re: SEC Riviera Roundup - Week Two part one

Around the SEC …West to East (in alphabetical order)

Alabama – At halftime against West Virginia Nick Saban described his defense as “soft.” Perplexed and befuddled by the unforgiving machinations of the spread offense, Saban continues to try and place a round peg in a square hole. Give him credit for stubbornness.

Auburn – Second string quarterback Jeremy Johnson is better than both LSU and Bama’s first stringer. He and Auburn’s starting signal caller, Nick Marshall, are two of the three reasons why Auburn is now the favorite to win the Western Division. Gus is the third.

Arkansas – Bielema continues to snoop along like a hog searching for a buried truffle. If he can keep his patience that first SEC win may come before his third season, as his team, at times, was competitive against Auburn. Like Lombardi said, winning is a habit.

LSU – Like prancing rainbow warriors the Nega-Tigers came out on Saturday, deploring their head coach in every way, shape and form. These were the folks who left NRG early, and kicked their dogs at home when they discovered Miles was once again victorious.

Mississippi State – The Bulldogs looked impressive in all phases against Southern Miss despite vanilla play calling by the Wizard, Dan “Merlin” Mullen. Everyone always said State would be a beast when they finally got a quarterback. The thing is—he’s a beauty.

Ole Miss – While the Rebels dispatched an overmatched Boise State, they did little to prove they are capable of winning the West. Wallace looks pedestrian and the Rebels need to dust off the off-season rust. Freeze’s decision-making, at times, is a mystery.

Texas A&M – Sumlin dropped a butt-whipping for the ages on a disbelieving Columbia crowd that has to feel cursed. Even the great Darth Visor wilted to the challenge of stopping the Aggies, which has proved confounding to teams not wearing purple and gold.

The East

Florida – While Champ’s troops were chomping at the bit Saturday, the weather was uncooperative, prompting a rare rain cancellation. It is uncertain whether the game will be rescheduled. The Gators are a mystery as they prepare for Eastern Michigan.

Georgia – The Bulldogs look to be the strength of the Eastern Division after throttling Clemson 45-21, led by Heisman hopeful Todd Gurley’s 198 yards rushing. With South Carolina’s precipitous fall, and a so-far healthy squad, Richt’s silver britches are it.

Kentucky – Mark Stoops’ Wildcats came out of the gates hoofing it, whooping UT Martin by a lopsided score of 59-14. While the big win was somewhat surprising, it won’t be when the Cats sneak up on someone later this fall. The worm is turning.

Mizzou – Pinkel’s Tigers beat the South Dakota Jack Rabbits 38-18 in one of the most lightly watched games during an exciting first week. They prepare for a road game in Toledo this Saturday before returning to Columbia next week to play Central Florida.

South Carolina – JaDeveon Clowney’s boyhood nickname was the unthinkable, “Doo Doo.” In his absence, the South Carolina pass rush looked shockingly similar. One has to wonder what Spurrier learned from watching the film, and if he can overcome.

Tennessee – Butch Jones tabbed senior quarterback Justin Worley as starter and the Vols punched Utah State in the mouth with an impressive 38-7 win in the opener. Bama fans everywhere are wondering if this is the year Tennessee avenges earlier painful upsets.

Vanderbilt – Derek Mason’s debut as Vandy head coach didn’t go as planned, dropping their first game 37-7 to the Temple Owls, after turning the ball over an unconscionable seven times. Mason now has to prepare the Commodores for Ole Miss on Saturday.

Going Soft on a Hot Saturday Night

Nick Saban might as well have called his defense weak, because they looked nothing like his bold and menacing teams of old against unranked West Virginia on Saturday in Atlanta. Alabama’s number two national ranking is as suspect as the mindset of its aging head coach, and the obsequious, fawning national media that continues to prop up the condescending field general. Alabama fans may not be Rhodes Scholars, or win many congeniality contests, but they know football, and of course, how to pick their poison. Even Harvey Updyke is concerned, as after that performance Bama’s schedule just got a lot tougher, especially that looming large November night game in Baton Rouge.

Until next time…

*A noted SEC football observer for over 15 years, Chris Warner is a graduate of LSU and the University of New Orleans the author of over twenty titles, including the popular “A Tailgater’s Guide to SEC Football, Volume IV,” “SEC Sports Quotes Compendium,” “Bushwhacked at the Flora-Bama,” and the newly-released fourth novel, “Saved at the Alabama-Florida Line,” set in Perdido Key in 2010, the same year of the BP Oil Blowout in the Gulf of Mexico. He lives with his family in Lower Alabama. Find his books on Amazon.com and the Kindle Store.