Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE
Week 8 of SEC football shaped up to be business as usual for most teams. Alabama dominated. Auburn disappointed. South Carolina fell flat on its face after convincing the country they were contenders. You know, typical stuff. But, it’s always fun to watch, and then talk about incessantly for the next few days. So, without further ado…
The Auburn Family Fanbase
Auburn football is off to its worst start since 1952 with their 17-13 loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville. The “Auburn Family” is up in arms and they are calling for Gene Chizik to be replaced. Nothing, of course, screams “Family” like calling for the head of the patriarch of your program. “At Auburn, we’re a family… unless you lose” is the unspoken credo on the Plains.
But hey, don’t blame fans for being fans; I would probably share the same sentiment. But they shouldn’t claim to be a “Family.” They are a regular college football fanbase, just like everyone else. The Auburn program is not intrinsically benevolent or pure because they attach the word “Family” to it.
It’s insulting to actual families. Just about everyone in the “Auburn Family” is ready to tar-and-feather Chizik and go dumpster-diving for Bobby Petrino. It just goes to show how desperate fans can be when things aren’t going right, and that loyalty between a coach and the program/fanbase is always conditional.
With that said, Gene Chizik will most likely be fired at the end of the season, and probably should be. With Chizik’s mother Rita’s passing earlier this week, I really don’t want to pile on. As a matter of fact, outside of being Auburn’s head coach, I don’t hate Gene Chizik the way I hate, say Phillip Fulmer or Tommy Tubberville. He seems like a decent enough human being, but as a head coach in the SEC, Chizik is in over his head.
Florida Gators: Points – 44. Total Offensive Yards – 183.
This is officially the weirdest team stat I have ever seen in college football. I guess that is what happens when you turn the ball over three times inside your own red zone in the first half. Connor Shaw fumbled on the very first play, which gave the Gators the ball on the 2-yard line. Parlay that with Gamecock fumbles on punt and kickoff returns, and you get a score of 21-6 at halftime, and the game being essentially over.
During halftime, Steve Spurrier did what he does best: Crush his quarterback’s confidence by yanking him out of the game. As much as I respect Steve Spurrier as an offensive mastermind, I would hate to play quarterback for him.
When the game goes off script, or when it feels out of his control, the Ol’ Ball Coach panics. Throw in a couple bad plays by the quarterback, and all of a sudden, the entire spring, summer, and 20 hours a week in practice used to figure out which quarterback gives you the best chance to win, are now meaningless.
Throughout the course of a game in peril, Steve Spurrier will abandon his football acumen of savvy offensive philosophies and systems, and devolve towards the mindset of the knee-jerking, hyperventilating, idiot fan, who believes that because things aren’t going as planned, they should, of course, blow the whole thing up and start over. Connor Shaw gives South Carolina the best chance to win by far. Steve Spurrier needs to address his team’s overall execution, instead of constantly making changes at quarterback.
Johnny Turnover
Johnny Manziel is being compared to Tim Tebow because of his dual-threat and play-making ability. He is also being compared to Tyrann Mathieu for having one of the most obnoxious nicknames in college football.
He got his proper introduction to the SEC West on Saturday as he threw three interceptions against the LSU defense. In a game that ended 24-19 in favor of the LSU Tigers, the Aggies can look back at one stat that undoubtedly cost them the game: 5 turnovers.
LSU eked out another win against a porous defense. I am unsure of LSU’s offensive approach at times, but one thing is for sure: they want to run the football. What they do not want to do is put the game in the hands of Zach Mettenberger. Although he did have a beautiful 29-yard TD pass to Kadron Boone in the 2nd quarter, the Tigers do not want to put more pressure on Mettenberger than necessary, because he looks very shaky, very often.
Third Saturday Success
The Alabama Crimson Tide handled Tennessee this weekend 44-13 in dominating fashion. AJ McCarron went 17-22 for 306 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. That is the type of game that will get you some Heisman chatter. T.J. Yeldon also had a career day rushing for 129 yards and 2 TDs. Amari Cooper broke the freshman record for receiving yards with 167 on 7 receptions, and also had two touchdowns. ‘Bama had 539 yards of total offense, and controlled the ball for over 36 minutes.
I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at Neyland Stadium. Of all the good reasons to beat Tennessee this weekend, but I believe the icing on the cake for me was knowing this game would forever be associated with the pre-game ceremony/gush-fest for Phil Fulmer, as he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. I couldn’t think of a better way to congratulate him.
Alabama comes back home this weekend to face the undefeated Mississippi State Bulldogs. The game will be aired at 8:30 EST on ESPN.