RB/FB
Saturday, November 26, 2011
End of a 'Potential' Era
RB/FB
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Senior Day
Hello All,
This is a weird day in the history of Stein on the Sidelines. This is the last time I will write about a group of seniors that includes Sean Spence and Jacory Harris, two players that I have written about and watched play for so long and with such intensity that they practically feel like family to me. Not in a weird way. Okay, this already just got awkward.
When I was a student, the signing day class of 2008 earned me my first cover story at the paper. They represented hope, the return of Miami to the pinnacle. While I will write more in depth on this class and its legacy after the season is over, this is a sort of unofficial end to their era. There will be players left, but the nucleus of the team will shift after the season. In a way, I owe this group of players a lot more than they will ever know. While they never achieved the succes they seemed so sure to bring, they did bring a lot of good times to the lives of Miami Hurricanes fans.
This is also unfortunately the last pre-game blog I will get to post for this season as we near the season-finale against Boston College (and the 4807578923475776234785 replays of Doug Fucking Flutie we will get to watch).
This season has been one of the weirdest, most up and down times I can ever remember. It seems as though it was just yesterday that the ‘Canes were getting laced up to play Maryland. Think about how much has happened in that time.
Miami lost to Maryland in that opener. Maryland featured the ACC’s Top Returning Quarterback in Danny O’Brien and seemed poised to make a run to the ACC Title Game.
Maryland is now 1-6 in conference play and the fan base has seemingly already turned on first year coach Randy Edsall. O’Brien was benched. The program is a tire fire.
Meanwhile, Miami returned perhaps the conference’s shakiest quarterback in Jacory Harris and seemed poised to spiral out of control after Yahoo!Sports’ salacious allegations dropped two weeks before the season.
Miami was a handful of plays away from an undefeated season, improved every week and saw Harris have an ACC Player of the Year type of season.
While the season began with a loss, it will end with a self-inflicted bowl ban. The irony of this bowl ban is that the players who I feel the worst for, namely Jacory and Spence, are culprits in why it had to be done. They broke rules. I still love them, but the simple fact is that they cost the program and now have to sacrifice for the future of the program in order to make good upon their rule-breaking.
(Really hard for me to actually be mad at a kid for taking a free dinner here and there...let's not go there.)
Between the turbulent beginning and end of the season for Miami, college football enjoyed its usual madness:
Virginia was picked in the basement of the ACC; they now are playing a one game playoff with Virginia Tech for the ACC Coastal Division after knocking off Miami and Florida State in the same season.
USC struggled to beat Minnesota on opening day in a game I attended…they have since taken Stanford to triple overtime in a loss and beaten Oregon on the road, eliminating them from the BCS title picture.
Clemson started off 8-0 and then Clemsoned itself against North Carolina State and Georgia Tech. Some things will always be predictable I guess.
Oklahoma lost a home game in which they were a 39 point favorite to Texas Tech, who then lost to Kansas, a team so bad that they are about to fire their coach and currently stand at 2-9.
Wisconsin lost on a Hail Mary…two weeks in a row.
Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State. Nebraska lost to Northwestern.
Bob Davie got a head coaching job. Joe Paterno lost a head coaching job. It is a crazy world.
LSU beat Alabama 9-6 in overtime, and they are widely considered the two best teams in the country. However, Arkansas could beat LSU this weekend and force their way in to the SEC Title Game (even though they lost to Alabama, who would also have one loss, assuming they beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl) against Georgia, which means that one of LSU and Alabama would then be playing in the Cotton Bowl. Awwwww, the BCS Era, ladies and gentlemen.
There is a current 5 way tie for first in the Big East, and none of the 5 teams would be bowl eligible in the SEC. However, one of these teams will make the BCS ahead of either Houston or Boise State, the two best non-automatic qualifiers, both of whom arguably would have run the table in the Big East.
UCLA is 6-5 and still in the thick of things in the Pac 12 South.
The ACC now includes Pittsburgh and Syracuse…in Pennsylvania and upstate New York.
The SEC now includes Texas A&M and Mizzou…. neither of which is in the Southeast.
(Apparently the SEC was desperate for their own Clemson but didn’t actually want Clemson (located in South Carolina...parenthetical reference inside a parenthetical aside!), so they took the two closest things from the Big 12 and said “what the hell?”)
The Big EAST…the conference of New York City and New England… is expanding to Idaho and Texas.
The Big 10 has 12 teams and no plans to change the name of the conference.
(And still sucks)
The Big 12 has 10 teams. They want to add TCU in an attempt to save their conference, which is ironic, because once upon a time, when the Big 8 and Southwest Conference merged, TCU was one of the schools kicked to the curb (along with SMU, Rice and Houston).
Notre Dame is still independent and still overrated but expected to join the ACC soon, which makes sense, because South Bend, IN, has a gorgeous view of the Atlantic.
In other words, it has been business as usual this year in college football.
Miami is coming off a 6-3 win against USF that was not pretty but was ballsy as hell. I know that nothing is ever good enough for the Miami fan base, but to compose yourself to go on that game winning drive took a mature performance from the whole team, especially Jacory. All season we have been waiting for the team to show that killer instinct and bitching when they don’t; this week they did and it still isn’t good enough.
That is probably the theme for this senior class. Not good enough. Friday will be senior day against Boston College. As I do every year, it is time to pay tribute to those seniors that depart. In no particular order, thanks go out to:
Sean Spence, LB
Easily one of my five favorite ‘Canes of all time. This kid has been nothing but a beast since Day 1 and left it all out there on the field. Emerged as a leader…did everything you want in a ‘Cane. The difference when he was on the field was palpable. Of all the players leaving, he will be missed the most. The best compliment I can pay is that it got to the point at which whenever a play was made on defense, I assumed it was him making it and surprised when it wasn’t. This kid could play on any team in the history of this program and fit right in.
Jacory Harris, QB
It feels weird that this will be the last time we watch him. For all the crap he has taken, Jacory has quietly put together an ACC Player of the Year type of season…if the defense had held tougher in a few games and Jacory had gotten the extra inch against Kansas State, Miami is undefeated and Jacory is in the Heisman conversation. The evolution this kid has made this season has been one of the most uplifting things I have ever seen in this program. Before the season I said that if Jacory could have a Brock Berlin type of season I would take it. He has done that and more…there are few players I would rather have leading this team than number 12. I feel like Jacory has become family over these past 4 years, and it will be very weird to not have him on the squad next season.
Travis Benjamin, WR
TB3, the Blur from Belle Glade, was oftentimes lightning in a bottle. He was more than just a space guy, becoming a mostly reliable receiver as the years went by. Perhaps never fully realized his potential, but was a constant threat that defenses constantly had to monitor and will be a tough guy to replace. Will always be remembered for his freshman year torching of the Seminoles and his follow up in the season opener as a sophomore, when he scored the opening touchdown and made perhaps THE vital catch down the sideline, enabling the 'Canes to pull out a win on the road in Trailerhassee.
Jo Jo Nicolas, DB
If there was one player that I have done a complete 180 on it is Jo Jo. He was my whipping boy for three years, next in line after Lance Leggett and Romeo Davis. I thought he sucked and was a waste of a jersey. He was always out of position, couldn’t tackle and couldn’t catch. He was a talent blocker. And then this season happened. He made a believer out of me by playing the game hard and stepping up to fill al leadership void despite personal tragedy. When this team needed someone to stand up and take the reins, he and Tyler Horn were there to oblige. Not only that, he turned in to our most solid, consistent DB this year, highlighted by the Georgia Tech game when he picked off his second pass of the season and recovered a fumble for a touchdown. He should get a chance in an NFL camp and if he is unable to stick there, he is the type of kid I would want around the program as a graduate assistant. I rarely take a hardline, negative outlook on a player. When I do, I hope they prove me wrong. Jo Jo did that, and for that I thank him. Consider me the driver of the Jo Jo Nicolas bandwagon.
Tyler Horn, C
Horn was not the most talented, but he was always solid and lead the o-line. Not only that, but he became a point person that the coaches could go to during the turbulent time that was this season, and a leader that the players respected. Horn is one of those “glue guys” that you hear about oftentimes from cliché sports writers and bloggers; their value is only known when they are no longer around.
LaRon Byrd, WR
Always one of my favorites, even this year, when his role was diminished. Byrd was an unselfish player who did a lot of dirty work (blocking downfield, running clear out routes, playing special teams) and never lost his commitment. Expected a lot of himself and while his statistics never panned out, he worked his ass off. Something gives me the feeling that he will be more productive in the NFL than in college.
Marcus Robinson, DE/LB
Robinson was a solid player who had the talent to be elite in the right system. He was put on this earth to be a pass rushing flex end, and really only was able to do that this season. Made big plays but disappeared from a lot of games. On pro potential, see: Byrd, Laron.
Micanor Regis, DT
Regis is a guy who I thought could be a standout, a potential first rounder and the leader of the ‘Cane resurgence. He turned out to be a solid but unspectacular defensive tackle who had a knack for batting balls down.
Harlan Gunn, OG
I will miss the name; it is of the greatest we have ever had. 2 year starter. He was strong off the ball and, like Horn, a leader. Intelligent man and very well spoken. Doubt he has an NFL future but will be successful regardless.
Joel Figueroa, OL
I think I have written his tribute three times now. He is now done with his 6th season and he will be moving on, presumably with a PhD. I have nothing else to say except “good luck” and thank you for setting a good example your senior year.
Chase Ford, TE
Pretty much a non-factor for two years. Every now and then made a surprisingly solid catch, and spent the rest of his time blowing crucial blocks, dropping easy passes or on the sideline in pain. Worked hard and that’s about all you can say. Thanks for the contribution, and I hope you get a shot in the NFL.
Blake Ayles, TE
Blake, we hardly knew ye.
Jordan Futch, LB
Spent most of his career hurt. I was enamored with the potential, and I think that is why his career goes down as a disappointment: there was a lot expected of him and it was never delivered upon. Will get a shot in the NFL, if I were a betting man.
Andrew Smith, DE
One of the least impressive physical specimens we have ever had, he still managed to always be around the ball. Like Robinson, he was a tweener. Not really sure what else to say…this is awkward.
Mike Williams, CB
Had a mostly mediocre season in his one year with the ‘Canes, peppered with flashes of incompetence. Loved the way he plays. Kind of reminded me of one of those guys at the pickup basketball game that is slow and can’t shoot or play defense but talks so much shit that they convince you they are good.
Lee Chambers, CB
Chambers showed promise as a running back and as a defensive back, but was always too injured to get in a groove anywhere. Another sad case of what could have been.
Chris Ivory, LS
Ivory is a 4 year starter you wouldn’t know about if you weren’t a die hard. The fact you don’t know his name means he did his job as a long snapper.
Spencer Whipple, QB
Sucked hard at QB but…well, I guess he made me laugh one time when he ran down on kick coverage. And…yeah, that’s all I got.
Vernon Gholston, DB
Walk-on. Thank you for the hard work on the practice squad and special teams young man. Make us proud as a future engineer.
Miles Levine, LB
Great story, felt worthy of a mention here. Came from out of nowhere and was on the field for one career play, but his is the type of story that make college football great. And if you don't believe me, Google it.
With that, we say good luck from the bottom of our hearts here at Stein on the Sidelines to all the seniors, and any underclassmen who may move on (I see you Lamar Miller...although PLEASE GOD stay around). You have each made your impact in some way, shape or form.
This week’s Rivalry Game picks, after my 2-4 week sent me to 52-26 on the season:
Texas over Texas A&M (-8)
That is the most ridiculous line I have ever seen. Just wow.
LSU (-12.5) over Arkansas
Here’s a little secret: Arkansas hasn’t beaten anyone except for South Carolina, the week after they lost their starting quarterback for the season. Ole Miss? Crap. Miss State? Crap. Auburn? Pretty crappy. Tennessee? Crap. If they were in ANY OTHER CONFERENCE the Boise State Corollary would apply. Here’s another secret: Boise has as many quality SEC wins as Arkansas. So…yeah. Just sayin’.
Georgia over Georgia Tech (+6.5)
Clean, Old Fashioned Hate! Great name for a mediocre rivalry.
Ohio State Fighting Urban Meyers over Michigan (-7.5)
Kentucky (+9) over Tennessee
Armageddon for Vols Nation. Kentucky wins the jug for the first time in roughly 118 years. That number may be an approximation. However, it does not change the fact that they play for a jug. Really, the more important issue here is that Kentucky still champions that hillbilly fire water they call bourbon over the smooth, superior, gentlemen’s Tennessee sour mash. Ingrates.
‘Bama over Auburn (+20.5)
The Iron Bowl! Spread seems a little big...rivalry game...
VPI over Virginia (+5.5)
So, yeah, this is what the ACC has become.
Wisconsin (-14.5) over Penn State
The Big 10 still sucks.
Mizzou over Kansas (+23.5)
The Border War! And by the way, this game is called that because these two territories LITERALLY fought a series of battles over the issue of slavery. If that does not make for a good rivalry, well, screw you.
Oregon over Oregon State (-28)
The Civil War!
The Meteor > FSU > UiF (+2.5)
Miss State (-17.5) over Ole Miss
The Egg Bowl! However, there is now way in hell the Dogs are 17.5 points better than the Rebs. They both suck, but they suck about equally as bad.
Washington (-6.5) over Wazzu
The Apple Cup!
Clemson over Cackalacky (-4)
I don’t know why this game doesn’t have a better name. The Palmetto Bowl is what I have heard it referred to as. Really? Sounds like some bullshit if you ask me. How do two programs that seemingly care not have a cool name for this game? Proposal….let’s call it...The Battle for Lee’s Saddle or The Stonewall Game. Done.
Stanford (-6.5) over Notre Dame
Notre Dame blows.
USC over UCLA (+14.5)
I like what they do with the uniforms here. Really all there is to say about it.
Also, not this week, but coming up, I like Oklahoma over Oklahoma State in Bedlam, West Virginia over Pitt in the Backyard Brawl and Navy over Army in my favorite non- Miami game of the year.
Always guard the inbound passer.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Trial By Fire
No, I am not dodging the FSU loss. Yes, I am busy at work and quite frankly the amount of money I make off this blog is small (read: non-existent). So it had to wait.
I don’t know how many times I can type “at a loss” in one season but I am certainly there yet again.
We’ve all rehashed it. Penalties. Benjamin muffing a punt. Hurns dropping a two point conversion. Jacory throwing a pick.
It was yet another agonizing loss. However, here is the play I will always remember:
Kacy Rogers II in the end zone angling in on a floater from E.J. Manuel to Rodney Smith, and then pulling up before either picking it off and going the other way OR blowing up the receiver and disrupting the play.
It was this team in a nutshell.
They knew what had to be done: you had to punch in this game. The more physical team was going to win. Rogers saw what every defensive back dreams about unfolding in front of him…and for whatever reason, he came up short. He had never been there before, and it showed. He didn't have it in him to get it done.
Like 4th and Goal against K State….and coming up an inch short.
Like 4th and 1 against UVa…and blowing a block.
Like 4th and 1 against the VTech offense…and allowing a touchdown.
This team constantly lives every kid’s dream scenario, but they always seem to come up short.
I spent most of my free time between the ages of 8 and 12 playing driveway basketball or backyard football or playground baseball.
How did it always end?
“3…2…1…he made the shot!”
“Bottom of the 9th, full count, bases loaded, Stein at the plate…and it’s gone!”
“It all comes down to this folks, one play to win the game…Stein drops back in the pocket, he’s got his receiver downfield…touchdown!”
The good guys always won. I always handled the pressure. If I didn’t, I stayed outside until I did. Eventually I got a lot better at it. It was through repetition that I improved.
In real life college football, it is the same thing. Repetition is what turns a player to iron and turns their blood cold under pressure.
The difference is that my mistakes were not aired on national television. I was not under the constant fire of 1,000 message boarders and reporters and columnists.
This current ‘Canes team is going through the same sort of learning process, but without the same benefit that I had.
I guess that is what this season has become: one long, very public, trial by fire.
It has been frustrating and hard to deal with at times. Several times I have literally had ZERO idea what the hell I was watching.
5-5 blows. There is an old saying in football: you are what your record is.
But let’s not forget the circumstances around this team.
There is a new coaching staff. There is a new training program. The 2 Deep is filled with guys who never played much before this season (Feliciano…Dye…Clements….Hurns…Perryman…Chickillo….Williams….Chambers…etc.). 8 players were removed from the roster by Coach Golden between spring ball and the start of the season. 8 more were suspended at the outset of the season. NCAA Investigations have surrounded the program, as has uncertainty. The Penn State allegations have lead to even more uncertainty, as players can’t help but see Golden’s name connected to the job opening in the press.
None of this is an excuse for muffing the punt or pulling up lame on the interception opportunity.
There are no moral victories. Al Golden is certainly not happy with 5-5, and neither should be the fans.
But despite all this uncertainty and turmoil, this team has not once quit. Not once. Can you say that about last season?
This team very realistically could be undefeated. Think about it:
Brandon Linder penalty gets a long run called back against Maryland and we settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown that very well could have sealed the win. Instead we lose.
Jacory Harris is stopped a foot short against Kansas State.
The defense buckles on 4th and 1 for the win against VTech.
Chase Ford misses a block against Virginia.
The aforementioned mistakes against FSU…and we only lose by 4.
This team might finish with the same record (or worse) than last year’s.
However, you measure growth by comparing a season against the previous.
And even though the result might be the same, anyone who tells you this season’s squad is the same as last year’s clearly hasn’t been watching.
I hate 5-5. I hate losing winnable games. As encouraged as I am by the close results, I am equally as frustrated.
But I am not drinking the Kool-Aid yet. Not by a damn sight. This team stands tall and fights to the end. We owe it to them to do the same as fans…because eventually they will get it turned around.
Before Ed Reed was a monster he got torched for the game winning touchdown as a freshman against Penn State.
Before Ken Dorsey was unflappable, he threw a game away on the road against Washington.
Before Willis McGahee was robbed of a Heisman, he was so far down the depth chart that he almost quit.
Before Cortez Kennedy was a Hall of Famer, he was “Two Play Tez”.
Players get better. Teams learn to win. It all comes from repetition.
Always guard the inbound passer.
Quick Picks (3-2 last week; 50-22 season):
VTech (-11) over UNC
Nebraska over Michigan (-3.5)
Ohio State (-7) over Penn State
LSU over Ole Miss (-29.5)
Oklahoma over Baylor (+15)
Oregon (-15) over USC
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Mutual Respect
As a Miami fan, there are plenty of teams I hate.
UiF…well, I don’t really need to go in to it. No one likes a pansy. This is undisputed, pure hatred.
Ohio State…they robbed us of a national title and represent everything that we hate about “The Establishment” of college football.
(As a matter of fact, we hate any team that is part of "The Establishment" and look down on any one who isn't...the Virginias and Georgia Techs and BYUs...as teams that don't belong on our field. We are unique and maybe have created a self fulfilling prophesy.)
Virginia Tech…they beat us too often and have stupid looking uniforms.
Notre Dame…they represent everything we hate about humanity AND they took us off their schedule after starting that “Catholics vs. Convicts” crap.
Penn State…they molest children (required parenthetical note: ALLEGEDLY molest children).
However, the only team that can truly be counted as a legitimate rivalry game in this day and age is Florida State.
Look at the list above. Only Virginia Tech plays us every year, and that is really the only reason they are a rival. We are in the same division of the same conference and both play at a high level (work with me people). Take away the requirement to play every year and I would go on living my life and not miss the game for a second. It is not a rivalry that stands on its own.
Florida State is the opposite.
For years we were in different conferences and yet still played every year. As of now we are in the same conference, but in opposite divisions.
This was arranged in 2004 so that the ACC could get two TV dates a year out of this rivalry: the regular season matchup and the conference championship game. They started playing the game on Labor Day oftentimes in order to ensure that whoever lost then had the rest of the season to work their way back in to the national championship conversation.
Obviously these plans have not come to roost. Both teams have struggled, for largely the same reasons. Lackluster player development and bad quarterback play have submarined both programs for almost a decade.
However, think about those plans in a vacuum. These two programs demand such respect that the conference structured its entire divisional setup and oftentimes its conference schedule to ensure that two teams who seemed to have a birthright to the BCS would be allowed to flourish unfettered.
It seems as though Miami and Florida State are forever linked. Both rose to prominence in the 80’s. Miami once won 58 straight home games and 34 straight games overall (at different times). Florida State finished 14 consecutive seasons in the top 5 of the AP Poll.
The two teams recruit the same players and have rosters full of kids who are not only friends, but sometimes family. They never stopped playing each other, even when non-conference scheduling became more about preserving your record than testing your team. Miami invented swagger; Florida State gave us Deion “Primetime” Sanders.
When it comes to Florida State, I have vitriol. I can’t stand their fans. I hate their mascot and I hate their fight song and I resent their inclusion in the Good Ol’ Boy network. I hate that they can finish a season 9-4 and be ranked #4 to start the next season EVERY YEAR. I hate that they seem to be above the law. I hate the money they have to throw around while Miami maintains mediocre facilities and a lifeless stadium 45 minutes from campus.
But at the end of the day, I respect them. They not only always play us, but they always play us tough.
These games have given us Wide Right 1, 2 and 3. They gave us Wide Left. They gave us the 2009 season opener that ended on a low pass from Christian Ponder. They gave us the 2003 Monsoon Bowl. They gave us the 2008 Monsoon Bowl. They gave us Kirby Freeman’s Drive in 2007. They gave us the overtime thriller of 2004.
Whether it is Irvin’s catch or McGahee’s run or Dorsey- to- Shockey or Sean Taylor’s Pick 6 or Ed Reed’s speech, the stars come out during Miami-FSU.
This rivalry can not only create heroes, but forever ruin seemingly talented players (I see you Chris Rix).
It is a battle for livelihood; lose this game and you have a year of living in your rival’s shadow in the national media, the local media, the ACC and in the recruiting battles of Florida, the nation’s biggest recruiting war.
The uniforms clash, as do the student bodies. It doesn’t matter what the records are. Either team could finish 1-11; as long as the 1 win was over the other, that’s a year of happiness.
It is a perfect rivalry, right up there with Alabama-Auburn and Michigan-Ohio State.
Ladies and gentleman, this is Florida State week.
Time to get the big boy pants out.
Last week I went 0-1. I am now 47-20 on the season. This week’s quick picks:
Nebraska over Penn State (+3.5)
If anything is just in the world Penn State gets crushed by about 50. I won’t go in to this because enough good takes have been offered, but the fact that Paterno is coaching this game is a traveshamockery.
NOTE: I wrote this before the fired JoePa and were still planning on having him on the sideline for the game. He obviously has been fired, and with good reason. I genuinely feel bad for the Penn State students, fans and players. I am confused as to why McQueary kept his job, but that is an entirely different blog post.
As a final point, I must say that I have never been this upset about a sports story except for the Bryan Pata / Sean Taylor killings. I legitimately have been filled with some sort of weird rage about this story the past few days. I feel like I am on a high horse, but I don't know if that is possible in this case. I may not be a father, but I have people that I love and am protective over. I can't even imagine what a parent would feel during all of this. The whole lot of these guys deserve to be run up the flag pole as high as it goes, and I don't care how old they are or how many games they've won.
USCE (-3.5) over UiF
USCW (-11.5) over Washington
Auburn over Georgia (-13.5)
UPSET SPECIAL
Boise State (-15.5) over TCU
With that, I am back to work as the hours move extra slow during this week, which might as well be the week before Christmas for a ‘Canes fan.
Can't wait to see these teams take the field Saturday. Winning is pure ecstasy. Losing is pure misery. And the best part about it? We know we'll see them again next year.
Maroon shirts and yellow britches, go to hell you sons of bitches.
Go ‘Canes, beat the hell out of FSU.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Homecoming
That deafening silence is the sound of me ignoring the game that was played last Thursday night. I am not even going to name which specific game I am talking about. I am burying my head in the sand, refusing to acknowledge it and moving on.
This is a shorter post than usual, because I am prepping for Homecoming weekend in Miami, which means I will be attending my first ‘Canes game since the Champs Sports Bowl in 2009.
Hopefully this is less embarrassing.
For all of those reading this that I am in contact with, get ready for a wild weekend.
For all of those reading this that I am not in contact with (I assume not many)…holler at me if you want some beer and ‘Canes talk this weekend.
I see you Miami.
Last week I was the definition of mediocrity at 5-5. That brings my season record to 52-24.
This week there is only one game that matters enough for me to pick it. Maybe you have heard it is being played:
Georgia over New Mexico State
...Kidding...
Alabama over LSU
Clearly the two best teams in college football. Both could probably beat the Dolphins. I like Alabama in a close one, which given this rivalry will probably be decided on a fake punt touchdown run on 4th and 17 late in the 4th quarter.
LSU’s defense is nasty, but here’s a little secret…so is Alabama’s. And Alabama is at home under the lights.
And yes, I am all for a rematch in the BCS Title Game. And no, I do not love the SEC.
Always guard the inbound passer.