Yeah. I think they would. In fact, if they played, I’d be willing to bet on it.

The Bulls knocked out an admittedly weak Auburn team, but they did it on the road, at night, with no credentials other than some brass cajones in their jockstraps. The Gators can attest to the fact that Jordan-Hare is not an easy place to play even under the best of circumstances.

UCF gave 6th-ranked Texas every last inch they could handle, and were in a position to win the game when a key turnover late in the 4th secured the Longhorns’s victory.

Does anyone really believe Miami or Florida State could give either Auburn or Texas a game? By default, doesn’t that mean that UCF and USF ought to be able to roll the ‘Noles and Miami? Maybe even without troubling themselves too much to do it?
Let’s start with FSU.

FSU is a shadow of its former self. When I look at FSU’s roster, I don’t see a single player who would start at UF. The talent is gone, the playcalling is anemic, and FSU is struggling to beat teams like UAB and Colorado. The Blazers actually held a lead over the ‘Noles for the first half of play in Doak-Campbell, and the game was tied well into the fourth quarter. Prior to that matchup, Nole fans were posting on their message boards that they were looking forward to an “easy blowout” just so they could see some decent football again. Instead, the ‘Noles fought for their lives and Bobby Bowden whistled through the graveyard in the postgame and on his horribly-produced TV show, in which he acted like FSU had beaten a ranked opponent in the days of old.

Against Colorado, FSU could score only a single touchdown. Despite a 16-6 final score, the Buffs scored a late TD (2-pt. conversion no good), then forced a 3-and-out on the Noles and advanced right back to the endzone again where they nearly scored in the final seconds. They were two blown plays from going to overtime.

With all due respect to Dan Hawkins, Colorado’s not very good.

(more…)

After much thought and deliberation about the effects of Ebay on the Florida State football program, head coach Bobby Bowden has decided to cut ties to the online auction site.

See 82sluggowin.wordpress.com for details on the firing.

I can’t wait to see what Kerwin Bell does in the college game at Jacksonville University. All the successful coaches made something out of nothing, and we will see if Kerwin Bell and his staff can create some magic. Here is a portion of the interview :

Q: At Ocala Trinity Catholic you were known for a wide-open, high-scoring offense. Are you going to implement that offense at JU?

We’re going to be real aggressive [offensively]. I think some coaches are inclined to be conservative by nature. Being a former quarterback I can take criticism. I know what it’s like to be booed. I think criticism bothers a lot of coaches and they get into a shell, get defensive and they think they can’t do something they’re going to be criticized for, but I’ve been criticized so many times it doesn’t bother me. I want my players to understand that I want them to be in attack mode. Every play we’re going to put them in a position to make a great play. We want them to be aggressive in their nature, their thoughts, everything. I’m always going to be trying to score points. I believe if we coach [the players] good enough I’ll have no fear calling a pass play from the 5-yard line because I know we’ve coached those kids to where we’re going to execute that play and something positive is going to happen.

Q: You coached under Steve Spurrier for one season as a graduate assistant. How influential was Spurrier on your coaching and your offensive system?

My philosophy really started to develop under Steve Spurrier. He didn’t coach me, but I got a chance to coach under him and watch what he did. He really got me excited about coaching, about trying to develop perfection on the field. That what excites me, coaching players to perfection. Everybody thinks it’s [Spurrier’s] plays, but everybody runs his plays, it’s the way he implements it. It’s the timing, the rhythm. Developing that with players so the offense runs with great execution. We strive for perfection.

Bubba is back. And for the Florida Gator long timers out there I am not talking about Chris Capers. Its been a while that this Caldwell has been associated with the University of Florida. He was part of that Chris Leak recruiting class that arrived here under Ron Zook and happens to be a favorite player of mine. I expect him to be the Dallas Baker of 2008. The player we call clutch and one player we take for granted as a key play maker who always makes the plays. I don’t blame Jarvis Moss, Ute turned Gator play maker Ryan Smith, and whoever else throws there name in the mix for the NFL. But hey, we are only getting started here with Urban-mania. Climb aboard as the fun will continue for many years to come.

I can’t wait until February…

UPDATE: Andre Caldwell has announced he is staying and will return next year. The Gainesville Sun has stated that Jarvis Moss and Ryan Smith are going to the NFL. ESPN is reporting that Brandon Siler and Reggie Nelson will also go pro.

Congrats go out to Kerwin Bell making the move from the High school ranks to Head coach at Jacksonville University.

Most recently Bell was the coach of Ocala Trinity Catholic High School, a program he founded five years ago. He led the Celtics to the 2005 Class 2B championship and reached the Class 2B final this season but lost, snapping a 27-game winning streak. Bell’s coaching experience includes five years at Trinity Catholic, one season (2000) as the offensive coordinator for the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts and a one-year stint as a Florida graduate assistant under Steve Spurrier in 1990. Bell threw for 7,585 yards as the Gators’ quarterback from 1984 to 1987, and he led Florida to its first Southeastern Conference title in 1984, a title later stripped because of NCAA violations in the program.

Its a good first move for the former Gator QB. I wonder who will be on his staff. Bell is a great offensive mind who wont be at JU for long. He was one Gator QB who achieved a lot of success but no hardware. It was Galen Hall who showed faith in him. Just recently, Saurian Sagacity brought evidence Kerwin and 1984 Gators in fact won the Gators its first national championship.

The big game today is finally here with a kickoff of Noon as the Florida Gators invade Doak Campbell Stadium.

I have been watching this game for the past twenty years and I never have I seen this Seminoles team in this bad of a funk. Say what you want, but stories like here and here have some merit to some of the troubles in Tallahassee. With Wake Forest coming into town a few weeks ago and just embarrassing this once great football rival, FSU will have egg on their face for a while.

Here’s a round-up of the Big 3’s running backs and their stats to date.

FSU : Sr. Lorenzo Booker If you kept up with the pre-season predictions, the tandem of Booker and Smith were to be a fearsome backfield. The fifth year senior never lived up to the billing and played second fiddle this year to Smith. 2005 : 119 -552Yards-4TD 2006 : 111- 446Yards-2TD

FSU : So. Antone Smith This second-year running back worked his way up to become the starting RB before suffering an elbow injury. He is being ruled out for the Florida game. 2005 : 36 -188Yards-2TD 2006 : 88- 456Yards-5TD

MIA : Sr. Tyrone Moss This senior RB was having an elite season last year until going down with a knee injury. He has not totally recovered since the season began, and has subsequently lost carries to the freshman James. Has shown flashes as of late, but he’s not receiving enough carries to rise to the top of the list. 2005 : 137 701Yards-12TD 2006 : 66- 285Yards-3TD

MIA : Fr. Javarris James This relative of former Hurricane Edgerrin James has been a hit from his first day on the scene. He took over as the number one RB, eclipsing the senior incumbant, Moss. He is a talented back which we’ll see develop over the next few years. 2006 : 138- 722Yards-3TD

UF : Sr. DeShawn Wynn Florida’s senior RB came to Florida highly rated out of high school in the state of Ohio, but until this year has suffered from a ’softie’ reputation. Despite not getting the numerous carries which a traditional offense would have provided him, he has remained productive when given the opportunity. It remains unknown why the Gators do not go to him more often. 2005 : 130- 621Yards-7TD 2006 : 114- 622Yards-5TD

UF : Fr. Tim Tebow The frosh QB, who has primarily been utilized as a runner this season, has been vital to the Gators’ success. He is a gritty runner who is hard to tackle, even when the entire stadium knows he’s going to run. His ability — or is it sheer will? — to get in the end zone will eventually be the stuff of legend. 2006 : 67- 396Yards-7TD