OXFORD----Urban Meyer brought his defending National Champion Florida Gators to Lafayette County and his first visit ever to William Faulkner's home town was one that he will remember. So will the plus 55,000 fans in attendance.
Ole Miss gave the Gators a tougher battle than the University of Tennessee the previous Saturday although on the short end of the 30-24 score. Orange Bowl and Citrus Bowl scouts were on hand for the tussle, not to overlook 100 percent attendance of the Wild Bunch, the class of the Tail Gate crowd in the Grove.
All-American Charlie Flowers was particularly pleased that the Red and Blue fought to the finish just as they had done against Missouri, also undefeated as October began. Flowers, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Warren (Beaux) Ball, Dr. Shed Hill Roberson, Squire Ed Wilburn Hooker, Holcombe Hector and their better halves hosted the Tail Gate, all bringing delicious food not to overlook the pack of nabs contributed by Kent Jr. As a guest I brought delicious chicken.
The group was pleased with the scrap shown by Ed Orgeron's Rebels. Next stop the University of Georgia, overtime conqueror of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Ole Miss had the Bulldogs on the ropes in a controversial loss in Oxford. Playing in Athens the Rebels hope to catch the Bullies still celebrating the big win over the Red Elephants before returning to Oxford to host a dangerous Louisiana Tech team in this year's Homecoming tussle.
The Wild Bunch recalled their college days and extra curricular outing at the Plantation, a Memphis club sprinkled with Elvis Presley Mafia types who resented their ladies dancing with an Ole Miss man. A scrap developed with Flowers, Lovelace, Hooker, and Ball involved.
The Memphis delegation did not fight fair, the lads told me at the Tail Gate, using metal objects to get their attention. Bouncers also got involved and the Ole Miss men wound up outside the establishment in a ditch. They asked one of the Bouncers why they took sides and the answer was that if they had sided with the Ole Miss lads they would also had been out-numbered.
The Red and Blue lads thought about returning inside to resume the scrap but Flowers said he had already given a peak performance and would let matters stand for another day.
Florida still has the big showdown with LSU on the horizon. They could actually meet twice--in regular season and again in the championship battle in Atlanta. Tim Tebow , who should win the Heisman before he concludes his Florida career, gave an electric-like performance against Ole Miss. He was the difference with his running and passing performance.
Trailing 27-9 Ole Miss rallied just as they had done against Missouri. Close and almost still does not count. However, if Ole Miss can play Florida to a practical standstill why can't do the same with Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU at Vaught Hemingway Stadium?
Seth Adams, bouncing back from an injury, also performed superbly.He can be the difference in a big game between now and the end of the season. Florida shut down Ben Jarvis Green Ellis,. limiting the Rebs' best runner to 37 yards on ll carries. If he is going to win sectional and national All-Star recognition he must get rolling again.
Adams' 77 yard bomb to Mike Wallace is proof that the senior is coming of age as a quarterback. Ole Miss might not qualify as a bowl participant this year but will decide who will perform in post-season play. If Ole Miss could upend Georgia the Rebels would certainly receive a shot in the arm. The Orange and Citrus Bowl scouts had to be impressed.
Mississippi State, Millsaps, Jackson State, Delta State, and Mississippi College prevailed . The Choctaws are still undefeated. Sylevester Croom's Bulldogs journey to Columbia S.C. to play Steve Spurrier's South Carolina in another key SEC engagement. If State can prevail that would give them four victories and two away from a bowl game.
Nationally,despite a poor start, Michigan is still unbeaten in the Big Ten and the win over Joe Paterno's Penn State team was impressive. Southern California looks better every Saturday. Notre Dame continues to stumble with is worst start ever. Pete Boone of Ole Miss needs to pick up the telephone and call Notre Dame and work out at least a four-game series. This would give Ole Miss national exposure as well, helping their recruiting in the process. As I have told Notre Dame the Irish and the Rebels, all even at 1-1 should get back together.
---30-----
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Shockin Upsets Continue
by JIMMIE McDOWELL
In the third week of the 2007 college football campaign shockers continue to transpire the defeat by UCLA at the hands of the Universityof Utah in Salt Lake City, the near defeat of the University of Texas in Orlando, Auburn's loss to Mississippi State, and Louisville's setback in Lexington against fast-improving University of Kentucky garnered much of the spotlight.
Sylvester Croom, on the hot seat at Mississippi State, turned in one of the best coaching jobs of the week in the Maroons' invasion of Auburn. The former University of Alabama standout had to enjoy this sweet victory, a year after beating his alma mater in Tuscaloosa. Suddenly, Sly might become an early entry in the SEC Coach of the Year competition.
It takes four years, more likely five, for a new coach to get his program moving. Sly's arch-rival Ed Orgeron would agree. Ole Miss' resounding loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville looks quite grim with defending national champion Florida invading Oxford this weekend. The Rebels then invade Athens to play Georgia. The Rebs do play Alabama and LSU at home but must make massive improvement to even think about winning against these high-powered foes.
Alabama won a thriller in the final moments against a good Arkansas team and the Tide appears ready to be a serious contender in the West, LSU's leading challenger in that division.
On the national level Michigan is still unbeaten in the Big Ten and the one-sided win over Notre Dame has to revive Wolverines dreams of a Conference title. Ohio State looked very good beating the University of Washington. Northwestern's defeat at the hands of Duke was a shocker, too.
In this third year at Notre Dame Charlie Weis' recruiting does not look so good. He had been discussed as a possible next coach of the New York Giants where he got his start in Pro Football.Remember when Golden Boy Paul Hornung urged his alma mater to lower the entrance requirements and was fired. I was in the press box a couple of years later when Hornung returned from the playing field where he had watched the University of Southern California warm up. He was asked how did the Trojans look.
Hornung said for every big player Notre Dame had USC had five.Every school must concentrate more on speed to blend with size. Florida really proved it by overwhelming Ohio State in last year's national championship game.
Loyal Ole Miss rooter Mitch Lavinghouze attended his 402nd consecutive game watching the Rebs perform. TheNashville trip was a long ride home. Going into the Florida game Buck Howell decided to not make the trip to Oxford and had a hernia operation.
There is genuine concern about the Rebels' poor defensive performance. Major recruiting of high school and junior college standouts who can qualify academically is a must if Ed Orgeron's tour of duty is going to be a success.
Southern Mississippi scored an important victory in Greenville S.C. over East Carolina State, avenging an overtime loss in Hattiesburg in 2006. The Eagles now travel to Boise to play rugged Boise State, coming off with an imposing victory over Joe Glenn's Wyoming Cowboys.
Southern playing three road games in a row is tough. A huge weekend shapes up Oct. 12-13 in Hattiesburg when USM celebrates Homecoming against SMU. Not only will Jim Carmody, Reggie Collier and Company have a reunion, but so will the great 1952-53-54 Southerners. Quarterback Billy Jarrell does a masterful job keeping in tough with his teammates, which includes one of College Football's all-time one-two punches Hugh Lauirin Pepper and Bucky McElroy and the great end Stonewall Jackson Brumfield, all in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
---30-----
In the third week of the 2007 college football campaign shockers continue to transpire the defeat by UCLA at the hands of the Universityof Utah in Salt Lake City, the near defeat of the University of Texas in Orlando, Auburn's loss to Mississippi State, and Louisville's setback in Lexington against fast-improving University of Kentucky garnered much of the spotlight.
Sylvester Croom, on the hot seat at Mississippi State, turned in one of the best coaching jobs of the week in the Maroons' invasion of Auburn. The former University of Alabama standout had to enjoy this sweet victory, a year after beating his alma mater in Tuscaloosa. Suddenly, Sly might become an early entry in the SEC Coach of the Year competition.
It takes four years, more likely five, for a new coach to get his program moving. Sly's arch-rival Ed Orgeron would agree. Ole Miss' resounding loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville looks quite grim with defending national champion Florida invading Oxford this weekend. The Rebels then invade Athens to play Georgia. The Rebs do play Alabama and LSU at home but must make massive improvement to even think about winning against these high-powered foes.
Alabama won a thriller in the final moments against a good Arkansas team and the Tide appears ready to be a serious contender in the West, LSU's leading challenger in that division.
On the national level Michigan is still unbeaten in the Big Ten and the one-sided win over Notre Dame has to revive Wolverines dreams of a Conference title. Ohio State looked very good beating the University of Washington. Northwestern's defeat at the hands of Duke was a shocker, too.
In this third year at Notre Dame Charlie Weis' recruiting does not look so good. He had been discussed as a possible next coach of the New York Giants where he got his start in Pro Football.Remember when Golden Boy Paul Hornung urged his alma mater to lower the entrance requirements and was fired. I was in the press box a couple of years later when Hornung returned from the playing field where he had watched the University of Southern California warm up. He was asked how did the Trojans look.
Hornung said for every big player Notre Dame had USC had five.Every school must concentrate more on speed to blend with size. Florida really proved it by overwhelming Ohio State in last year's national championship game.
Loyal Ole Miss rooter Mitch Lavinghouze attended his 402nd consecutive game watching the Rebs perform. TheNashville trip was a long ride home. Going into the Florida game Buck Howell decided to not make the trip to Oxford and had a hernia operation.
There is genuine concern about the Rebels' poor defensive performance. Major recruiting of high school and junior college standouts who can qualify academically is a must if Ed Orgeron's tour of duty is going to be a success.
Southern Mississippi scored an important victory in Greenville S.C. over East Carolina State, avenging an overtime loss in Hattiesburg in 2006. The Eagles now travel to Boise to play rugged Boise State, coming off with an imposing victory over Joe Glenn's Wyoming Cowboys.
Southern playing three road games in a row is tough. A huge weekend shapes up Oct. 12-13 in Hattiesburg when USM celebrates Homecoming against SMU. Not only will Jim Carmody, Reggie Collier and Company have a reunion, but so will the great 1952-53-54 Southerners. Quarterback Billy Jarrell does a masterful job keeping in tough with his teammates, which includes one of College Football's all-time one-two punches Hugh Lauirin Pepper and Bucky McElroy and the great end Stonewall Jackson Brumfield, all in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
---30-----
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)