AP Top 25 College Football
Need a reason not to bet on college football?
Examine the strategies of both head coaches in No. 1 Florida's 23-13 victory over Tennessee on Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.
With the Gators a 281/2 -point favorite, who would have predicted Florida's Urban Meyer and Tennessee's Lane Kiffin playing it so close to the vest?
Both coaches obviously felt their defense could play well enough to win the game (in Florida's case) or keep it competitive (in UT's).
Kiffin's conservative game plan, which would have gotten previous coach Phillip Fulmer fried by his critics, had a two-fold purpose -- take time off the clock and call low-risk pass plays for interception-prone UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton.
"That team is much deeper than we are," Kiffin said. "I think if we get into a track race with them, we look like a lot of other people do when they come in here. We get blown out of the stadium.
"I purposely sent in plays slower than usual. I didn't tell my team I was going to do that. But I wanted to take time off the clock. It's very hard and it's difficult (to call a game that conservative) but I was hired to win here. I wasn't hired for stats."
Florida is loaded with weapons, yet in the second half it appeared to be running a front-yard pickup-game offense: Snap the ball to the biggest kid (Tim Tebow) and let him carry defenders on his back.
Meyer admitted he called the game too conservatively. But he felt Kiffin wasn't trying to win with his play-calling, so Meyer did not want to give away a victory with turnovers off risky plays.
"When I saw them start handing the ball off, you didn't feel like they were going after the win," Meyer said. "I remember looking up there and there's 10 minutes left in the game and there's no no-huddle (offense for the Vols). They're down by 23-6 and the urgency (wasn't there).
"The way we lose a game there is throw an interception, so let's find a way to win the game. We're not trying to impress the pollsters. We're trying to win the game."
Hogs need to roam
Arkansas, which lost a 52-41 SEC shootout at home to Georgia this past weekend, might be thankful to be on the road at Alabama Saturday. The Hogs have lost their last four SEC games at Razorback Stadium, since a 48-36 victory over South Carolina on Nov. 3, 2007. Arkansas has won league games over Mississippi State and LSU in Little Rock in that span, and has road wins at LSU and Auburn in that stretch. ... Alabama receiver Julio Jones missed Saturday's 53-7 beatdown of North Texas because of a bruised kneecap on the first series of the win over Florida International on Sept. 12. Tide coach Nick Saban expects Jones to be ready for Arkansas. ... Georgia has allowed 37 or more points in six of its last eight regular-season games, and has won four of those. Arkansas scored the most points ever by a Georgia opponent in a regulation loss. Georgia has won its first two SEC games for the first time since 2006, yet is last in the SEC in scoring defense, total defense and pass defense. "In league play, I didn't really think that would happen," said Georgia coach Mark Richt.
Tigers love turnovers
How do you overcome allowing 509 yards total offense? You create six turnovers, including four in the fourth quarter, as unbeaten Auburn did in its 41-30 rain-soaked victory over West Virginia. "It's hard to get four turnovers in any game, much less in one quarter," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "They weren't your ordinary-type turnovers. Guys had to make plays to get them. That's something that we stress, that turnovers are turning points in games." ... Washington's 16-13 upset of No. 3 USC made LSU's defense feel better about itself. When LSU won its season opener at Washington, 31-23, on Sept. 5, the Tigers allowed more yards than in any game last season. "A lot of people thought we played badly when we played them," LSU linebacker Perry Riley said of Washington. Since that game, the Tigers have allowed just 12 points, including their 31-3 win over Louisiana Lafayette on Saturday.
Vandy QB whodunit
After scoring just a field goal in Saturday's 15-3 loss to Mississippi State, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson might open his quarterback competition up a bit more this week between starter Larry Smith and backup Mackenzi Adams. Smith completed just 12-of-32 for 124 yards with an interception, and is now 33 of 74 (44.6 percent) through three games. "Either we threw it poorly or threw it well and dropped it," Johnson said.
-- Ron Higgins: 529-2525
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Comments » 33
chad_t31 writes:
Good job, higgins. Maybe you (the media) can beat this to death until next september.
CRFVols writes:
Wow...still more articles. Don't we have another game to think about Saturday?
I'm sure you gator fans are going to be all over this, so I want to share the vision of how pathetic your lives must be to get on another team's site and try to heckle them.
I imagine you gator fans as a cross between "the forty year old virgin" and will ferrell living with his mom in wedding crashers.
Just my thoughts.....it made me chuckle. lol
xliveitup writes:
Such ridiculous accusations by meyer that kiffin was not playing to win. How many field goals did you kick inside the red zone urban? What about that fumble near the goal line? Someone needs to put a sock in his mouth....The score could have just as easily been 42-13 if our DEFENSE hadnt STOPPED them.
CRFVols writes:
C'mon now...that's stating the obvious. Urbie doesn't want to do that.....he wants to side-step and make excuses. They didn't need touchdowns....plus the flu bug was in the end zone and they were trying to avoid it.
gnm53108 writes:
Meyer:The way we lose a game there is throw an interception, so let's find a way to win the game. We're not trying to impress the pollsters. We're trying to win the game.
So when he does it he's trying to win but when we do it we're trying to keep it close?
Vol86 writes:
Urbi cries for boosters loosing bets.LOL
VolunteerLifer writes:
Typical sportswriter. Takes the easy, lazy way out. Manufactures a quick, easy column with cliche's and the lines that the others in the sportswriter herd is using. A coach (in this case Urban Meyer) plays him like a grand piano, feeding him his storyline, and the lower IQ writer takes the bait and dutifully repeats what the coach said.
Let's examine it a bit:
With 10 minutes left, if you're down 17 that's three scores, and theoretically its doable. When you face a first, second, and 3d and 25 yards to go deep in your own territory against the best defense in the nation in their home stadium, it is obviously not the time to cut your QB loose and let him fling it around the yard like Sammy Baugh. Obviously better to punt it out of there and try a higher percentage play - see if your defense can get a turn-over. At least, its obvious to anyone but 2-bit sportwriters like Higgins. Because if you turn the ball over in that situation, then you'd be down four scores and would have no chance in hell.
As it was, we got the turnover, we drive the score to 23-13, get it down to two scores, got the ball back again with time to score and try for the onsides kick, and DID air it out with pass plays in the last drive, only to have it - surprise, surprise - intercepted by that great defensive secondary.
Obviously, the way Kiffin played it gave us the best chance to win, though it must be said that there wasn't a very good chance to win at that point, anyway. But if Kiffin had played it the way Meyer - and his parrots in the sportswriter business - says he should have, we would have lost the game quicker and erased any chance whatsoever that we may have had right then and there with 10 minutes to go.
Higgins, you thoughtlessly mouth Myer's line that he spits out at you (knowing you'll take the bait), you don't think about it, you just reflexively bite on it, and that's why you are a lousy sportswriter.
Vol86 writes:
Couches should say both teams played tough in an sec rival game. leave it at that. Unless someone might owe someone an explantion Meyer to boosters.
WytheVol writes:
Those were my thoughts exactly... He did the same thing he called Kiffin out for. WTH..
xliveitup writes:
I disagree. I think this team is going to blow Ohio out of the water. I would be very surprised if we don't hang at least 40 points on them. I will also be surprised if they score more than 10 points.
gnm53108 writes:
We should win this one.How lopsided will depend on our running game.150ish and it will be close.300 and we'll cover the spread plus some.
Wild card...Crompton.
1974Vol writes:
So if I get Meyer right since Kiffen was calling plays designed not to win the game but keep it close, Meyer felt obliged to do the same and that's why it was a close game and not the blow-out Urban wanted. I think Lane needs another reprimand from Slive the Gator AD..I mean SEC Commissioner.
1974Vol writes:
Reading other articles it looks like CLK will use the game to experiment with some different lineups and players. Perfect game for giving some guys a wake up call. Don't start them and if the back up guy plays well, well you just lost your job and if he doesn't and the original starter gets back in he most likely plays harder. That strategy is a little harder to use in SEC play.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I think Phil should explain it.
Seriously, how about Ohio?
gnm53108 writes:
When you try to follow someone thats spinning for all he's worth it's quite dizzying.
Maybe alcohol would help?
gnm53108 writes:
100% agree.
I hope that wake up call is scheduled for a qb.
turner_c writes:
"Kiffin's conservative game plan, which would have gotten previous coach Phillip Fulmer fried by his critics, had a two-fold purpose -- take time off the clock and call low-risk pass plays for interception-prone UT quarterback Jonathan Crompton."
You do know that Fulmer's teams couldn't run the ball against FL? Hardesty had more rushing yards Saturday than Fulmer's teams managed in the last 3 seasons combined.
volsfannsc writes:
Has everyone forgotten that Tebow quit throwing the ball (as normal) as soon as Berry picked him?
It was apparent that they were afraid to play into EB's hands. As far as our offense goes, I think Kiff did all he could do with what he had to work with. It was obvious during the post-game that CLK had a plan on how to win this game. Thought the coaching in that game was very good considering CLK knew there was not going to be any deep threat by us.
VolunteerLifer writes:
And this post is also priceless. thanks for the good laugh.
CoverOrange writes:
UT's FIVE drives of the second half:
1. Pass, pass, pass-intercepted. 13:52 to go in 3rd. UF has ball for 4:19.
2. Run, run, run, punt. 6:59 to go in 3rd. UF has ball for 6:52.
3. Run, pass, pass, punt. 14:35 to go in 4th. UF has ball for 2:58.
4. Run, pass, pass, run, run, run-score. 8:11 to go in 4th. UF has ball for 2:10.
5. Run, run, pass, pass, pass, run, pass, pass, pass-interception. 1:51 to go in 4th.
Obviously, just passing didn't work. Just running didn't work. When UM looked at the clock we scored less than two minutes later. AND when he said that we had just made two pass completions and had run an end around. What hurt was that we had already used a TO in the third and couldn't stop the clock when UF was running the clock out.
UM is so full of it, he should run for office.
Welcome Ohio. Interlopers disperse!
TommyJack writes:
So what, who cares, move on.
DennisVols writes:
Meyer is becoming the laughing stock of the SEC and the country.
Turns out Urban Meyer also is ranked No. 1 in excuses
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blo...
There are simular articles in the Sporting News and other sports reports. Kiffin has not only exposed the UF football teams weakness but also their coach as a liar and whinner.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
jakethevolguy writes:
DC, I can't believe that I can agree with one of your posts. :-) GBO
VolFanInAtl writes:
agreed
If UT's going to get into the SEC Championship we need FL to slip up. Historicly that means GA needs to step up but Kentucky has shown flashes of aptitude this year. Go Cats!
GAGAVOL writes:
Why, Why, Why are we so obsessed with FL? It is more than time to move on!!!
murrayvol writes:
That's about right.
murrayvol writes:
Can you imagine how much cash could have been drained from the Gater Nation taking Tennessee and 10.
crimsonviper writes:
Thanks marc ash. I have been looking for something about the Vols next game.I think The Vols will have a big day Saturday.
Note to KNS. Please kick John Adams to the curb and see if you can hire marc ash...Thanks
marinevol writes:
Remember, this is the same guy that wrote the article before the game about how UT was going to really pay for Kiffin's comments, predicting a blowout of mammoth proportions. Now he's feeling pretty foolish and trying to cover his tracks.
CrankE writes:
Most of the sportsworld were Seminole apologists on 1/5/99. Higgins et. al are Gator apologists on 9/20/09.
Bring on the Bobcats!!
CRFVols writes:
If you watch this video of the post game interviews....this isn't a coach talking about flu backtracking...It's urbie talking about how well conditioned his team is and how hard they fought. Oh well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Wi22...
Let's get the dern Ohio kitties
Ringleader writes:
You Lie....
Read the stats from 2008, Tennessee was better in any category in 2009.
Vol_in_Mich writes:
Ah, none. It would have been a push. No action. 10 1/2 would have been good. I on the other hand had UT +29. The Vols are a good bet when they are dogs, not so good favorites.
Any chance of KNS having something on Ohio before Saturday?
GO VOLS!!!
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