Bleacher Report - Articles by Justin Thomas

Dan Mullen Named Next Mississippi State Coach: But What About Florida?

Justin Thomas — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:43:47 -0500

Dan Mullen will be announced as the 32nd head football coach at Mississippi State on Wednesday. Terms of the deal have not yet been publicized.

Mullen served as the quarterbacks coach in Utah and followed Urban Meyer to Florida to serve as the offensive coordinator.

He will bring his explosive and wide-open offense to the defensive-minded Southeastern Conference—a definite reason for Mississippi State's interest.

It has not been determined whether he will coach in the National Championship with Florida.

This could present a problem for the Gators as Mullen has captained the SEC's most prolific offense this year. Florida fans would love to see him finish off the year with another solid coaching performance over quarterback Tim Tebow and the offense.

What if he does not coach in the big game?

It worries me if he does not. There is plenty of time to game plan for such a circumstance, but it would be nice to see Mullen in the blue and orange one more time.

What do you all in GatorNation think?

Share your thoughts on the loss of Mullen to Mississippi State, thoughts on coaching the big game, etc.

In The Numbers: Florida Vs. Florida State 50th Anniversary

Justin Thomas — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:14:45 -0500

This is my third article in this series that I am trying to build. I take games that are interesting or that could possibly happen and compare the game on paper through the numbers. That is for the folks reading trying to catch up.

Now, last year was an embarrassment for the Florida State Seminoles and Bobby Bowden. The score was 45-12 in Gainesville.

Two years ago, the Seminoles almost tripped up the eventual national champions in a 21-14 loss in Tallahassee.

This year is different. Both teams have an agenda. Florida is seeking to climb the rankings and go back to the BCS National Championship and claim the national title for the SEC's 3rd straight BCS title.

Florida State is trying to reclaim their spot in national and conference prominence.

This year marks the 50-year anniversary of the two teams first meeting in 1958. The teams have met 50 times previously and this will be meeting 51 because of a rematch in the National Championship in the '96-'97 season.

Now, here is the numbers and comparison of this game on paper.

Offense

Rushing

Florida's rushing offense is sick! They can hand the ball to four or five different guys and not worry about production going down at all. They are 11th in rush offense in the nation. Just a note: Florida has over 300 total rushing yards in the two previous games per game.

FSU is 28th in rush offense and hold a solid rushing game, but do not have near the weapons that Florida has.

Passing

Florida's passing offense is pretty good. They just do not get many attempts to pass the ball because of a short field and a killer rushing game. They are 56th in the nation.

Florida State is towards the bottom in passing ranks with a rank of 85th in passing offense, but don't be fooled because they are coming on strong at the end of the season.

Scoring

Florida is lights out on the scoreboard, putting up no less than 38 points since losing to Ole Miss and are ranked third nationally in scoring.

Florida State is not too shabby in scoring, having a solid 22nd rank and putting a beat down on Maryland, in Maryland, by 34 points.

Total

The Gators have a total offense ranking of 18th in the NCAA FBS.

The Seminoles are 45th in total offense.

Edge: The edge clearly goes to Florida because they are ahead in every category by leaps and bounds. Florida's offense is nuts. If FSU stands a chance, it lies with their defense.

Defense

Rush

Florida is 13th in rush defense. They have a tough front four, but they will be missing two players on the defensive line this week that are out with injury. This could be key for the FSU rush offense.

Florida State's rush defense is 21st which is not bad at all. They face a tough group of running backs this week in Demps, Rainey, Moody, Moore, Harvin, and Tebow as a rushing QB.

Passing

Florida's pass defense is pretty solid at 20th. That is not bad for an SEC team.

Florida State however has the fourth best pass defense in the nation. This might prove troublesome for the Gators especially after going nuts in the air against the Citadel.

Scoring

Florida has the scoring defense that is ranked third in the nation. They take advantage of all their opportunities and let no one get away with mistakes as well. Florida doesn't let many people score and this stat shows that.

Florida State is ranked 19th in scoring defense and may need some defensive scores to keep this game even close to being a win. Not a bad rank but it could go down against the Gators.

Total

Florida is ninth in total defense while FSU is seventh. They are very close in total defense, which could prove to be interesting.

Edge: I think the edge has to go to Florida on paper. They have similar stats, but outweigh FSU just barely in some key areas like scoring defense.

Extra points

Just for a few extra points that may be key to this game I want to provide the statistics for turnovers and how many times each has been intercepted.

Florida leads the NCAA with Oklahoma in turnover margin. They take advantage of mistakes and get turnovers. Florida State however is 60th in this category.

How many times have they been intercepted?

Florida has been intercepted three times, leading the NCAA with the least interceptions.

FSU is tied for 82nd in the nation with 13 interceptions.

Looks like the Gators can run wild with this stat.

What does this mean?

These statistics show that Florida is a beast on the field and on paper. Florida State's defense may be able to match up a bit, but Florida has so many personnel that they will stay fresh against the Seminole defense.

What do I think aside from the game on paper?

Florida is poised to go to the National Championship if they keep winning. They cannot let a rivalry game get to their heads and trip them up.

I think Florida can take this one and make it look ugly but it will be the closest game they have played since LSU. They are just mean and tough right now and no one will get in their way.

I'm ready for the 50th year of the Battle for the Governor's Cup.

Go Gators!

My First Vivid NFL Memory: The Thanksgiving Classic of '98

Justin Thomas — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:59:28 -0500

I was born into a family that does not really care about sports. I know, it is sad for me because I am a huge sports fan.

I remember, vaguely, the Steelers losing to the Cowboys in the '96 Super Bowl and I decided since I knew nothing of football that I would be a Steelers fan. I had no clue of such tradition in the Steelers franchise at the time.

So with Thanksgiving coming up in just a few days, many people look forward to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, family get-togethers, and good food. As for me, every time I think of Thanksgiving my mind goes back to my late grandfather's house.

We were all sitting around and he was trying to keep me quiet, being the rowdy 11-year-old I was. He put the TV on the Steelers/Lions game. I was watching and didn't really know what happened...neither did the guys on TV, I came to find out.

It was so funny to me as a younger kid. I was watching and laughing while people were like, "No, I said Heads. No, I said Tails." I believe Jerome Bettis even had a sign that said heads if I'm not mistaken.

It was my first real sports memory. It was the Thanksgiving Classic. It propelled me into being a huge Steelers fan despite the 19-16 OT loss in Detroit while my turkey and dressing was settling.

So now ten years later, the Steelers do not play on Thanksgiving, but the memory still lives with me.

The whole thought of being in my grandfather's house, smelling his famous chicken and dumplings, the smell of cigarette smoke from all the men, coffee brewing, and sitting on the couch and having my first NFL memory are still with me.

If there is one thing he left with me, unintentionally, it would be my passion for football.

So this year, I will sit in my house and try to fight my mom (who hates football) for the remote while she is trying to watch "Jesus of Nazereth," again for the 40th time. I will beg while eating that nice slice of pecan pie for just five minutes of what will probably be the worst game ever played with the Lions being winless this year.

Although people pass on, and some teams can never win, my memory on my grandfather's couch will never leave me.

If you have a memory you would like to share, by all means share it because memories are what keep those who have passed alive in our hearts. That's what I'm doing by writing this article.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy your families!

In The Numbers: Oklahoma Vs. Texas Tech

Justin Thomas — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:45:14 -0500

When was the last time Texas Tech lost?

It was November 10th, 2007. That game was at Texas in a one-sided loss that ended 59-43 along with a Mike Leach bashing session of the officials.

The very next week, the number four team in the nation marched in to Lubbock, Texas only to be upended 34-27.

That team was Oklahoma.

For Tech, there has not been a blemish on their record yet since that glorious day of wrecking BCS dreams for a good Oklahoma team.

Now we go into the numbers to get a look at the comparison (on paper) of the big game this Saturday night.

Offense

Rushing

Oklahoma is ranked 24th nationally in their rushing offense. This could be because their great passing game leads to some running room through draw plays or through the defense backing up to defend the ultimate threat of a great passing game.

Texas Tech is ranked 73rd nationally in rushing offense. This is probably a misleading statistic due to Graham Harrell's arm and passing statistics.

Passing

Of course the passing game is essential to both teams. Texas Tech is ranked first while Oklahoma is ranked third in passing offense. Both teams rely heavily on the pass with their great quarterback play.

Scoring

Again, we all know that going in to this game there will be no lack of scoring as Oklahoma is ranked first in scoring with Texas Tech is third in scoring. Should be lights out on the scoreboard.

Total

Who knew that Tech and Oklahoma would be top five in total offense? It was a pretty easy guess. Tech is ranked second, and Oklahoma is ranked fourth.

Edge: The edge has to go to Oklahoma on paper. The rushing stats really hurt Tech in the on paper match up so the edge goes to Oklahoma in this category.

Defense

Rushing

This category is very close. Tech has the advantage by one spot being 20th in rush defense while Oklahoma is right behind them in 21st place.

Passing

In the lower quarter of defenses lies these two teams passing defenses. Oklahoma is 93rd in the nation against Texas Tech's 98th ranked passing D. This may be these teams catalyst for scoring on demand and having the top offenses in the nation, or they may just be that good.

Scoring

Tech has the advantage in scoring D. They are ranked 46th nationally while the Sooners are ranked 57th. Do these teams really need defensive scoring though? In this game, possibly.

Total

In total defense, Oklahoma leads Tech by being ranked 55th to 60th, respectively.

Edge: The edge goes to Texas Tech in the defensive battle, by a slim margin. Are they strong enough to slow down the Sooners passing attack though?

What does this mean?

You want to know what this means? Well, by all means I will tell you what I think it means.

This game is more than numbers on paper, but both teams have an edge. The key in this game will be defense. Now don't get me wrong. I don't mean consistent defensive stands. I mean at least one (1) defensive stand through the whole game.

Turnovers are also a key to this game.

With that said, I think since I am looking at the game on paper that Tech has the advantage according to my "Defense will make the game" comment. The numbers are on their side for defense in this particular game.

What I really think (aka no paper numbers):

I think this game is the time for Bob Stoops to reclaim his title as "Big Game Bob". The time is now if this team wants to make a possible run at the BCS title game. There is a lot of emotion in this game including payback for being upset last year in Lubbock. The fans would love nothing more than to see a payback screwing the Red Raiders out of the BCS title game as well.

Norman, Oklahoma is the site. Sam Bradford vs. Graham Harrell. Mike Leach vs. Bob Stoops.

Who knows what can happen when so much is at stake? This week will prove if this Texas Tech team is the real deal as a championship contender this year.

Let the debates begin....

The BCS: The Destroyer of Sportsmanship

Justin Thomas — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:06:02 -0500

In the 10 years of the BCS, we all have come to see many things. We've seen deserving teams left out of the BCS, undeserving teams admitted to the games, or coaches lobbying for poll position towards the end of November.

Many things are certain in college football. One team may beat another, and one team may be the best in the nation. But the BCS has the power to keep that team in or out by computer numbers (as well as other human poll factors).

The thing that is becoming more and more common is a team, trying to make ground in the polls, running up the score on its opponent.

For example, this year's Florida team has been absolutely dominating teams, and the reward has been a six-spot jump since the initial BCS polls came out. This team may not need lobbying to get play in the BCS title game, but it could never hurt.

Also, USC has struggled at times but shows no mercy when everything clicks (see victories against Washington and Washington State). Yes, I know these teams share one win between them (against Portland State...who?), but it's sad they couldn't score even a field goal.

Show No Mercy!

Oklahoma has tried as well to make up ground by pouring on the points (averaging 64 in two past two games). They put up 62 against a decent Nebraska team in three quarters and then put up 66 against a Texas A&M team in three quarters as well.

This may be more an argument of dominance though, since Bob Stoops has enough class to not put up scores in the fourth quarter of an ugly game. Or maybe his second team just can't put those points up.

For a huge argument against the BCS, just look at Boise State, the hailed Cinderella of all BCS games.

In all but one of Boise State's wins, the margin of victory has been more than 17 points. That game was against Oregon early in the season. It is a shame that a team that has been proven in the recent years still has to blaze over teams in such a fashion to get a chance at an at-large bid.

Of course, I know Boise State is a non-BCS school, but where is the fairness in that?

These are just four teams that may have to run up the score (whether because of flat-out talent or for making a point) and kill all that was once known to college football just to get in the BCS.

Obviously, some teams in rivalries like to run the score up a bit if last year's loss was painful (see Georgia/Florida this year).

Whatever happened to sportsmanship though?

Through the 10 years of the BCS, more people are recognizing completely unneeded blowouts. Teams and coaches are becoming bitter. Miami is a great example—Randy Shannon complained that Florida was trying to run up the score with a late field goal. Absurd? Yes.

This thought of running up the score is very much linked to Steve Spurrier, who was the mastermind of running the score up in Florida during the 1990s.

So where did it go, my friends? What happened?

I think the BCS has completely taken away a main part of college football. The focus now is on the BCS and how a team can move up the rankings, or how a team can be ranked third in the AP poll and ranked fifth in the BCS?

Hopefully my claims to this era of declining sportsmanship are correct. Honestly, in my eyes, this system seems to be a catalyst for unsportsmanlike games and play calling. The blowouts are becoming more frequent and by bigger margins.

How can we get away from this system?

I don't think anyone knows the answer to this question. There are many opinions that say a playoff is the way to solve it. However, the playoff gets complicated because it could cut into traditional rivalry games by slimming down the regular season. Also, you'd have a debate on how many teams should be in a playoff.

As for myself, I do not have the answer. I just think the BCS has created an atmosphere that is killing all sportsmanship because of the jockeying to regain title position or solidify title position. For non-BCS schools, they must try to get in by blowing out opponents.

All I know is that I miss my early and middle teen years style of football, where people would kneel down instead of take the scoreboard to the limits. I want those days back. I want a system of fairness and the rebuilding of sportsmanship across college football.

What do you think?

In The Numbers: Texas Vs. Florida a BCS Scenario

Justin Thomas — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:32:27 -0500

So many people argue...

...That Florida will eventually play Texas in the National Championship. Personally, I think that Texas Tech is underestimated and that they will most likely win out and win the conference. That is neither here nor there for this article.

This article is about the numbers and how these two teams match-up (on paper) at this very moment in the season.

First, to take a look at the Offensive Numbers:

Rushing

Florida is 15th in rushing offense compared to Texas' 38th ranking thus far in the season.

Passing

Texas is sixth in passing offense compared to Florida's 66th statistically ranked passing attack.

Total

Texas in ninth in total offense while Florida is 25th.

Scoring

Florida is fifth in scoring offense, but one spot behind in sixth place is Texas.

Through the numbers, Texas takes the cake on offense. The statistic that matters here is the scoring though because points always determine the winner. Therefore, based on paper, the Gators have a slight edge in offense only because scoring is what is the final statistic that ever matters at the end of the game.

Now for the Defensive Stats:

Rushing

Texas is fourth in the country in rushing defense, while Florida is 11th. This may be a slightly misleading statistic seeing as how Texas has played many pass first teams, and Florida has played more run first teams.

Passing

Florida is 14th in pass defense, clearly taking an advantage over the 110th ranked Texas defense. This may also be misleading because of the teams played as stated in the rush defense analysis.

Total

Florida is sixth in total defense, while Texas is 58th. This could make for an interesting match-up on the defensive side of the ball.

Scoring

Florida is fourth in defensive scoring, and Texas is 25th.

I believe the edge clearly goes to Florida in the defensive numbers. It could cause problems for a high powered Texas offense.

What I have observed and concluded:

These numbers are all good, on paper. The statistic I want to point out the most is that Florida has handled, mightily, six defenses, five in the SEC, ranked nationally within the top 40 by at least 23 points. That's impressive.

Texas has not played a defense inside the top 60! That is crazy seeing as how they barely hang on to win some games, or win games right at the end. I will give them the benefit of the doubt only because they play some high-powered offenses that keep up with them. Defense is not a huge emphasis as long as they can hang tough.

The main conclusion I am making is that Florida may be almost equal to Texas on paper, but Texas has not played near the game Florida has in the past weeks. Florida embarrasses teams week in and week out. They make top defenses look like high school teams. The crazy thing is their defense doesn't let up and Charlie Strong and company takes pride in that.

Florida, in my opinion, could handle Texas easily because they have a good, strong, well-rounded football team that not only plays offense to keep up, but also plays defense to see how low they can hold teams in scoring.

They are fierce, strong, and playing POSSESSED!!!

Let the debates begin.

For a list of statistics in the 2008 season, go to the NCAA stats site:

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2008&div=IA&site=org

What Happened to Those Tennessee Volunteers?

Justin Thomas — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:06:24 -0500

Many things are sure in Southeast Tennessee. One of those things is that every year Phillip Fulmer will be wearing the headset on the sidelines in Neyland Stadium.

Sorry, next year is different.

For the first time in years, Fulmer will not be in a headset for the Tennessee Volunteers every Saturday, or any Saturday for that matter.

Being a Florida fan, this shouldn't bother me, but I am from just below Knoxville, TN myself. There is a weird sense of anxiety about Tennessee football now. Everyone has disbelief in a team that was once a program of national prominence.

While I hate the Tennessee Volunteers on any given Saturday, I still have ties to them, so that when I arrive home I can discuss with my friends and family how great the game was or, "Wow, did you see that game?"

Things have changed.

I now go home to people who would rather do yard work or go to the park than go watch the Tennessee Volunteers play football.

My question is this: What can be done to turn around such a team that has no faith, no fire, and no passion?

The team has talent! There is no lack of talent ever on those sidelines, even with names like Jim Bob Cooter for your QB.

I sat in awe last Saturday as I watched a team merely get beat by the worst team in the Mountain West Conference, Wyoming. It was a horrible day for Volunteer football. I sat and watched to see what the reaction would be from the announcement of Fulmer leaving, and there was not one bit of passion in the stadium.

The fans were quiet, the coaches were just there, and the players just played as if it were a pick-up game.

Did I mention that this was the Homecoming game?

So with all these things said, how can Tennessee bring the program back to national prominence? I find it hard to ask this question, being a Gator fan and seeing Tennessee go to the SEC championship last year. It seems like a ridiculous statement and question, but it is true.

I think the answer is a good coach—not that Phil was bad—who will spark a fire and mold players into a great team and spark momentum into a limping program.

Who this person will be, I don't think any of us are very sure right now. All I can personally say is that I miss seeing dominant games in Knoxville and talking trash, because now, Knoxville seems to be merely another urban area on Saturdays where the last place you go is to the game.

Sad times. Let's hope someone good comes in and does something for such a historic program. It's always nice to see teams bounce back and restore their legacy!

Florida Gators Attempt Cock Block No. 2 vs. South Carolina

Justin Thomas — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:39:32 -0500

The kick team lines up for the chance to spoil the Gators' National Championship hopes. The kick is up, and it's BLOCKED! Blocked by Jarvis Moss!

The famous "Cock Block."

Sound familiar? It should. The first time back to Gainesville for Steve Spurrier was a chance at a win that would forever resonate in South Carolina.

This was, instead, a win that would resonate through Gator nation. A win that led Florida to a series of wins, one of which resulted in a trip to the National Title game, in which they destroyed The Ohio State. The 2nd best team in the nation at the time.

Now the time comes again for the Gators to keep the momentum flowing in a series of amazing victories. The team has allowed 57 points in 5 games. That's close to 11 points a game. They have scored 243 points on offense. Yes, that's about 48 points per game.

South Carolina has an agenda, and it is to win games.

Spurrier is doing more with less experienced players than anyone in the SEC. He took a 1-2 team and turned them into a 7-3 team, and a very good team at that.

The Ol' Ball Coach always did love Florida, and on his first try in The Swamp, he just couldn't get out alive.

The funny thing is, he probably has just as good a team (perhaps better) as he did in 2006, but will probably get beaten even worse than last year at South Carolina.

Last year was a high scoring affair that led to a 20-point victory for Florida, 51-31.

This year, the team obviously doesn't rely solely on Tim Tebow. There is an array of weapons on the team such as Percy Harvin, Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps, Louis Murphy, and practically anyone else that touches the ball.

The defense is swarming to the ball any way they possibly can. That is obvious, since they have only given up about 12 points per game. They love physical defense and are becoming just as formidable as the Gator offense.

It will be exciting to see what happens this year, because there is always energy for games in The Swamp as well as for the return of Steve Spurrier.

The Ol' Ball Coach is only releasing one part of his game plan this week: both quarterbacks will play. It will probably be the same system we saw last week against Arkansas, which was sending the play in with the QB each down.

Don't expect the Florida game plan to change. For the rest of the season, it will be to show their opponents how strong and intense they are. They will pound the ball relentlessly until you try to catch what they are doing, then they will switch things up.

All in all, don't expect this game to come down to Cock Block No. 2. There is just too much speed and athleticism on the Florida side of the football.

Too much Gators in this one, folks. Enjoy another style points victory for the Gators.

LSU Vs. Alabama: A Love-Hate Relationship

Justin Thomas — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:06:31 -0500

41-34, LSU.

That was the score a year ago in Tuscaloosa. LSU escaped an Alabama squad led by first-year coach Nick Saban.

This year, things are much different.

Nick Saban leads a team into Baton Rouge in his second year as the head coach at Alabama. His team is No. 1 in the BCS poll right now, but remember, this is just the beginning of November.

Of course, the two coaches are playing the game off as just another major SEC game with no emotions tied to it at all. Fans have a completely different view of the game.

LSU fans hate Saban. I'm sure he will feel the love this year as he returns to the place he brought so much talent into. The fans think of him as a traitor.

Just as an example, when he signed the contract to go to Alabama and re-enter the SEC, people had very hateful emotions toward him. One story even says that two guys were talking, and one fellow asked another if he heard about Saban signing with Bama.

The man replied, "Yeah, I saw that. That son of a b****, I feel like he is ____ing my wife"

The sentiment for Nick Saban in Baton Rouge obviously is not high, especially with comments like that.

The fans hate him, the town hates him, and heck, pretty much the whole SEC hates him as far as fans are concerned. He is not the most popular guy that has walked into the SEC as a coach.

One thing is for sure: He is a good coach. He has given Bama fans something to be proud of this year. He is restoring the team to national prominence, which is where all Alabama fans believe the program belongs.

As for Les Miles, he is a good coach as well. The whole "He won with Saban's recruits" idea is too overplayed. He is a coach that has won because of good coaching. You may have great players and never win a championship, or even have a winning season.

Take the University of Tennessee. They have great recruits, but the coaches just couldn't get a formula together to win games.

So I tip my hat to Les Miles for keeping a program on track and fighting for every inch this year, as they have been hard to come by.

As for the game prediction...

I think this is a trap game for Alabama. LSU is looking to restore their season and get one big victory. This would be the game that they are primed to do it. They have been blown out two of the past three weeks, badly. They need a win to keep people from saying they are just pretenders.

Alabama is in a position, just as many teams are, to have a trap game, and this could be one of them. The key is to play hard and not make any mistakes. They have to eliminate the crowd early. If they can shut the crowd up and not make mistakes, this game shouldn't be too terribly hard for them.

Much is at stake for both teams. It should be an interesting game to watch.

Of course we know why many people will watch—because of the love-hate relationship.

LSU fans just love to hate Nick Saban.

Florida Gators' Journey to The BCS?: Looking In From The Outside

Justin Thomas — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:58:05 -0500

In the picture above you see a team with the power to control their own destiny. They are currently looking at the BCS Championship from the outside. If the season ended today, the results would come down to one extra point on a September afternoon.

As for now, though, the Gators are pouring it on opponents. They look so dominate that no one could stop them right now.

In the past three games they have scored a combined 163 points while holding their opponents to only 36.

Not impressed? The first team was LSU (No.3 at the time), the second team was Kentucky—the SEC's top-rated defense (only allowing 12 points per game)—and the third team was preseason No.1 Georgia.

This dominance is Florida's ticket to the BCS championship. Truly, they have no room for error or even close games. They have to impress voters to reach the No.2 spot in the BCS.

They also need a lot of help. Remember 2006?

The gators need Penn State to slip up, which could be possible against Iowa this week.

We all know the voters will not mess over Joe Pa's crew (especially after what happened years ago in one of his undefeated seasons).

Also, Texas Tech, who probably won't run the table, has to lose one and win one just for good measure. They need to lose to Oklahoma State this weekend and beat Oklahoma in three weeks.

This basically takes Tech out of it, and definitely puts Oklahoma out of the running.

Texas needs to play close games with their opponents for the rest of the season so that they are not highly impressive enough to bump up in the standings.

Alabama, is a tough team but I bet they will lose a game before the SEC Championship. It will probably be against LSU this weekend or Auburn. Those are trap games, as both teams need redemption for their seasons.

With all this help, Florida can make it to the national championship.

First things first though, they must take care of their own business and win big being impressive every week starting with Vanderbilt this week.

Go Gators!

Will Vanderbilt Relive History, or Is This a Time for Change?

Justin Thomas — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:40:08 -0400

1984...ring a bell?

That's right—the last time Vandy was ranked in the top 25. It has been 24 years since this has happened.

Sound like luck? No, they have completely worked for the 4-0 start this year.

We all know that Vanderbilt is the brains of the SEC, not the brawn. The tide seems to have turned this year. Bobby Johnson has got the squad thinking how to win. That is a good idea seeing as how it is one of the top-notch academic schools in the SEC.

What do they do at this point of the season? Do they botch the 4-0 season like they did in 1950, '84, and 2005? Well, let's take a look at the key matchups this season to see if Vandy can get to a bowl game.

This coming Saturday (Sept. 27), Vandy has a good bye week. It will be much needed to regroup and get ready for a stout defensive team from Auburn. It is a home game, which may help the Commodores, but they need more than a home crowd to win this game.

After the Auburn game, Vandy will most likely be at 4-1. After this rough game they have to travel to Miss. State. The Bulldogs have a tough team this year, but they just can't get on the winning side of things often. Should prove interesting.

The possible upset of the year is against Georgia. I think that Georgia may be overlooking the Commodores as they come between the hedges for a big SEC matchup. What a way to look if you come out of Athens with a win...but you never can tell in the SEC.

To look at things realistically, Vandy has Duke after GA, which should be a solid win for the black and gold. Looking at the big picture and what should happen, this should put the Commodores at 5-3—6-2 if they pull off a win against Miss. St.

Florida comes to town...sorry for the Commodores. It's OK—they have Kentucky the next week.

Kentucky should be an evenly matched game. Lots of defense + struggling offenses = great SEC game.

The Kentucky game should probably put Vanderbilt at 7-3, or 6-4 depending on other outcomes. This is bowl eligible. This is a great thing for Vanderbilt's recruiting and program.

Towards the end of November, Vanderbilt is actually the favorite (at the present time) to win the Vandy vs. UT game. It is in Nashville, which should prove to be of some assistance. Likely at the end of this game the season record should be 7-4 or 8-3.

This is almost unreal to talk about Vanderbilt in such a positive manner, but maybe the power is shifting from Knoxville to Nashville...or maybe that's a little out there for such a statement.

To close the season, the Commodores travel to Wake Forest. This should prove to be a brawl. It's likely a highlight game for the weekend if all works out according to this prediction.

After all is said and done, the Vanderbilt Commodores should be 9-3 or 8-4 according to my prediction. It is possible if they keep up their game play.

Instead of letting one side of the ball take the responsibility for each game they are in, they should take control on both sides of the ball. In that case they may just dominate one game at least this season.

Let's just hope Bobby Johnson and company don't accidentally hit the self-destruct button. Let's shake up the SEC this year and see what happens. We need more parity, and Vandy would be just the school to give it to us as SEC fans, college football fans, and BCS poll haters.

Is Florida That Good, or Are the Rest Really That Bad?

Justin Thomas — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:37:40 -0400

Where does Florida stop this year? It seems to be another great dominant Florida year so far, but what things have to be done to complete the season, not just simply get through the season?

After three games, it is evident that Florida is a strong team. We all knew with Tebow, Harvin, and Coach Meyer leading the Gators that a championship is the goal, and a feasible one at that.

There seems to be somewhat of a spark they need this year to really carry them when the going gets tough. The going will get tough, because after all, this is the SEC.

The Gators have a chance to win the SEC. They are a tough team. To get there this year they will have to rely on their defense because the offense is not as strong as the past two years.

The offensive line is not holding the pocket and they are collapsing too soon. This should be solved soon, and I don’t see it becoming a problem because even though Tebow’s numbers are down, he never fails in the clutch as far as his personal performance and passion.

Along with the defense, which is fast, strong, and maturing more every week, the special teams are a key. If the Gators can keep Brandon James healthy and returning punts and kickoffs for good yardage and touchdowns, it will help cushion the struggling Gators offense.

One good thing about Florida’s offense is that they haven’t turned the ball over at all this year. The Gators will have to settle down on the offensive side of the ball and find their groove this year.

I’m sure Meyer has, is, and will address this issue every week until he is satisfied. Things may work out okay even if there is a struggle as long as the ball is protected.

The Gators can win the SEC with these things. They must win everything this year to be considered for the BCS championship and probably need some help from Oklahoma’s Big 12 contenders and also a loss from USC. Either will do, but Florida has to keep up their end of the bargain and win out.

The team they need to worry most about getting by this year is Georgia, who is one spot ahead in the AP polls.

If Florida can bring every component of their team to maximum performance like their special teams and defense are close to, then they will be like the juggernaut team you create when playing NCAA 09. They can be just that good—they just need to play like it now to get to the goal: SEC Champs and BCS Champs.

On the Shoulders of Tebow: Florida's Road to a National Championship

Justin Thomas — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:20:36 -0400

The SEC Conference seems to be the conference of champions the past two years (Florida in 2006, LSU in 2007). Now the present danger of the SEC this year is the same as in years past; everyone has the possibility of winning it.

Well, besides Ole Miss and South Carolina, who seem to perpetually fall short or mess up, respectively.

The road has many intersecting paths, but let us look at the road that we Gator fans alike hope to see.

It is a tough road indeed, but with the arm of Tebow, the legs of Percy, and that defense that seems to be gaining confidence and momentum, there is a nice possibility for another fancy trophy at the end of this year's road.

First stop on this road was with Hawaii. 56-10. Enough said there.

Second stop was Miami. 26-3. Although a nice score, the teams duelled all the way through the third quarter when Florida's conditioning showed and they took advantage with sheer strength.

Next stop is Knoxville, Tenn., home of the Volunteers. It is a tough environment to play in and has a lot of historic games between the two teams in this stadium.

The most recent one to my memory was the night Wilhoit missed the extra point and then hit a 55-yard field goal to win it with six seconds left in 2004. Needless to say, Wilhoit probably was gettin' lucky that night.

This year there is a grudge on the table. Tennessee was embarrassed 59-20 in Gainesville a year ago. Now it is time for revenge and what better way to start SEC conference play than a win against Florida to hurt the Gators' chances of going to the title game. Again.

Fourth stop on the road to a title is Ole Miss at home. Ole Miss has always proven tough for the Gators. Last year at Ole Miss, the Gators narrowly escaped with a victory 30-24. Hopefully this year they will come out with something to prove against a rebuilding team.

Fifth on the title drive, Florida travels to Arkansas. This may prove to be an easy game, or seem to be that way. LSU went in thinking it would be an easy game to win and ended up losing, almost losing a chance at a title. Hopefully the Gators will have their heads on straight and take nothing as easy this year.

A rematch! To go 6-0, the Gators must take on LSU at home. They look for revenge after a late fourth-quarter loss in Baton Rouge last year. What goes around comes around. This one should prove to be an exciting rematch and hopefully a good win as it was in the 2006 season.

Next up is the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. While the Wildcats have had some offseason setbacks, the defense looks scrappy enough to go into conference play at 4-0.

This may prove to be tricky for the Gators because just like everyone else, the Wildcats come to play against Florida and may prove to be a tougher foe than meets the eye.

Now for the test of the year. The ever popular, oh so hyped, Florida-Georgia game. This is looking to be the battle for the SEC East this year.

Although both teams seem pretty stacked, Florida's defense has to get together and stop Moreno from his vicious running attack and Stafford from his nice passing skills.

The key to this game will be defense. Without it, this could look like a PAC-10 game, and who in the SEC wants that?

After the test of the year, which possibly, as it seems at this point, could decide the fate of the SEC East, the Gators travel to Vanderbilt.

This has always seemed like the easy game of the year, but for the Gators it is a yearly struggle. In 2005, the Gators almost lost at home in double-OT against Vandy. It is a yearly struggle, but the Gators have put together a 17-game win streak against Vandy.

This year, Vandy seems to be a stout team. This one seems to be in the favor of the Gators, and for fun predicting purposes, I'll say Gators by 24.

The kick is up. Jarvis Moss blocks the kick! The Gators survive! This was in the 2005-2006 season when this kick became known as the "Cock Block".

Now back in Gainesville two years later, the Gators as previously stated are poised for a championship. Nothing makes for a good rival like an Ol' Ball Coach against his former team that he took from nothing to one of the most outstanding programs of the 90's.

The break in the Gators schedule, The Citadel. This should prove to be nothing more than a practice squad game. No huge challenge.

Of course, that's what Michigan said about Appalachian State one year ago. I don't think Urban Meyer will let something like that happen though. No worries. The Gators prevail in true high scoring fashion.

The final game of the season and the rival of the ages, at Florida State. Last year in the swamp, the Gators made it look easy. This year it will be Senior Day in Tallahassee.

Florida has to come in with confidence and poise. It is a rivalry that Florida has won four times in a row, and the Gators hold the series advantage. Be careful, though, because all rankings go out the door in a rivalry game.

Hopefully the next game on the schedule will be a great SEC Championship game. Of course, this early in the season it is anybody's for the taking.

My prediction is that either Auburn or Alabama will be the victor from the SEC West. This could turn out to be an exciting match up and determine the National Championship with whomever may play.

As all Gator fans would hope, the final stop would be at the National Championship. There are many things that could happen to cause the Gators to be in or out, but all fingers crossed this is one of the more hyped years in Gator football history in the recent pass aka post-Spurrier era.

Things could shake out to make a great football season, but as for most Gator fans like myself we want one thing: Another Championship, with Tebow leading the team himself. It makes for an exciting year and fun all the same.

I leave this article saying "Go Gators!" Let's see what happens!!!