"It's Amazing"

Best win of them all

Thursday night's national title win over Oklahoma was the Gator's best title win ever, capping their best season.
1996 was special because it was the first and it came against FSU, a team we lost to earlier in the season, but it was a blowout.
In 2006, the season was special because I didn't believe we had the offense to be national champs, but our defense carried us the whole way. Again the title game was a blowout.
But this win, and season, was special. We beat No.1 teams in back-to-back games with all the chips at stake. Our offense-talent wise- was the best ever and the defense was one of the best ever. And the final game was a classic, the best BCS title game yet. It was the first time the title game had been tied in the fourth quarter. It featured the greatest offense in the history of college football against one of the best defenses in the country. It pitted a conference known for its offensive firepower against a conference loaded with great defenses. And in the end, it was the greatest college football player/leader refusing to let his team lose.
I like the blowouts, but they aren't as satisfying as winning a tough battle. And this season was a battle the whole way. The 2008 champs battled through dozens of injuries, a loss to Mississippi and two No. 1 teams to win it all.
GO GATORS

Green Wave is National Champ

Bowl records by conference

With one bowl game remaining--Florida vs. Oklahoma--we can get a clearer picture of how each conference fared during the bowl season.

ACC (10) (4-6)

Big East (6) (4-2)

Big 12 (7) (4-2)

Big Ten (7) (1-6)

Conf USA (6) (4-2)

MAC (5) (0-5)

Mountain West (5) (3-2)

Pac 10 (5) (5-0)

SEC (8) (5-2)

Sun Belt (2) (1-1)

WAC (5) (1-4)

Independent (2) (1-1)

Making a case for a BCS Buster

Everyone who reads this knows we favor a college football D-1 playoff system.
With that out of the way, I want to make a case for why the AP should vote Utah No. 1. The BCS No. 1 ship has sailed; whoever wins the UF-Okla game is BCS champ.
--Utah is the only undefeated team. Sure they didn't play as tough of schedule as other traditional BCS schools day-in-and-out, but they beat everyone they played and some of those teams were the toughest teams in the nation.
--Utah bookended their season with wins over two of the greatest college football programs in the history of the game: Michigan and Alabama.
--The Alabama win was especially impressive. They beat Alabama a its strength--in the trenches--something all the experts said couldn't be done. They also showed they have the speed to match up with any team in the country and a quarterback who makes great decisions.
--Utah beat Oregon St., right after Beavers beat USC.
--Utah beat TCU, another program on the rise, which showed it belongs in the BCS talk in the future.

Now could I make a case for Utah as No. 1 and call myself a true Gator fan? Well it is my confidence in the Gators, but also my desire for college D-1 presidents to ditch the archaic postseason play system we have now and put in a real playoff system where the games have meaning. Bowl game supporters argue just the opposite--that the playoffs will render the regular season as meaningless. I can now only point to Utah's win over Alabama and say if the AP doesn't name them co-champ, then their win is truly meaningless.

Bowl Winners by conference

I have calculated the results of the bowl games up to the Utah-Alabama. I'll update again after each game up to the title game between UF and Okla.

So far, the ACC, Pac 10, Sun Belt, WAC, Mountain West and Independents have finished their games with the Pac 10 going undefeated.

Key:
--The numbers in parentheses next to the conference names are the number of teams in bowl games and the conferences' record so far.
--Following each team is W or L with their opponent in parentheses.



ACC (10) (4-6)

Virginia Tech-W (Cincy)

Wake Forest-W (Navy)

Florida State-W (Wis)

Maryland-W (Nev)

North Carolina-L (WVA)

Miami-L (Cal)

NC State-L (Rut)

Boston College-L (Vandy)

Georgia Tech-L (LSU)

Clemson-L (Neb)

Big East (6) (3-2)

USF-W (Memphis)

W. Virginia-W (NC)

Rutgers-W (NC St)

Pittsburgh-L (Ore St)

Cincinnati-L (Va Tech)

Connecticutt- (Buff)

Big 12 (7) (3-2)

Missouri-W (NWstrn)

Kansas-W (Minn)

Nebraska-W (Clem)

Okla St-L (Ore)

Texas Tech-L (Ole Miss)

Oklahoma- (UF)

Texas- (OSU)

Big Ten (7) (1-5)

Iowa-W (SoCarol)

Wisconsin-L (FSU)

Northwestern-L (Mizzou)

Minnesota-L (Kansas)

Michigan St-L (Georgia)

Penn St.-L (USC)

Ohio St.- (Texas)

Conf USA (6) (3-2)

Southern Miss-W (Troy)

Houston-W (Air Force)

Rice-W (W. Mich)

Memphis-L (USF)

East Carolina-L (Ky)

Tulsa- (Ball St)

MAC (5) (0-3)

Buffalo- (UConn)

Ball St.- (Tulsa)

W. Michigan-L (Rice)

C. Michigan-L (FAU)

N. Illinois-L (LaTech)

Mountain West (5) (3-2)

Utah-W (Ala)

TCU-W (Boise St.)

Colorado St-W (Fresno St)

Air Force-L (Houston)

BYU-L (Ariz)

Pac 10 (5) (5-0)

Arizona-W (BYU)

California-W (Mia)

Oregon-W (Okl St)

Oregon St.-W (Pitt)

USC-W (Penn St.)

SEC (8) (5-2)

Vanderbilt-W (Bos Coll)

LSU-W (GaTech)

Georgia-W (Mich St)

Mississippi-W (Texas Tech)

Kentucky-W (E Carol)

South Carolina-L (Iowa)

Alabama-L (Utah)

Florida- (Okla)

Sun Belt (2) (1-1)

Troy-L (SoMiss)

FAU-W (C.Mich)

WAC (5) (1-4)

Louisiana Tech-W (No Ill)

Fresno State-L (Colo St)

Boise St.-L (TCU)

Hawaii-L (ND)

Nevada-L (Mary)

Independent (2) (1-1)

Navy-L (Wake Forest)

Notre Dame-W (Hawaii)

Bowl Winners by conference

I have calculated the results of the bowl games up to the Kentucky-East Carolina. I'll update again after each game up to the title game between UF and Okla.

So far, the ACC, Pac 10, Sun Belt, WAC and Independents have finished their games with the Pac 10 going undefeated.

Key:
--The numbers in parentheses next to the conference names are the number of teams in bowl games and the conferences' record so far.
--Following each team is W or L with their opponent in parentheses.



ACC (10) (4-6)

Virginia Tech-W (Cincy)

Wake Forest-W (Navy)

Florida State-W (Wis)

Maryland-W (Nev)

North Carolina-L (WVA)

Miami-L (Cal)

NC State-L (Rut)

Boston College-L (Vandy)

Georgia Tech-L (LSU)

Clemson-L (Neb)

Big East (6) (3-2)

USF-W (Memphis)

W. Virginia-W (NC)

Rutgers-W (NC St)

Pittsburgh-L (Ore St)

Cincinnati-L (Va Tech)

Connecticutt- (Buff)

Big 12 (7) (3-2)

Missouri-W (NWstrn)

Kansas-W (Minn)

Nebraska-W (Clem)

Okla St-L (Ore)

Texas Tech-L (Ole Miss)

Oklahoma- (UF)

Texas- (OSU)

Big Ten (7) (1-5)

Iowa-W (SoCarol)

Wisconsin-L (FSU)

Northwestern-L (Mizzou)

Minnesota-L (Kansas)

Michigan St-L (Georgia)

Penn St.-L (USC)

Ohio St.- (Texas)

Conf USA (6) (3-2)

Southern Miss-W (Troy)

Houston-W (Air Force)

Rice-W (W. Mich)

Memphis-L (USF)

East Carolina-L (Ky)

Tulsa- (Ball St)

MAC (5) (0-3)

Buffalo- (UConn)

Ball St.- (Tulsa)

W. Michigan-L (Rice)

C. Michigan-L (FAU)

N. Illinois-L (LaTech)

Mountain West (5) (2-2)

TCU-W (Boise St.)

Colorado St-W (Fresno St)

Air Force-L (Houston)

BYU-L (Ariz)

Utah- (Ala)

Pac 10 (5) (5-0)

Arizona-W (BYU)

California-W (Mia)

Oregon-W (Okl St)

Oregon St.-W (Pitt)

USC-W (Penn St.)

SEC (8) (5-1)

Vanderbilt-W (Bos Coll)

LSU-W (GaTech)

Georgia-W (Mich St)

Mississippi-W (Texas Tech)

Kentucky-W (E Carol)

South Carolina-L (Iowa)

Alabama- (Utah)

Florida- (Okla)

Sun Belt (2) (1-1)

Troy-L (SoMiss)

FAU-W (C.Mich)

WAC (5) (1-4)

Louisiana Tech-W (No Ill)

Fresno State-L (Colo St)

Boise St.-L (TCU)

Hawaii-L (ND)

Nevada-L (Mary)

Independent (2) (1-1)

Navy-L (Wake Forest)

Notre Dame-W (Hawaii)

2008 Bowl results thus far

I have calculated the results of the bowl games up to the Mississippi-Texas Tech game. I'll update again after each game up to the title game between UF and Okla.

So far, the ACC, Pac 10, Sun Belt, WAC and Independents have finished their games with the Pac 10 going undefeated.

Key:
--The numbers in parentheses next to the conference names are the number of teams in bowl games and the conferences' record so far.
--Following each team is W or L with their opponent in parentheses.



ACC (10) (4-6)

Virginia Tech-W (Cincy)

Wake Forest-W (Navy)

Florida State-W (Wis)

Maryland-W (Nev)

North Carolina-L (WVA)

Miami-L (Cal)

NC State-L (Rut)

Boston College-L (Vandy)

Georgia Tech-L (LSU)

Clemson-L (Neb)

Big East (6) (3-2)

USF-W (Memphis)

W. Virginia-W (NC)

Rutgers-W (NC St)

Pittsburgh-L (Ore St)

Cincinnati-L (Va Tech)

Connecticutt- (Buff)

Big 12 (7) (3-2)

Missouri-W (NWstrn)

Kansas-W (Minn)

Nebraska-W (Clem)

Okla St-L (Ore)

Texas Tech-L (Ole Miss)

Oklahoma- (UF)

Texas- (OSU)

Big Ten (7) (1-5)

Iowa-W (SoCarol)

Wisconsin-L (FSU)

Northwestern-L (Mizzou)

Minnesota-L (Kansas)

Michigan St-L (Georgia)

Penn St.-L (USC)

Ohio St.- (Texas)

Conf USA (6) (3-1)

Southern Miss-W (Troy)

Houston-W (Air Force)

Rice-W (W. Mich)

Memphis-L (USF)

East Carolina- (Ky)

Tulsa- (Ball St)

MAC (5) (0-3)

Buffalo- (UConn)

Ball St.- (Tulsa)

W. Michigan-L (Rice)

C. Michigan-L (FAU)

N. Illinois-L (LaTech)

Mountain West (5) (2-2)

TCU-W (Boise St.)

Colorado St-W (Fresno St)

Air Force-L (Houston)

BYU-L (Ariz)

Utah- (Ala)

Pac 10 (5) (5-0)

Arizona-W (BYU)

California-W (Mia)

Oregon-W (Okl St)

Oregon St.-W (Pitt)

USC-W (Penn St.)

SEC (8) (4-1)

Vanderbilt-W (Bos Coll)

LSU-W (GaTech)

Georgia-W (Mich St)

Mississippi-W (Texas Tech)

South Carolina-L (Iowa)

Kentucky- (E Carol)

Alabama- (Utah)

Florida- (Okla)

Sun Belt (2) (1-1)

Troy-L (SoMiss)

FAU-W (C.Mich)

WAC (5) (1-4)

Louisiana Tech-W (No Ill)

Fresno State-L (Colo St)

Boise St.-L (TCU)

Hawaii-L (ND)

Nevada-L (Mary)

Independent (2) (1-1)

Navy-L (Wake Forest)

Notre Dame-W (Hawaii)

Then and now

Gainesville Sun scribe Robbie Andreu compares the 2006 Championship team to this year's squad in the article above. While I agree with most of his analysis, I think he missed the mark on some of the differences.
For example:
Tailbacks--Andreu says DeShawn Wynn was solid. I agree Wynn had a tremendous upside, but never became the star he should have been. He says we have speedier guys this year, but we were awesome at tailback in 2006 when Harvin was used, so the potential for home runs was the same. We have more depth this year.
Fullbacks--Andreu doesn't go into a lot of depth here. But with the true spread in place, we don't use a traditional fullback. But with Aaron Hernandez at tight end it replaces that extra blocker we had with the fullback, plus it gives us another home run threat, this time in a non-traditional role.
Overall defensively, this team seems as good as the 2006 variety, but I think the 2006 was a little better. I don't base it on statistics, but I the fact I think they faced better offenses overall and their mettle was constantly tested because they were relied on to win games. I think the one thing better about this defense than the 2006 defense is depth. The 2006 defensive line were all stars whereas the defensive line this year is a mix of very talented and interchangeable players. In 2006, the linebackers were led by two guys, Siler and Earl Everett. This year we have Spikes and a lot of other really talented guys, which I feel makes this year's linebacking crew better than 2006. And finally, we don't have a Reggie Nelson kind of player in this year's secondary, but overall I think we are better with a lot of guys--Haden, Jenkins, Wright, Black, Hill--all on the verge of becoming that kind of player.

Football Is Smart

"In contrast, football, born during the industrial revolution, is a game precisely divided in time and space, played on a regulation grid and according to a strict official clock. Each player has an assigned role, like workers in a factory. It is thoroughly modern.

Yet that is where football's poetry begins: its apparent rigidity is misleading."

This is something like the arguments made in genre theory when dealing with films, etc.

Gators Lead All Teams in "Opponents' Wins"

Why It's More About How The Money is Distributed Than It Is About How Much Is Distributed When It Comes To The Bowls

"Overall, the Sugar Bowl spent $11.1 million in 2006 alone. The SEC operated its 2007 Championship Game (in effect a bowl game) for just $2.1 million. The ACC managed to pull off its 2006 title game for $1.2 million.

It’s not easy making a single, three-and-a-half-hour football game cost over $11 million; which might explain why the Sugar Bowl has an actual 'committee on golf'."

These are some of the more remarkable facts revealed in the article linked above. Kaufman sums it up at Salon, pointing out that the NCAA has no power over the postseason, and this seems to be the reason that the bowl committees want things to continue as is--their profit margin is actually much lower than a postseason under an NCAA guided playoff structure would be, so the money-interests argument gets a little more complicated at this point. Defending this bowl system is starting to sound similar to defending health insurance companies. The deal that ESPN has with the bowls could help explain why the defenders of playoffs at ESPN is a lower proportion to defenders of playoffs not working for ESPN--but these kinds of (ideological) arguments are tricky since, consciously, and spontaneously, they really believe in the bowls.

From Rocky Top to Swamp music

The Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year, a 3-star QB/DB, has changed his commitment from UT to UF. He'll probably play corner for us.
Here is a list of who we've recruited so far according to Rivals.com. They have us 15th, but that could change once the recruits coming in around the BCS game get a chance to visit.
Scout.com basically has us in the same spot at 14th.

Mullen to call Florida plays vs. OU

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Newly hired Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has decided to stay with top-ranked Florida through the national championship game.

Gators coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday that Mullen will call plays in the Bowl Championship Series national title game Jan. 8 in Miami.

"The goal is to win the game, and I think right now, unless something changes, it looks like that's going to happen," Meyer said. "Is that the best chance of us winning that game, with the mechanics of the game the way we do them? Probably yes. So right now I'd say the plan is he'll be up in the press box."

Mullen was still in Mississippi and not planning to return to Gainesville until after Christmas, Meyer said. The Gators held their first bowl practice Tuesday, but with final exams scheduled all week, it was mostly conditioning drills. Meyer said detailed game-plan preparations for No. 2 Oklahoma won't begin until after Christmas.

Meyer also said he recognizes that Mullen still has work to do with the Bulldogs -- Mullen is assembling his staff and recruiting -- but he's confident the rest of Florida's offensive assistants can pick up the slack.

"The good thing is we have one of the best coaching staffs in the game," Meyer said. "This is not a dictatorship or one-man circus. The plays are scripted. Dan does a tremendous job.

"It's taking on a life of its own -- what's going to happen, what's going to happen? We'll be OK. We're still going to run the same offense."

Oklahoma's Murray To Miss BCS Championship Game

Kerwin Bell for OC

Last week, Sean, David and I were discussing who would fill Mullen's shoes as offensive coordinator and Kerwin Bell's name came up. Apparently we weren't the only ones speculating about Bell. The Gainesville Sun started poking around into Bell's intentions. I suggest skipping the story and reading the comments below it. They are quite good. The best question posed is "would Kerwin Bell buy into Meyer's offensive philosophy?" (Bell teaches the pro style offense) Another good question is "would Bell instead take the QB coach position? I don't know what Bell wants for himself or what would be the best thing for him in terms of development as a coach, but I do know he would be a great asset to the Gators. He is a proven winner with deep ties to the Gators. I believe he would be an excellent recruiter in Florida. And for him personally it would be an opportunity to learn under another great offensive-minded coach. (He was coached by Galen Hall at UF)

Meyer and His Dream Job

Bill proposed to end BCS system

Story Highlights
A Congressman is planning on introducing anti-BCS, pro-playoff legislation
Rep. Joe Barton did not specify a playoff set-up, only that the BCS must go
Only a playoff game could be marketed as a "national championship" game
Read the full story

Mullen To Be Mississippi State's New Head Coach

No word yet on whether he is staying for the BCS Championship Game. I think he is (slightly) overrated because he doesn't have the best in-game play calling (He stubbornly kept up with the first and second down run plays against Alabama, making the game closer than it needed to be because of our 3.4 yards per carry statistic). He makes some good adjustments between games, but a head coach can do that for a team. And who couldn't be a good coordinator with those players? The approach itself is identified with Meyer more than Mullen, who (Mullen) is considered more conservative on plays and play-calling, so it shouldn't be difficult for the players to transition to a new coordinator. But he is young and smart so things could change. He is certainly as worthy as many other coaches, but not more worthy than Charlie Strong, and Miss St. had already fired one of about 3 or 4 black head coaches in Division I, so Strong would have seemed to make more sense. The Mullen pick is sexier, and Miss St is probably sick of having bad offenses-even their coach before Croom was all about defense (Jackie Sherril). So in that way Mullen makes sense. He is also a good recruiter. And Miss St is a tough job, so whomever got it was going to have trouble keeping it very long.

Harvin should probably get the Heisman (I know, he won't). If he had played in the SEC Title game, and had a great game, I would say that with more self-assurance.

You might wonder whether Mullen leaving affects Tebow's decision to leave or stay, since the two seemed to work so closely together and actually be good friends.

"Random Walks Polling": I Don't Totally Understand It Yet, And Its Data Is From Last Year, But It's Intriguing.

This Could Have Been Titled, "Ideology and Southern Football."

A Rare Agreement With A WSJ Editorial

(But this isn't to say that I suddenly decided the computers are just fine without a playoff.)

Flood It

A game to play while we wait for The BCS Championship game
Flood It! game. The object of the game is to flood the whole board with one color in less than 25 steps. You start from the top left corner and progress by selecting one of the colored balls on the left. When you change your current area color, every adjacent square with the same color also changes, that way you can flood other areas on the board.

Tebow, Saban and Berry receive top SEC honors

Story Highlights

Tebow claimed his second straight SEC offensive player of the year award

Alabama placed a high of six players on the all-SEC first team

Crimson Tide wide receiver Julio Jones was named the SEC 's top freshman