Parity in the SEC

So far this year, many of my predictions regarding the SEC have been true. I missed LSU losing to Florida and winning the rematch in the SEC Championship. While the second part of that could still be true, the Gators and Tigers still have a lot to overcome. However, I nailed, probably as many of you did, South Carolina upsetting Alabama. Now, when I said Alabama would lose at least two games this year due to the bye weeks and their schedule, many people out there thought I was crazy. Well, that's one of six for them. It was even more nuts when I said LSU would win the West. Well, right now my predictions are on track in those areas.

So far, the West Division is holding true to form. Alabama, Auburn, and LSU are fighting it out on top. Arkansas is right there with modest improvement from Miss. State. As predicted, Ole Miss is at the bottom. It's the Eastern side that has this blogger confused. What the hell is going on in Athens and Gainesville this year? Mark Richt and Urban Meyer do not have their teams ready to play. Both have stumbled a lot. 

Let's be clear about one issue, while I didn't predict  South Carolina to win the East (who would with their history?), I did say they would be a factor. Like many of you, I figured this to be Spurrier's best chance to win an Eastern crown at South Carolina and to go play in Atlanta. I just thought they would choke. Who knows, it's still early. I just don't see them losing to Tennessee at home. Even if they lose to Florida, which will probably happen, Florida could still lose one more themselves. 

Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee have fallen back this year. With the Vols, that was expected. All the freshmen they have played is taking a toll. Look out next year and the following years. Dooley will have this team ready. Urban Meyer has questions at Florida to answer as well. People are getting very upset over the offense. Personally, I think the Gators are going to be fine. If Meyer really felt like he needed to make a change, he would do it. Fans were rumbling five years ago as well with Chris Leak and they won a BCS Title a year later. The fans in "The Swamp" need to relax. As far as Georgia is concerned, keep stocking up on Tums. Mark Richt is in a lot of trouble there. The win over Tennessee still does not mask a 2-4 record. Just making it to a bowl game is unacceptable in Athens....period! 

Either way you look at things, no team is running away with this conference. I just hope all can rebound next year or the SEC will lose its number one power ranking.

The End of an Era

Last night, in front of a sellout crowd of 52,000 at Turner Field in Atlanta, Bobby Cox walked off the field for the final time as manager of the Atlanta Braves. So significant are his accomplishments, no one will ever take his place as the most beloved figure in Atlanta history. That's right, Hank Aaron, Chipper Jones, and maybe even Matt Ryan will never match Bobby Cox. He took a team that rivaled the Cubs as the biggest losers and took them to the top of the division 14 years straight. How fitting an ending that he does something he never did before - win the Wild Card to close out his career.

However, this season, baseball fans are indeed witnessing the end of an era. That's not just in Atlanta. It's in LA, Chicago, and possibly St. Louis. At no other time in history will we ever witness such a quartet of successful managers leaving the game of baseball together. Bobby Cox, Lou Piniella, Joe Torre, and Tony La Russa will go down as four of the greatest managers of all time. All are in the top fifteen among most wins in history, with La Russa, Cox, and Torre in the top five. Combined, they have eight World Series rings between them and many more appearances. Yet, at least three, possibly all four will not be in dugouts when the first pitches are tossed out to open the 2011 Season.

It's going to be strange next season. There is no question about it. All four are certainly Cooperstown-bound. I wish La Russa would call it quits now so all four could go into the Hall together. Wouldn't that be something to see? Four of the greatest standing together in five years, celebrating not only a rare and extraordinary accomplishment, but the end of one of the most successful baseball eras of all time.

Here is to you gentlemen....thank you!

Can the Braves Hang On?

Well ladies and gents, here we are a week away from the MLB playoffs. Two spots are still up for grabs: the NL West and NL Wild Card. Between the Braves, Giants, and Padres, two of those three will be playoff bound. The Braves will play host to the the Phillies this weekend in the last ever regular season series for Bobby Cox. The Giants and Padres will do battle against one another to decide the fate of the NL West, and possibly the Wild Card.

For the Braves, it really is as simple as "win and your're in." Their magic number to clinch the Wild Card, something that Bobby Cox has yet to do, is down to four games. It's quite remarkable actually when you think about it. While the Braves have stuggled mightly in September and blew a good-sized division lead, the fact that they are this depleted and still have a shot at postseason is a huge accomplishment. Bobby Cox is once again showing us what we will miss come next year.

Currently, the Braves are without Prado, Jones, Jurrjens, and Saito. Those are four big pieces to the puzzle. Derek Lee, like I predicted earlier, has struggled. Nate McLouth is producing well and I think he will start all three games against Philly this weekend. Make no mistake about it though, the Braves may be one-and-done in the playoffs in terms of series. I am just not sure they can overcome other teams. Yes, they have played well against all the NL playoff teams, but postseason is a different beast all together. Throw out the book.

Before we discuss the postseason though, can the Braves hang on in the Wild Card? I think they can just by the mere fact that the Giants and Padres play each other this weekend. Someone has to lose out there. Plus, the Phillies will probably rest some of their starters. So, the Braves will have those two factors working in their favor.

I will make this prediction though. Eric Hinske, yes Eric Hinske, will be the glue that holds this team together. He is the one I want up in a big-time situation. Let's go Braves!!!

Admitting I Was Wrong

Well folks, in the words of Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy...."I'm a man!!!!' I can admit I am wrong. Earlier, I wrote that all of the talk about Les Miles and Mark Richt being on the "hot seat" were wrong and premature. So far, Les has held up his end of the bargain. LSU is off to a 4-0 start and my prediction of them being in the SEC Championship is still alive. They need to get their offense going though or that will not last much longer.

However, Mark Richt, after this weekend's loss to Miss. State, is seriously on the "hot seat." Georgia fans are livid! Rightfully so. This team is downright pathetic this year. Aaron Murray is the only player, outside of Walsh and Butler, that have done anything. All of his production is despite Mike Bobo, the "offensive coordinator." Georgia looks worse this year than at any other time under Mark Richt.

To be clear, I do not blame Todd Grantham yet. He needs time to recruit and teach the new defense. Nick Saban struggled mightly his first year at Alabama with a similar defense. However, the special teams and offense are downright atrocious. This is supposed to be Mark Richt's specialty. Bobo's playcalling is so predictable, a blind man could see it. I am so sick of the "they don't have AJ Green BS." They still have 3 awesome tight ends, 4 four-star receivers, and 3 "okay" RBs.

For Georgia though, the real problem is their toughness, or lack thereof. Simply put, the Dawgs are weak. They always get pushed around up front. Their o-line can't block and their d-line couldn't sack a scarecrow. The RBs always fall back and Ealey needs the jelly used my Gene Hackman on Orlando Jones in The Replacements. The Dawgs are slow and thin. The strength and conditioning of these players sucks. They always look tired and are out of shape.

Look, the solution is simple. Why not toss-sweep the ball and get someone like Carlton Thomas out in space. Mark Richt needs to mix up his offense like Saban and Meyer. I am so sick of watching this team. It's funny, every time I watch UGA play now, I always feel something bad is about to happen. Take the other night when Miss. State punted and the ball hit Rambo. It's that kind of crap that happens to you when things are not going your way.

Either way, Mark Richt is on the hot seat and he should be. You were right out there earlier when you told me I was crazy that he should not be at least feeling some heat. He should after the way his team keeps setting new lows each week. It's about being a champion. This UGA team is not that kind of group. That is the bottom line. I just hope Richt has not completely lost this team. One thing is for sure, he is losing the Bulldawg Nation!

SEC Week 3 Predictions

Week 3 gives us even more excitement around the SEC. For certain teams (UGA), it's due or die. For others, it's a chance to prove something to the people of the SEC (Arkansas and Tennessee).

Here we go:

ALABAMA v. DUKE: Kudos to both Alabama and Duke for playing this game at Duke. Duke had the chance to move it to Charlotte and make more money, but they did not so Duke could get football exposure. Good move I think. Unfortunately, it won't help with the outcome. I guess the Duke crowd could intimidate Alabama for about 10 seconds until the 30,000 Alabama fans there overtake them. With the return of Ingram and the lack of defense at Duke, only Nick Saban will stop this slaughter. My prediction: Alabama 48, Duke 7


FLORIDA v. TENNESSEE: This could be a possible upset if Tennessee had a better offense. I think they could and will hang with Florida on defense. Unfortunately for the Vols, the Gator D has played lights out so far, especially on pass defense. Look for Florida to force the Vols into 3rd and long situations. Make no mistake about it, I am predicting this to be Urban Meyer's last win in Knoxville for quite a while though. Derek Dooley will have his boys ready to play now and in the future. It will not be enough this day though as Florida will pull away late. My prediction: Florida: 27, Tennessee: 10


FURMAN v. SOUTH CAROLINA: Spurrier has his team on high alert for this one. There are two reasons for this. South Carolina got a big win over UGA last week and three FCS teams have won over FBS - BCS teams this year already. Furman is one of the elites in the Southern Conference (I-AA) where App. State, GA Southern, and others reside. This is the kind of game South Carolina could struggle with and I think Stephen Garcia will a little. Still, South Carolina will get it together. My prediction: South Carolina: 41, Furman: 14


ARKANSAS v. GEORGIA: This is the SEC game of the week in my opinion. It's really two "ranked" teams with a lot on the line. Is it just me or is UGA constantly in these positions? Arkansas brings its high expectations and six-game losing streak against UGA to Athens where one of those will fall. We know what Ryan Mallett can do with the offense, but the Arkansas defense will need to show its true self. It will have a chance this weekend. Aaron Murray and the predictable offense of UGA should be an OKAY test. The real challenge will be for Grantham and the UGA defense. Can they tackle better and win what is for sure a "must-win" game? For Mark Richt, this a sign of his team's character. I don't think they have it in them and this game will not be that close. My prediction: Arkansas: 35, UGA: 17


CLEMSON v.  AUBURN: This will be a great game and has even attracted the Gameday crew. The Auburn offense, led by Cam Newton, will be a force in the SEC this year. Clemson has Kyle Parker leading their offense and he has this Clemson team on the verge of the Top 25. However, this is their first true test of the year and it is coming in very hostile territory. Both offenses can score, so it will come down to defense. I think Auburn gets it done at home. My prediction: Auburn: 31, Clemson: 27


MISS. STATE v. LSU: Alright folks, here it is. This is my upset pick right here. Why not? LSU has not looked that good so far this season. This is the type of game that can give them some trouble, even at home. Dan Mullen's team does not want to fall into a 0-2 conference hole with UGA looming for them the following week. Can Manny Diaz's defense slow down Jefferson enough? Can Chavis stop an offensive scheme he has had a lot of trouble with in the past? I don't think he can. In an upset....My prediction: MSU: 21, LSU: 17


VANDERBILT v. OLE MISS: Something tells me Houston Nutt will tell his team to see Jacksonville State across every uniform they see for the rest of the season. This game right here will interesting. Ole Miss should win this at home. Yet, these are the types of games they seem to have trouble with under Nutt. Teams they should blow away and games that somehow end up being closer than they should be or Ole Miss will lose them. Vanderbilt is struggling on offense. They can never seem to get it together on that side of the ball. I see Ole Miss pulling away late. My prediction: Ole Miss: 28, Vandy: 10


AKRON v. KENTUCKY: I think it's safe to say Joker will be 3-0 after this game. This is a solid Kentucky team that is ready for the big game. Unfortunately, this is not it!  My prediction: Kentucky: 51, AKRON: 13

Rhetoric the Problem for Mark Richt?

Prior to this season, speculation roared out there that Georgia Coach Mark Richt was on the "hot seat." Indeed, the past two seasons at UGA have not lived up to expectations. Of course, a lot of that is Mark Richt's fault in the way that he talks about his team. Many of us saw last weekend what we suspected all along: South Carolina has good team this year. However, all offseason, Spurrier was dogging his team and Steven Garcia. As a result, South Carolina was not ranked for whatever reason going into the season. Now they 13 or 16, depending on the poll, and have proved they can win the East.

However, the opposite seems to be true with Richt. He and the team always talk about how they have some chip on their shoulders and how this season will be different. Going into last season, all we heard was that Bryan Evans found a home at safety and special plays would be called for Logan Gray. The defense was going to be a lot better and there would be less penalties. Oh yes, and the o-line would be the strength. Well, Richt was 0 for 5 on those predictions. The only one of those that made the slightest improvement was the o-line, and that was just the last four games.

See, my feeling is one that people probably haven't thought of much. Listen to Spurrier, Nick Saban, and Urban Meyer. They are constantly challenging their teams. For better or for worse, the criticisms fire up their teams. Their players strive week in and week out to get better. That's why they have a national championship or championships and Richt will never win one. His players always look unmotivated. They look like they were told that it's okay to take a game off here and there. Every year, UGA gets blown out of a big game. Afterward, UGA faithful listen to what went wrong. Well, I know what's wrong!

Every offseason, the UGA staff comes out and says how much better this team is from the previous year. Yet, the three years at least, that has not been the case. Fundamentals are clearly lagging. The strength, conditioning, and mental preparations are terrible. Those boys get rocked physically and knocked off the ball every game, even by inferior opponents. Of course, I don't blame the players entirely. Richt makes remarks each week about how sluggish practice looks on any given day. Well Coach, it is your job to challenge those boys and to make them line up and run the drills properly! That's what champions do. They put forth maximum effort and do it right. Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, and even Boise State now do all of that. That's why those teams win their respective conferences or are at least in the hunt each and every year now and UGA is not. 

This Saturday will reveal the character of this Mark Richt team as they attempt to do something that UGA football hasn't done in three years: WIN A BIG CONFERENCE GAME!! Saturday, the Dawgs will play Arkansas in Athens. This is the type of game Richt easily won in his early years but has lost a lot of in recent years. Personally, I don't think UGA has a chance if they play the way we have witnessed since 2008. Winning at home for Richt is harder than winning on the road. Sanford Stadium has a reputation of being one of the quietest stadiums in the land. Yet, what scares me the most is that I don't see any sense of urgency from this team. Granted, I have not seen practice this week, so I don't know. I highly doubt though that we will see much difference this week against Arkansas. Sure, we are told the playbook will be opened up more for Aaron Murray. Does that sound familiar? See above! I guess we will see one more play-action pass than last week. 

Look, I like Coach Richt and I think he is a excellent and passionate coach. However, the UGA faithful are clearly tiring of all this talk and no walk. The Dawgs are a loss away this weekend from having their season all but over. That is unacceptable to any team, especially UGA! If Mark Richt and this team really do have pride and motivation, then they show up to both practice and the game this week, play as hard as they can on every play, and show the nation they are not going away this season.

There is the challenge boys!

Horrible Week for Georgia Sports

What the hell was in the water in Georgia this past week? The Braves are about to go from being in first place to losing the wild card. The Falcons once again proved me correct in that they cannot beat a "big-named" team (Steelers, Colts, Patriots, Cowboys, Packers to name a few). You know, the traditional powerhouses. Georgia State lost to a NAIA team in Lambuth, who might have to close because their finances suck. Georgia Tech lost to Kansas team that scored three points against North Dakota State the week before. Georgia couldn't have tackled a dummy standing at the fifty yard line in its game against South Carolina. I guess the only "bright spot" was Georgia Southern hanging in there for a while against Navy. Good Lord, could it be more depressing? Next thing you know, the Hawks will sign Starbury. That would do it!

Now I will explain what I think is wrong with each one:

Braves: The bottom line here is the loss of Chipper Jones has caught up to them. They aren't hitting right now, which is putting a lot more pressure on the pitching staff. If this sounds like a familiar story, it should. See their record of success using this formula back in April where they lost 9 in a row. Hell, they just went 3-4 at home the last seven games and lost 2 of 3 to the damn Nationals or Natinals, whichever sounds better.

Falcons: Look, I am not a diehard Falcons fan, so I can be objective here. The Falcons cannot beat big-named teams. That's the bottom line. Their history suggests as much. I think they are going to be fine and will rebound to win 10 games. Of course, they do play Green Bay and Baltimore, not to mention NOLA twice. They better be close to perfect the rest of the way against other teams.

Georgia State Panthers: They are a new team. That's all I can say on this. They are still growing and it was only their second game out. I was at their first game and they really didn't look as impressive as the score would indicate. They will improve though.

Georgia Tech: GT got caught with their pants down. No other way to say it. It was a classic trap game. They travelled a good ways to play a team with talent that got upset big time a week earlier. Their new defense under Al Groh is still taking shape. I am not worried as much about Tech and I think they will still be in the race for the ACC crown. They really need to cut down on penalties though.

Georgia: Surprisingly, there is not much that can't be improved in a hurry with this team. Their defense was in position all game against South Carolina to make plays. They just didn't! Baccari Rambo, who many love from last year, is clearly pulling a Randy Moss on several plays and he needs to quit that stuff now. Obviously they need to quit Willie Martinez's version of tackling and go low. On offense, Richt and Bobo need to let Aaron Murray play. The o-line needs to stop sucking so much and dig in like men. They have to hold better and run block better. Another loss this weekend and the season is gone!

Georgia Southern: The Eagles played well against Navy this weekend. Two triple-option teams going at it in the "Paul Johnson" cup. New Eagles Coach Jeff Monken is doing a great job so far reinstalling what was major key to success for the Eagles under Erk Russell and Paul Johnson. It will take some time, but the Eagles should be coming back soon.

I guess the lesson to take away from this past week is that we need to have patience. Yet, let's be real. That's not going to happen. I will say that Mark Richt and Todd Grantham better have those boys ready to play Saturday. Make no mistake Coach Richt, the UGA faithful are tired of the excuses on play-calling and lack of execution. DELIVER!!!

A.J. Green to Sit 3 More Games

Well, it appears Mark Richt and UGA have their answer. A.J. Green must sit for three more games. All of which are going to be huge for UGA (@ South Carolina, Arkansas, and @ Miss State). Make no mistake about it folks, this is a huge loss for the Dawgs. Green is without question the best playmaker on the team and they need his ability to go long so that teams will not be able to stack the box on Aaron Murray and the running game.

UGA Athletic Director Greg McGarity has confirmed the school will appeal this to the NCAA. Personally, I think this is harsh on the part of the NCAA. Green has repaid the money to a charity already. He was forthcoming and apologized. I guess he would have been better off going to the party in Miami like Marcell Dareus of Alabama. At least then he would have been suspended only two games.

The NCAA is obviously trying to make a statement. Look, I hold A.J. Green and the players accountable, and he should be. Sitting out one more game is just. However, the NCAA says selling your jersey warrents a bigger and more severe punishment than attending an agent-sponsored party. Does anybody else think that's a load of crap?

NFL, NBA Must Step Up on Agents

Last Saturday night, I watched in awe and admiration of the effort put up by the UNC Tar Heel football team against a foe (LSU) who I thought was already the more talented team out there. They stood tall against LSU with thirteen of their best players suspended and almost capped off a miraculous comeback to win the game. Of course, we can debate Les Miles and LSU's philosophy on this all day, but that is not the point. Just imagine if UNC had even some of its players for that game. Could they have won? Sure they could have. Yet, we will never know.

This weekend, South Carolina and Georgia will battle it out in Columbia in what should be another fierce duel between these rivals. Besides trying to unseat Florida in the East, these two schools have something else in common. They are both waitng for rulings by the NCAA that will determine the eligibility of some
of their players. Understand, especially in the case of A.J. Green for Georgia, these players being on the field could make or break the Eastern division race this year.

While the A.J. Green story seems to have shifted to the illegal selling of a jersey, it all started with the infamous party in Miami to determine whether or not he was there. This is the same agent-party that cost UNC, hurt Alabama, and is keeping South Carolina on hold. Also, Florida is still waitng to hear back on Maurkice Pouncy and his issue. Combine this with Reggie Bush and other other related issues, and we have a serious problem. That problem involves AGENTS, or to use a "Sabanism," "pimps."

However you want to spell it out, we have a problem with these kids and agents. No matter how hard schools try, agents and runners still get though to these athletes. It not only costs the athlete, but the whole team and university for many years to come as USC just found out in the harshest fashion. So, it naturally begs the question: "What can be done to halt this?"

My solution is rather simple. The NFL and NBA need to step it up and help the universities with this problem. If they won't voluntarily do it, then the NCAA needs to make them. Nick Saban and Urban Meyer had the right idea: ban scouts from practice. Yet, this does not work on a school-by-school basis. In fact, it hurts recruiting. However, the NCAA could make it nationwide and apply to all schools like so many other rules. That would accomplish something I am sure.

Still, the big steps are going to have to be taken by the NFL and NBA. They need to realize that they have something to lose here and that it is within their best interests to help these kids. To me, a good place to start would be fining all of the players who cause schools to have punishments levied against them. I think a million dollars sent to the school for every game retroactively forfeited would help. To use the Reggie Bush example, he would owe USC about fourteen or fifteen million dollars as punishment or risk being banned from the NFL in every way. I think that would get the attention of both NFL and NBA players. Hitting people in the wallets always works.

Now, the harshest punishment should be reserved for the agents and runners who are responsible for initiating all of this crap. I think a lifetime ban from those respective leagues would serve as a just punishment for breaking the rules. In other professions, people would lose their ability to practice for such infractions and unethical behavior.

Either way you look at it, the NFL and NBA will have to step up here. This should not fall soley on the kids and universities. I feel bad for USC players in basketball and football now. Most were still in middle school and early high school when all of this went down. Now they can't even go to postseason for two years because of what Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo did. Hell, I would fine Reggie Bush anyway because it appears his biggest concern is losing the Heisman, not the feelings and devastation felt by all those players and coaches he let down.

So what do you think? What can be done on this issue?

Apprehension Building Around A.J. Green Situation

Another day is going by without a ruling on the eligibility of UGA WR A.J. Green. Rumors are swirling that the NCAA investigation of Green is going beyond the party in Miami that has led to suspensions at Alabama, UNC, and USC. Green was held out of Georgia's 55-7 win Saturday over ULL as a result of questions surrounding his eligibility. 

Green has denied from the beginning that he ever attended the party. There is even some evidence that shows he was not there. So, that now begs the question "If not the party, then what is the issue?" Well, Richt and Green are not allowed to comment. Let's assume for a second that it is not the party the NCAA is looking at with Green. Message boards today say it could be related to an insurance policy he took out on himself this past offseason. Others say it's about him autographing and selling gameday apparel on e-bay. The insurance policy is not unusual itself. The question surrounds whether or not Green is paying for it himself or if someone else is picking up the tab. If that's the case, then that's a NCAA violation. To make matters worse, people are suggesting Green has pulled a Dez Bryant and lied to the NCAA. Not good!

Personally, I am not sure what is going on with this situation. I expect the NCAA will issue a ruling this week. UGA and Coach Richt need an answer before this weekend's showdown with South Carolina. As each day passes though, the news looks more and more bleak for UGA and Green. It means it's not party  related since that seems pretty cut and dry. No, it would seem to go deeper than that. I just hope it's nothing that goes back throughout Green's career at UGA, for that could mean 18 wins would be vacated. 

Make no mistake about it, losing Green would be a huge blow to the UGA offense. The good news for UGA is that they have a solid offensive line and running game. They are very deep at tight end and the other receivers are very talented. Plus, the defense and special teams looked solid in the opening game. Ultimately, the defense has the step up anyway. Yet, Green is the best player on the team in my opinion. With Murray being a redshirt freshman, Green's presence is all but necessary. 

Either way, this does not make Mark Richt's job any easier. They are already an underdog in Columbia this weekend and will need Green if they are to make a run at the East. However, it looks more and more everyday like that may not happen. Let's hope for the best with Green and the other players at other schools. I hate seeing schools lose their players over things like this.

What We Learned in Week 1 (SEC)

1) Defense (for the most part) carried the day. Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi State all held their opposition under ten points. Florida only gave up twelve and their defense stepped up big in the game against Miami (OHIO). Of course, we have to take all of this with a grain of salt. All of these teams played 1-AA or lower 1-A teams. Still, for teams like Tennessee, Arkansas, and Georgia, these games had to be a true sign of optimism. Georgia was really flying to the ball well. Derek Dooley and Justin Wilcox had Tennessee moving as well. Kentucky and Vanderbilt also played extremely well. I think the East will be a lot stronger on the defensive side of the ball than people think. Again though, let's not get too carried away. The next two weeks should tell us a lot more.

2) So far, so good with the new coaches and coordinators. It was one hell of a weekend for the new coaches and coordinators around the league. Teryl Austin's defense at Florida was stout. They had two sacks and four interceptions on route to a 34-12 win. Derek Dooley did a tremendous job with Tennessee this weekend. A shutout was just what the doctor ordered for UT. They played hard and Matt Simms looked very poised out there. Oregon will be a great test for them. Joker Phillips had his Kentucky team ready to play and confirmed what I already suspected: Kentucky will be a force in the East. Manny Diaz was a great hire by Dan Mullen and Miss. State. They had two interceptions and gave up only 237 yards to what could be a potent Memphis team. Finally, hats off to Todd Grantham and his new 3-4 at UGA. I was in Athens for the game and it's been years since I have seen the UGA defense look that good. Grantham got the crowd fired up when he was screaming his head off at ULL's touchdown pass. Again though, a lot more will be learned over the next two weeks.

3) I may have been wrong about LSU. Going into this season, I picked LSU to win the West. However, after watching them against a depleted UNC team the other night, there is a lot to question about LSU. Granted, UNC is well-coached and full of talent. Still, there is no excuse for LSU to come out and play the way they did in the second half. They had no heart and played with zero intensity.  They almost (and should have) lost that game after leading 30-10 at halftime. UNC dropped several would-be touchdown passes in the game. LSU played soft all game on defense and offense. I swear, the more I look back at the 2007 BCS team, I believe that was still Nick Saban's influence more than Les Miles'. He is going to have to do some real coaching with his team if they are going to compete and win the West. Another 8-4 season will not sit well with the LSU faithful, but that effort the other night will produce that type of result.

4) Florida may be ranked too high. Back in 2007, I remember Florida opening the season at #3 in the country. This coming after they lost a lot on defense and Chris Leak. They ended up losing four games that year. I have said all along that this could be a similar year. Well, Florida did nothing the other day to show me I was wrong. Now, I know this is the first game and that Urban Meyer is not to be doubted, but they left a lot to be desired against Miami (OHIO). They botched about 13 snaps and really struggled on offense and special teams. Those are two things you would not expect from and Urban Meyer team. Now, I will point out that Florida has struggled on offense early in the season the last two years and they seemed to be able to rebound quite well. I am sure they will do it again this year. However, with the way South Carolina and Georgia played Saturday, the East appears to be even more wide open.

5) Ole Miss needs to gets its head on straight. Whether you are an all-around SEC fan or not, I am sure we can all agree that this was an embarrassing loss not only for Ole Miss, but for the entire conference. I know Ole Miss is supposed to be down a little this year, but there is no excuse for that kind of a meltdown against an FCS team at home. Houston Nutt needs to get his team straight or this could really have ramifications. Giving up 49 points is bad enough for a team where defense was supposed to be the strength, but to do it the way they did was even more pathetic. I expect Ole Miss to rebound from this and start playing better. They, like LSU, need to realize that you have to play the second half as well. Still, Nutt and Nix are too good of coaches to let this team slide.

Spurrier's Last Opening Game?

In what has to be more of a tradition than the chicken curse, South Carolina will open the season on a Thursday night on ESPN. They will get their first test against Southern Miss tonight in Columbia. Could this be Spurrier's last opening game ever? Stay tuned for another disappointing season of South Carolina football to find out.

ACC Predictions

Here are my ACC predictions. I want to start out by saying that I expect VA Tech to beat Boise State. I think Bud Foster and Frank Beamer will come through on this one. However, that has nothing to do with the overall ACC. Let's take a look at how I think they will finish.

COASTAL:
1) Virginia Tech
2) Georgia Tech
3) Miami
4) North Carolina
5) Duke
6) Virginia

ATLANTIC:
1) Boston College
2) Florida State
3) Clemson
4) Wake Forest
5) NC State
6) Maryland

Obviously, the Coastal is much stronger. You couldn't go wrong with any of the top 4 there. I just think VA Tech is due for a rebound and will take the division. UNC has too many questions with the NCAA investigation. I am taking GA Tech over Miami simply because GT hosts that game and we have learned to never underestimate Paul Johnson. If Al Groh's 3-4 defense can hold down anyone, they could win this thing.

On the Atlantic side, Boston College seems to sneak up on people quite often. No one thinks they can win. I beg to differ. I am not sold on FSU's defense quite yet. I am not saying they can't do it, but for now I am sticking with BC. Clemson should also be solid, but they lost a lot with CJ Spiller going to the NFL. Unless there is major improvement, this is the last year of Tom O'Brian and Ralph Friedgen at NC State and Maryland respectively.

For the third time in four years, VA Tech will beat Boston College for the ACC Championship!

Birth of A Program Tonight

We could be witnessing the beginning of something special tonight. At 7:30 this evening, Bill Curry will lead the first annual Georgia State Panther football team onto the turf of the Georgia Dome. Star Jackson, for Alabama QB, will lead the way on the field against Shorter. If you live in the Atlanta area, come on down and witness a little history.

In the meantime, I have a question I would like answered from you. Which current team will GA State MOST resemble? Will this team be like South Florida? A team that is in a big city, plays in a pro stadium, and could move into a BCS conference in 12 years? Will they be Tulane? A team that plays in an NFL Dome, big city, and doesn't accomplish much? Finally, could they resemble Georgia Southern? A nobody to winning multiple national championships with a legendary coach within six years? Time will tell. 

Here's to hoping victory number one comes tonight!

Predictions, Predictions, and More Predictions

With the college football season two days away from kick-off, it's time to make some SEC predictions. Now, none of these are bold and the reasons for these are a little fact, a little opinion. I don't care if you think they are accurate or not. Here we go!

WEST:
1) LSU
2) Auburn
3) Alabama
4) Arkansas
5) Miss. State
6) Ole Miss

EAST:
1) Florida
2) Georgia
3) Kentucky
4) South Carolina
5) Tennessee
6) Vanderbilt

Florida beats LSU at home and loses the rematch in Atlanta. LSU wins the SEC for Les Miles.

For you loyal readers out there, I explained my reasons for ranking Alabama this low in an earlier blog. I know they have great coaches and great talent, but I just think all those teams coming off bye weeks and the target on their backs makes it difficult to pick them. It was a coin toss between LSU and Auburn for me. I know LSU has shown nothing on offense these last two years, but I think they have enough this year. Besides, Les Miles is just crazy enough to win.

Like Gary Danielson of CBS, I don't see any SEC team going undefeated. I will also take it a step further. For the first time since 2005, there will be NO SEC team in the BCS Championship game. No one is losing less than 2 games from the SEC. I know it happened once in 2007 with LSU getting into the championship, but it is not happening again.

Come back later for ACC predictions.

Shhh...You'll Wake The Sleeper

"Sleep • er: (noun) something or someone that becomes unexpectedly successful or important after a period of being unnoticed, ignored, or considered unpromising or a failure"

---

Everybody has a few websites they frequent when they take a much-needed break from work or school or whatever. One of mine is collegefootballnews.com; mainly because it's updated every day with decent content (note to self: possibly business strategy at work?).

Pete Fiutak, a writer for that site, tends to be less afraid to follow the crowd than others when it comes to predictions. As I implied in a previous entry, this practice usually stems from the desire to yell "told ya so!" when certain obscure prognostications come true. But, generally, Pete justifies most of his picks well. At least I think he does. Which is why I'm not shocked at the following statement:

(Who will win the SEC?)

"Georgia: I'm going all in on the Bulldogs. I'm not sold that Bama can repeat with so many huge changes on the defensive side, while the Dawgs have the right schedule and the right season to get back to the title game. However, two conference losses will mean the SEC is left out of the national championship since Vince Young led Texas to the 2005 title over USC."

He goes on...who's his "surprise team" of 2010?

"Georgia: Everyone is talking Alabama and Florida, but the Dawgs will keep on winning (and doing it ugly) on their way to a huge season. Aaron Murray will be just fine."

Fiutak eventually states he thinks UGA will meet Pitt in the Sugar Bowl. So what do you think, Dawg fans? Do you prefer the limelight be shed on Alabama or Florida? Or do you like that Georgia is starting to create a buzz nationally with its potential for a "huge season?"

Ealey Just the Tip of the Iceberg

As many of know by now, UGA RB Washaun Ealey was arrested early this morning for hit-and-run. He hit a parked car and then took off. Not that this a major offense, a misdemeanor actually, but this kind of crap is becoming the norm for teams. Ealey just joins a long line of other athletes who are showing either major lapses in judgement or downright stupidity these days.

We all read the news and see those involved. So much was recently made of Coach Houston Nutt at Ole Miss taking a chance of Jeremiah Masoli from Oregon. Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, and USC have all had problems along with UGA this offseason. Unfortunately for Mark Richt, it is becoming too common at UGA.

Look, I know these athletes are still young adults who lack certain areas of common sense, and a lot of these things are not just unique to student-athletes. However, these kids are being very selfish with their actions. Not only are they hurting themselves, but they are also hurting their teammates, coaches, administrators, fans, and their families. Reggie Bush not only hurt and embarrassed the USC program, he hurt every other member of that 2004 USC championship team. Their hard work and determination is now forever tainted. The championship is no longer recognized and will forever be marked with an asterisk thanks in large part to a selfish player.

I don't know about you, but I knew when I was 18 that I was not supposed to steal, commit robbery, or drink and drive. Like I said though, the worst part for all of these players is the people they hurt. Ealey not being around for the first game, or however long he is gone, hurts the Georgia team. Saunders being suspended indefinitely hurts the South Carolina team. There is no excuse for this stuff, period! I remember when UGA entered the 2008 season with a  #1 ranking next to its name. What happened? Rather than players and the team keeping a low profile and working hard to focus, they went out and had about ten offseason arrests. Brilliant!

Regardless of how certain people feel, these athletes DO have a loyalty to the fans. We pay a lot of money so these kids can have a future, both on and off the field. Sure, we pay for tickets and donate money for facilities, but we also provide money for their scholarships and education. That should mean more to these kids than playing football. They have opportunities in front of them that many can only dream about and they go out and blow it.

Every time one of these "mishaps" occurs, it is an embarrassment for that university. It embarrasses everyone, including fans and alumni. I am tired of these players not caring about that. It sickens me when they are this selfish and stupid.

The sad part for someone like Ealey is all he had to do was wait for the police, explain what happened, and then leave. It would not even have been a real story today. Instead he took off, got caught, and now it's running across ESPN. I swear, one thing we know about this country is that we are a forgiving one. Just come out, admit what you did wrong, and we will forgive. It won't even be a story. Yet, people like Dez Bryant, Roger Clemens, Floyd Landis, and so many others decided that lying would be acceptable. Look what happened or is happening to them.

There are plenty of lessons to be learned here and I am not singling out Ealey. I am pointing out the mere fact that this problem is becoming more and more severe. Something has to be done and it starts with the students themselves. With major privileges comes major responsibilities. STEP UP LIKE MEN AND TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY!!!

Georgia's Ealey To Run 'Til I Throw Up

Sigh. Can't the season start already?

This is that time of the year when college football coaches and fans are just praying their teams can enter the season intact. Every program suffers casualties during the off-season: injuries, non-qualifying signees, and my favorite, off-season arrests.

Georgia's Washaun Ealey becomes just the latest in a long and distinguished line of Dawgs to be arrested and charged with an array of minor traffic violations. Early this morning, Ealey allegedly hit a parked car while driving a vehicle that wasn't his. Apparently, he was warned by a UGA Parking Services employee not to leave the scene before the police arrived, but fled the scene regardless.

You can read the details of the incident here; I'm not writing a recap. Like every other Dawg fan, I'm concerned with the impact Ealey's arrest and subsequent punishment will have on the season. Bottom line: this is a MINOR criminal offense. Ealey should be reprimanded accordingly.

No doubt Ealey will serve at least a one-game suspension and have the chance to appreciate a few sunrises over Sanford Stadium. I'm all about making an example of a player when this stuff happens, but I'm interested in hearing what Bulldog Nation thinks should happen.

Comment below; let us here at Sports Down South know how you'd handle the Ealey situation.

Braves Get Swept, Still Gain Half Game

Wow.....despite losing 3 games in a row to the Rockies in horrible fashion, the Braves managed to pick up half a game on the Phillies. They somehow lost 4 in a row to the Astros. I don't what to say. I am speechless. Talk about a golden opportunity blown for both teams. Either way you look at it, the Braves need to start winning on the road.

As the great Bob Uecker (Harry Doyle) jokes about in the Major League movies, it's times like these that get us overmedicated (drunk)!

ESPN Loves Georgia...Basketball?

Because most of us can barely think about anything but football right now, you probably missed this great article posted two days ago on ESPN.com previewing the SEC basketball season.

For once, I don't think I'm in the minority of (long-suffering) Georgia fans who are excited about hoops getting cranked up soon, but when the national media, who aren't known for wearing red and black-tinted glasses, start shoveling praise on the Dawgs, I get even more geeked up.

This from ESPN's Andy Katz: "In assessing why Georgia should be a Top 25 team, there were two factors: Do the Bulldogs have NBA-level talent, and did they win key games last season despite not making the postseason? The answer is yes on both counts."

There's lots more, but I'll let you see for yourself.

Who to Believe: Bowden or FSU

As many of you loyal readers are aware of by now, Bobby Bowden and Florida State have been throwing grenades and launching mortars at one another the last few days concerning his ouster. Bowden says he was forced out. Former university president T.K. Wetherell says he "resigned." So, who do we believe?

Personally, I believe Bowden. Coach Bowden was forced out. Wetherell, while claiming Bowden "resigned," has never denied Bowden's claims in terms of the options given to him. Bowden could either come back as an "ambassador coach" (whatever the hell that means) and have no real role in coaching, or he could retire and walk away. I don't know about you, but if my boss came to me with those options, I too would think I was being fired. "Oh, you can stay, you just won't be able to do your job at this company. You know, the one you rescued, built, and turned into a powerhouse for 34 years!"

Look, I know Bowden's record since 2006 is nothing to smile about (30-22), not discounting the vacated wins. Yet, from 1992-2005, his Florida State teams won the ACC every year except in 2001 and 2004. They played for the BCS Championship 3 years in a row from 1998-2000, winning it in 1999. The man recorded at least 10 wins every year from 1987-2000. Now, I don't care who you are or what your expectations are, but that is pretty damn impressive! Oh yeah, add two national championships to that as well and I am sure you will be more than satisfied.

My point here, like the one I would make if we were talking about Joe Paterno, is that a man who is the face of a program, like Bobby Bowden was to Florida State, should always be allowed to go out on his own. The man wanted one more year. Just one more year!! The fact that Florida State did not give it to him is outright criminal! It would be one thing if he inherited a strong program and ran it into the ground. In that case, he would have only last four years maximum. No, he took a program that was about to fold up football indefinately and transformed it into a powerhouse that lasted through the 1980s and 1990s. Like I said at the top, it would be a sad day for you if the company that you rescued, built, and transformed into a powerhouse came to you 34 years later and gave you the options FSU gave Bowden.

I am not defending his record the last few years. I will admit FSU needed a change sooner rather than later, but it would not have killed them to have given Bobby Bowden one more year after he gave FSU 34 years of his.

Where Is Washaun?

I think fans often overestimate the degree to which players handle slights by other fanbases and the media. From my own experience working with the Georgia football team, most of these kids are just trying to practice, learn the playbook, study, and enjoy an experience they know (yes, they do) most of us will never get to enjoy.

So, no doubt while many Dawg will get up in arms about the exclusion of Georgia's Washaun Ealey and Caleb King from the initial watch list for the 2010 Doak Walker Award, those guys have much more on their minds. Trust me.

The award, handed out yearly to the nation's top running back, has a history going back to 1990. Our own Garrison Hearst received it in 1992, in case you didn't know. This year, the SEC is represented by Alabama's Mark Ingram, Arkansas' Dennis Johnson, Florida's Jeff Demps, Kentucky's Derrick Locke, Auburn's Mario Fannin, and LSU's Richard Murphy.

It should be noted that the watch list is very fluid; a player can be added throughout the season, based on performance. What does that mean? Nothing; except that if Ealey and King DO care about things like winning the Doak Walker Award, this is even more of a reason to go out and prove themselves to the SEC and the rest of the country. Dawg fans can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

USM Assistant Kapilovic Beats Cancer

ESPN.com carried this story about Southern Miss assistant coach Chris Kapilovic today. I've never heard of Kapilovic (and neither have you, probably), but my hat's off to the man for beating an opponent I hope I never have to face.

But...But...Spurrier Gets TWO Extra Days To Prepare!!!

Ok, Dawg fans, I'm gonna be as forthcoming as I can be about this. I absolutely hate statistics that start out "4 out of the last 6 years..." and "ranked in the top-27..." Maybe they're such a pet peeve of mine because they tend to hide more than they reveal; maybe because programs on the decline tend to be the first to point out things like "...but our offensive production has ranked in the top-4 in the SEC in 3 of the last 5 years."

That being said, we're a little more than one week away from the first Thursday night with live football action and, as usual, the South Carolina Gamecocks will be taking the field. Most Dawg fans gripe ad nauseum about this, and it goes something like this: "But since they play on Thursday, Spurrier gets TWO extra days to prepare for us!"

So, I did a little bit of digging. Since the Head Ball Coach first arrived in Columbia, the Cocks have opened their season on a Thursday FOUR times. In 2005, his first season, they beat UCF in an UGLY game, 24-15. I remember this because I watched it, alone, at Loco's. What a loser. In '06, they prevailed over an offensively-inept Miss. State team, 15-0. In 2008, they whupped up a solid defensive squad in N.C. State (scoring 31 of their 34 points in the second half). In '09, they won a snooze-fest against the Wolfpack, 7-3. Ok, so what does this mean?

In every season since Spurrier's arrival in 2005, when South Carolina has had those "two extra days to prepare for Georgia," the Dawgs have won. Every. Single. Time. The games are usually close, but UGA comes away with the W.

The obvious omission here is 2007, when the Gamecocks broke your hearts in Athens and probably cost Georgia a shot at the national championship (anyone else hear violins playing?). Well, USC played their first game on a Saturday.

I'm not saying Carolina won't win. I'm not saying Carolina CAN'T win. I'm not saying that Spurrier won't be using those two extra days to prepare.

I'm not saying anything.

I'm just saying.

Challenging the Folks at SI.COM

In case you don't ever look at SI.COM, and I will post the link here, you may have missed their predictions about how teams will finish in the SEC in 2010. For the most part, I agree with them. However, I think they are giving too much credit to Alabama and not enough to either LSU or Mississippi State. As you read yesterday, there is simply too much for Alabama to overcome for them to win the SEC Championship and go 11-1 (7-1) like the writers at SI believe they will. I believe my prediction of nobody, and I mean NOBODY, coming out of the SEC with less than two losses in conference will hold true. I just don't see it! The only team I give a chance to of losing less than two is Florida, mostly because of their schedule.

Mississippi State is the prediction that surprises me. SI has them at 5-7 (2-6). I disagree with that completely. That prediction suggests they will not improve at all next year. I know their schedule is very difficult, but still. Manny Diaz, who is one hell of a defensive coordinator, came over from Middle Tennessee to run the defense. They should be much-improved on offense as well with this being the 2nd year under Dan Mullen. This is certainly a team I am very afraid to play if I am others in the SEC.

They also have UGA losing to Ga. Tech for the second time in a row in Athens. I don't think that is going to happen. I know GT is ranked higher, but I find it funny that a team who has won 8 of 9 in a rivalry gets no respect when it comes time to choosing the winner there. FSU has lost 6 in a row to UF and I am sure it would upset UF fans if FSU was picked year-in and year-out to win that game. It really does not matter though. After all, that's why they play the game.

Finally, it appears they have Tennessee losing at home to Oregon. This just in: I am putting Oregon on upset alert for this game for several reasons. First, no one, and I mean NO ONE, is giving the Vols a chance. I don't know why. They still have a solid defense. Second, which hinges on the first, the Vols new DC is Justin Wilcox. In case you don't know who he is, he was the DC for Boise State the last two years when they beat none other than......OREGON!!!! You win!!! So, UT should be ready defensively for this. Finally, it is very difficult for western teams to come east and win. I know UCLA beat the Vols last year, but a good night game like this should have the Volunteer faithful fired up.

These are my "outside the box" thoughts. I know, I know, these aren't mainstream and I am probably dreaming on some of these. Who cares? That's why they call this opinion. So what do you think?

No Trilogy For The SEC Championship

Last night, I was watching ESPN's SEC preview with Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit. To tell you the truth, I was surprised by some of the stuff I heard. We all know Alabama is ranked #1 in every poll and Florida is pretty much a consensus to win the East. However, Herbstreit picked Auburn, not Alabama, to face Florida in the championship game in Atlanta. I thought that was a very interesting pick. So, it got me thinking. It makes me feel good that there is someone other than me out there who DOES NOT think Alabama will win the SEC West. Well, let me rephrase, they will not go undefeated. However, there is a larger question to answered. Which team, Alabama or Florida, is LEAST LIKELY to make it back to Atlanta for the third straight year?

Let's examine both teams and determine an answer:

ALABAMA:
There is no question that Alabama has one of the top five coaches in college football. Nick Saban has won two national championships at two schools and is without a doubt the best defensive mind in college football. He has not lost a regular season game dating back to the Iron Bowl loss of 2007. Alabama is absolutely loaded on offense right now with 10 of 11 starters returning, including QB Greg McElroy, WR Julio Jones, and RB Mark Ingram.

However, there are three major factors standing in the way of the Crimson Tide, both in terms of winning the SEC and the BCS Championships. First, they have to replace nine starters on defense. Yes, I know Nick Saban is a defensive guru and they do have a lot of talent. I also believe the emphasis put on returning starters is overrated. Yet, I don't care who you are, when you lose that much experience in that complicated of a system, you are bound to have growing pains. That secondary will certainly get tested in week 4 as the Tide travel to face Ryan Mallett and Arkansas. Second, Alabama faces Ole Miss, South Carolina, LSU, Miss. State, Tennessee, and Auburn as those teams come off bye weeks. Alabama also has its bye week prior to the showdown in Baton Rouge. Now, that would not concern me if those were more toward the beginning of the season when teams still do not what's going on around them or torward the end when the injuries sustained by that point are pretty much season-ending. My point is that bye weeks at the extreme ends of the season are not as vital as those in the middle (see 2009 UGA v Ark, ALA v AUB, UGA v GA Tech). Unfortunately for Bama, the majority of the teams they face coming off bye weeks is in the meat of their schedule (Auburn being the exception). Finally, repeating is very difficult to do. All the pressure in the world is on you. The last team to repeat as SEC Champions was Tennessee back in 1997-1998. The last team to win back-to-back national titles was Nebraska back in 1994-1995 (I know, USC won the AP in 2003 and the BCS in 2004..whatever. We now know Reggie was given a boost there). The point here is that you have a target on your back. You are going to be taking everyone's best shots week-in and week-out. That fact is compounded when those teams have that extra week of rest.

When I look at Alabama's schedule, I see at least two losses. I really think they will lose in Baton Rouge on November 6. This is a game Les Miles and the Tigers really need to win if they are to regain control of the West. I believe they get it done. The game I would fear most though as an Alabama fan is that game in Columbia on October 9. Before you laugh and wet yourself, South Carolina under Spurrier has upset some teams, including knocking off #4 Ole Miss last year and Kentucky every time (Spurrier's comments to Erin Andrews). This is definately a trap game and one that I know for a fact Alabama fans fear. Again, these are AT LEAST 2 losses. They could lose a couple more, depending on that defense. Miss. State could very well win that game as they are expected to make huge strides in year two of Dan Mullen. Also, watch out for the Florida game.

Now, I am sure you are wondering why I do not have them losing to Arkansas this year. To tell you the truth, playing an offense like Arkansas' is something Nick Saban enjoys. Plus, we have no clue if Arkansas can live up to the hype. They are "that team" this year I think. Fortunately for them, Alabama does not play any real tough games before them. Nick Saban will not have time to discover real weaknesses in his secondary. That game should be interesting, but right now I give the slight, AND I MEAN SLIGHT, edge to Bama for the showdown.

My prediction: LSU wins the West.

FLORIDA:

The SEC East seems a lot easier for "experts" to pick. I guess they don't want Urban Meyer banning them from campus, threatening to beat them up, or calling time-outs during media sessions if they don't pick the Gators. It's not that Florida will be better than Alabama or others so much that they only have one real test in the East this year and that's Georgia. To make things better, Florida has a bye week before the Cocktail Showdown in Jacksonville on October 30. Besides Georgia, Florida has really only two other games that they have a serious chance to lose. First is the game at Alabama on October 2. The other game is at home against LSU on October 9. Just for the hell of it, Florida should probably watch out for October 16 as well. That's when Dan Mullen and MSU come to the Swamp and Florida could get caught looing ahead to UGA. Maybe a personal foul call will save them there.

In all seriousness though, Florida does have some major concerns. First, the quarterback play combined with a high ranking is an issue. In 2007, Florida came in ranked #3 with Tebow in his first year and they went 9-4. Second, Florida has a new defensive coordinator. How will Teryl Austin do? What will be the impact of losing LB Brandon "the eye-gouging" Spikes and CB Joe Haden? In a sense, Florida has the same problem Alabama does: A talented, but young defense. How do they respond? Third, and I think the biggest, is one that no one seems to be talking about. John Chavis, while he was Tennessee's DC used to comment on Tebow, saying third and short was an automatic first down since he was so big and could run downhill. My question is: who is that person now? What is Florida going to do on third downs? Demps and Rainey will be smashed trying to play powerball and Brantley cannot always throw. So, Florida has to figure that out. They do have a solid offensive line, but they still need that RB or FB who can smash through a defense like Tebow and get those extra yards. Watch and see, this could be a huge deal for them this season and could be the difference in wins and losses.

Urban Meyer is also a crucial x-factor this year. What is he going to do differently? He has said that he is not going to be as "hands-on" as he has been the previous years. Personally, I do not believe that. You can't change a man from who he is. Meyer is too fired up and too much a competitor to sit back.

I think Florida, like Alabama, loses at least two games this year. They too have so many unknowns that "experts" are trying to shrug off. I think they lose to Alabama and Florida State (not that the FSU game has bearing on the SEC East). The bye week before Georgia should help them as it comes in the middle of the season. Of course, UGA should be able to look at the Bama game and see how to defend John Brantley. Still, I see the Gators pulling that game out. The LSU game is the one I feel to be the real toss-up. I really have no idea on that one.

Even if Florida does lose to LSU and Bama, I still have them winning the East. It would be too hard for UGA or South Carolina to lose to Florida and still win the East. It can be done, but I do not see it happening for either team. South Carolina plays Florida too late in the year so their lack of depth is worn exposed. Georgia is the mystery team here. Kirk Herbstreit and many other 'experts" feel they are the sleeper team. It will all hinge on the 3-4 scheme of Todd Grantham. I just think it will take a year for the defense and Aaron Murray to settle in for a national championship run in 2011.

My prediction: Florida wins the East.

So, in conclusion, I say Alabama is LEAST LIKELY to make it back. Your opinions?

Remember, Remember The 4th of December (2007)

Following the 2007 MLB Season, Atlanta Braves' General Manager Frank Wren pulled off two of the most lop-sided trades in recent memory. First, on October 29, 2007, Wren traded SS Edgar Renteria to the Detroit Tigers for OF Gorkys Herndandez and P Jair Jurrjens. I think we can agree this was lop-sided alright! Chalk up one for Frank Wren. However, the bigger trade may have come a month later on December 4, when the Braves traded pitching prospect Jose Ascanio to the Chicago Cubs for reliever Will Ohman and some utility infielder named Omar Infante.

Infante, like Martin Prado, patiently waited his turn to play everyday. With the recent injuries to both Chipper Jones (gone for year) and Prado, who is back, Infante has finally had a consistent chance to prove that he did not suck enough to merit being traded for Jacque Jones at one point. The so-called "worst All-Star Game pick ever" has been a vital part to this Braves team and is a huge reason why they are in first place today.

This season, Omar Infante has a .349 batting average with 6 homers and 31 RBIs in just over 300 at-bats. Even more impressive is his .375 OBP. Now, do not let the low homer amount fool you. This past weekend at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Infante jacked 3 homers, including 2 in today's 16-5 rout over the Cubs in what turned out to be Lou Piniella's last game. How fitting an ending for a Cubs' manager! Maybe Omar found Sammy Sosa's old bat. You know, the one with the cork in it!

What about those that were also apart of that trade? Will Ohman pitched well for Atlanta that year. He then proceeded, like so many other Braves, to head out to the LA Dodgers and flame out. He is currently a member of the Marlins. Ascanio was later traded to the Pirates for pitchers John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny. 

The truth about Omar Infante, along with Martin Prado, is that he waited a long time for his shot to play everyday. Next year, depending on Chipper Jones, remains a mystery as to what the Braves will do with Infante. One thing is for sure though, he is going to be a hot commodity for someone after this season. The so-called "worst All-Star Game pick ever" could very well end up getting the last laugh. He could prove to be the seam that holds this team together. A strong, versatile player who continues to produce more and more each day. He has big hit after big hit. How sweet would it be for him to get the hit that clinches a playoff spot, the division, the NLCS, or World Series? Worst pick ever? Not even close bud!

My advice to Atlanta: Lock up both Infante and Prado to long-term deals! 

My advice to those who doubted Infante: Apologize the way Randy Marsh did to Jesse Jackson on South Park!

Mmm...Cupcakes...Om Nom Nom

Well, the first games of the 2010 college football season are less than two weeks away and many programs are entering the fray with less of a bang and more like...say...dipping a toe into hot bath water. Playing laughably inferior competition is a time-honored tradition for the major powers of football, especially here in the South.

I'm of the opinion that playing one of these "cupcakes" a year is OK, given that every SEC and ACC team must navigate a difficult schedule simply by virtue of its conference affiliation. Week One provides us some hilarious match-ups involving those two conferences:

Florida A&M at Miami (FL) -
There's gonna be an awful lot of guys wearing green and orange on the field for this titanic clash. Probably more than in the stands at Sun Life Stadium.

Presbyterian at Wake Forest -
The Demon Deacons take on the Blue Hose. It looks more like a bar trivia challenge than a football game.

Samford at Florida State -
The 'Noles pick up where they left off; playing another former employer of Bobby Bowden's. Jimbo Fisher reminds everyone that he's the FSU head coach now, actually.

Miami (OH) at Florida -
It's a good thing Miami's jerseys have a lot of red on them already; this is gonna be a bloodletting. No truth to the rumor that former RedHawk Ben Roethlisberger will be hitting up G-ville that Friday night.

Louisiana-Lafayette at Georgia -
Historically, the Dawgs are the foremost experts on "playing down" to their competition. Somewhere, Larry Munson is bemoaning the arm strength of the Cajuns' QB, ol'-what's-his-name.

South Carolina State at Georgia Tech -
The Ramblin' Wreck will at least be able to say they beat ONE group of Bulldogs this year. Ha ha. Been sittin' on that one for a while.

Weber State at Boston College -
I got nothin'. Really. Nothin' at all.

North Texas at Clemson -
The Todd Dodge farewell tour begins in Death Valley. The Tigers get a pass here; they play Presbyterian, too, but only before consecutive games against Auburn, Miami (FL), and UNC. There's no question that if Clemson is 5-0 after that, they are a Top 10 team.

Jacksonville State at Ole Miss -
Jax State is the only other school in the country besides South Carolina with the nickname Gamecocks. It took you longer to read that than it will for this game to be decided.

Tennessee-Martin at Tennessee -
Here's what I like about this game: when a big-time college football team (yes, that still applies to Tennessee) plays a I-AA team, I like that it's an in-state school. That big paycheck really helps the little guys out. I know; I'm a big softie.

Arkansas State at Auburn - Fun fact: In 2009, ASU only lost to eventual Orange Bowl champion Iowa by three points. Cam "Laptop Bandido" Newton makes his debut on the Plains here, too.

Tennessee Tech at Arkansas -
I saw Tennessee Tech play last year in Sanford Stadium. I really think that was the worst football team I've EVER seen play. I'm not kidding. I don't think they even tried to win. Ryan Mallett will try to be the first QB ever to throw for 1,000 yards in a game.

San Jose State at Alabama -
Cross-country flights are a bitch. Asking the Spartans to do it just to be embarrassed by the defending national champions is just plain wrong.

Memphis at Mississippi State -
This would be must-see TV if this were basketball season. But it's not.

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In fairness, It ain't gonna be ALL warm butter-cream and fluffy pastry for the SEC and ACC in Week One. There are some HUGE games on the schedule involving Southern teams. Boise State vs. Virginia Tech is an obvious one, being a de facto national title elimination for both squads. LSU vs. UNC is another; two contenders for their respective conference crowns battle in the Georgia Dome in primetime.

Louisville/Kentucky has provided some fantastic finishes in recent years. The Cards are attempting a comeback of NKOTB-proportions, and they would love to ruin Joker Phillips' first game as coach of the Wildcats.

Navy/Maryland is a great regional rivalry, and Ralph Friedgen NEEDS to win in the worst way.

If you go to the Northwestern/Vanderbilt game, don't be surprised if a quiz bowl breaks out.

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Here are some other sneaky games from the first week of college football that you should really pay attention to:

Western Carolina at N.C. State -
OK, this very well could be the Wolfpack's ONLY win in 2010. I'm serious. They play against the best the ACC has to offer, with only the Virginia Tech game coming at home. Unfortunately, the Tom O'Brien experiment has not worked in Raleigh.

Elon at Duke -
Another match-up where the result may surprise you. Elon went 9-3 last year and Duke isn't good enough to simply brush the Phoenix aside. The Devils should win, but will find themselves trailing. Late.

Richmond at Virginia -
The term "upset alert" was coined for games like this. If the Spiders (11-2 in 2009) DON'T win, I'll be shocked. But seriously, if you pit a quality I-AA (that's right, I said it) team against its former coach in his first game with a talentless squad, and it's got all the makings of an embarrassing opening loss.

Southern Miss at South Carolina -
The ultimate "look-ahead" game. Don't be fooled: Carolina is prepping for the epic bout against Georgia in Week Two RIGHT NOW. The Golden Eagles are more than capable of scaring the Bojangle's out of the Cocks should they be unfocused.

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Let's see...did I miss anyone? No? Then let the feasting begin!

Patriots v. Falcons

Tonight, we have an interesting preseason NFL game in the Georgia Dome. The New England (or Pawtucket for those that watch Family Guy) Patriots are squaring off against the Atlanta Falcons at 8 PM.

Could this be a preseason match-up of a possible Super Bowl? Either way, it should be interesting to see. Feel free to talk about it.

Adam Wainwright and the Tomahawk

I remember sitting at my parent's house on the night of October 27, 2006. I was visiting from Athens, on my way down to Jacksonville for the annual Georgia-Florida showdown. That Friday night, October 27, was Game 5 of the 2006 World Series between the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. In the top of 9th, with the Cardinals leading 4-2, manager Tony La Russa summoned closer Adam Wainwright into the game for the Cardinals. With a runner on and two outs, Wainwright delivered a 0-2 curveball to Brandon Inge. Inge swung on and missed. Game over! The Cardinals were World Series Champions for the first time since 1982.

Now, you might be wondering why I bring this up when referring to the tomahawk (Braves). Well, it just so happens that less than two years prior to him recording the final out of the 2006 World Series for the Cardinals, Adam Wainwright was a star prospect for the Atlanta Braves. That's right, the Braves had one of the best pitchers and a leading candidate for this year's NL Cy Young Award in their minor league system.

So what happened? On December 13, 2003, the Atlanta Braves, after posting the best record in the ML that year (102-60), had made another early-round, disappointing playoff exit at the hands of the Chicago Cubs. Oh how we all wish Steve Bartman would have made his presence felt that series! That offseason, the Braves lost Greg Maddux, Vinny Castilla, Gary Sheffield, and Javier Lopez to free agency. Thus, it was clear GM John Schuerholz needed to reload the Braves. He proceeded to trade Jason Marquis, Ray King, and some prospect named Adam Wainwright to the Cardinals for J.D. Drew and Eli Marrero.

In the short-term, this trade proved to be very successful for Atlanta. J.D. Drew had a career-year in Atlanta, hitting .305, belting 31 homeruns, and driving in 93 runs. He actually managed to stay healthy most of the year. Eli Marrero proved to be a vital part of the Braves' bench. The Braves, despite the pundits and the odds, subsequently went on to win their 13th straight division title.

Following that season's success, Drew left Atlanta and signed a 5 year/$55 million deal with the Dodgers. For whatever reason, the Braves traded Eli Marrero after the season to the Royals. That is truly one I will never figure out. The following year, the Braves and their fans saw some of their worst fears come true. Adam Wainwright, the one no one wanted to see go, made his major league debut in a St. Louis uniform. A year later, he won the World Series for the Cardinals while the Braves streak of 14 straight division titles came to halt that 2006 Season.

Wainwright has truly been impressive since his major league debut. He is 63-31 for his career and just made his first All-Star appearance this 2010 Season in Anaheim. He has a remarkable 47-18 record since the start of the 2008 Season.  His 2010 record of 17-7 and ERA of 2.06 has put him right in the middle of this year's NL Cy Young talk. What's worse, the Braves and Cardinals could be on a collision course for this year's playoffs. Man, that is one pitcher I would not want to face, especially in St. Louis, where he is 11-1 this season.

I cannot help but picture Wainwright with a tomahawk across his uniform every time I see him pitch. I have been a Braves fan my whole life. I have seen many players come and go. There is not one that hurts more than this one!

Questioning the Derrek Lee Trade

It is officially a done deal! In an odd and questionable move to say the least, first baseman Derrek Lee has been dealt to the Atlanta Braves by the Chicago Cubs in exchange for three prospects. With Chipper Jones being lost for the year due to a left ACL tear and Troy Glaus struggling at the plate, GM Frank Wren is clearly attempting to add another "big bat" to the lineup.

In my opinion, this move does not do much to help the Braves. Lee, while having a respectable career line of .282 BA/.367 OBP/.499 SLG, has struggled this year while battling a back injury. His line this year is .251 BA/.335 OBP/.416 SLG.* Surprisingly, that is not much better in terms of production than that of current Braves first baseman Troy Glaus. Glaus' line this year reads .234 BA/.343 OBP/.406 SLG.* According to ESPN, Braves scout and former major league manager Jim Fregosi saw Lee in action against the Cardinals last weekend, where Lee jacked four homers in the series. So, both Fregosi and Wren must feel Lee is finally eating his spinach, thereby giving him the strength to make a late-season power surge.

Frank Wren may have done this more for defensive purposes though. That would seem logical. Lee is a four-time Gold Glove winner at first base. Atlanta's pitching staff, with Jurrjens, Lowe, and Hudson, is predominately made up of sinkerballers who get a lot of ground ball outs. So, naturally this move could be more beneficial in terms of defense, even if that was not the intent. Yet, just like their offensive numbers, Lee and Glaus have posted comparable statistics defensively this season as well. Lee has started and played in 105 games and made six errors. Glaus has played in 112 games this year, starting 105 of them. He has made eight errors.* So, maybe it is just a question of range or jumping ability. After all, Lee was recruited by Dean Smith to play basketball at North Carolina.

The natural feeling about this trade is one that gives us a sense of improvement for Atlanta. Why not? The Braves just acquired a career .282 hitter with four gold gloves. However, judging by the this season's stats from Lee in comparison to those of Glaus, forgive me if I do not share the same enthusiasm that the rest of you might. In my opinion, the Braves' solution to replacing a 34 year-old struggling, injured first baseman was to......well......acquire another 34 year-old struggling, injured first baseman. For all we know, Wren could have just had that overwhelming desire to spend more money.

As a Braves fan, I hope Wren and Fregosi indeed see something that I do not in Derrek Lee right now. I have seen Lee play a lot over the years, both in person and on television. There is no doubt he is one of the best in the game when healthy. Hell, he has been in the triple-crown talk several times through the years. I guess we will see soon enough. Ironically, Lee could take the field for the first time in a Braves uniform this weekend as they play the Cubs in Chicago.

Here's to hoping Lee helps add to the continuing misery of the Cubs!

*Stats courtesy of ESPN.com

About That Whole 'Closed Practice' Thing...

Unless you're only now emerging from underneath that rock, you're probably aware of the blustery speech delivered by Alabama head coach Nick Saban at the SEC Media Days a while back. Blah, blah, blah, "agents are no better than pimps", blah, blah, blah. Remember now?

Well, in an even more heavy-handed action, Saban closed the Crimson Tide's practices to all NFL personnel until further notice, apparently in protest against those who would try and make a buck off his team. (Florida coach Urban Meyer soon followed suit) Practice closed. Shoo.

With all that going down, was I the only one surprised to see this "Alabama All-Access" feature on ESPN this past week? It seems a bit odd that Saban would allow such a thing. I'm not so naive that I can't see the benefit such coverage has for the Tide - national TV exposure and an opportunity to have recruits see the facilities, coaching methods, and testimonies of current players - but the timing of this makes Coach Saban's pulpit-pounding rant seem so... (what's the word I'm looking for?) ...disingenuous.

"Let me be cle-yah" (my thanks to Congresswoman Brown); I absolutely agree with Saban regarding agents and their attempts to circumvent the rules on player contact. The NFL has enjoyed using college football as its unpaid minor league for a long, long time and it is the NFL who must find a way to curb this illicit behavior. HOWEVER, Saban is doing the sport of college football a huge disservice when he rails against the gold-digging opportunists one moment and becomes one himself the next. I believe those people are called "hypocrites."

ESPN is doing what ESPN does (and can't be blamed for doing): seizing an opportunity to drive up ratings. Alabama is the defending national champion and makes for great fodder in anticipation of the college football season. It just rubs me wrong that with all the noise Nick Saban made about protecting his boys from those who would exploit them, he allowed ESPN to swoop in and do exactly that. Maybe it's just the timing that bothers me.

Or maybe I should just change the channel.

Spurrier's Last Shot?

Last week, the Coaches' Poll, which is part of the BCS formula, was released. In the poll sat six SEC teams: Alabama (1), Florida (3), LSU (16), Arkansas (19), Georgia (21), and Auburn (23). Noticeably absent is the one team I thought would finally get some respect this year: South Carolina Gamecocks.

Ever since he was hired in 2005, the question was never "if," but "when" would Steve Spurrier lead South Carolina to its first ever SEC Championship in football? Some laughed, some cried, and some drank cool-aid about him winning like the boys on College Gameday. However, his record at Duke and Florida told everyone that Steve Spurrier knew a thing or two about turning programs with few bright spots into consistent winners. After all, he averaged 10 wins a year at Florida. So why could he not use his magic at South Carolina?

Starting in the 2005 Season, Spurrier seemed to be on his way. His South Carolina team went 7-5 with big wins over Florida and Tennessee, along with a near victory over Georgia between the hedges. The Gamecocks finished second in the division behind Georgia and it appeared Spurrier was primed to take the Gamecocks to unprecedented heights.

While 2006 proved to be another above-average South Carolina year with a 8-5 record, 2007 really took off hot for the Gamecocks. A huge victory over Georgia in Athens and a 6-1 start propelled the Gamecocks to a #7 ranking in the country. Then, the bottom fell out. Huge losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Florida, and Clemson that season torpedoed the Gamecocks' ship. They lost their last 5 in a row and did not make a bowl game.

The last two years at South Carolina produced identical 7-6 records for Spurrier. For a man whose ego is higher than his winning percentage before his stop in Columbia, he can clearly feel his legacy tanking. However, Spurrier's Gamecocks, marred by inconsistent play, lack of depth, and major staff turnover, may finally be on the verge of breaking through. Of course, this may be by default.

Now, you might be asking, "what do you mean by 'default'?" The answer is simple. With 17 returning starters for the Gamecocks, they are primed to make a run at the Eastern crown. Furthermore, they are the ONLY team in the division to not have a new head coach and/or change in a major coordinator. Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee have new defensive coordinators (Teryl Austin, Todd Grantham, and Justin Wilcox). Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Tennessee have new head coaches (Robbie Caldwell, Joker Phillips, and Derek Dooley).

Of course, Spurrier's problem is, well.....Spurrier. He can't stop criticizing his quarterback Steven Garcia. All due respect to Spurrier, Garcia has an impressive line from last year. He completed 55% of his passes. He threw for 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. That is not bad considering he threw the ball 432 times. I personally saw Garcia light up Georgia last year (then again, who didn't the last 3 years). If Garcia can find Alshon Jeffery a lot, then South Carolina will be in good shape. Since most pumps are self-serve now, he should be free and able to play on Saturdays.

The problem South Carolina is going to have to overcome is depth and schedule. They may have the best 22 players out there. However, there is a big drop-off for them at 23 on down compared to Georgia and Florida in the East. That issue, combined with their schedule, is the reason I think they crawl to the finish line each year. Looking at their 2010 schedule, I don't see any relief. Four out of their last five games are against Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, and Clemson. Add in there Georgia, at Auburn, and Alabama, and they may lose 6 games again this year. Personally, given the fact they come off a bye before playing Alabama, I think they will win that game.

Regardless of what happens, I firmly believe it's do or die for Spurrier this year. This is his one shot at it. All the schools in the East are going through transition. By 2011, all bets are off. You can be sure Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky will be ready to take aim on the division by then and South Carolina will be left out.

Ahhh South Carolina. You could write a brochure about it titled "Where Old Coaches Go to Die."

Initial Thoughts on the McGarity Hire

Well, that was fast.

"The Search" was supposed to last at least six months. It lasted barely one. University of Georgia president Michael Adams made his intention to look "outside" the UGA family for the next athletic director very clear upon accepting Damon Evans' resignation. As it turns out, Bulldog Nation will be led by one of their own.

Greg McGarity, executive associate athletic director at the University of Florida, lettered in tennis for the Dawgs in 1973 and later served a number of roles at the UGA Athletic Association. In 1992, McGarity traded his Red and Black for Blue and Orange, moving to Gainesville to advance his career. Well, time to update that wardrobe again.

Make no mistake; the Mighty Gators have enjoyed the most successful era in their history with McGarity on the clock. As right-hand man to AD Jeremy Foley, McGarity was instrumental in returning Florida's football program to prominence. He helped hoist two national championship banners into the rafters of the O'Connell Center. His track record of success up to this point has been a bitter pill for every Georgia fan everywhere.

The question that most Bulldogs will ask is this: will Greg McGarity take what he learned at UF and apply it with the same success in Athens? The answer won't be known for years, but momentum is building at UGA already, and for much of that, Damon Evans is to thank.

To his credit, Evans left Georgia's men's basketball program in MUCH better shape than he found it. The soon-to-be-completed renovations to Stegeman Coliseum are a testament to the commitment Evans made to Georgia Basketball and hopefully, Dawg fans will make that as much a part of Evans' legacy as Thong-Gate. Because Damon hired Mark Fox as head coach, the Bulldogs have a chance to finally realize the immense potential within the program. I would bet a 14-17 team has never made a fan base so excited for what's to come.

No doubt most Dawg lovers hope the Red and Black will duplicate the hated Gators' success on the gridiron with McGarity at the helm. It's reasonable to assume that his intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the Florida machine is the primary reason he landed the gig. But he can't fix what ain't broke; Mark Richt knows what he's doing and he will retire one day as UGA's all-time winningest coach. Just wait; you'll see.

As a former tennis letter-winner, McGarity's impact on Georgia's "Olympic" sports programs should be positive and profound. Whether some Bulldog fans care or not, Georgia already enjoys elite status in most sports in which it fields a team. While 2009-10 was a colossal flop in that UGA didn't win a single NCAA championship (I see you, Equestrian), years in which the Dawgs raise at least one trophy vastly outnumber the ones in which they don't. McGarity should help make that disparity even greater.

I, for one, am excited for all of the promise the next few years have in store for the Dawgs. Congratulations to Greg McGarity on landing one of the sweetest jobs in collegiate athletics.

Welcome home.

Chipper Jones Tears ACL, Likely Gone for Year

As anyone who follows Atlanta Braves' baseball knows, this is the final year for manager Bobby Cox. Atlanta General Manager Frank Wren and the Braves are doing everything in their power to send Cox out a winner. However, a vital part of the team will no longer be on the field for the rest of this 2010 season. On Tuesday night, Chipper Jones tore his left ACL making a spectacular play off the bat of Houston Astros' left-fielder Carlos Lee. Thanks to Chipper's replacement, Brooks Conrad, the Braves went on to win 4-2.

So, several questions now emerge? Short-term, can the Braves hold off the Phillies without the heart and soul of their team? Sure, Chipper's 10 homers and 46 RBIs are not "off-the-chart" numbers, but there is no question who the emotional leader of this team is. The Braves need him and they need his bat. However, what is going to happen long-term? Chipper has openly talked about retirement and how this could be his last season. Being 38 years of age and trying to come back from ACL surgery is not an easy task. Chipper is a fierce competitor and does not want to hurt his team by not playing at his usual level.

Watching ESPN's Pardon the Interruption today, I heard Michael Wilbon say that the only thing that could make Chipper go out happier than making that play would have been to hit a game-winning homer against the Mets at Citi Field. That's probably very true! There is no question in anybody's mind that his successful 17 year career makes him a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. He has a career .306 BA with 436 homers. That makes him third all-time among switch-hitters, trailing only Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle. Throughout his career, he has driven in 1,491 runs and has an on-base percentage of .405. He was a part of twelve of the fourteen straight division titles and was runner-up in the 1995 Rookie-of-the-Year voting behind Hideo Nomo.

One of my favorite memories of Chipper Jones came in his MVP season of 1999. That year, the Braves and Mets were going toe-to-toe right into a 3-game series at Turner Field in September. In game 1 of the series on September 21, Chipper homered left-handed to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, after some thought, Mets Manager Bobby Valentine decided to go with his gut and bring in lefty Dennis Cook to turn Chipper around and make him bat right-handed. Now, anyone who followed Chipper's career to that point knew that he could not hit with power right-handed. In fact, prior to 1999, only 12 of his 110 career homers came right-handed. However, thanks new hitting Don Baylor, Chipper fixed that in 1999 season, hitting 12 alone that year up to this spot. On the third pitch of the at-bat, Chipper took Cook's 1-1 fastball and launched it into the left-centerfield seats and gave the Braves a huge win. He would go on to homer twice more in the series as the Braves swept Mets and won the division shortly after.

Fast-forward eleven years later and perhaps we have seen the last of brilliant career from one of the game's all-time great third basemen. How fitting would it be for Chipper, who has been with Bobby Cox from the beginning of his career, to go out like this? Within the last two years, I have seen the Braves retire both Greg Maddux's (31) and Tom Glavine's (47) numbers. No doubt Chipper (10) and Bobby (6), along with Smoltz (29), will be right beside them in a few years.

Indeed, 2010 will likely bring to an end one of the greatest eras in sport's history. The good news for the Braves is that Omar Infante and Brooks Conrad, both of whom have been raking the ball in Chipper's absence earlier, will get their long overdue shots to play. Omar has been lights out and Conrad has hit 3 late-inning bombs, including 2 grand slams, to propel the Braves to big wins this year.

Many questions remain. Can the Braves hold off the Phillies? Is this the end for Chipper? What is Frank Wren going to do? We don't know. What we do know is that we have witnessed one hell of career the last 17 years and it's a sad day for Braves' fans all over.