It was a good Friday of games–sort of an appetizer for Saturday’s slate. Some observations:
Is it just me, or did the announcing team calling the Texas-Texas A&M game sound like a bunch of drunks lounging at a bar? Brad Nessler, Bob Griese and Paul McGuire were giggling and laughing after nearly every comment they made. It was very embarrassing for ABC and nearly ruined the game for me.
Even though they won, I thought the Aggies used a little bit too much Jorvorksie Lane and not enough Michael Goodson. The freshman from Klein, Texas, is a phenom and should be a big star next year.
Poor Colt McCoy. His accuracy was pretty good today, but he clearly isn’t the same player he was a few weeks ago. Then, he endured two rather unsportsmanlike hits in the last minute and went out on a stretcher. It still doesn’t absolve the rest of the Longhorns for their rather uninspired play. I think the impact that Vince Young had on the program is just now starting to hit home. He wouldn’t have let Texas lose that one.
Some pundits like to rave about how much talent LSU has. Best in the SEC, maybe the nation, they say. I agree they have talent, but no one ever takes the next logical step to ask: If they are so talented, why do they have two losses? And why do they underperform so regularly? And Les Miles? He gets a pass, the alternative being to get yelled at–just ask Tracy Wolfson.
Fact is, LSU lost a snoozer–not a classic–to an Auburn team that has itself been blown out twice this year at home. It also lost to Florida, a team that has yet to have an impressive outing against a good opponent.
Its two marquee wins were narrow ones against Arkansas–a team whose best passer is a tailback–and Tennessee–a team that was playing without its starting quarterback.
LSU athletic director Skip Bertman raved after today’s game about how tough the Tiger schedule was. Four top 10 teams on the road, never been done, he said. Yada yada yada.
What he doesn’t mention is that the other eight games the Tigers played were at home against teams with a combined record of 37-50. So, the Tigers had a four-game season and merely had to go 2-2 on the road to ensure this 10-2 mark everyone is so impressed with now. So LSU is asking what if? Good grief, man. What if they had hadn’t played eight home games, or what if they had to take on Erik Ainge at full strength?
What if, indeed.
So now Larry Coker is out. I remember going into last season I though he was in trouble, but the Canes went 9-3 and he survived. It was the second year in a row Miami had gone 9-3, but somehow, those records didn’t feel as good as they looked. As it turns out, those 9-3 records were just a few steps away from 6-6. Luckily for Miami, all it needs now is a good coach to set things right. Everyone wants Greg Schiano, but I’m not certain he is a good fit in Coral Gables, despite his ties. I think Miami needs someone a little more dynamic to take full advantage of the talent on the roster.
How cool is it that, if Oklahoma takes care of business against Oklahoma State, the Sooners will match up with the Cornhuskers in the Big 12 title game? Those two haven’t played a meaningful game in a years.
About Heismanpundit
Chris Huston, A.K.A. ‘The Heisman Pundit‘, is a Heisman voter and the creator and publisher of Heismanpundit.com, a site dedicated to analysis of the Heisman Trophy and college football.
Dubbed “the foremost authority on the Heisman” by Sports Illustrated, HP is regularly quoted or cited during football season in newspapers across the country. He is also a regular contributor on sports talk radio and television.
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