Great week gang, and thanks to everyone who has played along here or on Press Row or those who came to World of Beer on Monday and said hello.
Beer tileGood times.
Here's the mailbag, and we'd be remiss if we did not note that today is the 23rd anniversary of one of those "I know exactly where I was moments" in our life. It was Nov. 7, 1991 when Magic Johnson announced he had HIV.
From the "Talks too much" studios, see your future, be your future... ma-make it, make your future, Danny.
From Jomo
Friday mailbag- Can you break down the BIG game Saturday with Mocs and Wofford?
Jomo -
Would love to.
We believe UTC is more experienced and more talented than every team in the league, including Wofford. We believe Wofford to be supremely well-coached - Mike Ayers knows what he's doing and always gets more out of his guys than most expect. We believe that UTC's biggest hurdle will be the moment.
We'll explain, but let's examine the numbers that could be of interest Saturday.
One, Wofford runs the ball first, last and almost always, averaging right at 297 yards rushing and only 79 yards passing per game. For those that follow SoCon football, this is not a surprise. There are mixed signals from that rushing total, however.
Follow along: The good sign for the Terriers is they average a smidge less than 6 yards per carry. Simple math tells us that can move some chains. The bad is that they are right at even on the season in time of possession. Ergo, it means the Terriers have had a a handful of big plays to bolster that rushing average as opposed to being a more-traditional, grinding option team that stays ahead of the chains. (Five Wofford players have runs for 30 or more yards this year, including Ray Smith's 92-yard run. Don't get spoiled by all this research.)
The sneaky stat that plays into Wofford's advantage is that the Terriers have been terrific defensively in the red zone. Wofford has only allowed 16 TDs in its opponents 32 trips inside its 20, and that number is much better - 4-of-13 - against SoCon foes. That's excellent.
Still, the moment and the magnitude lend the edge to experience and Wofford has all of seven seniors on its roster. Seven.
So in truth, numbers and experience put to the side, the only question that matters is simply, "Are the Mocs ready for to grab the title?"
We believe they are, and they will have to be, because Ayers and Co. will not gift wrap it for anyone.
So, are they ready for the pressure and the magnitude and meaning? Are they ready for the next step - a much-needed step into the playoffs - that a lot of folks think should have happened a season ago?
Are they ready to grow, because in truth, maturation can be a difficult process - we've been able to avoid it so far - that only comes by doing the meaningful things in the meaningful moments.
Are they ready?
We think so.
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From Sean
Man you guys are hilarious on Press Row. I listen every day.
Did you really say this week that you think the Tennessee Vols will be the favorite in the East next year? You really think we can contend next year?
Keep up the good work and thanks (do you think this might make the paper mailbag?)
Sean -
Not sure if this will make the paper or not - then blockhead TFP sports editor can be kind of a pain at times.
And yes, we did say that, and the more we look around at the San Andreas Fault landscape that is the SEC East, we really believe UT could be the favorite. They won't be voted that way in the preseason because of the way preseason polls work, but at which position group are the Vols not going to be better next year?
Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) eludes Alabama's Jonathan Allen (93).And if Josh Dobbs is what we've seen the last two games, well, they may have arguably the best returning QB in the league. (And yes, who would have thought that statement could be made with a rim shot or a laugh track two weeks ago?)
Yes, the Vols will miss A.J. Johnson 87 tackles per game and his leadership, but as of depth charts at this moment, let's look at what each of the East return.
Florida - 9 seniors among the 22 offensive and defensive starters (and likely rebuilding a coaching staff)
Georgia - 10 seniors among the 22 among the 22 offensive and defensive starters (and that's not counting Todd Gurley and Leonard Floyd going pro since each is on Mel Kiper's top 25 big board)
Kentucky - 9 seniors among the 22 offensive and defensive starters
Missouri - 7 seniors among the 22 offensive and defensive starters (and that's not counting Shane Ray going pro even though he is on Mel Kiper's top 25 big board) Side note: Missouri will have a lot of experience back next year.
South Carolina - 8 seniors among the 22 offensive and defensive starters
Tennessee - 3 seniors among the 22 offensive and defensive starters (and all of them are on defense - Johnson, Justin Coleman and Jordan Williams)
Vandy - like it matters.
And thanks for listening and playing along.
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From MocTastic
JG, what are your SoCon asked and answered questions?
MT -
There will be no SoCon asked and answered for the teams, but you know this. Frankly, we don't see the league-wide interest to do that overall, and there's not the same SoCon level of accomplishment with the recent alterations to the league's landscape.
Southern ConferenceWe have a couple of questions to ask for the multitude of UTC fans on this board:
Would the Mocs be in such high cotton if Georgia Southern and App State had not pulled a George and Weezie and "Moved on Up" to the Sun Belt? (And this is not debating whether the Eagles and Mounties station and purpose is better served in the SoCon or the Sun Belt, but whether the Mocs would be steam-rolling at the same pace.) We think UTC would battle with the former powers - this Mocs team has a bunch of talent - but not be the clear frontrunner like it is now.
Is there any way the SoCon gets two teams in the dance? We say no chance. Now, if App and GSU were still SoCon swinging rather Sun Belting, that likely would be different.
Who is the next bully on the block? We'll take Mercer. Awesome recruiting base, and we all know that their coach is a wolf in Lamb's clothing.
If the SoCon could have a redo, what would it be? Move Heaven and Earth to get Kennesaw State in the league rather than VMI, but maybe that was a pipe dream from the beginning.
That said, when the realignment happened, and the SoCon became noticeably weaker in hoops and football, we said UTC should become the superpower of this league. With a dominating football season and high hopes in hoops, it looks like UTC has made positive strides in that direction.
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From SteelerFan
I really hate the cliche "dodged a bullet" in sports.
Here are some alternatives I thought of for "dodged a bullet."
10) Fingered fate.
9) Juked a jailer.
8) Ducked a drone.
7) Sidestepped a cow pile.
6) Stiff-armed Satan.
5) Bilked a bookie.
4) Swallowed a hiccup.
3) Concussed a catastrophe.
2) Jacked a knife.
1) Head-faked a halo.
Can you help us eliminate this phrase? Thanks.
SteelerFan -
Awesome as always. And you bring up a fair point because other than a) the Olympic skiing shooting combo; b) the football scenes in the "The Last Boyscout," which is an underrated Bruce Willis vehicle; c) a poorly timed high school event at Notre Dame or McCallie and the proximity to Dodds Avenue, who real "dodges bullets" in sports?
Sure, we get the exaggeration and the emphasis on drama, but c'mon. And other than super heros with super powers, who actually can dodge bullets other than Remo Williams. (Yes, we went old-school with Remo... Look it up whipper-snappers... and get off our lawn.)
We'll add "leaped a land mine," "missed the sale to buy the farm," "air-kicked the bucket" and "escaped asphyxiation" to your list.
We'll give it a go, SteelerFan, because of your loyalty, but in truth there are a slew of other sports cliches that are personally higher on our madness meter of sports cliches.
Here's our Rushmore of sports cliches we loathe (there are actually a lot of them, and these are more about what announcers say, but there are a ton in sports writing too). Feel free to play along:
1) Shock the World. Really? Do you really thing anyone in China gives two rips about the outcome of your event. (Answer is no, unless Kobe or Yao Ming are involved.)
2) Giving 110%. If you are actually capable of giving more than 100 percent, well, then why in the world did you not give 200 percent? Slacker.
3) Give them a taste of their own medicine. That's just not smart. And in this age of sports, sharing painkillers or PEDs is not advised without medical input. And anyone who
4) In the zone. Please make it stop. (And, like Coach Norman Dale, we've always preferred man-to-man defenses).
Honorable mention: Chip-shot field goal. As someone who struggles with a lot of chip shots, this cliche is flat wrong and misleading.
(And yes, we could wax poetic about this for a while.)
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From GolfGal
JG- Mailbag. Can you please initiate a referendum that the hairy-unkept-wolfman-earthbeard era is now extinct in sports? I blame Johnny Damon and the 04' Red Sox for starting this hideous trend but 10 years is long enough. It has infiltrated youth sports now as well. The goalie at my sons last soccer game was a dead ringer for Artis Gilmore
(From a guy in the office) Can we name a 'if he just stays healthy' mid season category award in any sport in honor of Derrick Rose. Give it to Romo, Matt Stafford, maybe Tiger.
PS. We all like the 5 at 10 at work.
GG -
We wish we could. And you're right, Johnny D brought it main stream, but if memory serves hockey players have long rallied around "playoff beards."
Artis Gilmore? That's glorious. And haven't we all seen those kids in sports that look like they have been shaving since fourth grade and drove the bus to the middle school all-star game?
(Side Rushmore in honor of Artis Gilmore and GG"s brilliance: Ugliest dudes in sports - we'll go Gilmore, Dennis Johnson, Willie McGee and Randy Johnson. Whatcha got.)
Great question from your co-worker. And let's reach for the All-Igniss Glassworks Rushmore in honor of Derrick Rose, who is about to achieve Igniss Emeritus status.
- Greg Oden needs to be there somewhere. Dude will be the NBA's all-time answer to JaMarcus Russell since he was plucked ahead of Kevin Durant.
- Mark Pryor, who we thought was going to be a Hall of Famer but battled injuries his entire career.
- Fred Couples. Hey, did any of y'all hear that Freddie has a bad back?
- Ken Griffey Jr. Wow, what kind of numbers would The Kid have posted without the injuries?
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From PR Fan, No. 2
Jay,
You guys killed it on the radio this week.
Why have you guys not done as many Rushmores lately? Just wondering, and did you guys have a Harrison Ford Rushmore (Thursday)? If so, what made it.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
PR Fan, No. 2 -
Thanks for listening and for the email.
Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey in "42."We have had so much to talk about (i.e. football) that the Rushmores have kind of taken a backseat some times.
We had a couple on Thursday, and the mini-Harrison Ford one was quick. (We settled on Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones and The Fugitive. Dude has a pretty impressive catalog considering he was discovered as a set-builder on "American Grafitti.")
Thanks and gang, feel free to sound-off on any of the above.