College Football
Rocky Top Or Gator Bait
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The first big SEC East showdown occurs in Week 4. No. 16 Florida travels to Knoxville to play rival No. 12 Tennessee. Both teams are undefeated with 3-0 records.
The Gators looked like they finally found a solid quarterback this year. They’ve struggled at the position since Tim Tebow exhausted all of his eligibility in 2009. Luke Del Rio has passed for 762 yards, completing 61% of his passes for 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Miami’s Richt Answer
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Last week, on a flight from Miami to Asheville, my Dad happened to be seated next to two Hurricanes fans who were traveling to North Carolina to watch their team take on Appalachian State.
Both of the passengers were former professors from the university (the wife was the former head of one of the academic departments) and they were avid fans of all Miami athletics. At some point during the hour and a half flight home the comment was made “Well, Georgia’s loss is certainly our gain.”
Future Of College Football
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
All of the talk in the college football universe is about the eventual move for the so-called power five conferences to expand more and further monopolize the college football playoff.
The SEC, ACC, Big 12, Big 10, and Pac 12 comprise the power five conferences.
Wreck for Tech?
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The first college football Saturday is in the books. A lot of questions have been answered now that games have been played but some new ones have been presented. In the case of Georgia Tech I have to wonder are they in trouble?
The Yellow Jackets played Boston College in Dublin, Ireland. Both teams were terrible last season finishing with identical 3-9 records. The Eagles were winless in ACC play and Tech only won one conference game.
SEC Slow Start
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Well, I’m pretty sure that isn’t how the SEC was hoping the first weekend would go.
It wasn’t horrible or anything, but it couldn’t have gone as scripted. In their defense, one of the major reasons everyone was so excited about the match ups to start the college season was that most SEC teams scheduled legit opponents, not schools from the Underwater Basket Weaving conference.
Considering all the hoopla and questions coming into this weekend the one thing I basically learned is that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Evolution of The Running Back
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When most think of the running back position, thoughts of the work horse running back toting the ball over and over again likely come to mind.
Names like Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, Archie Griffin, Herschel Walker, and Bo Jackson go down in the annals for college football history.
Deadly Hurricanes?
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Miami Hurricanes might be the best program in the last 30 years. Since 1983 they’ve played for the national championship eight times, winning five. The program has also had low moments being placed on probation more than once.
The Canes went 8-5 last season and coach Al Golden was fired. The record isn’t terrible but the way they lost is what ultimately cost him. He was let go after a 58-0 blow out loss to Clemson at home.
Mark Richt was hired to replace him and return to his alma mater. I believe this was a great hire. Richt was very underappreciated at Georgia. He turned an average program into a perennial contender. UGA has not won a championship since 1980 but their delusional fan base expects to win one every year. I think Richt will instantly turn Miami back into an elite team.
Tide Keeps Rising
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Alabama Crimson Tide come into the 2016 season as the defending national champions, and has become a pipeline to replenish NFL rosters.
The defending champs don’t rebuild anymore they just reload. Until someone knocks the king off of the throne then they are my pick to win the SEC.
Flying High In New Nest
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Georgia Southern Eagles are coming off of a great 2015 season, but even still, left a lot on the table. A devastating loss to in-state rival Georgia State was one of the most shocking losses in the country last year when considering how dominantly the Panthers defeated the Eagles in Paulson Stadium.
However, the Eagles bounced back and won their first bowl game as a member of the football bowl subdivision of the NCAA. Things seemed to continue on an upward trajectory, but in the offseason head coach Willie Fritz suddenly left Statesboro for Tulane to avoid the ire of the NCAA as Georgia Southern had a reduction in scholarships and forced to vacate three wins that ineligible players were allowed to participate.
Gator Chomp
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Florida had a fairly successful year under new head coach Jim McElwain. The Gators went 10-4 and 7-1 in the SEC. They won the Eastern division and played in the SEC Championship game.
Florida was known for explosive offense under Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. After Will Muschamp’s first season as head coach in 2011 the offensive production came to a screeching halt. The lack of talent on offense during Muschamp’s four years will come back to haunt Florida this season.
