat at the hands of Saban in Tuscaloosa.  Meyer realized that he probably should have retired after the Sugar Bowl and made the decision to re prioritize his life, spend time with his family and to retire his Florida post.  Certainly Meyer had an incredible run at Florida where he was recognized as a relentless recruiter and a coach who delivered in big games.  The only negative matter was the 30 players arrested during his six year tenure. 

     So what is the difference between the rebuked Spurrier and the revered Meyer?  Is it because Spurrier left after 12 years of dominating the SEC to try his hand in the NFL as opposed to Meyer who retired due to health and personal reasons in half of the time?  Is it the fact that Meyer happen to be the coach during the Tim Tebow era?  Doesn't Danny Wuerffel count as the Tebow of the 90s or the Spurrier of the 60s?--Doesn't Spurrier deserve the same respect??  Whatever the case one thing is certain, we can all be thankful for the great Ohio State medical program that seemed to contribute to Urban's miraculous recovery!

    

    

  

GSE Football Final

     In a week that saw little change in the Top 10 - we confirmed a couple of things.  The Baby Gators are for real, Collin Klein killed one Heisman candidacy while becoming the front runner for the prized trophy, and no matter the coach, whether Dr. Lou or the Head Ball Coach, no one can seem to cure what ails the South Carolina program....losing!

     Muschamp and his Baby Gators once again continued their Cinderella season by dispatching Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks.  It was not a conventional win with the Gamecocks turning the ball over 3 times in the first half contributing to a Baby Gator 21-6 halftime lead.  But turnovers always help determine the winners in these games, and a good team takes advantage of those opportunities!  It looks as if the Gators have swam their way out of the swamp and are on a one way path to Atlanta, with of course some Bulldog and Seminole for snacks along the way!

     West Virginia was exposed once again, this time against the national Cinderella team Kanasas State.  The throwback Cats keep rollin' along in the Big 12 and moving up in the BCS rankings.  Their QB Collin Klein also took hold of the Heisman baton this week as he accounted for 7 TDs this week (3 passing, 4 rushing) and is second behind AJ McCarron in passing efficiency.  Already dispatching the Sooners, the Wildcats may well be on their way to Miami, and with a stop at the Downtown Athletic Club for Collin Klein.

     The South Carolina Gamecocks have once again collapsed!  One thing that neutralizes any advantage in football is turnovers, and the poor Ole Head Ball Coach was helpless Saturday in the stadium he branded watching his Gamecocks turn any chance of winning over to Muschamp's Baby Gators.  It will be interesting to see if the Gamecocks can recover or lose to an upcoming Arkansas team that has had their number over the last several seasons!

GSE Picks of the Week

BYU (4-3)

              
 

@ (5) Notre Dame (6-0)     3:30 EST  (NBC)



Upset of the Week

 

This is a matchup of two very good defensive teams who rank nationally and two very similar offenses that are struggling.  I'm going out on a limb going against the ND HFA, but the Irish have notoriously struggled in these type games, especially with a road trip to Norman looming.  With help from Irish turnovers I'm picking the Cougars to upend the Irish this weekend which will ultimately cause the Irish to fall apart in the second half of the season.
 

BYU - 20

ND   - 17

(4) Kansas State (6-0)

 

 

@ (13) West Virginia (5-1)     7:00 EST (FOX)

Big 12 Game of the Week
 

After the collapse of Geno Smith and the Mountaineers most people will side with a very solid Kansas State team that doesn't do anything spectacular but win.  The Wildcats remind me of the Gene Stallings Alabama teams of the early 90's.  They play great defense, don't turn over the ball, and control the ball offensively through a solid running game and a QB that doesn't make mistakes.  This almost always leads to a close game that comes down to 4th quarter execution.  The only danger to this approach is if a team is able to jump out to a quick lead and take them out of their game plan.  There is every reason in the world to believe Kansas State should win this ballgame, their defense is superior and their ball possession offense will lead to the disruption of the rhythm of the West Virginia offense.  But for some reason I believe West Virginia will jump out to a quick lead and pressure the Wildcats in a way they haven't confronted this season, that combined with the HFA...Mountaineers pull the upset!
 

W. Virginia - 41

Kansas St   - 35

(6) LSU (6-1)

 

                  

@ (18) Texas A&M (5-1)     12:00 EST  (ESPN)

The 'Hat' vs Johnny Football
 

LSU kept their National Championship hopes alive by running over Spurrier and the nasty Gamecocks last week @ Death Valley.  Johnny Football and the Aggies survived a shootout against La. Tech in Shreveport last weekend as the Heisman contender newcomer broke his own SEC record by piling up 577 total yds and 6 TDS.  The Bengal Tigers bring in a great defense and some renewed confidence into Kyle Field, Texas A&M brings a sophisticated offensive attack and better than average defense..to include the 12th Man.  This game comes down to who is able to effectively run the ball.  The Aggies have to be able to play a physical brand of football to have a chance against the likes of LSU.  Certainly a high scoring game favors the Aggies and if their defense can shut down the run early and force Mettenberger to make plays then Texas A&M will have an excellent shot of upsetting the mighty LSU Tigers.  I don't believe the LSU offensive deficiencies are solved by running for 258 yds against S. Carolina in one game...obviously most teams are going to win if they can run for that many yards...ultimately Mettenberger is going to have to win a game for LSU.  With the ineffectiveness of the LSU offense I really think this game is a toss up!! But in the end I just don't think Johnny Football and the Aggies are at the level to beat a football team of LSU's caliber!
 

LSU   - 28

A&M - 24

 

(7) South Carolina (6-1)

 

 

@ (2) Florida (6-0)     3:30 EST  (CBS)

Game of the Week - Spurrier returns to the House He Built!

 

Most of the pundits agree that the Baby Gators are playing a little over their head.  Muschamp has the Gators playing tough defense and running the ball with physicality as the Gators transition from a finesse offensive scheme.  Certainly when the Gators have had their backs to the wall..they have responded this season.  Spurrier and his Gamecocks are coming off another loss to an SEC West opponent that physically dominated the prized Gamecock D- Line.  The opponent that Florida shut down in Spurrier's Swamp.  But in my estimation Spurrier's Gamecocks are a better team then the Baby Gators at this point.  Florida's HFA will be a factor but Clowney and his counterparts ought to be able to pressure Driskel into some key turnovers that will ultimately lead to another Spurrier victory in the fable Swamp! 

HBC             - 24

Baby Gators - 21