JDubb's Sideline Report

If beating Alabama 44-16 in last year’s National Championship game was pinnacle for the Clemson Tigers, then you’re mistaken. These Tigers are just now hitting their stride. How unfortunate for the ACC and anyone else in their way. If Clemson wins their next two games, that would make them go 30-0 in the past two seasons.

These truly are the best days of this football program, even better when coach Danny Ford was on the sidelines. If that’s blasphemy to the folks in the upstate, then please allow a moment of clemency because that is just the gosh darn truth, folks. If you don’t believe me, then let me give you a history lesson. First of all Clemson always gets good football players. That is not a news flash. The issue in the past was that Clemson always looked the part, but somehow, someway would find a way to pull defeat from the jaws of victory, which in term gave us the term- “Clemsoning“. Yes, that word. It would come to haunt the football program for decades. Example A, back in 2000, Clemson was the # 3 team in the nation, fighting for a chance to play for the national title. Georgia Tech comes to town and wins with mere seconds by a late touchdown. Example B, back in 2008, the Tigers had the #1 recruiting class in the nation and expectations are high, only to get humbled in front of God and everybody by Alabama in the first game of the season. But then came Dabo.

Dabo Swinney took over the program in the middle of the 2008 season and has made Clemson a powerhouse. Swinney has been able to consistently recruit some of the best players in the country, year in and out and it’s paying huge dividends. Now, eleven years later, he and Clemson have two National Championships, six ACC Championships, and he has pretty much beat all the blue-blood programs: LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Alabama, and Ohio. St. Throw some SEC schools too- Georgia, South Carolina,  and Texas a&m. So you see, Dabo has totally changed the culture at Clemson. He has made them a winner.

Once again, Clemson is in a familiar spot. They’re in the four-team playoff and will play the Ohio St Buckeyes this Saturday in the Fiesta Bowl.

Here are the keys to the game for Clemson:

1. Give Travis Etienne the rock. He has 1500 yards rushing for a reason-he’s a playmaker.
2. Give Trevor Lawrence enough time to find his three-headed monster in Tee Higgins, Justin Ross, and Amari Rogers.
3. Coach V needs to send the house after Dobbins and Fields. Tigers can’t afford to play passively on defense.
4. Special teams. I see it playing a big part in this game.

So there you have it. Clemson will not be intimated in this game. They have heard all year what a weak schedule they play and don’t even deserve to be in the playoff. They will use that motivation this Saturday against the Buckeyes.

The Fiesta Bowl is this Saturday at 8PM on ESPN.

 

The 2019 season has been nothing short of remarkable for the Ohio St. Buckeyes. After Urban Meyer handed the keys to Ryan Day, the bucks continued their winning ways by going undefeated in the B1G, beating Michigan, and winning another conference championship. Speaking of remarkable, how about Georgia transfer Justin Fields? The young quarterback from Harrison High School has shown why he was the number one quarterback recruit coming out of high school in 2018. Check out these stats on the Sophmore:

CMP/ATT- 208/308. CMP %- 67.5. Yards – 2,953. TD’s – 40. INT’s – 1. 

I’m not sure what’s more prodigious, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards or only throwing one interception. Both stats are stunning.

From his first snap in the FAU game, we saw just how special this kid is, taking a QB draw for 51 yards to the house! He went on to score 4 TD’s and throw for 234 yards.

Justin Fields really is special. His dynamic arm and electric legs make him dangerous. He’s like Cam Newton, just better if I dare say. Once more, he’s a general on the field and can make chicken salad out of chopped liver. It amazes me how Georgia let him slip away but that was a difficult situation playing behind Jake Fromm.

Fields isn’t running a one-man show though. He’s got a nice supporting cast with him.

Leading the Buckeye ground game is junior back, J.K. Dobbins. The junior has accumulated 1,829 yards this season, coming in second just behind Jonathan Taylor from Wisconsin in the Big Ten. Once more, he has been bell cow for the buckeye ground game. Dobbins is not a blazer, he’s not going to burn you but he can get after it in the open field. What he does well is bulldozing his way thru you. He’s a power runner with a purpose and he’s very hard to tackle. Not only that but he’s very durable, he has great hands for a running back.

And then there is the unblockable, Chase Young. The junior defensive end has 16.5 sacks(team record), 44 tackles, and 6 forced fumbles in the 2019 campaign. At 6’5, 265 lbs, Young stands out in a crowd and it’s no easy feat to contain him. One of his best games came against Penn St., where he recorded 9 tackles and three sacks, right after coming off a two-game suspension where he accepted a personal loan. Young is an All-American and will no doubt be a future NFL standout.

The Buckeyes will have their hands full on December 28 when they take on the Clemson Tigers. Even though Ohio St. has gone undefeated and won the Big Ten, playing Clemson will be their biggest challenge of the year. There will be many challenges and they will need to address the following:

1. How well will they protect Justin Fields?
2. Can they establish a ground game?
3. Can they contain Trevor Lawrence and penetrate Clemson’s offensive line?
4. Will Fields be able to make enough plays to help his team?

If Ohio St. can make Trevor Lawrence uncomfortable and establish a ground game, I like their chances. It will be an intriguing game, to say the least.

The Fiesta Bowl is this Saturday at 8 PM on ESPN.

 

A game like no other, the Army-Navy game is saved for the end of the season for one reason: tradition.

More importantly, it’s a time-honored tradition.  From watching the President of the United States switch sides at half time to watching the winning team “sing second”, this game has it all. You won’t see any 5-star athletes or future All-Americans, just young men putting it all on the line for their team, their brothers, and their country.

For the 120th time, the cadets of West Point will take on the Midshipmen of Annapolis in America’s Game. Navy still holds onto a 60-52-7 all-time series lead. Army is currently enjoying a three-game run but the streak could be broken on Saturday.

Army had an unprecedented run in 2018. The Black Knights went 11-2, their first 11 win season in program history. Their only losses came to Duke and Oklahoma, who they took to overtime. 2019 has not been as kind to the cadets. On Septemeber 7, the black knights came into Ann Arbor Michigan with a mission to upset the Wolverines. It almost happened but a late fumble in overtime ruined their plans and they really never recovered from that loss. From October – early November, they lost five games in a row. They have won their last two out of three games, but they will be the underdog Saturday when they line up against Navy.

Navy’s 2018 and 2019 seasons are almost the exact opposite of Army. The sailors only won three games last season and also lost their third straight game to Army. It was quite an unusual year for Navy, but they did have some injuries and it seemed the ball just didn’t bounce their way in a lot of their games. 2019 has been an improvement for the midshipmen. They’re currently 9-2, with their only losses coming from Memphis and Notre Dame. Malcom Perry has had an outstanding season, throwing for 1,027 yards and rushing for 1500 yards. The senior quarterback has been a one-man wrecking machine for Navy and is looking to get one more swing at Army this Saturday.

Army’s dual-threat quarterback – Kelvin Hopkins Jr. has had a less than stellar senior season, throwing for just 570 yards and rushing for 706. Both Army and Navy run a variation of the triple-option, so it’s not surprising that the passing stats are low, but Hopkins threw and rushed for over 1000 in 2018. Hopkins has battled some injuries this season and is currently playing with a leg injury. He may not play Saturday against Navy.

This game may not mean much to the average football fan, but it should. No, it doesn’t have the top-25, compelling matchup like the Iron Bowl or Michigan vs. Ohio St, but the tradition of this game and what it means to those that have served and are currently serving, it gives them a sense of pride. I have been blessed to see this game in person, back in 2011 in D.C. I got to see both Army and Navy’s future officers march in formation into the stadium, and then I saw them chatting with each other before the game. It’ was so real. But once the game started, it was like dynamite hit the field. I can’t remember how many times I was in my seat but it wasn’t often, that’s for sure.

So who will sing second on Saturday? I’m going with NAVY. The midshipmen are the better team and have played like a team on a mission.

America’s game is on this Saturday at 3PM on CBS.

The regular season of college football is officially a wrap. What did we learn? A lot, I believe. The top 25 has some really good football teams-obviously or they wouldn’t be in there- but there are three teams in my opinion that have done a great job of separating themselves from the rest of the pack: Ohio St., LSU, and Clemson. All three of these teams play at a different level, which is why they are currently undefeated. However, things are about to get interesting.

This Saturday is “CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY”. Conference title games will be played, starting with Utah vs. Oregon on Friday night at 8PM for the Pac-12 Title. I like this matchup- Utah with their stout defense vs. Oregon and their prolific offense. It should be an intriguing game.

The noon slate looks to be good too. A rematch for the Big XII title, Baylor vs. Oklahoma. The Bears will be looking for some payback, as they blew a three-touchdown lead to the Sooners, back on November 16. I look for Oklahoma to play fast in this game and play better defense in a game that shouldn’t be close…but it is Big 12 football. The other notable noon game is Cincinnati vs. Memphis. Why should you care? I think the main reason is both teams play good football and are coached really well.  Memphis started off the season with a win over Ole Miss and has throttled everyone else they have played, minus their loss to Temple. The Bearcats have only one loss as well and that was to the #1 team in the nation, Ohio St. They play good defense and their quarterback, Desmond Ridder can sling the ball. This rematch should be fun to watch.

Then later that day we get the main course- LSU vs. Georgia. The bulldogs and tigers run two completely different types of offense. Georgia runs a smash-mouth, run the ball and then throw some play-action type of game. They aren’t going to do any kind of trickery or fancy plays, they just run the ball hard and then let their All-American Jake Fromm make a play with his arm. He’s not the strongest signal-caller, but certainly is one of the most accurate. On defense, they play some of the best in any team in the nation. They’re only giving up 14 points a game on average and only allow 4.12 yards per play and 257 yards per game. To me, that’s impressive. The Tigers, on the other hand, are throwing the ball around like a Big 12 team. They average 7.9 yards per play and average 560.5 yards per game. The Tigers have their own All-American in Joe Burrow who is having a Heisman worthy season and if he has another top performance, that could seal the special trophy for him. Something has got to give when these two teams play. The outcome of this game should determine who the #4 team in the playoff will be, pending Clemson and Ohio St win their respective games.

The evening slate will host two quality games: ACC Championship – Virginia vs. Clemson and the B1G Championship – Ohio St. vs. Wisconsin.

Virginia just ended a 15-year drought by defeating Virginia Tech at home. It’s been a long time coming for the Cavaliers, who have come close so many times but always coming up short. It’s never fun to lose to your rival, especially as long as they have. They finally found a way and look like a true contender. However, they have to play Clemson this weekend and Clemson is a totally different animal than any team they have played this season. The Tigers do two things really well: score points and rush the quarterback. That’s not a good combo for the opposing team and Virginia has had a hard time protecting Bryce Perkins. This is a mismatch and Clemson should run away with this game.

The Buckeyes and Badgers played back in October, as Ohio St. went on to win 38-7. This is where we saw how good the Buckeyes really were. J.K. Dobbins had a pair of touchdowns, and Justin Fields had a pair himself. On defense, the badgers had a hard time blocking Chase Young as he had four sacks and was causing a lot of havoc for the badgers. Wisconsin has to establish the run game to have a shot in this game or it will another repeat beatdown for them.

So there you have it. This is the final time until bowl season that we will see games on all day. There is still a lot of questions about these matchups and you should expect the unexpected. One thing is for sure though, come Sunday, we will all know 1-4 and like it or not, we will have to live with it.

 

The qualities of superstar athletes are usually in the form of their physical appearance and how well they do in their particular sport. They’re exceptional in what they do, showcasing their skills in front spectators in the crowd and in the living room. They are so popular that businesses profit from their name in merchandise- jersey’s, shirts, video games, and so much more. And then there are some that are really special; they tend to do things at a level that makes you look twice and say “did they just do that?”.

Here are some examples of greatness:

Doug Flutie’s hail mary against Miami in 1984. Calvin Johnson’s one-handed catch/grab against NC State in 2004. Tim Tebow’s “I promise” speech that inspired his team to win out after losing to Ole Miss in 2008. Tommy Frazier’s amazing 75-yard touchdown run in the title game in 1995. And Herschel running through Bill Bates in 1980.

Now we have the famous “2nd-and-26”, the miracle play that gave Alabama a comeback victory over Georgia in the 2018 National Championship game. The hero of the night was a young freshman by the name of Tua Tagovailoa. It truly was a miracle that Alabama came back to win that game, but to Tagovailoa, it was the effect of his prayer life.“All my anxiety and all my nerves calmed down,” Tua said in the AL.com video. “Nothing was too big for me. I think I was more focused on praying than anything else in the game.”

The young Samoan was raised in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, which is apart of the island of O’ahu. This is where he got his faith, learned to pray, and play every sport that he could. It’s where he was molded into the person he is today. “Faith, church, Christianity — it’s a very important part of the Samoan culture,” Diane Tagovailoa said. “Everything ends and starts with prayer, ends and starts with God.”

In High School, his teammates and coaches referred to him as “Reverend Tua”, as he was known for quoting scripture to inspire his teammates when they would be down in a game or volunteering to lead the team in prayer during practice or game time. Needless to say, Tua rubs off on people. You would be right to say he is cut from the same mold as Tim Tebow-not just because he’s a Christian, but how mature and wise the young quarterback is.

Andrew Bone, who has been covering Alabama recruiting for Rivals.com for the past 15 years, noticed this parallel, and, like Tebow, that there was something different about Tua. “I would say in terms of quarterbacks, probably the closest comparison — and I’m not saying their skill levels are the same — but in terms of their respect they have for other people, how humble they are, he was right up there with Tim Tebow,” Bone said. “And I think Tua is very similar to him in a lot of ways. Always very nice, very humble, and very respectful. You see that a lot, but there was always a different feeling with him than just about everybody else.”

His career at Alabama is nothing short of incredible. In three seasons, Tua threw for a total of 7,442 passing yards, 87 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions. Looking at those statistics, Tua is arguably the best quarterback to play for the Crimson Tide. On Saturday, November 16, 2019, Tua sustained a hip injury that required season-ending surgery. For Tua, it’s a bum deal because he still had goals for the season- beating Auburn, getting into the college football playoff, etc. However, football is just a platform for the young Samoan. He knows there’s something bigger for him, whether it be football, coaching, or preaching.

Most people would feel hopeless and in despair with such an injury, but not Tua. He looks at his current situation as his great opportunity. If this doesn’t inspire or encourage you, I’m not sure what would.

There have been many, many great players to play at the University of Alabama and more will come, however, I don’t believe there has ever been a superstar quite like Tua Tagovailoa. His legacy has been sealed and his future is in good hands.

I have never been one good with predictions, I’m just good at giving opinions- which is why I said before the season started that I predicted Alabama and Clemson to play each other for the national championship again. It just goes to show you that opinions are like kittens, people are always giving them away.

Alabama lost to LSU two weeks ago. It wasn’t a large margin(46-41) but it was a loss at home and to a very good LSU team. Since that has happened, Clemson has moved to the third spot, LSU is #1, and Georgia has jumped the Tide for the fourth spot. And things get even worse for Alabama- they have lost Tua Tagovailoa for the remainder of the season due to an apparent hip injury sustained in the game against Mississippi St over the weekend. This is not the scenario coach Saban would like to be in, but it is their current situation, regardless. I confess I didn’t forsee Alabama struggling to get into the playoff this season, on the contrary, I felt they would be a lock. This is a life lesson- never assume that a team is going to be undefeated and healthy at the end of the season. However, college football doesn’t revolve around Alabama, as those in Tuscaloosa would have you to believe it.

Your current top four teams:

1. LSU (10-0) – I don’t think there is a team in the country that has proved their position more than the Tigers. Here’s why they’re number 1: They defeated then #9 Texas, #7 Florida, #9 Auburn, and #3 Alabama. That’s a heck of a resume. Their performance in these games has been exceptional, averaging 40 points and getting outstanding Quarterback play from Heisman candidate Joe Burrow. My only gripe with LSU is that they don’t play consistently on the defensive side of the ball. They have playmakers, but they will need to clean that up if the Tigers are going to make it far in the postseason.
2. Ohio St.(10-0) – The Buckeyes are another team that has put themselves in a good position, and they have done so for most of the season. Their defense has not given up more than 21 points a game, and with the way Justin Fields has played this year, they have been one of the most complete teams in the country. The question is can they finish strong? Penn St, Michigan, and the championship games will tell us what they’re all about.
3. Clemson (11-0) – Clemson has been the Rodney Dangerfield of college football- no respect all year. I understand their frustration. They have dominated every team they have played, minus North Carolina. That was a game they could have lost. However, if there is anything I have learned about Dabo’s Tigers, is that they always have one game where they slip up and then rebound with an attitude. It’s true that the ACC has been down this season, but the Tigers are a great football team, and no matter what conference they could play in, they’re of the elite.
4. Georgia (9-1) – After losing to South Carolina, the Bulldogs have been a team on the rebound, winning four straight, and now have clinched the SEC East after defeating Auburn last Saturday. Good defensive play and strong outings by junior Quarterback Jake Fromm has kept Georgia in the mix, and if they can somehow beat LSU in the SEC Championship Game, they will be a shoo-in for the four-team playoff.

So that’s where we are currently. I’m not going to give you any more predictions. I have blown my cover on that front and now there is egg on my face. I will say this, and I feel strongly about this- THESE FOUR TEAMS WILL NOT BE IN THE SAME SPOT AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON….Oops, I did it again 😉

 

And just like that, we’re in the final month of the regular season in college football. Yes, it’s the one sport that takes forever to start and in no time, it’s over– which is why I try to pay close attention to all the big games, every week. Thank God for DVR! With that said, let’s talk about the first College Football Playoff poll that was revealed last night.

Here is your top four:

1. Ohio St. – The Buckeyes have obviously caught a lot of folks’ attention, not in just their record, but on how they have won. The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 386 to 63! Justin Fields’ presence has been a big contributor to their recent success, but the Buckeye defense has been really physical too. This is a very good football team but they haven’t really been tested. They will in two weeks when they take on Penn St.
2. LSU – What a difference a year makes for the Bayo Bangels. Last season, the Tigers were averaging right around 30 points a game. This season, they’re averaging right around 45 a game. The hiring of Joe Brady from the New Orleans Saints and giving him the reigns to the passing game has paid dividends for LSU. They look like a Big XII team out there, but with an actual defense.
3. Alabama – The Tide have been on cruise control since the Duke game, but they’re about to play the game of the year when LSU comes to town. If Tua can stay healthy, the tides chances are always good. The question is can he stay healthy for the remainder of the season?
4. Penn St. – The Nittany Lions are undefeated for one reason- they’re a very physical football team. They don’t really dominate teams, but they hit you in the mouth. The wins against Pitt, Iowa, Michigan, and Michigan State have really caught the playoff committee’s eye, and if they can somehow defeat Ohio St on the road, they will be sitting really good. But first, they have to beat an undefeated Minnesota team this weekend.

And here’s the rest of the top 10:

5. Clemson – The Tigers keep winning on the field but they keep dropping in the polls. However, unless something drastic happens-like Trevor getting hurt, I don’t foresee a scenario where Clemson is left out of the playoffs. They’re outside because they’re really the only team in the ACC that’s worth anything this season. Yes, they play two SEC schools this season, but a&m and the gamecocks aren’t killing it on the field. And that UNC game didn’t help matters. Just keep winning and you will be fine.

6. Georgia – The Bulldogs have two top ten wins, but the Sout Carolina loss at home is the asterisk that has kept them from perfection. They still control their destiny, but the margin of error is slim. November is going to be a crucial month for coach Smart and his Georgia squad.

7. Oregon – The Ducks are the cream of the Pac-12 crop this season. The early loss to Auburn could have buried this team, but the Ducks have won eight straight since then, including wins over Washington, USC, and Colorado. Led by Quarterback Justin Herbert, the ducks are flying high and look to finish strong in November.

8. Utah – The Utes have the best run defense in the country, giving up 56 yards a game. They play like a sec team on defense but play like an ACC team on offense, which isn’t a bad thing. I just don’t know if it’s enough to get in the playoff or win the Pac-12 no less. They got three games left, all should be winnable, but they will play Oregon in the conference championship game, and the Ducks can score points.

9. Oklahoma – I was on the boomer sooner wagon(no pun attended) until they lost to Kansas State, which seems to be the universal feeling right now towards the Sooners. They are good, but there are some obvious issues on defense-still! They have played better on that side of the ball, but they dropped a big goose egg last week against the Wildcats. The Sooners are going to have to be perfect the rest of the season and also get a little help to get in the playoffs.

10. Florida – The Gators were rocking early this season, with wins over Miami, Kentucky, and Auburn. Even after losing to LSU, they still were considered a legit playoff contender. However, they haven’t figured out how to beat Georgia since Kirby took over. That game will continue to make a season as long as the gators and dogs are competing for the the SEC East every year. Getting into the playoffs is a longshot for the gators, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a good season, it’s just not going to be great.

It’s that time of the year again; no, I’m not talking about Columbas Day sales at JC Penny. It’s time for one of the oldest, time-honored traditions of college football: The Red River Shootout. If you love college football (like yours truly) then this game is a must-watch, even if you’re not a sooner or longhorn fan. It’s got everything you would want in a rivalry game- First, the game is played in a “neutral” site- The cotton bowl. Second, the stadium is sold out every year, with half of the stadium filled with burgundy and the other half burnt orange. And if you get bored(not sure how this game would bore you) or want a quick snack before the game,  you have the Texas state fair going on, where you can stuff your face full of fried snickers until you’re in a diabetic coma! It’s a win-win for the average college football junkie. But enough about the pomp and circumstance, let’s get down to business.

This Saturday will mark the 115th meeting between #11 Texas and #6 Oklahoma. This rivalry has created legends, ended championship hopes, and has had some dramatic finishes. Last season, Kyler Murray and his Sooners were down 45-28 with 13:00 minutes left in the game but started a comeback on three back-back-back scoring drives to tie the game 45-45. With the game getting away from the horns, Sam Ehlinger mounted a 40-yard drive to set up a field goal with 14 seconds left for true freshman Cameron Dicker. The young kicker accepted the call and split the uprights to secure the win for the Longhorns, who went onto play for the Big XII title and later win the Sugar Bowl against Georgia.

The 2019 edition is shaping up to be a ‘humdinger”. Let’s take a look at the teams.

Oklahoma has become the home for transfer quarterbacks as of late. Jalen Hurts, former Alabama quarterback, transferred to Norman at the end of the 2018 season and has really made the Sooners one of the most prolific offenses in the nation. So far this season, Hurts has accounted for 1,523 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions. The addition of Hurts has helped the Sooners improve their offensive statistics, but we all know Oklahoma can score. That side of the ball hasn’t been an issue for them; where the Sooners need to see improvement is on defense. Last year the Sooners ranked 114th in total defense- worst in school history. They ranked 129 (dead last) in passing yards allowed -Ouch! Head coach Lincoln Riley had to make a change. He went out and hired Alex Grinch, former Ohio State safties/co-defensive coordinator to take the defensive coordinator position. So far, the results are good. Through five games, the Sooners rank 5th in third-down defense, allowing conversions on only 24.6 percent of attempts.

The Texas Longhorns have looked good on offense themselves, scoring 209 points through five games. Junior Quarterback, Sam Ehlinger, has thrown for 1,448 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. Like Jalen, Ehlinger is a prototypical dual-threat, Quarterback. He can beat you with his arm or gas you with his legs. He has rushed for 236 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. He has been the key to the Longhorns recent success under head coach Tom Herman. On the flip side, the Longhorns are seeing signs of life on the defensive side of the ball. Texas strength is on the d-line, where it averages around 320 lbs. The Longhorns also rank ninth in fourth-down defense and second in the Big 12 in total defense. They will need to get pressure on Jalen Hurts and make some stops to give the horns a chance in this game.

I know what you’re thinking, “Big XII play defense? Get out of here!”. Hey, I get it, but let’s be real. If the two best teams in the conference want to win something besides a new years day bowl, they need to get better in this department. Texas gave up 570 total yards to LSU! That’s not good! You’re not going to win a national title giving up that many yards. But for this game, something has got to give.

Regardless of the teams’ defensive struggles, this Saturday is about them. It’s about who wants the golden hat more? It’s about who wants bragging rights for the next year? Who wants to keep the momentum for the rest of the season and make it into the playoff? We’re going to find out this Saturday.

It’s the Texas State Fair

It’s the Cotton Bowl

It’s burgundy vs. burnt orange.

It’s Texas vs. Oklahoma!

It’s on FOX this Saturday at Noon. 

 

I’ve seen some pretty epic fights in my life: Godzilla vs. King Kong, Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior, Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson, and Trump vs. Hillary. All of those fights lived up to their epic billing and now and a new contest is on the horizon, and baby, it could be legendary- #7 Florida vs. #5 LSU. 

Florida and LSU both have had some impressive wins and some close calls this season. The Tigers had an early test when they traveled to Austin, Texas to take on the Longhorns in a game where Joe Burrow connected to three different receivers for 471 yards and 4 touchdowns. Burrowed put on a Heisman worthy performance on that hot September night, leading his team to a nice win and a style win for the playoff committee.  Florida’s path so far has been a little different. The gators seem to like to play close to the fire, nearly escaping from the jaws of defeat against Miami and Kentucky. Those were two games they could have easily lost but fought back and won, and despite some adversity, like losing their starting quarterback and some other injuries, the gators are on a roll. Kyle Trask has come in and done a marvelous job as quarterback for Florida, throwing for 881 yards, seven touchdowns, and only two interceptions so far this season.  He did suffer a MCL sprain against Auburn but should be ok to play against LSU.

You like history? This series has had some serious highlights:

1989: College football’s first “overtime” game

This game was jokingly referred to as an “overtime” game in Steve Harvey’s nationally syndicated “Bottom Ten” column. After LSU hit a field goal to tie it at 13 with 1:19 left, Florida drove from their 20 to LSU’s 27. Emmitt Smith was tackled at the LSU 24 inbounds with 18 seconds left. Florida scrambled to get back to the line of scrimmage to snap the ball, which they did with 3 seconds left. Kyle Morris managed to throw it out of bounds with 1 second left, but the clock still ran out, almost exactly like what happened at the end of the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game between #3 Texas and #22 Nebraska. Fireworks were set off over Tiger Stadium in celebration for holding off a late Gator comeback, even though it was right as Florida was sending its special teams unit onto the field. The second was added back to the clock, allowing Arden Czyzewski to attempt, and hit, a 41-yard field goal as time expired to win it 16–13. The unexpected setback sent LSU into a losing streak and its first losing season since they went 4–7 as well in 1983. The manner in which LSU lost the game helped push them into the top spot of that week’s Bottom Ten.

1997: LSU’s revenge

The previous season, the Gators won the national championship and thrashed LSU 56–13, and they came into the game favored. But it was LSU who jumped out to a big early lead, scoring two touchdowns in the first 8 minutes on runs by Herb Tyler and Tommy Banks. The Gators came right back with two touchdown runs by Fred Taylor, each of which capped off an 80-yard drive.

Then, Doug Johnson threw an ill-advised pass, and Cedric Donaldson picked it off and returned it for a touchdown to give LSU a 21–14 lead. The Gators’ frustration mounted when another Johnson pass was picked off, this time by Mark Roman, and when Herb Tyler scored another touchdown to give LSU a 28–14 lead with 11:40 to go, the Gators appeared to be in big trouble.

Undaunted, Johnson responded with a 13-play, 78-yard drive that ended with Fred Taylor getting into the end zone to make it 28–21. LSU did nothing with their next possession, and Doug Johnson began moving the ball downfield again. He then faced a rush on a third and two and threw up a Hail Mary which was intercepted by Raion Hill. The Tigers held on for the 28–21 upset. Kevin Faulk appeared on the next week’s cover of Sports Illustrated.

2003: LSU’s only loss

The beleaguered Gators, under second year coach Ron Zook, took on #6 LSU and Nick Saban with freshman Chris Leak making his third start at quarterback for Florida.

The Gators were off to their worst start since 1979, with a 3–3 record to begin the year. The previous week, Florida lost to Ole Miss at home and Coach Ron Zook was already on the hot seat. However, Florida’s freshman quarterback Chris Leak would help the Gators turn their season around. Leak shrugged off six sacks, the Tiger Stadium noise and a pressing defense to lead the Gators to a 19–7 victory over LSU with two separate touchdown passes to running backs Ran Carthon and Ciatrick Fason out of the backfield. Florida also got a massive game out of their defense, including cornerback Keiwan Ratliff, who had two interceptions and shut LSU down. This shocking loss in Death Valley would be the Tigers’ only defeat of the season, as Nick Saban would go on to win his first BCS National Championship and his only title with LSU.

2006: Tebow’s series debut

The 9th ranked Tigers visited the 5th ranked Gators favored by a point and a half. Early in the first quarter, JaMarcus Russell connected with Jacob Hester for a touchdown.

However, Florida’s freshman quarterback Tim Tebow would help the Gators turn the tide. While the Gators’ starting QB was senior Chris Leak, coach Urban Meyer had been rotating Tebow, a highly touted recruit, into the huddle for a few series every game. Tebow made the most of his opportunities against LSU, accounting for three touchdowns, including his first career passing touchdown on “the jump pass” to tight end Tate Casey. The Gators won 23–10 and went on to win the BCS National Championship.

Wes’s keys to the game: 

Florida – establish the run. Lamical Perine and Dameon Pierce have been a two-headed monster for the gators and they both need to be on fire so Trask can keep the defense off of him. On defense, get after Burrow. Don’t let him get settled or he will pick the gator D apart.

LSU– Special teams. This is going to be a game of inches so you need your kicker to be lights out.

Offense- Protect Burrow so he can do what he does best- finding open receivers.

The 2019 edition is in prime time and in Tiger Stadium. This is one of the loudest venues in all of college football and you better believe it will be cranking when these two go at it this Saturday night at 8 PM on CBS.

It’s not a new idea- paying college kids for their time outside the classroom has been a hot topic for a long time.  Now it looks like it will be a reality. Starting in January of 2023, student-athletes in the state of California can receive compensation for their likeness/name from businesses/sponsors. What does that mean? First, let me tell you what it doesn’t mean: it doesn’t mean student-athletes (all of them) will receive money to play amateur sports. It DOES mean that John Doe can receive benefits from companies, businesses, sponsors, etc. who want to profit from their name. For example, remember the NCAA football video game for PlayStation and Xbox? Even though players’ names were not in the game, their number and likeness were used every year by the company EA Sports. After many years of publishing this title, some student-athletes from Northwestern University decided to sue EA Sports for using their name without their consent and compensation. And guess what? They won the case and EA Sports hasn’t made the game since 2014. Now that California has made this a bill(and it has passed), it’s going to favor many schools in the state to win some recruiting battles over schools in different states that currently do not have this advantage.

Let me ask you this- Do you really think California will be the only state to do this? This is a pandora’s box type of scenario. The writing is already on the wall. Other states across the country are already taking notice of this bill and are currently creating their own versions to propose to state senates. Don’t be surprised if this bill goes to Washington. Honestly, it’s probably for the best instead of each state. This way there is a set, federal standard for schools.

I do have concerns. First off, this bill shows no limit on how much an amateur athlete can make. They could make millions if they get with the right person or company. Picture this scenario; you turn on your tv and see Justin Fields in a commercial for a new model Lexus. You and I both know he will be bringing in some serious cheddar. This brings me to another issue- what about his supporting cast? What about the other players for Ohio State who aren’t getting these sponsors and making bank like Fields? You don’t think they will become a little jealous? Of course, they are! “yea, here comes Lexus Fields ready to take the field”. The resent will be real and that’s a problem if you’re a head coach. The last thing you need is for your teammates jealous or mad at other players. Lastly, and this is very important and dear to me- I just don’t believe when these players start getting these sponsors that they will give it there all on the field. It will take some really high-character individuals to stay humble and level headed. I really do hope I’m wrong.

This is my point- these kids get a full ride to play division one football, in front of a national and even global audience. They get stipends for food, travel, and room and board. Could they use some more? Without question. Being a student-athlete is incredibly rigorous: schoolwork, homework, practice, film study, strength training, etc. Those all come with the role of a student-athlete and that to me makes them special, really superhero types of individuals. However, if you give them money because of their names being used outside an institution, you’re just creating a new pro league, just without the day time drama. There’s a reason why I love college football more than any other sport- the kids play their hearts out. The majority of them know that the four years they play will be the only time they get to do it. The few of the elite will get to showcase their skills on Sunday’s in the future WHERE THEY WILL GET PAID, handsomely.

Keep the amateurs on Saturday’s and leave the professionals on Sunday’s. Otherwise, it will destroy any amount of fun I have watching football on Saturdays in the Fall.