TJ's College Football Blog: 2013

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Georgia Wanted To Win Long Before Watkins' Comments

By Terry Johnson
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Regardless of what anyone says, Sammy Watkins’ recent comments about beating the Georgia Bulldogs in the season opener aren't that big of a deal.

Make no mistake about it: Watkins definitely stirred up a hornet's nest with his remarks. As he told Bart Wright of the Greenville News:

"If we come out and beat Georgia, not just beat ‘em but beat the mess out of ‘em like we should, I don’t see no problems in getting started in the right direction. I don’t have disrespect for them or for nobody else, I just believe we can be just the kind of team we want to be, the talent is here, we know how to win.”

Naturally, that bold assertion did not go unnoticed. College football experts across the nation opined that Watkins’ incendiary statement was a huge mistake because it provided “bulletin board material” for the Bulldogs.

Unfortunately, that argument simply isn’t true. The Dawgs wanted to win this contest long before Watkins said anything.

Let’s be honest: UGA is probably the hungriest team in the nation because it hasn’t received the type of respect that it deserves. After winning the last two East Division titles, all people want to focus on is how the Bulldogs had a relatively easy conference schedule. Instead of complimenting the Dawgs for nearly derailing Alabama’s quest for back-to-back titles, the media coverage focused on how Mark Richt and Aaron Murray couldn’t win the big one.

Those types of criticisms—made long before the interview with Watkins took place—are what has and will continue to motivate the Georgia players to win the season opener.

Judging by how well the defense fared in the spring game, it’s safe to assume that Richt and company will begin the 2013 campaign on a winning note.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Reaction to Oregon's Penalties - or lack thereof

By Terry Johnson
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It's hard not to be disappointed with the NCAA in this case. Rather than punish Oregon for breaking the rules, the NCAA basically accepted the penalties that UO recommended since the school was "fully cooperat(ive) throughout the entirety of the investigative stage."

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

Let's be honest, Oregon committed some very serious recruiting violations in this case. As the Committee on Infractions noted in its findings, "the $25,000 paid to recruiting service 1 was more than double the amount the institution paid to the second most costly of the other recruiting services it employed."

Not a bad salary for someone who the committee concluded "lacked national-level experience."

Still not convinced this is a big deal? Consider the following snippet from the today's report:

Committee Member: Okay. Then in February, you have (prospect A) sign a Letter of Intent with the university, and then you have shortly thereafter a $25,000 invoice to the university that is paid (to the recruiting service provider) as part of the contractual relationship for services that ultimately were never provided. Is that a fair assessment? I am just trying to get to the essence of this.

Former head coach: Yes, I understand. The services weren't totally provided in terms of what we should have got.

Translation: the service provider received money for steering recruits to Eugene, not for his contractually agreed upon services.

So what does Oregon get for such an egregious violation of the rules? Three years of probation and the loss of one scholarship in each of the next two seasons.

In other words, it received little more than a slap on the wrist. That's hardly the type of punishment that will make other schools think twice before committing a similar offense in the future.

And make no mistake about it: something like this is bound to happen again. Whether we like it or not (and I don't), the recruiting process is much more competitive than it's ever been before. What's to stop a coach from bending (or breaking) the rules if he knows that the school will get off lightly as long as it cooperates with the NCAA investigation?

Absolutely nothing.

Houston, we have a problem.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Rant Sports College Football Top 100 Rankings: No. 80 Bowling Green

Thankfully, the college football season is just 80 days away. That means it’s time to preview team No. 80 in the Rant Sports 100 in 100 Series: the Bowling Green Falcons.

BG finished the 2012-13 campaign as one of the hottest teams in the country. After a slow start to the season, the Falcons won seven of their last nine contests, with the only losses coming against the Kent State Golden Flashes (11-3) and San Jose State Spartans (11-2).

With nine starters returning on both sides of the ball, Bowling Green is one of the most experienced teams in the country. Will this extra seasoning be enough to propel the Falcons to their first MAC Championship since 1992?

Read the Full Story Rant Sports

SEC Football: Steve Spurrier Scheduling Compromise Is Not The Answer

South Carolina Gamecocks‘ head coach Steve Spurrier finally broke his silence and decided to go public with his solution to the SEC’s scheduling conundrum. While his approach would be an excellent compromise, the league would be wise to keep the existing format.

Read the full story @ Rant Sports

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Kentucky Wildcats: Jalen Whitlow Should Move to Receiver

With four players transferring out of Kentucky Wildcats‘ program, the team will need to make some personnel changes on both sides of the ball. But, the most important decision that Mark Stoops needs to make would be the most unpopular of his short tenure in Lexington.

Despite emerging as the favorite in the three-man quarterback derby at the conclusion of spring practice, Jalen Whitlow needs to move to receiver this season.

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Tennessee Volunteers Football: Lane's Potential Return Will Help Backfield

It looks like the Tennessee Volunteers will get deeper at running back thanks to the potential return of one of its top players.

While the school has yet to confirm anything publicly, Knoxville Jimmy Hyams tweeted on Wednesday that Marlin Lane is now back on the team after being suspended this spring.

Read the Full Article at Rant Sports

Rant Sports College Football Top 100 Rankings: No. 85 Arkansas State

Thankfully, the college football season is just 85 days away. With that in mind, it’s time to preview team No. 85 in the Rant Sports 100 in 100 Series: the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

ASU has been one of the most consistent programs in the country over the past two years. Not only have the Red Wolves captured the last two Sun Belt titles, but they have also posted back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history.

Can Arkansas State make it three in a row, or will the loss of stalwarts Don Jones, Ryan Aplin, Nathan Herrold and Zack McKnight doom the team to a mediocre season?

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Sunday, June 2, 2013

SEC Football: Non-conference Schedule Reform Needed

Even though the coaches voted 13-1 against the nine-game schedule, it looks like the SEC will add another league game sometime soon. However, if the conference wants to put itself in position to send multiple teams to the College Football Playoff, it will stick with the existing eight-game format and make some adjustments to its non-conference schedule.

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Tennessee Volunteers: Will Improved Defense Lead to Bowl Game in 2013?

While most of the talk at spring practice focused on the quarterback position, it’s the Tennessee Volunteer defense that will determine whether the Vols return to the postseason in 2013. Even though it won’t lead the pack in a league loaded with elite defenses, UT’s much-improved D will have it in position to qualify for a bowl game this year.

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Alabama Crimson Tide: Historic Season Ahead

Although history might suggest otherwise, the Alabama Crimson Tide will win the national championship for an unprecedented third straight season.

At the risk of overstating the obvious, Nick Saban’s squad is on the verge of a truly historic feat. As my distinguished colleague Tim Letcher points out, the NCAA official website lists the Minnesota Golden Gophers as the last team to win three consecutive national championships, accomplishing this feat between 1934 and 1936 seasons. However, college football was a completely different game back then, as players played both ways before the initial implementation of the free substitution rule in 1941.

In other words, no one has ever pulled off a “three-peat” in the modern era.

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

Georgia Bulldogs: Defense Will Rise to the Challenge Against Clemson

Despite losing top defender Josh Harvey-Clemons to suspension, the Georgia Bulldogs will be just fine defensively against the Clemson Tigers.

Read the Full Story @ Rant Sports

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Will Vanderbilt’s Run Defense Lead The Way to SEC East Title?

While most of the talk during spring practice focused on the competition at quarterback, the Vanderbilt Commodores‘ success or failure ultimately rests with its run defense. Thanks to a very talented front seven, the ‘Dores will contend for the SEC East crown this season.

Make no mistake about it: the Vandy defense was a huge part of the team’s success last year.

Read the Full Story at Rant Sports

No. 97 Marshall Thunder Herd: Rant Sports College Football Top 100 Rankings

Thankfully, the college football season is just 97 days away. With that in mind, it’s time to preview team No. 97 in the Rant Sports 100 in 100 series: the Marshall Thundering Herd.

Let’s be honest: last season was a huge disappointment for MU fans. Entering the season fresh off of a St. Petersburg Bowl victory, the Herd dropped to a disappointing 5-7 record. While the offense was one of the most prolific in the country, the defense couldn’t seem to make the timely stops that it needed to last fall.

Will this year be more of the same or will Marshall win its first division title since 2002?

Read the Full Story @ Rant Sports

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Kentucky Wildcats: Improved Offense Could Lead to Bowl Game

After finishing last season as one of the least-explosive offenses in the country, the Kentucky Wildcats enter 2013 seeking to return to the postseason for the first time in three years. Thanks to a much-improved offense, the ‘Cats will contend for a bowl this season.

Despite last year’s horrible record, there are plenty of reasons for UK fans to be excited this fall. Read the Full Article @ Rant Sports

Les Miles: Criticism of SEC Permanent Crossovers Unwarranted

Sorry,LSU Tiger fans, but Les Miles is absolutely wrong to suggest that the SEC change its scheduling format. Although this system seems unfair right now, it’s actually much more balanced than people think, and it allows the conference to keep the traditional rivalries that made it what it is today.

On its surface, it seems like Miles has a legitimate gripe. Read More

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Mississippi State: SEC-Big 12 Debate Will be Settled in Season Opener

Surprisingly, the debate continues to rage on about whether the SEC or the Big 12 is the toughest conference in college football. While the people on the Big 12 side of the fence use statistics to justify their position, the SEC has captured the last seven national championships, which would seemingly end the conversation.

So, who’s right? Why the SEC of course... Read More

SEC Football: Top 6 Contenders for the Biletnikoff Award

Every year since 1994, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation has presented the Fred Biletnikoff Award to the nation’s most outstanding receiver. Several NFL greats have won this prestigious trophy in its short history, including Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and Michael Crabtree.

Although it’s produced a number of next-level receivers during this time period, SEC schools have combined to win this award just once. That happened in 2001 when LSU Tigers WR Josh Reed took home the honors over ... Read More

Friday, May 17, 2013

Florida Gators: Nothing to Gain By Playing Miami Hurricanes

Although college football fans will miss the once-spirited rivalry between the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators, the non-renewal of this contest is a necessary evil. While a yearly victory over the ‘Canes would certainly energize the UF fan base, the game is essentially meaningless to the Gators in the grand scheme of things.

Make no mistake about it, Read More

Thursday, May 9, 2013

SEC Football: Clearly the Deepest Conference in the Land

After capturing the last seven national championships, there should be no doubt that the SEC is the toughest conference in college football.

Unfortunately, there are still a few people out there that still haven’t received this message.

First, Texas Longhorns AD DeLoss Dodds questioned this fact in March saying, “The Big 12 is a tougher road to get (to the national championship) than the Read More...

Sunday, May 5, 2013

SEC Football: Ninth Conference Game Adds No Value

With the SEC meetings scheduled to take place later this month, talk about the league expanding to a nine-game conference schedule has intensified. While this plan has a number of high-profile supporters—including Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban—the SEC would be better off sticking with its current format.

Let’s be honest: the SEC has Read More...

Friday, May 3, 2013

LSU Tigers: Ground Game Will be Fine Without Jeremy Hill

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Johnson Super Bowl Thoughts: Deer Antler This

Johnson Super Bowl Thoughts: Deer Antler This: Terry Johnson's Final Thoughts On The Super Bowl - Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers

Oklahoma Switching to a 3-4 Defense?!

According to sources, Oklahoma coaches have told incoming recruits that the team will likely switch to a 3-4 defense in the fall. CFN's Terry Johnson weighs in on why the Sooners would make the move, what it takes to run the 3-4, and whether or not OU should use this scheme in 2013. Full Story:

The B1G Uglies: 3 Offseason Questions

The B1G Uglies: 3 Offseason Questions: Each week during the offseason, Phil Harrison, Bart Doan, and Terry Johnson discuss three hot topics on the minds of Big Ten football fans. It’s three guys with three opinions that could change the course of human history--or at least add some clarity to football being played in the Midwest. It’s the weekly B1G Uglies roundtable.