Posted on 12/04/2010 9:34:55 AM PST by Hoodat
This December, it's a different kind of drama.
The past two SEC championship games were 3 1/2-hour commercials for the league's dominance. Powerhouses Florida and Alabama squared off in de facto national championship semifinals. Both games starred past or eventual Heisman Trophy winners, neither with a whiff of controversy, and two coaches with reputations of success exceeded only by their capacity for grimness.
The 2010 version tastes a little different. South Carolina is coached by one of the conference's most despised (and successful) coaches. Auburn brings a perfect record, a shot at a national championship and a Heisman candidate, runaway favorite Cam Newton. Of course, there's this one little detail about Newton and alleged recruiting issues that you may have heard about.
"Each year seems to have a new level of excitement," former SEC commissioner Roy Kramer said. "Certainly this year is another one."
Interest has scarcely waned. On Thursday, tickets on the re-sale website stubhub.com were going for an average of $460. It's a drop from last year, but on par with 2008 prices. This season, CBS has drawn higher ratings in its coverage of the SEC than it did last year with its season-long homage to Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
The culmination, held in the Georgia Dome for the 17th year, figures to provide a suitable conclusion to a regular season rife with strange turns. Which is to say that even if Auburn loses to drop to 12-1, it could still make the BCS championship game.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
Respectfully, I think you'll find he's something of a source of ridicule among many hard-core college football fans. They shouldn't kid him about his lisp and diminutive size, but it seems like he is wrong on his predictions more than any other football analyst, and by a wide margin.
That, and a lot of people don't like that he's accorded all of this 'love' when his background was to leave football programs just before they were put on probation.
By the way, he coached at South Carolina and, I believe, has picked Auburn to lose every game this year.
Did you like that last play, “Blue 326?” They practiced it all week.
Here’s hoping the 2nd half defense shows up now.
WAAAAAAAR Eagle!
Play Blue 326. Throw long bomb to end zone. Tip off the fingers of a defender to Darvin Adams.
Yes, he has.
I did think that USC caught that ball.
USC was robbed just then, imo.
But I’ll take it.
(Hater tweak of the day)
Auburn just had Kodi Burns as quarterback to give him experience. They know Cam will be declared ineligible for the Oregon game.
Well it looks like the State of Alabama might get back-to-back champions.
I’m happy now. I’m also happy their kicker got that last FG. I’d hate for his last scoring attempt to be a flub.
I will be pulling hard for Auburn in the title game, let’s keep the SEC Streak alive.
YOU BETCHA!
And, next Saturday is the awarding of the Heisman.
Love Cam rooting on Trotter.
And that was done with our second string. HA! We have more than Cam on our team.
You reckon this will stop the haters? /rhetorical
Though I must admit, Cam’s performance is a huge indictment of the Gators coaching staff that thought he might be better as a TE, and thought Brantley was the better heir apparent to Tebow.
“Though I must admit, Cam’s performance is a huge indictment of the Gators coaching staff that thought he might be better as a TE, and thought Brantley was the better heir apparent to Tebow.”
Perhaps his attempting to sell a stolen laptop and cheating in school had a little to do with it...don’t know though.
I think perhaps it was also the chemistry between Cam and Chizik and Cam and the rest of the team.
Not to go un-noted: KODI BURNS has my admiration for stepping aside when asked and being a team player. He could have let bitterness take root and cause a divide within the team. Instead, he humbly accepted the coaches recommendation and did everything he was asked and did it well.
War Eagle, KODI BURNS!!!!
Well a lot of Gators have done worse and still were on the team. (Chris Rainey anyone?)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.