College Football Saturday; Missing Burt Reynolds

Once again, I continue the tradition of waking up earlier on Saturday than on every other day of the week. It's almost like I would rather watch college football than litigate other people's problems. Crazy, right?

I have to say, I'm disappointed that ESPN did not listen to me and ask Burt Reynolds to be the celebrity guest for today's episode at Florida State. Reynolds would have been the apex of coolness for a Seminole guest. So, when you're watching today, and they have some motorcycle guy there, just remember what could have been:

Just two good ol' boys watching some football.

In case you were not aware, they call him the Bandit.

Just for kicks, here are my picks this week against the spread:

1. Florida Atlantic +50.5 (They can't do worse than Arkansas, right?)
2. Arkansas -7 (They can't do worse than last week, right?)
3. Minnesota U -1.5
4. Vanderbilt +18 (This might be wishful thinking.)
5. Notre Dame -7 (Is ND for real?)
6. Florida -26.5 (They're playing Kentucky.)
7. Penn State -6.5
8. Auburn +23.5 (Too many points at home, even against LSU.)
9. Clemson +14 (FSU wins, but I think Clemson plays it tight.)
10. Missouri +10 (I think Carolina wins, but in a squeaker.)

Football Culture in the South

Rick Bragg has a great article in ESPN The Magazine about the culture of college football in the South and what we believe.

And we believe -- well, maybe all but the Unitarians -- that God himself favors our football teams. On Friday nights and Saturday afternoons, our coaches, some of them blasphemers and backsliders and not exactly praying men the other six days of the week, tell their players to hit a knee and ask his favor at the same exact instant the other team is also asking his favor, which I have always taken to mean that God, all things being equal, favors the team with the surest holder on long field goals.

It is gospel -- the gospel according to Bear. After a rare Alabama loss in the Bryant era, Bear's sidekick on his weekly television show told him: "The Lord just wasn't with us, Coach."

"The Lord," growled Bryant, "expects you to block and tackle."

Read the whole thing.

Clemson to Offer Swinney a Six-Year Deal

Per ESPN's Joe Shad, it looks like the Clemson Tigers are going to go "All In" for Dabo Swinney and give him a six year deal. Even with Clemson's ACC title last year, I'm a little surprised that Clemson is giving him six years.

Swinney has a record of 25-10 over three full seasons, and he's had some big wins (and a title), but I'm just not sold on him. I also know plenty of Tiger fans who aren't 100% sold on Swinney.

But hey, I'm a Gamecock Fan, so if Clemson wants to roll the dice and write a big check for six years...that's cool with me. I love that he gets really fired up when Spurrier whoops his team's ass, and I'm looking forward to year number four and the ensuing Swinney press conference.

Oh, and just for fun, let's listen to this again (skip to 1:50 mark):

Oh, Dabo...I hope you never leave Clemson.

Hateweek (Myth #2)

A 2010 blog article from ESPN's Heather Dinich has been brought to my attention for Myth #2:

Myth #2 "Clemson is a national football powerhouse."

 There seem to be a few Clemson fans out there excited about the idea/speculation of the SEC inviting the Tigers to join their conference, should massive realignment take place across the college football landscape.

Be careful what you wish for.

Clemson has a losing record against every SEC school except for South Carolina. (Well, and Mississippi State, which it's 1-1-1 against). Overall, the Tigers are 112-160-14 against the SEC. Do you still want to line up against Alabama, Auburn and Georgia every year?

CLEMSON vs.:

Alabama (3-12 remember what happened last time?)
Auburn (11-33)
Florida (3-9)
Georgia (17-41)
Kentucky (5-8, thanks to a Music City Bowl win this year)
LSU (0-2)
Mississippi (0-2)
Mississippi State (1-1-1)
South Carolina (65-38)
Tennessee (6-11)
Vanderbilt (1-3)

Still think it's a good idea?

Hey, don't shoot the messenger, that's Heather's opinion. It just happens to be correct. Just to throw you Clemson fans a bone, below the jump is nice shot of a celebration in Death Valley.

Hank Williams Jr. and ESPN

Jeff Goodwyn brings this to my attention in a Letter to the Editor format.

I am writing in response to ESPN’s pulling Hank Williams, Jr.’s opening performance from Monday Night Football for commenting that a golf outing with Barak Obama and John Boehner is like Hitler golfing with Netanyahu.  This is a good illustration of how hypersensitive the public has generally become of the mere mention of a potentially offensive topic and how institutions are willing to fire the speaker regardless of whether or not what was said was actually derogatory toward anyone.  The joke would have been perfectly acceptable if he had said that an Obama/Boehner golf outing would be like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker golfing together.  While people are rightfully angered by Hitler’s persecution of the Jews, Mr. Williams’ comment can in no way be rationally interpreted as him showing support for Hitler or him comparing Obama to Hitler as some suggested.  He was simply trying to provide and extreme example to illustrate how far apart Obama and Boehner are politically by suggesting that their relationship compares to that of well known arch enemies.  Unfortunately, I think it is now safe to say that the H word is a forbidden term for people in the public light unless you are explaining how horrible his crimes were.  I would like to think that ESPN would have the spine to say that while they wish Mr. Williams would have used Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker instead of Hitler and Netanyahu, Mr. Williams didn’t actually make any derogatory or offensive comments toward anyone or any group and were therefore standing by him.  As unfortunate as it is, it appears as if cries of being offended, regardless of whether or not they are rational, still prevail over what is right and fair.  Many people including me will miss Hank’s introduction to Monday Night Football and especially so knowing that he was fired for no good reason.

I agree. I can't believe ESPN was surprised that he said something like this. When I heard they fired him, I thought: "Have you not met Hank Williams, Jr.?"

SEC East Impact Game

According to ESPN, it's the USC/UGA game.

As usual, ESPN has no idea what they are talking about. The biggest game in the SEC East this year is the UGA/UF game. (Shhhhh! You can't say "Cocktail Party") Some college students might hear you and start drinking.

The hottest seat in the SEC coaching world belongs to Mr. Mark Richt. If UGA loses to USC in Athens this year, the  dawgs fan base will get unruly. However, even with a loss to USC, if Richt can beat the Gators in Jacksonville, he'll be OK. Lose both and he's got almost no margin for error in other games. Keep in mind that some of those other games are pretty tough.

You want to play Boise State when you give the Broncos a whole year to prepare? Didn't think so. UT in Knoxville? No thanks. Yeah, the Vols are young, but they're going to surprise a team or two. Richt is a great coach, but for some reason the natives are restless in Athens. If UGA fires Richt, the Georgia program goes backwards in a big way.