SEC Football: Dr. SEC's Weekly Awards

The offseason was full of rumors and scandals. It felt like the regular season was never going to arrive. However, this past week the 2011 season finally started and did so with a bang.

The SEC had two high-profile contests, an amazing comeback, and several coming-out parties. As a result, we have plenty to cover in our weekly Dr. SEC awards.

These awards are a weekly event. The names of the awards will change, but the spirit will remain the same. Some of the awards are a compliment. Others should be an embarrassment to receive. Either way, we will hold nothing back.

The Harold and Kumar...Just Relax Award: Georgia Bulldog Fans

The Bulldog nation is understandably upset. With a 14-point loss in their season opener, UGA is in danger of a third straight horrific season.  However, the measure of a team is not going to be found in their season opener.

UGA was not going to win the national championship this season. As a result, all of their goals are still within reach. In fact, if they win this Saturday against South Carolina, they are in the driver’s seat to represent the East in the SEC championship.

UGA was breaking in two new wide receivers and a new running back in their first game. Because of their lack of rhythm, the defense was left on the field way too long. The defense started the game in dominant form.

In fact, for the most part, they stifled the Broncos offense for most of the first half. However, the lack of offensive production by the Bulldogs made it impossible for their defense to get a breath.

The Bulldogs should be able to have more offensive production this week. This will take the pressure off of the defense and could lead to a better result. Either way, their overall goals have not been hindered by the Week 1 loss.

I do want to say this before I move on. There is never a time that it is okay to belittle or stalk a college athlete. Christian Robinson recently announced that he had received several nasty messages on his twitter account. Linebacker Jarvis Jones confirmed that he had experienced the same thing.

These are student athletes, not paid professionals. Take all the shots that you want at Mark Richt and his coaching staff. They are paid millions of dollars to coach the game. However, the players gave you everything they had. Unfortunately, it was not enough on Saturday.  

The Rocky Balboa Comeback Award: Auburn Tigers

Last season, on their way to the BCS national championship, the Auburn Tigers found a way to win several games that they were trailing. However, the general consensus was that Cam Newton was the reason. The Tigers showed Saturday that Newton might be gone, but they still have the heart of a champion.

As I stated in my predictions for this game, this team is young and will get better as the season goes on. However, you cannot teach the type of heart that Auburn displayed in the final minutes of Saturdays game.

With 2:08 left in the game, the defending national champions trailed 38-28. The Tigers showed that they might get knocked down but they will not get knocked out. Michael Dyer would finish off the shocking comeback with a 1-yard dash for a touchdown with 30 seconds to go. 

I know critics will scream that Auburn should not have been in a situation where they needed to mount a comeback.  However, they were and they did. This is college football and you are not always going to play a perfect game.

I do not think Auburn is going to compete for the SEC championship, but they have proven that they are not going to just lay down for opponents.

The Charlie Sheen Winning Award: Les Miles

Like Charlie Sheen, you either love Les Miles or you hate him. You either think he is crazy or you envy him. However, at the end of the day, Coach Miles keeps winning.

Despite suspensions, arrests, and potential violations swirling around the LSU program, Coach Miles kept the Tigers focused. His defense was dominant and his offense was efficient enough.

In my preview article, I mentioned two reasons that LSU would win this game. One, Les Miles is great with extra preparation time. Secondly, I believed the defense would force four turnovers.

Both of those proved to be true. Miles might eat grass and seems to luck into several wins, but he has proven that he is one of the top preparation coaches in the nation.

It would be a good idea for Auburn freshman Gabe Wright to get the trademark rights to the saying “Nick Who?” Because if LSU wins another BCS championship this season, that might become a popular hat in Baton Rogue.  

The Run Forrest Run Award: Joe Adams

One of the most recognizable scenes from a movie over the last 20 years is when Forrest Gump, playing for the University of Alabama, ran a kickoff back for a touchdown in his first play. Gump was running so fast that he kept running all the way through the tunnel and out of the stadium.

I don’t think Joe Adams literally ran out of the stadium Saturday but he did run all over Missouri State when he returned two punts for touchdowns.

Adams had touchdown returns of 69 yards and 61 yards. His two touchdowns tied the SEC single-game record. He finished the afternoon with a 167 yards on six returns.

I realize that it was Missouri State that he tied the record against. However, SEC teams have several weak out of conference games each season and no one has ever returned more punts for touchdowns in a single game.

If Adams can continue to perform well as a punt returner, it could help cushion the blow of the loss of Knile Davis. 

The Fumblerooski Award: Tennessee Volunteers

The Tennessee Volunteers had a lot of positive things that they could take from Saturday’s game against Montana. However, the stat I will most remember is that they had six fumbles.

Most teams have some rust in their first game. However, six fumbles is mind-blowing. More mind-blowing is that they did not lose any of those fumbles.

The Vols defense is young and will have some major growing pains this season. If UT wants to have a winning record this season, they will need to take care of the football.

The Vols can shock college football this season, but they will have to win the turnover battle. Perhaps they were trying to get all of their fumbles out of the way in the first game.

The Donald Trump "You're Fired!" Award: Mike Bobo

I have been a relentless defender for Mark Richt over the last three seasons. It seems that every media outlet in the world has taken shots at his coaching ability. Those accusations were unfair and unnecessary.

However, if Coach Richt does not take back the play-calling duty, he is deserving of whatever is thrown his way. 

Mike Bobo is a good recruiter and does a fantastic job grooming quarterbacks. As a result, he needs to remain on the staff. However, it is Coach Richt’s job and reputation that is on the line and he needs to step up to the plate.

The play calling during the UGA-Boise State game was disappointing to say the least. They had several months to prepare a game plan and that was the best they came up with.

Much like Bobo’s play-calling career, they had their moments. For example, the play call that led to an 80-yard run by Brandon Boykins was pure genius. However, he never puts a full game together and usually has two or three games where he is the reason the Bulldogs lose.

Richt needs to announce that he has taken over the play calling for the rest of the season. Bobo should be able to keep his offensive coordinator title and all of his other roles. However, the current setup is not working.

The Kourtney Kardashian Hotter Than the Other Two Award: Marquis Maze

I must be honest, I don't get the hype. Kim Kardashian is on every glamour magazine cover. Khloe Kardashian is on the cover of almost every rumor magazine with her husband Lamar Odom. However, their other sister, Kourtney, is far and away the hottest of the three.

In the same way, most people watched the Alabama game this past week looking to see how two replacements were going to work out. The first was to find out who would replace former starter Greg McElroy at quarterback. Others wanted to see how Trent Richardson would do as the No. 1 running back.

However, it was Marquis Maze that stole the show. Maze will be responsible for replacing fan favorite Julio Jones. Maze is not the physical specimen that Jones is but he played lights-out this past Saturday.

Maze had eight catches for 118 yards and one touchdown. Moreover, he did a great job blocking throughout the game.

He does not have the strength to power slam defenders like Julio did for the Tide, but he did a phenomenal job in the running game despite his slender physique.  I look for Maze to have a great season this year as the No. 1 option in the passing game.

The Rodney Dangerfield "No Respect" Award: Vick Ballard

Mississippi State fans realize that Vick Ballard doesn't get any respect. All the running back talk in the SEC revolves around Marcus Lattimore and Trent Richardson.

However, it is Ballard that has rushed for three touchdowns in five of his last 13 games. Ballard, however, seems content to fly under the radar as long as the Bulldogs continue to improve.

This past week, against the University of Memphis, he rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries. Ballard was terrific last season he rushed for 968 yards and 19 touchdowns. However, this season, he will be even better.

The media might not give him the respect he earns, but I can assure you that every defensive coordinator that the Bulldogs will face this season will have Ballard on his mind. 

Dr. SEC Final Take

***Here are the results of my previews and predictions from last week. (11-1)

Alabama

Score Prediction:W 51-7 Actual: 48-7
Stat Prediction: DL with 4 sacks Actual: Defense had 4 sacks

Arkansas

Score Prediction: W 52-3 Actual: 51-7
Stat Prediction: Wilson 17-21 (300 yards,3 tds) Actual:18-24 (260 yards, 2 tds)

Mississippi State

Score Prediction:42-10 Actual 59-14
Stat Prediction: Relf 3 total tds Actual: 2 total tds

Vandy

Score Prediction: 38-3 Actual: 45-14
Stat Prediction: Smith 300 yards: Actual: Smith 125 yards

South Carolina

Score Prediction: 41-24 Actual: 56-37
Stat Prediction: Lattimore 175 rushing yards Actual: 112  rushing yards and 3 tds

Florida Gators

Score Prediction: 38-10 Actual: 41-3
Stat Prediction: Brantley 3 tds Actual: Brantley 1 td

Auburn Tigers

Score Prediction: 45-24 Actual 42-38
Stat Prediction: 350 yards rushing Actual: 78 yards rushing
* Side note: I did talk about this game being close and how it could be an upset.

Tennessee Volunteers

Score Prediction: 52-17 Actual 42-16
Stat Prediction: Tyler Bray 4 Tds Actual: 3 touchdowns

Ole Miss

Score Prediction: BYU 28-OM 17 Actual: BYU 14-13
Stat Prediction: Heaps 300 passing yards Actual: 225 passing yards

LSU

Score Prediction 31-28 Actual:40-27
Stat Prediction: LSU forces 4 turnovers Actual:LSU Forced 4 turnovers

UGA

Score Prediction 24-17 Actual: L 35-21
Stat Prediction: Kwame 2 sacks Actual: 0