So, at least the top three teams stayed strong. Of course, the big news for #1 Florida, who beat Kentucky into the ground, was that Tim Tebow was taken out of the game and to the hospital with a pretty bad concussion. He’s doing OK now, which is to be expected with a simple concussion – it’s just a little scary when you’re not sure if it is something worse or not. #2 Texas (who beat UTEP  64 – 7) and #3 Alabama (who beat Arkansas 35 – 7) held steady, but after that, the top 25 went to shit.

First, the Gamecocks shut down #4 Ole Miss, in a game that was all about defense. South Carolina’s defense, that is. Mississippi usually relies heavily on Jevon Snead, but South Carolina pretty much took him out of the game. Oh, he wasn’t injured or anything, but the O-line just couldn’t stop the Gamecock defense, and Snead couldn’t seem to make any places. How’s this for an embarrassing stat: Ole Miss has now lost 6 straight SEC openers. Ouch.

But they aren’t alone when it comes to embarrassing states. Did you know that Penn State has lost 7 of their last 8 games against…Iowa. Seriously, I kid you not, Iowa has a football team. They’re a team that just doesn’t get much press time, and for some reason, Joe Paterno and Penn State haven’t realized that they have a rivalry with them. The Hawkeyes came to Happy Valley this year, and it was a downpour for much of the game, but that didn’t stop them. Head coach Kirk Ferentz actually wanted to play for Penn State and JoePa when he was in high school, but there wasn’t any scholarship interest. Ibet he gets warm fuzzy feelings every time he whoops ass against PSU. The game itself was kinda a snoozefest, holding steady at 10 – 5 for much of the game. Then, Iowa suddenly exploded in the fourth quarter and Penn State made some major mistakes. Final score ended up being 21 – 10, and Penn State is no longer a top five team.Yes, it hurts my soul.

Image: Newscom

Moving on, the previously-ranked #6 California had a bad week as well. They were thrashed by Oregon. I mean, thrashed. Final score 42 – 3 thrashed. Coming into the game, Cal had the tenth best rushing offense in the country. And then Oregon was like “and now, you don’t.” The Ducks aren’t a horrible team, but this was an embarrassment for Cal. They shouldn’t have let Oregon have 32 unanswered points. A single field goal isn’t good enough when you’re a ranked team.

LSU, ranked seventh at the time, won their game against Mississippi State, but it wasn’t pretty, and I personally don’t think that they deserve the #4 spot that they have now after a game like that on Saturday. Sure, they won, but it should have been an easy game and it was anything but. Mississippi State played their heart out and almost ran away with the game. One of the most interesting games of the week was #9 Miami at #11 Virginia Tech. Oh wait, Miami blew too. Seriously, it wasn’t supposed to be a gimme game for the Hurricanes, but they looked like hell on the field this week. It should have been a good game, and it just wasn’t. At least Boise State (then 8, now 5) played like a top ten team should, beating Bowling Green 49 – 14.

We’re mid-season. Teams need to be playing with more heart than I’ve seen. I mean, I’m all for a few surprises and upsets every week, but Week Four was ridiculous.

Post from: EveryJoe

College Football Week Four 2009 in Review

South Carolina is on the board already after a fumble by the NC State offense. The first touchdown of the 2009 season officially goes to Brian Maddox. He’s a junior running back from Anderson, South Carolina, and was ranked as the number one tailback coming out of spring practices, according to his Gamecooks website profile.

Brian Maddox, last year against UAB. Image: Newscom

Last year, he had over 120 rushing yards and caught seven passes for 47 yards. He ended the season with two touchdowns (one rushing, one passing), playing in seven games. Kid’s got talent, and maybe as an upperclassman, he’ll get to play more this year and get his hands on the ball more often.

In any case, congrats for popping the 2009 touchdown cherry, Brian Maddox. May the rest of your season be just as full of points.

Post from: EveryJoe

First TD of the 2009 Season: Brian Maddox

#13 Georgia 42, Kentucky 38

• GEORGIA SURVIVES KENTUCKY 42-38 at Football on the Brain
• Georgia-Kentucky Recap at …but they missed the extra point
• Kentucky Football: Two games remaining to change our stars at A Sea of Blue

South Carolina 34, Arkansas 21

• FIVE POINTS: South Carolina 34, Arkansas 21 at Garnet and Black Attack
• Arkansas\’ bowl hopes dim at The Natural State Hawg

Wyoming 13, Tennessee 7

• Rocky Top Low: Vols Fall to Wyoming For Homecoming at AJ-T Sports
• Wyoming Topples Tennessee, 13-7 at MWC Football News

Auburn 37, Tennessee-Martin 20

• TENNESSEE-MARTIN AT AUBURN at MrSEC.com
• Auburn 37, Tennessee-Martin 20 at Arkansas Razorback Sports Network

#1 Alabama 27, #16 LSU 21 (OT)

(Note: In addition to game recaps, this game was at the center of a double-murder between fans. So, the many links below cover that story as well!)

• Alabama-LSU game good? Yes, it was, but worthy of murder? at This Chick\’s View on Sports
• Weekend Recap: LSU vs Alabama at Where Y\’at, Mr. Credo
• Two Dead Following Alabama v. LSU Football Argument at Roll \’Bama Roll
• 2 Die in Argument over Alabama-LSU Football Game at Kreuzer\’s Korner
• Alabama vs. LSU, the full recap at Tide Corner

#5 Florida 42, Vanderbilt 14

• Instant Analysis: Florida-Vanderbilt at Gator Football
• Florida Beats Vanderbilt at The Bull Gator
• Florida postgame quotes at Vanderbilt Football News

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 11: Blogging about the SEC

Mississippi 17, Auburn 7

• Mississippi 17, Auburn 7 at Arkansas Razorback Sports

Arkansas 30, #18 Tulsa 23

• Listen Up Playoff Proponents at Picture Me Rollin
• Final Tailgate of the year: Arkansas vs. Tulsa at Question Certain Perfection?
• Tulsa’s Undefeated Hopes Dashed in Arkansas at NCAA Football Fanhouse

Kentucky 14, Mississippi State 13

• UK at Mississippi State at Big Blue Thoughts
• Home Game Review / Replay of my Prediction (Kentucky) at Watch Out! Nails in the Road!
• UK Edges Mississippi State, 14-13 at KY Sports and Scores

#2 Alabama 35, Arkansas State 0

• Alabama – Arkansas State, the full recap at Tide Corner
• Alabama-Arkansas State, the day after… at The Rap Sheet
• Arkansas State From The Couch at Bama Sports Report

#8 Florida 49, #6 Georgia 10

• Thoughts on Georgia/Florida at A Bulldog in Exile
• Perspectives at Battle Hymn Notes
• Georgia Falls To Florida, 49-10 at Georgia Football Headline News

South Carolina 27, Tennessee 6

• FIVE POINTS: South Carolina 27, Tennessee 6 at Garnet and Black Attack
• Tennessee Volunteers 6, South Carolina 27: whatever at Rocky Top Talk
• Vols Lose to South Carolina in 27-6 Beatdown at Cincy Vols

#19 LSU 35, Tulane 10

• LSU trumps Tulane, now shifts to Bama at The Inside Source for LSU Athletics
• LSU-Tulane notes at LSU Tigers Football
• Inside the game: Tulane at LSU football at Go Green Wave

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC

(check back soon if the link isn’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 10: Blogging about the SEC

#10 Georgia 24, #22 Vanderbilt 14

• Georgia – Vanderbilt: Game day open thread at Save the Shield!
• Vanderbilt vs. Georgia at On the Jericho Road
• Georgia twenty-something, Vanderbilt fourteen or so at A Free Man

#2 Alabama 24, Mississippi 20

• Alabama Survives Late Rebel Comeback at NCAA Football Fanhouse
• Alabama Survives Mississippi’s Upset Bid at ROCKSLAX

Kentucky 21, Arkansas 20

• Kentucky 21, Arkansas 20 at In the Loupe
• Arkansas loses a heartbreaker to Kentucky, 21-20 at RazorBlog
• UK vs. Arkansas: Five Minutes in Heaven at A Sea of Blue

Tennessee 34, Mississippi State 3

• Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs at Rocky Top Talk
• Tennessee beats Mississippi State 34-3 at DJ Football Blitz
• Some Positives in a Season Full of Negatives at Third Saturday in Blogtober

#13 LSU 24, South Carolina 17

• LSU @ South Carolina Thoughts at Cocky Talk
• Official in LSU/South Carolina game at Jumping Offsides
• LSU 24 – South Carolina 17: More Thoughts at And the Valley Shook

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC 

(check back soon if the link isn\\\’t live yet)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 8: Blogging about the SEC

Arkansas against #20 Auburn

• Key Auburn-Arkansas statistics at Auburn Uncover News
• What A Day at Auburn Fanatics
• Hogs Win? at Fat Man in the Bathtub

#11 Florida against #4 LSU

• Hmmm Regarding That LSU/ Florida Game at Opinionated Catholic
• Sagarin was right about Gators vs. LSU at Saurian Sagacity

#10 Georgia against Tennessee

• Postgame from Georgia-Tennessee at The Word
• Georgia: 26 / Tennessee: 14 at DawgsGoneBlog.com
• A different take… at The Meat Packers: Georgia Sports Blog

Kentucky against South Carolina

• UK vs. South Carolina: \\\\\\\”Old\\\\\\\” Kentucky beats the \\\\\\\’Cats at A Sea of Blue
• Gamecocks Win On The Road, Defeat Kentucky 24-17 at South Carolina Gamecocks News

Mississippi State against #13 Vanderbilt

• LIVE BLOG: Vanderbilt at Mississippi State at Inside Vandy
• No. 13 Vanderbilt falls at Campus Confidential

Does not play this week:

• #2 Alabama
• Mississippi

Other conferences: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Independents, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC, Sun Belt, WAC    (If the link does not yet work, check back soon)

Post from: EveryJoe

2008 Week 7: Blogging about the SEC

Offense:

• Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
• Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia (unanimous selection)
• Arian Foster, RB, Tennessee
• Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
• Kenny MeKinley, WR, South Carolina
• Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida
• Andre Smith, OL, Alabama (unanimous selection)
• Michael Oher, OL, Ole Miss (unanimous selection)
• Anthony Parker, OL, Tennessee (unanimous selection)
• Herman Johnson, OL, LSU
• Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas (unanimous selection)

Defense:

• Greg Hardy, DL, Ole Miss (unanimous selection)
• Sen’Derrick Marks, DL, Auburn
• Tyson Jackson, DL, LSU
• Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida (unanimous selection)
• Rico McCoy, LB, Tennessee
• Darry Beckwith, LB, LSU
• Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia
• Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee
• Derek Pegues, DB, Mississippi

Also named to the team as DBs, in a three-way tie were Rashad Johnson from Alabama, Captain Munnerly from South Carolina, and DJ Moore from Vanderbilt.

Special Teams:

• Colt David, PK, LSU
• Ryan Shoemaker, P, Auburn
• Brandon James, RS, Florida

Looks like a good line-up. In the vote, coaches can’t name players from their own team, so “unanimous selection” really means 11 out of 12. I think that all of the coaches probably agree that this is a great list of talent.

Except one. You know that the only thought going through Urban Meyer’s mind was this:

“Who the FUCK is the communist that didn’t vote for Tebow?”

Post from: EveryJoe

Coaches Preseason All-SEC Team

Dear South Carolina,

Thank you for not sucking tonight. Congrats on your victory over Kentucky.
That is all.

xoxox,

Allison

Photo: AP/Patrick Collard

Post from: EveryJoe

Dear South Carolina

ESPN hosted two students – one Erik from Kentucky and Alex from South Carolina – to debate this potentially SEC-changing game. As the players say, everyone knows that the LSU game would be one to watch, but few suspected that Kentucky and South Carolina would make things so interesting. I think the teams are pretty evenly matched, but I have to go with South Carolina for the win (I like to cheer on the underdog a bit). Who do you think will win?

Post from: EveryJoe

Kentucky and South Carolina, Head to Head