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(WARNING: This is pretty much my rant of bashing UGA, who I despise – thanks to my first road game as a student to Athens in 2006. That said, please enjoy!)
Nope, that’s not a mistake – the Georgia Bulldogs are ranked at the top of both the media and coaches’ polls, after finishing #2 in the nation last year. Georgia rode the wave of momentum created by this well-know, dramatically overblown act of celebration…
…to a 42-30 win over the media’s darlings in Florida. These silly antics continued two weeks later for the Dawgs’ home game against Auburn…
…where Georgia won 45-20. After a seventh-straight win over Georgia Tech, UGA, perceived as “playing the best football in the country,” was hoping a national title game appearance was possible thanks to the carnage going on everywhere else.
Except there was one problem: Georgia didn’t even win their own division. UGA ended up in the Sugar Bowl, where they crushed a WAC team, thus forcing the offseason hype machine into the red. I guess it’s still going because of the #1 ranking and the talking heads everywhere calling for Georgia as the favorite to win it all.
I swear the media apparently forgot this game ever happened, or that it was some sort of false stroke of luck…
The hype machine has been sputtering a little bit though. The biggest hiccup came just recently, when All-SEC Freshman from last year T Trinton Sturdivant was lost for the year, a huge, huge blow for such a powerful running team. That of course followed the well known string of offseason nonsense going on down in Athens, resulting in suspensions and dismissals. We Tennessee fans saw the effects of those in 2005, though that team and this UGA team are pretty different, so I’m not sure that comparison holds water.
Let me just get to the point: Georgia is not going win the national title, the SEC, or even the division in 2008. Let’s examine how UGA came to be anointed the 2008 paper champions: lost to South Carolina at home, got smoked here in Knoxville (a worse beating than 2006), stole victory from defeat at Vandy, beat a beaten-up Tebow, beat an ACC team on the road, and beat a WAC team. What in there really makes you think this is going to be the best team in 2008.
It starts with Knowshon Moreno. He had a whopping 30 yards against Tennessee, so it’s not like he’s totally unstoppable, though he’s an incredibly talented back and one of the SEC’s best. Stoppable? Yes. Scary good? Yes, without a doubt
Matt Stafford has done nothingspectacular, throwing 26 TDs and 23 INTs in his career. All the hype he’s getting is based on pure potential and speculation. Stopping UGA isn’t rocket science people: you make Stafford beat you with his decision-making throwing the football. He hasn’t done that yet to my knowledge (I’ll even give you Alabama last year, but that was one throw). The receivers don’t scare anybody.
I can’t argue against Georgia being pretty good defensively this year with nine starters back, but then again, Tennessee has hung 86 points on them the past two years. Geno Atkins, Jeff Owens, and Roderick Battle up front, Dannell Ellerbe, Akeem Dent, and Rennie Curran at LB, and Prince Miller, Asher Allen, C.J. Byrd, and Reshad Jones is a pretty good secondary. I think they are going to be really good.
But this Georgia offense isn’t what it’s been made out to be for me. What scares you outside of Moreno and the talented backs behind him? The offensive line has really become a concern now due to some injuries and suspensions.
I haven’t even discussed the schedule: trips to Arizona State, South Carolina, LSU, Auburn, Florida in Jacksonville, and Tennessee and Bama at home. It’s rough. Really rough. I just don’t think Georgia’s as good as the media has made them out to be – they’re very talented, sure – and the brutal schedule should reveal that.
Mark Richt’s an excellent coach with plenty of class in my book, but he is out of place at Georgia. Those fans deserve a bigger jerk as their coach than Richt. I also have to wonder what antics UGA will pull this year. Internet rumors are that the game against Tennessee will be this year’s blackout game. Here’s a reminder of how that worked last time…
So to answer my originally posed question…absolutely not.
The WAC has been living right the past two years – two undefeated regular seasons, two BCS bowls. However, I’m one of those who thinks if a WAC team runs the table this year, they absolutely should NOT play in a BCS bowl.
Look, the Boise State Fiesta Bowl win was an incredibly exciting game to watch, and such a great, great story. But what gets lost is the fact it was a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Boise needed to pull out every trick play in their playbook to beat Oklahoma. If they played 10 times, OU probably wins 8 or 9. Seriously. And it’s not like OU has the best bowl record lately – they’ve really struggled in BCS bowls lately.
Last year’s Hawaii debacle further proved this theory. 2006 Boise State crushed a 10-win Oregon State but barely beat San Jose State and had 7 point wins over Wyoming and Hawaii.
Last year’s Hawaii team played two I-AA teams, just one BCS team (4-9 Washington), and probably should have lost at Louisiana Tech (won in OT), trailed by 2 TDs late at San Jose State (won in OT), and needed late scores to beat Nevada and Washington. I had a pretty strong feeling that they didn’t belong in the Sugar Bowl.
Thankfully (well, not really), Georgia proved that fact, embarrassing Hawaii to the tune of a 41-10 whipping that the entire nation witnessed. I hope people begin to realize that WAC teams really don’t belong in the BCS. Hawaii obviously didn’t last year, but I will give Boise the benefit of the doubt.
TALE OF TWO BCS BOWLS: Boise State’s Fiesta Bowl thriller was much better for the WAC than Georgia’s utter dismantling of Hawaii this past January
Now, a new beginning of sorts for the league. Brennan graduated and head coach June Jones is at SMU. Boise State is two years from their run, so the league may be more wide open than it’s been recently. It wouldn’t surprise me if Fresno State or Nevada made a title run. Here’s a look.
BOISE STATE
Last Year: 10-3, upset in Hawaii Bowl – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Despite injuries, Ian Johnson still ran for over 1,000 yards last year and returns to lead Boise State to a WAC title
Last year Boise broke in a new QB, lost at Washington, at Hawaii, and East Carolina snuck up on them in the bowl game. They must break in a new QB this year – either redshirt Fr. Kellen Moore, Sr. Bush Hamdan or So. Mike Coughlin – but pretty much all the leading rushers and receivers from last year return, including HB Ian Johnson, who ran for nearly 1,100 yards and 16 TDs last season despite injuries. Leading WR Jeremy Childs comes back, but just one OL – G Andrew Woodruff – is back, a major question mark this year.
Seven defensive starters are back, including leading tackler LB Kyle Gingg. Five of the top 8 DL return and 2 LBs are back, but the secondary may have some questions as well, losing 2 starters. Boise still has a chance to run the table, as their toughest games are at Oregon and at Nevada (they get Hawaii and Fresno at home). Boise is an amazing 46-2 in the WAC since 2002.
FRESNO STATE
Last Year: a quiet 9-4, beating Georgia Tech in the bowl – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Lonyae Miller, along with leading ‘07 rusher Ryan Matthews, gives Fresno the top HB tandem in the WAC
Fresno has been a WAC staple in the last decade. Coach Pat Hill is well-known with his scheduling ambitions, and Fresno has earned respect for it. Last year they nearly beat Texas A&M on the road, and beat Kansas State at home and Georgia Tech in the bowl. Ten offensive starters return including QB Tom Brandstater, HBs Ryan Matthews and Lonyae Miller, and leading receivers WR Marlon Moore and TE Bear Pascoe. The OL has 91 career starts, tied for 15th in the nation.
Just 7 defensive starters return, and Fresno loses leading tackler LB Marcus Riley. 2 DL are back, 2 LBs are back, and 3 DBs are back. So. MLB Ben Jacobs is the leading returning tackler. Interesting schedule for the Bulldogs this year, opening at Rutgers, followed by hosting Wisconsin. They play at Toledo and UCLA as well, so Fresno could make some out-of-conference noise. They close with a trip to Boise, possibly deciding the WAC champion.
NEVADA
Last Year: 6-7, shutout in bowl – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick broke out against Boise State last year in a 4OT loss, and returns to lead Nevada to a fourth straight bowl
Last year Nevada outgained WAC opponents by 124 yards per game, and the brightest spot was the play of QB Colin Kaepernick, a true freshman who scored 25 total TDs last year. HB Luke Lippincott ran for over 1,400 yards and 15 TDs last year and returns, along with leading WR Marko Mitchell. Like Fresno State, Nevada has 91 career starts back on the OL.
Defensively the Pack gave up over 30 points a game, and just return 5 starters and lose 5 of the top 8 tacklers. LB Joshua Mauga returns though to anchor the defense. Head coach Chris Ault brings in three junior college players to help a secondary that lost 3 starters. Nevada has tough trips to Missouri and Hawaii and Fresno in the WAC. Known for creating the unique Pistol formation, Nevada should be bowling again this year.
HAWAII
Last Year: 12-1, crushed in the Sugar Bowl – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Hawaii LB Adam Leonard is one of just 8 returning starters as Hawaii starts over with new coach Greg McMackin
A new era for Hawaii begins this year. It culminated with a BCS bowl that Hawaii may wish they hadn’t endured. Gone are Colt Brennan, coach June Jones, and the top 4 WRs. QB Tyler Graunke should take over the reins of the offense, and he threw 10 TDs last year in garbage time against the weak teams Hawaii blew out and in the Nevada win. The RBs are back, but Hawaii doesn’t run the ball very much obviously. The OL should be fine however.
The defense just returns 4 starters as well, but two of them are top tackling LBs from last year Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard. Just one DL and DB return though, and overall Hawaii is starting anew. The Warriors start this new era with a difficult trip to Gainesville to play Tebow and Company in 100+ degree heat, followed by a trip to Oregon State (who beat them in 2006) two weeks later.
NEW MEXICO STATE
Last Year: 4-9 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
After struggling with injuries last year, QB Chase Holbrook looks to run Hal Mumme’s pass-happy offense into NMSU’s first bowl since 1960
Hal Mumme should have his pass-happy offense fully, fully in place this year after NMSU ran the option offense prior to his arrival. QB Chase Holbrook returns after battling injuries last year, and his top two WRs Chris Williams and A.J. Harris are back. NMSU has to replace both Ts, but the other 3 OL return.
NSMU runs a 3-4, and have to replace 3 of the front 7. LBs Jamar Cotton, La’auli Fonoti, and Chris Nwoko return, along with FS Derrick Richardson, who had 108 tackles last year, second on the team. The defense is the key to success for the Aggies, who obviously have the typical potent Hal Mumme offense. It may require an upset of some sort for NMSU to make their first bowl since 1960.
SAN JOSE STATE
Last Year: 5-7 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Along with HB Yonus Davis, WR Kevin Jurovich is the only returning stud for San Jose State
San Jose State probably should have beat both of the WAC’s BCS teams the past two years, blowing late leads at home against Boise in ‘06 and Hawaii last year. The biggest task is replacing the career Spartan passing leader QB Adam Tafralis, but QB Kyle Reed transfers in from Cal. A major question for the offense was answered when HB Yonus Davis was granted a sixth year by the NCAA. The leading receivers are back, including Kevin Jurovich, a 1,100-yd, 9 TD WR last year. 3 OL are back, and two transfers – Isaac Leatiota from Cal and Bradis McGriff from Arizona State – should help there.
Six defensive starters return, but the top 2 LBs have departed. The leading returning tackler is CB Christopher Owens, but SS Jonathan Harris was suspended indefinitely in the spring and is not on the roster when I checked the SJSU site. The DL should be strong, but the LBs are a question mark. Depending on Reed’s play, SJSU could be either be a darkhorse or really struggle this year.
LOUISIANA TECH
Last Year: 5-7 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
After a surprising 5-7 2007, LB Quin Harris looks to lead Louisiana Tech to a potential bowl game
Tech surprised some folks last year but got smacked at Nevada in the finale with a bowl bid up for grabs. They’ll need a QB this year, and Georgia Tech transfer Taylor Bennett could provide that. HBs Patrick Jackson and Daniel Porter combined for over 1,500 yards last year and 14 rushing TDs. Seven OL that have started before return as well, so LT could improve offensively after being in the bottom tier last year.
The defense returns just 5 starters, but two of them are FS Antonio Baker and LB Quin Harris, who led the Bulldogs in tackles last year. A couple of JUCO players, including former Tennessee DT signee Rolando Melancon, come in to help the DL, the LBs are stout and 3 DBs return. LT lost 35 starts to injury last year too. They open with a rare home game against Mississippi State, perhaps an upset there could catapult Tech into a bowl game in just coach Derek Dooley’s second year.
IDAHO
Last Year: 1-11 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Idaho returns 10 offensive starters, including HB Deonte Jackson
The bottom of the WAC is really weak, and Idaho and Utah State have been living there, even before when they were in the Sun Belt. However the Vandals lose just 11 letterman from last year, and return 10 offensive starters. So. QB Nathan Enderle had a rough freshman year, dealing with 18 INTs (just 10 TDs) and injuries. Leading HB Deonte Jackson returns, as do the top WRs, and the OL returns 110 career starts, 5th in all of I-A.
The defense, however, returns just 4 starters. Five of the top 6 tacklers are gone, save SS Shiloh Keo. The LBs are a question mark, and this defense gave up 37 points a game last year, so who knows if they can stop anybody this year.
UTAH STATE
Last Year: 2-10 – 2007 Schedule – 2008 Schedule
Utah State LB Paul Igboeli was the WAC Freshman of the Year last year
Utah State actually enters 2008 on a two-game winning streak. However their best two offensive players – QB Leon Jackson and WR Kevin Robinson – have to be replaced. HB Derrvin Speight returns behind 4 OL (and 8 of the top 10) that are back.
However reasons for hope – 9 defensive starters return, including last year’s leading tackler LB Jake Hutton and WAC Freshman of the Year LB Paul Igboeli. The DL will benefit from a couple JUCO signees, and the entire secondary is back. Another tough year is ahead in spite of this – the Aggies play at UNLV, at Oregon, Utah and BYU out of conference this year.
Tennessee starts its fall camp Saturday, which means it’s really really close to being football season. The already high anticipation level just continues to rise, as it’s officially less than a month until we have college football again – that is, if you count the opening Thursday night games.
I’m doing my part, embarking on a long, long journey through all the conferences and all the teams in I-A and how they look heading into the season. Yes that’s right, I’m tackling this task with reckless abandon – 21 days straight of conference preview posts.
Some notes about these previews: first, I get most of my information on who’s back for which teams from Phil Steele’s magazine. Yes, he picked Tennessee behind South Carolina in the East (absurd if you ask me) but there’s too much straight information in that book for me to not use. So thank you Phil.
Secondly, I realized as I began writing these that these posts will be quite long. Honestly, I don’t expect anybody to read every word on these posts – if you’re just looking for a quick overview, read my introducing words, and look at the pictures and captions (there’s one for each team).
However, if you’re the betting type and need to know about a particular team you might not know much about, this could help. Also, if for example you’re a Gator fan wanting to know what Hawaii will look like without June Jones and Colt Brennan, or a UGA fan looking to see what kind of challenge to expect from Central Michigan, then just check out those particular teams in the previews. The plan is to do more in-depth previews of Tennessee’s opponents the week leading up to those games.
That said, I must admit the posts will get better as I go along, since obviously I’m going to know more, and likewise have more opinions about, the BCS conference teams than the non-BCS leagues. The BCS conference posts will be less structured and less boring facts, and will have more pictures, YouTube documentations, and biased-but-supposedly-objective musings from my own head.
Here’s the actual schedule. The fun of this journey begins Friday and concludes the Thursday the week before the season gets going…
Aug 1: Army/Navy Aug 2: MAC West Aug 3: MAC East Aug 4: Sun Belt
Aug 5: WAC Aug 6: C-USA West Aug 7: C-USA East Aug 8: MWC
Aug 9: Big East Aug 10: ACC Coastal Aug 11: ACC Atlantic Aug 12: Big Ten
Aug 13: Big 12 North Aug 14: Big 12 South Aug 15: Pac-10
The SEC gets its own week more or less, with an East team being paired with its yearly West opponent for six straight days, culminating with my take on my beloved Volunteers. I would imagine those posts would be the best out of all of the previews. Those will go as follows:
Aug 16: Vandy/Ole Miss
Aug 17: South Carolina/Arkansas
Aug 18: Kentucky/Mississippi State
Aug 19: Georgia/Auburn
Aug 20: Florida/LSU
Aug 21: Tennessee/Alabama
