re: Rooster, we deserve to know

I'm hungover from a long weekend ... maybe a ting of the flu or something from being on the boat and in the woods all weekend, so take this for what it is worth.

I've got no clue.

1 - I'd been saying for a couple of years that 2014 was going to be our year because we had recruited so well in the trenches in particular. Plus we seemed loaded at RB, had a 5th year senior QB, (who at the time I started the prediction had just beaten Clemson at Clemson and who I knew was a very good kid who does everything right in life). Additionally, to be honest, some of the people I know close to the program also seemed to be looking ahead to 2014 ... which were conversations usually prompted by a "Clowney is leaving early" comment which led to the whole "optimistic 2014" outlook during face-to-face conversations in and around the program. I also think that was illustrated, after two years of me saying it here, when we were were picked to win the East in the preseason and when Spurrier seemed so incredibly optimistic heading-into this season. So I think I am vindicated somewhat, by the fact that, even though I had been preaching it for a couple of years ... everyone else seemed to agree with me by the time the preseason rolled-around. Media, players, coaches, fans ... unless someone is able to name a more optimistic preseason in our history than this one?

(I did not anticipate the loss of Ellington, Christian, Quarles, Hampton AND, most importantly, Brad Lawing or I may have been slightly less optimistic about this year, but not by much.)

2 - With regard to Mitch on the sidelines. Here's all I know about that. This is the only thing I know for sure. He's not better than Thompson in practice or he would be starting. I've actually seen that with mine own eyes. Now, does Spurrier have some sort of spiritual connection with Thompson, a certain amount of love and loyalty for Thompson? I dunno. I think so. I've heard it mentioned by people who would know, but anything else would be speculation and conjecture.

3 - David Williams ... that one just baffles me. But then again, is our rushing game really the problem? Feels more like an OLine/QB/WR timing/protection issue to me. Where to begin? Whatever, when it comes to RBs that one is totally the call of Sands' and I have no clue why he is not playing Williams more other than the depth in front of Williams ... that's the only thing I can think of and still, based upon preseason first hand conversations I either personally had or personally witnessed and overheard ... Williams was expected to have 25-30 carries by now minimum.

4 - Chemistry ... all I kept hearing over and over and over again all preseason and even dating back to the day after the bowl in January was about how good our chemistry was/is. How hard the guys were working. Speed, strength ... we had it all. And believe it or not, that was not always the case last year. I used to hear about work issue problems all the time once Lattimore left the program. Last year's team, I'm talking the 2013 squad, had horrible things said about it during the course of the season. Laziness was rampant. Joe-Con was not getting it done - thing were going downhill since Fitz left and especially since Lattimore left. Quarles was a back stabbing rat. Sutton was loafing. Hampton was a problem child. We had a couple of coaches who had gone at it on the sidelines and people were talking about if they even liked one another ... hell, everyone was questioning the hiring of Deke. People were starting to question Whammy some even then. .... but we still won 11 games.

This year everything was rosy by March. Kumbaya everywhere. So I dunno exactly what is happening ... but I do know we have mental issues on tha team. I just got back a little while ago, got unpacked and got a shower and I am about to sleep until tomorrow some time ... so I have not yet had time to watch the replay but I had several guys already tell me we melted at the 6:50 mark in the 4th quarter and to be sure to check-out the body language.

One thing I've already noticed for sure is that we're missing a killer, a head-hunting thug, head-ripping savage, on both sides of the ball that just says frick-it and takes a ballgame over.

And another thing without having seen this game against Mizzou yet ... we were due to lose a close one. But I've been told that Billy Brice was rocking, the fans were doing everything right ... and this wasn't a matter of losing a close one. This one was a matter of poor defensive coaching and play-calling, a failure to run the ball and burn clock and a total lack of confidence on the part of the players' ... everyone I talked to when we got back to the marina said the same thing, although I took it for what it was worth at the time considering everyone seemed unusually intoxicated at the time as I really talked to everyone between midnight and 3:00 AM as it were.