GEORGIA/FLORIDA GAME This weekend our city is being invaded by Gator and Bulldog fans; here for the annual contest between the two schools. We will see plenty of people acting like complete idiots, trying their best to show support for their college, although we all know most of them are morons.
What we do see coming in is two football teams on different tracks. The Gators have a slight blemish on their schedule, but are looking solid in their play as they push towards a SEC Championship game berth. The Bulldogs have dropped off the map, for all intents, having lost at home to Tennessee and Vanderbilt. They got to find some juice somewhere to get back to applying well.
This rivalry used to be fun and entertaining. In the 80’s, Georgia would beat up Florida, led by Vince Dooley and Herschel Walker. Then in the 90’s, Spurrier came in and turned the tide in the Gators’ favor. It has stayed that way since. I wasn’t here for the Bulldog days, so I’m waiting to see that push come back. It doesn’t look like that will happen this year. If these teams play on Saturday like they have been recently, it could get very ugly for the ‘Dogs.
JAGUARS Well, well, well. Which Jaguar team will show up THIS week? Will it be the group that can beat up and handle the line of scrimmage, catch passes, and score? Or will we see the darker side of the boys, ineffective in their play on all fronts, and losing games?
It seems the Jags have not established a consistent identity in their play, as if they are a pubescent teenager struggling to come into his own. These guys carry that immaturity, both in and out of the locker room, as we are finding out. Jack Del Rio, being the head coach/father, seems to be allowing the boys to learn by experience, watching them stumble along until they perhaps get it all right.
Meanwhile, Del Rio is about as interesting these days as a librarian. You see his clips and read his comments, and the boy doesn’t come out with anything that has substance to it. He might as well just tape comments and play them back every week. He’s a nice guy, but he offers no personality.
And so now the 3-3 Jags will be going into a very hostile environment in Philadelphia to take on a team that has suffered two consecutive tough losses on the road. The Eagles are going to be nasty! They carry a great offense, led by Donovan McNabb. They are sure to have a rough defense ready to get after them. I hate to say that THIS GAME could get very, very ugly if the Jags don’t play way better than they have been. We shall see.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE We’ve always heard about parity in the NFL, but check the standings and you’ll see that SIX teams only have one win right now. That doesn’t speak to parity to me, people. There are some bad teams in the league this year, and they’re about to get worse. Miami is looking awful. At least they won’t lose this week, since they have a bye. Count on the 49ers, Browns, Cardinals, and Raiders to continue their losing ways this weekend.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Can somebody please tell me what’s going on? Larry Coker says Miami’s win against Duke was a ‘good win’? Then, in Chapel Hill, the Carolina Tar Heels fire head coach John Bunting, but let him finish up the year! What’s the deal?
The Hurricanes are a mess. They go to Atlanta this weekend to play Georgia Tech. If they lose, which is very possible, there will be even more consternation, which is a big word for the ‘Canes players’, concerning the fate of Coker.
And Carolina just needs to let Bunting go. You simply cannot let a guy stick around after canning his butt, no matter WHAT profession you’re talking about. The Heels cannot WAIT for basketball to crank up. Meanwhile, Ohio State and Michigan are now clear for a head-on collision November 18th in Columbus. Whoever wins that game is in the mythical Championship. USC still has Oregon, Cal, Notre Dame, and UCLA to play. I wouldn’t be shocked if West Virginia is 12-0 and set to face the Buckeyes!
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL For some odd reason, it seemed to me that the World Series didn’t have the energy I’m used to feeling. I don’t know whether it was the teams, the weather, the timing, or what. But for some reason, the Fall Classic wasn’t that at all. Something needs to change, and its up to MLB to do it.
Tom Weppel talks trash on Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. on WIOJ-AM 1010, and on SportsAvengers.com 24/7.
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