Inches

Hello All,

In "Any Given Sunday", Al Pacino's character famously opines:

We’re in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me. And, we can stay here -- get the
sh*t kicked out of us -- or we can fight our way back into the light. We can
climb outta hell one inch at a time...You know, when you get old in life things
get taken from you. I mean that's...part of life. But, you only learn that when
you start losing stuff. You find out life’s this game of inches. So is football.
Because in either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small -- I
mean one-half a step too late, or too early, and you don’t quite make it.
One-half second too slow, too fast, you don’t quite catch it.The inches we need
are everywhere around us.They’re in every break of the game, every minute, every
second. On this team, we fight for that inch. On this team, we tear
ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our
fingernails for that inch, because we know when we add up all those inches
that’s gonna make the f*ckin' difference between winning and losing!
Between livin' and dyin'!I’ll tell you this: In any fight, it’s the guy who’s
willing to die who’s gonna win that inch. And I know if I’m gonna have any life
anymore, it’s because I’m still willin' to fight and die for that inch. Because
that’s what livin' is! The six inches in front of your face!

I bring this up for a few reasons. First of all, this is my favorite football movie and this is my favorite scene in the movie. I think it is completely underrated and I have wanted to include this in a blog of mine pretty much since I started writing one. Second of all, the italicized section is particularly poignant when digesting Miami's win over Clemson.

As fans, sometimes we get to live in our own world. We have the luxury of being able to sit down and watch a game as an observer and say things like "Jacory should have thrown that ball to the guy's back shoulder" and tally up errors and dissect and dissect and dissect as the game goes along.

We do not, however, have access to the player's point of view. We are not on the field when the proverbial bullets start flying.

We live in a world of theory. The players live in a world of actuality.

Football is an imperfect sport. After every game, even the best teams come away with a laundry list of things to work on. That's just football. The true test of your grit is if you can adjust when the game starts going in the other direction. When the inches become harder to win or, worse, you start losing them. When you are punched in the mouth a couple of times and have to respond.

Let's not lose sight of what Miami did in this game.

Jacory once again made some bad throws. They sucked. Period. He could have very easily checked out. But he didn't. He kept attacking. He showed a Favre-like resolve in rallying and rallying his team. He threw four touchdowns against a good defense. He scrambled out of a sack on 1st and 20 and turned it in to a 17 yard gain. He checked down to Leonard Hankerson for a key 3rd and 5 conversion late in the 4th quarter that kept the clinching drive going.

He played like a winner. It wasn't pretty. He had to scrap for it. He had to kick and fight and spit and claw his way out of some bad situations, created both by himeself and his offensive line and a good Clemson front four. But he got it done.

Miami also had to overcome a talented team playing in it's own stadium on Homecoming in front of a LOUD crowd. It had to overcome it's third straight road game. Most importantly, it had to overcome the refs. The refs were terrible. Period. I am a lifelong Miami Hurricanes fan. I have seen some TERRIBLE officiating go against us. This might have been the worst, highlighted by the following, which as far as I know is a first in the history of football:

Tommy Streeter is essentially handed the ball by the Clemson return man ona muffed fair catch. Miami has the ball inside Clemson's 30. The refs challenge the play. The call is overturned, citing a rule that states if a fair catch is called and the returner loses possession but the ball does not touch the ground then the returner must be allowed space to recover the ball. Fine. that's a stupid rule, but the rule nonetheless. Here's what got me. The golden rule with challenges is that you cannot use them to assess a penalty or take one away. Not allowed. It was a huge sticking point during the replay debate. The refs called no penalty on the play in question. And yet, somehow, Miami came out of the challenge without the ball AND WITH A 15 YARD PENALTY. On a play that I personally watched Clemson replicate 3 times during the course of the game without being whistled. Annnnd scene.

There were 5 instances wherein Miami got called for a bad penalty/screwed on a replay in this game. 5. It was such a comedy of errors that my buddy Francis texted me "if these good ol' boys are going to be so blatant they might as well just call the penalty on N-word #86". I hate going racial, but I almost have to agree.

And yet, despite that, Miami pressed on. The entire second half was one big momentum shift toward Clemson. And yet, Miami came up with 6 turnovers, none bigger than the forced fumble/fumble recovery by the benched Demarcus Van Dyke. They held strong on a BIG 4th&1 late in the game that should have been a gimme for Clemson. They held strong even though a true freshman right tackle was going against Clemson's Freakshow DeQuan Bowers in his first career start.

They held on, won the inches and won the game. Isn't that really what matters?

It has been said too many times too count about this team that they are too soft mentally and physically. That they are talented but can't go on the road and win a big game. That they are talented but they can't win if they are not one hundred percent on their game. That they shrink from big spots and big moments.

This was a game where Miami played to maybe 80% of their potential. It was on the road. It was against a good team. It was filled with pressure points, those moments when you see how big an inch really is. And Miami knocked it out of the park.

Sure it was ugly. Sure it was at times frustrating. Sure I had to call my dad and make sure his ticker was tickin' the way it should.

But good teams go on the road and win the tough ones. They win ugly. They see the games that everyone deems a "yardstick" game and they win them. Bottom line is that they find a way to get the job done.

Already, Miami fans are saying Clemson was overrated (even though they all predicted Clemson to win the game) and are saying FSU is the real test. It will be the same thing if we beat FSU. Fans have the luxury of sitting on their high horse. They dwell on the negative and don't talk about Sean Spence emerging past DeAndre McDaniel as the top defender in the ACC. Or the d-line continuing to get pressure. Or the run game churning out yards. Or the 6 turnovers.

They also often forget the most important thing: The W.

Miami got The W and Clemson didn't. They got it because they won the inches.

I'll take 10 more just like it.

Miami vs. Clemson Breakdown

Hello All,

This week the 'Canes head up to Death Valley in the third leg of their road odyssey to begin the season; if this is The Odyssey, Jacory Harris is Odysseus. As he goes, so goes the crew. And maybe even we will get lucky and see a vintage Vanessa Williams sex scene during this game...I digress.

So that is your cheesy, Musburger-esque setup and this is your breakdown:

QB

If Jacory limits mistakes he is the better player. Clemson's Kyle Parker, or as he is known in my living room, the poor man's Dan Stein, doesn't have much going for him. It's not like the guy hits 20 bombs a year for the baeball team, plays quarterback on the football team, already has a multi-million dollar job waiting for him upon leaving school and rocks a great faux-mullet. Wait, he does? Anyway, Parker will be dealing with plenty of pressure from Miami's defensive front this game, unlike last season. I also still believe he gets way more credit for last season's win than he deserves. However, with Clemson's DeAndre McDaniel lurking in the secondary, I have no clue who has the upperhand between these two talented players. EDGE: Even

RB

Clemson relies on Jamie Harper (if you ever want to hear a messed up recruiting story, ask me sometime about why Harper is a Tiger and not a 'Cane) and Andre Ellington. Both are big and explosive. Miami will have their hands full with the duo, and that includes as receivers out of the backfield. However, I said the same thing before the Pitt game and look how that turned out. Miami, meanwhile, is establishing Damien Berry as the plowhorse and Lamar Miller as the flash to his smash. EDGE: Clemson

WR

Miami, and it isn't close. Clemson starts a junior who has not done much and a sophomore. They have big play capability but do not come close to resembling Miami's arsenal. EDGE: Miami

OL

Both teams have physical lines that are probably better in run blocking than pass blocking. Both have to deal with athletic, versatile defensive lines. EDGE: Even

DL

Miami's front four (which is really more like a front 9) is playing great football right now. They have Allen Bailey (a superfreak) at one end, three complimentary ends that are playing well and 4 solid tackles. Clemson has DeQuan Bowers (a superfreak) at one end, a solid complimentary piece at the other and four solid tackles, lead by Brandon Thompson. The top line of the depth chart is relatively equal, but after that it slides in Miami's favor. EDGE: Miami

LB

Sean Spence will be the best player on the field. Clemson, much like Miami, has an athletic group that struggles with positioning. They are lead by Brandon Maye, who I am pretty sure has been on the team since 1997. All things being equal, Spence gives Miami the leg up. EDGE: Miami

Secondary

If Spence gives Miami the linebacking edge, McDaniel gives Clemson the edge in the secondary single handedly. EDGE: Clemson

Special Teams

Miami has the best return game in the nation and one of the most mediocre coverage games. Clemson lost C.J. Spiller but will have speed back to return kicks. Matt Bosher is great, obviously, and rates Miami the edge in the kicking game. Also, Alex F-ing Uribe will not be screwing up and kicking deep to Spiller instead of squibbing it at the end of the half when the 'Canes have just scored to take momentum back headed into the locker room and in the process giving up a return touchdown to reignite the Tigers because he kicked deep when the call and resulting formation was set up for a F*CKING SQUIB KICK. Not that I'm bitter. EDGE: Miami

So there we have it. This one will come down to the wire. My dad predicted a late drive to come from behind and win for Miami. So we will go with that. Also, since I know you're looking for it with your Apple F function, good luck in Regionals this weekend Steve. Austin is a fine town, try to leave it in one piece.

And now we do some picks:

Texas A&M over Okie State

In the battle of the big programs that couldn't: Think it is possible that the two ADs get together and agree to simultaneously fire both coaches at midfield when it is over? Maybe trade them straight up for each other out of boredom? Maybe implicate them in the BP Screwup and have them brought up on federal charges?

Oklahoma over Texas

Michigan State over Wisconsin

This is what happens when you get ready for your first big road test in conference by playing the likes of Austin Peay and the Girl Scouts of America. Or at least, what I hope happens. Never had anything against Wisconsin until a bunch of their fans mysteriously turned into Ohio State fans the one weekend that OSU played Miami. Yes, OSU, a bitter rival. Well, not really bitter, because in order for it to be bitter Wisconsin might want to, oh, I don't know, win a national title for once in the history of their program. Like the 5 that Miami has won. Since 1984.

Virginia Tech over NC St.

Tech is starting to warm up. There was no way they were going to stay down all season.

Wake Forest over Georgia Tech

MARYland over Duke

Oregon over Stanford

Alabama over Florida

If it weren't a Miami gameday I would be wearing red all day long. In a similar vein, UiF will probably have someone arrested after the game.

Redheads over Blondes

To answer the debate in my favorite Billy Currington song.

Gordon Gekko over Barack Oabama

UPSET SPECIAL

FIU over Pitt

I am going to ride this damn hunch until I am forced to stop. Or next week. Whichever comes first.

Season Record 15-9 (0-3 in Upsets)

Always guard the inbound passer.

Clemson: Kind of Like That Chick From Entourage

Hello All,

Welcome to what is possibly the most confusing week of any team’s season: the week they play Clemson.

Clemson is kind of like the Alexis Dziena of the college football world. Every time I see Alexis on the screen, I have an internal debate. I know she is supposed to be hot; otherwise, she wouldn’t be on screen. Half the time she is gorgeous. However, the other half the time she is debatably attractive; some might say categorically unattractive. Sometimes, she looks like the freshman in high school who has potential but hasn’t realized her potential yet so she dates down to raise her self esteem. That, in a nutshell, is Clemson: Great one week, unfulfilled and kind of trashy the next.

Example: Clemson struggled to beat Middle Tennessee State, fell behind three early scores to Georgia Tech only to rally for the near-win, beat Boston College, lost a close game to TCU, lost to Maryland, and then beat Wake Forest.

In their two marquee games, they played well but lost. They beat BC and Wake, but there’s also the loss to Maryland. That makes them 2-1 in the games they were supposed to win and 0-2 in the ones they weren’t supposed to. They are more unpredictable than Zeta Tau Alpha.

Why is this confusing? Because I have watched them play and they are undeniably talented. They hit big plays and have two of the nation’s elite playmakers in Jacoby Ford and C.J. Spiller. They are the underdog in this one, and they have not won in that role yet; however, they have acquitted themselves well by keeping it close with Top 15 programs. They always play Miami tough; Miami, however, has responded remarkably well in the spotlight this season.

Miami is 2-0 in the games they were supposed to win and 3-1 as an underdog. However, they have played every game under the lights but the Virginia Tech game, and we all know how that turned out.

Like I said, confusing.

The game plan to beat the Tigers seems to be to force quarterback Kyle Parker to beat you. He is completing less than 50% of his passes, and as many have said, is overly reliant on the big play. Further, Clemson has struggled to get Ford and Spiller the ball at times, and that cannot happen if they want to win.

On defense, their front seven is fast and physical. Here is another area of confusion: Miami stood up very well to Oklahoma’s vaunted front 7 but struggled last week with UCF’s blitz. Clemson is closer to Oklahoma, but HAD to have seen the Knights tape. Again, I am absolutely at a loss as to my expectations.

And, as we seem to say every week, the game could come down to special teams, where the Tigers have Ford and Spiller lurking and the ‘Canes have struggled in coverage.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Clemson Week!

BREAKDOWNS:

QB: Jacory has been great, but cannot turn the ball over here. He will be seeing man coverage, which will be easier to pick apart than the zones he has struggled at times to beat. Parker is struggling for Clemson, and if John Lovett is smart, Miami will be blitzing early and often. EDGE: Miami

RB: Stats may not say it, but Javarris James, Graig Cooper and Damien Berry have taken turns as highly effective runners for Miami. Clemson features the duo of Spiller and Ellington, both of whom are explosive. They also have former Miami recruit Jamie Harper in reserve. Spiller reminds me a lot of Michael Goodson from the 2007 and 2008 Texas A&M teams, who Miami was able to contain reasonably well. EDGE: Even

Receivers: Ford is explosive, but Parker is erratic. The ‘Canes, on the other hand, will have all hands on deck and ready to go with the return of Aldarious Johnson. EDGE: Miami

Offensive Line: Matt Pipho will struggle for the ‘Canes against the Clemson front, so the key will be helping by chipping with either a tight end or a fullback when the ‘Canes pass. Again, just like Oklahoma, the ‘Canes should be in max protect, as the receiving corps will be able to get open against man coverage (meaning the use of three receivers instead of five is just fine). EDGE: Clemson

Defensive Line: The Tigers feature DeQuan Bowers and Ricky Sapp, two elite defensive ends. The Hurricanes have plenty of good players but have been hit by the injury bug and have not been as productive as might be hoped. EDGE: Clemson

Linebacker: Both teams have solid units. Sean Spence and Colin McCarthy are playing like men on a mission for the ‘Canes, and Clemson is lead by Brandon Maye. EDGE: Even

Secondary: Miami is at an advantage because Parker struggles, but look for Ford to make a big play or two (unless Brandon Harris plays the best game of his career). Meanwhile, the Tigers are taking their man coverage against a quarterback with deadly accuracy and an arsenal of receivers. EDGE: Miami

Special Teams: Ford and Spiller have the Tigers in the Top 10 in the nation in both kick and punt returns. ‘Nuff said. EDGE: Clemson

Coaching: Shannon and crew actually have a pretty solid edge over Dabo Swinney and staff. EDGE: Miami

THIS WEEK’S GUEST

After Rachel broke the streak last week, I present to you Trent Mullins, born and bred Southerner who will try and keep the ball rollin’:

"As one of the 6 people who read this blog, let me just first and foremost express what an honor it is to be selected to make the celebrity pick this week for Stein on the Sidelines. I know he typically calls it a “guest” pick, but not this week.

Not many great matchups on the slate this week in CFB. College GameDay is in Provo for the TCU Horned Ladainian Tomlinson Went Heres vs. the BYU Big Love Morman Weirdo Cougars….Herbstreit could/should have 6 new wives by the time he leaves.

Needless to say, I think that Auburn v. LSU may actually be the best matchup of the week. I have been a resident in SEC country my entire life, and it is by far the best football conference in America. From the tailgates all the way to the radio shows. It’s not even close. Seriously. Sorry Stein on the Sidelines.

Before I make a pick and throw a score out there, let’s take a look at the recent history of the matchup and some fun facts
• Both schools share the Tiger as their mascot. Auburn for some reason also has a “War Eagle” as their mascot. It’s been explained to me as “Dude, the Tiger is our mascot but ‘War Eagle’ is our battle cry”….I guess that makes sense to them.

• Either Auburn or LSU has won at least a share of the SEC Western Division championship for five of the last six years

• The home team won every game from 2000-2007, until LSU beat Auburn on the road last year

• This has been one of the best games in the SEC the last 2 years. With both being decided by game-winning TDs in the waning seconds. Both by LSU.

• LSU had won 4,367 consecutive home night games before losing a tough one to Florida two weeks ago, and they should have lost to UGA the week before had the referees not intervened in one of the most heinously bad/unnecessary/WTF were they thinking calls I have ever seen.

• Auburn hadn’t had an impressive road W since 2007 until it beat Tennessee and Lane Kiffin (and his boner inducing wife) in Neyland Stadium 3 weeks ago…They have since lost 2 in a row, but they always play well in Baton Rouge.

I think the game is going to come down to QB play (like most games do). Jordan Jefferson and LSU certainly have more offensive weapons, but Jordan Jefferson is terrible. He is another perfect example of college coaches searching for the next Vince Young. This applies to Senator Tressel in Columbus as well. Just being big, black, athletic, and quick DOES NOT instantly make you a good quarterback. I’m sure Jefferson will have a fine career in Baton Rouge. He is still young. But as of now, I have to give the QB edge to Auburn and Chris Todd. 12 TDs v. 2 INTs. A certain upgrade from Brandon Cox and Kodi Burns. Auburn’s RB, Ben Tate, is no slouch either.

Now I’m going to completely contradict everything I just said and predict LSU the winner. And here’s why:
• Some of my friends (who happened to go to Auburn) made the journey to Baton Rouge in 2007 for the game. They are girls so they wouldn’t be able to tell me anything about the actual game itself, but they didn’t need to. I had heard enough. A 65 year old woman sitting in front of them, spent the entire game turned around in her seat heckling these poor girls with incoherent, Cajun, expletive laced tirades, all while throwing popcorn on them every few minutes. These are the grown-up LSU fans.
• Upon leaving the stadium after LSU’s late come-from-behind victory, they witnessed what is either the most hilarious or most horrifying thing I have ever heard of. I’ll let you be the judge. An LSU young fraternity man (Lets call him Jimbo), clearly excited about the game’s outcome, spots a 60-70 year old Auburn fan, holding hands with his wife, walking towards him. Clearly irate at the disrespect this old man was showing him by quietly walking to the car with his wife, Jimbo proceeds to walk in front of this couple take his Solo cup full of beer and chuck it at the elderly AU fans, striking the man upper chest/neck area, spilling beer all over them and yelling “F*** You!”….

4,367 consecutive home night games. Look it up if you don’t believe me. I think Jimbo’s a 7th year Senior this year. This one kicks at 7:30 PM…

LSU 17 – Auburn 10

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks Trent. However, here is where I have to disagree. I know the SEC is probably the best conference, but the fact that everyone considers it a foregone conclusion is ridiculous this season. I say this mostly because of the referees, which have completely taken away most of the conference’s credibility for this season.

Shall we take a look?

Warning, this will get lengthy.

Today the SEC suspended a referee crew based on their glaring miscues in two games. The two games were the matchups between Georgia and LSU and Florida and Arkansas.

In the Georgia/LSU game, the referees called a phantom celebration personal foul late with about a minute left on Georgia’s go-ahead score. The resulting longer kickoff meant LSU started with the ball at about midfield. Of course, LSU scored, won the game and preserved their undefeated record to set up a Top 5, marquee showdown with Florida 2 weeks later.

This was a bad call that changes the shape of the season for both teams. But it never had me questioning the legitimacy of the conference. Until I thought about it yesterday, after the SEC apologized for the SAME CREW’s mistake in the UF/Arkansas game I made fun of last column.

There were two bad penalties back to back, a personal foul called on an Arkansas lineman who was bracing himself from the charge a Gator lineman made at him (the one the conference apologized for) and a pass interference call which essentially hand delivered the Gators the score (admittedly, pass interference is the worst called penalty in sports and seems to always be made at the worst time, no matter the conference). This, coupled with the fact that Arkansas was called for 10 penalties compared to the Gators’ 3 (in a fast, physical SEC game) really got me thinking though.

Doesn’t it make sense for the SEC to have a bias toward their top 3 programs, which this year are Alabama, Florida and LSU? Don’t you think that the SEC officials probably are told ahead of time “if it’s close, lean toward the big guys”? This is the most corrupt conference in football at other levels, featuring pay-for-play scandals, street agents and felons playing for just about every team. The LSU win set up the marquee matchup two weeks later, and the Florida win kept the Gators the #1 team in the country.

Now think about this: what if those two borderline at best judgment calls don’t get made? Georgia and Arkansas both realistically win the games, as they had all the momentum to those points. After the LSU game, you would have Florida at 1, Alabama at 2 and the next best team, Georgia, right around 10th (assuming they would have moved up 7 spots, which seems to be the typical move for a win like that). Then, two weeks later Florida beats an LSU team probably ranked 11th or 12th, but a 10 point margin probably is not enough to keep them ahead of Alabama, who crushed Ole Miss, a Top 20 team at the time. Now you have Alabama #1, Florida #2 and the third ranked team as LSU, who is now probably right around #10 (remember, Georgia gets drilled by Tennessee…it wasn’t even close enough to think they might have won with the confidence built from the LSU win). Then, after Florida loses to Arkansas, they probably drop to right around 9 or 10. So you have Alabama as #1 (and rightfully so), LSU at #8 and Florida at #9. That is still the best conference in football, but how much better is it than, say, the ACC (a terrible conference in my opinion), who has Miami at #7 in this scenario, Georgia Tech at #10 and Virginia Tech at #14?

The scary thing is to think of all the close games in the SEC that may have been influenced one way or the other by questionable calls. The SEC is the best conference in the country, but if they use the referees to manipulate that ranking, will we ever know? The problem with conferences like the ACC and the Big East is that the teams cannibalize each other, and no one is immune. Well, if the refs in the ACC (who are terrible in every game anyway and usually err against Miami at the worst time possible) started protecting the interest of Miami, Florida State and Virginia Tech (the three traditional ACC powers) in every close game, don’t you think they would be Top 10 teams every season?

I’m not trying to say that there is a conspiracy; merely, I am stating that it seems rather convenient the way things have played out in what has so far been a mediocre season of college football, even for the SEC. And maybe the SEC isn’t as great as everyone thinks.

MY PICKS

Last week was better, as I went 5-3 to improve to 16-23 (ouch). I also went to 0-5 in upset specials. Here is this week’s carnage:

Alabama over Tennessee: This will be closer than you would think, like the UF-UT game. But Alabama is just too much football team for anyone right now.

Florida State over North Carolina: On Thursday night, the ‘Noles finally will show up and win an ACC game. On the road. Against a better team. I have no rhyme nor reason for saying this. Is this a mercy pick? This might be a mercy pick. It feels like it is…is FSU really that bad? I’m not even upset. I feel bad for them. Wow. Well, at least I will want to murder every student at their school again next season. It’s the little things…

Georgia Tech over Virginia: In what has actually become an important game. I think the annual Al Groh “Listen guys, we need to win a lot of games or I am getting canned and don’t think that means that you will keep your scholarship because you probably won’t” Campaign stalls here. By the way, is the ACC the 2nd best conference right now (knock on wood knock on wood knock on wood knock on wood knock on wood)? The Big 12 sucks outside of Texas and the hard luck Sooners, the Big 10 always sucks, the Pac 10 is really only USC and Oregon, and the Big East is Cincinnati and a bunch of interchangeable parts. Who saw that coming? I still think the ACC champion, whoever it might be, will lose at least once more. But this is a weird season.

Arkansas over Ole Miss: Sorry Bill (a little reverse jinx perhaps?).

Boston College Over Notre Dame: They said more Hail Marys this week…ba dum cha!

Oklahoma over Kansas: In the least upsetting upset ever. I don’t like this Oklahoma team and don’t even feel bad for them for losing Bradford for the season (who I like). But does anyone really think they’re losing this game? Also, I just picked four straight road teams. I noticed this as I was typing. Maybe I should be the one saying the Hail Marys…

USC over Oregon State: They got their token loss to a weakling out of their system already.

Texas over Missouri: Because their defense is just too good to justify the upset special pick. But don’t worry, it’s coming.

USF over Pitt: Again, no clue why, I’m just going with my gut.

Wake over Navy: Because I know you all care. Wake wins just to make Stein on the Sidelines more nervous about next week’s game.

UPSET SPECIAL: BYU over TCU

Yes, it’s a cop out. Not that big an upset. Picking the home team. But I need to break the five game losing streak for my upset special, and I am sick of everyone talking about TCU and Boise State. So why not kill 1.5 birds with 1 stone?

Always guard the inbound passer.