Willie, Keep Hitting Him Until he Doesn't Get Up

More searching for the Gators' soft underbelly - Dr. Saturday - NCAA Football - Rivals.com

the two keys to beating Florida are a) Hit the Tebow Child and b) Don't let him touch the ball in the first place. Obviously, both are easier said than done, but among the few teams that have been able to hang an 'L' on the Gators with Tebow at the helm the last two years, LSU, Georgia and Michigan combined for 10 sacks and more than a dozen QB hurries in 2007

Full Contact Tuesday

It appears the psyche of the Oklahoma State defense needed a boost, at least according to new defensive coordinator Bill Young.
Cowboys take defensive stance - College Football - Rivals.com (h/t Blutarsky)

“One of the main things we’re working on is the psyche of our players,” Young said by phone Monday. “They don’t need to be hearing how bad they are. They need to be hearing how good they are – because they are good.”

Ask, and you shall receive....
What's in store for Oklahoma State this season? | NewsOK.com (h/t Hale)

Sept. 5 vs. Georgia
Despite growing doubt nationally about the Cowboys, they announce their presence with authority, handing Georgia a 21-point defeat to open the season.

The BUI take on the pokes, the game, and that color.

Maybe we won't see them in the "I" formation
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow says he'd consider playing other positions in NFL

But Tebow said last week that doesn't mean he's not open to the possibility of playing other positions at the next level.

Here's to hoping Tebow makes about 4 tackles and 0 circumcisions at the WLOCP!


The BUI recruiting/research/marketing department talks about some fresh faces
Bernie's Dawg Blawg: Have Campus Bus Schedule Will Play

I for one think we've recruited really well at that position the last few years.

It's never too early to prep for next year
EDSBS » Archive » THIS RECRUIT MCGEE MUST BE SOMETHING

Coach Dan Hawkins making what is by far the most JACKED AND ENTHUSED call

Nothing like a little confab between the Masters of Muckraking, Finebaum and Bianchi
Paul Finebaum | Press-Register Sports Columnist - al.com

"The Bear has finally risen again," Bianchi said, "but he's coaching at Florida under the alias of Urban Meyer."

Not to ignore the gathering at Cobb Galleria, but nothing too newsworthy took place that wasn't examined by Bernie.

A Pabst Blue Ribbon Prognostication

With one week to go before practice starts in earnest, the blogging manifesto dictates we provide a preview of the Dawg's upcoming season. We will get it a shot but must remind you, speculation is a fool's game.

The coaches and media agreed with the pre-pre-season magazines and predicted a second-place finish in the eastern division. Normally that would be a safe limb to go out on, however it is awfully crowded this year. As last year made evident, crowded limbs tend to snap. I have always believed following the masses creates a lot of Asses.

T Kyle points out the reasoning behind the consensus national ranking of about 15. He makes some excellent points as to the motivations for these prognostications.

I believe, despite all things Tebow, this will be a somewhat down year for the SEC and Gainesville will not repeat as MNC. The league is stacked with receiving talent but not so much with quarterbacks or running backs. Two traditional powers are breaking in new, unproven, head coaches. Defenses will dominate the league games and, if that is the case, things will be very unpredictable. This plays to the Dawg's advantage.

Florida will lose. Mark it down. When was the last time the media anointed someone champ before the season started and it came to be? Will the Dawg's take care of business in Jacksonville? I have no idea, but I like our chances. With Percy Harvin gone, it is not hard to envision Corch Meyers running Tebow into the ground leaving the reptile nation crying, "if only Tebow were healthy".

I really do not see many shootouts on our schedule. Florida is the only real offensive juggernaut on the conference schedule, with the possible exception of fayettville. Last year's high scoring games were a product of giving the opponent a short field. We may not have many three play scoring drives this year, but I do not expect us to turn the ball over much either.

The Dawgs are deepest where it counts the most, on the line of scrimmage. Defensive end production is an area of concern, but with required double-teams against our tackles, look for a dramatic up-tick in their performance. As long as Rennie Curran is still a Dawg we are set at linebacker. The offensive line is loaded with talent; somebody will take advantage of the holes they create.

The questions for the Bulldawg faithful are at the skill positions on both sides of the ball. Aside from AJ Green and Joe Cox, everyone else's name will be penciled into the starting lineup initially. There is talent up and down the roster, but without significant game experience these pups remain the unknown.

I have gainesville losing to baton rouge, the Dawgs, and columbia due to the loss of Tebow. Add it all up and I see us earning a trip to Atlanta for a rematch with baton rouge to determine the Sugar Bowl entrant.

The Virgin and Votegate

Upon reflection, Mike Slive was compelled to change the name of this week's event to "The Vote for Virginity". Slive took full responsibility, claiming it is obvious to everyone the purpose of the event was to further glorify the Saint that is Timothy. Furthermore, Slive went on to say it was a mistake to invite other teams to the event and he personally apologized to Tebow. The Gator Nation and ESPN both accepted the apology.

Will Steve Spurrier be allowed to take back all those pre-season votes for Duke? Seriously. The man that has given a pre-season vote to Duke every year since 1990 was compelled to change his vote from Jevan Snead to Tim Tebow. No, he didn't claim it was a hanging chad, nor did he claim the ballot was too difficult to read. He blamed it on an assistant. Oh how the mighty has fallen.

Like an unforeseen weather pattern, or a Tim Geithner speech, the "V and V Episode" has placed our Media Days' expectations in jeopardy. After all, when they change the name of the event and allow coaches to change their votes, speculation becomes a fool's game. Still, before we write off the predictions, we will have to wait on Paul Finebaum's column that should be published around July 28.

Given the events that occurred, it will be hard for even the most stubborn of muckrakers to take a shot at any coach other than man that once was Steve Spurrier. Of course, Paul, the master of the qualified statement MAY focus on virginity and vote-gate. IT IS POSSIBLE Finebaum will deliver a piece that both questions the veracity of Timothy Tebow's virginity claim, and criticizes Spurrier for changing his vote. After all, Nick Saban PROBABLY would have been man enough to take the heat.

And finally, if there was ever any doubt Mike Bianchi has a man crush on Tebow, his RUMORED offer to de-flower the god from Gainesville should remove any doubt. Stay strong Timmy, remember when Bianchi asks you to get in the spread formation, he is not talking football.

Media Days turns into a game of Clue

My predictions for media days have yet to transpire, but it is early. Day one of Media Days was even worse than predicted. Today produced 900 media members playing the SEC's version of "Clue". I have an unopened bottle of Jim Beam for the first coach that proudly proclaims he did NOT vote for Tebow (or hopefully a $25 donation to Prince Avenue Baptist Church).

On a side note, rumor has it Mike Bianchi desires to be "re-circumcised". Due to the restraining order Tebow has taken out on him, Bianchi wants Urban Meyer to do the "honor" and he wants him to do it slow.

Pat Dooly was seen caddying for Steve Spurrier on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Buddy Martin got a DUI celebrating Meyer's "victory in Alabama", or being named best coach in the SEC in some poll depending on your perspective. All other SEC columnist were busy playing Clue. Spoiler alert: Judas did it.

Paul Finebaum is under 24-hour security, and rightfully so. Rumor has it Finebaum will be targeting Les Miles. Apparently, Les is going to become a full time hat model for The Game, either that or something to do with Michigan or Notre Dame. Paul has yet to decide which rumor he is going to create/report on.

Now onto what really happened.

There was a late addition to the media horde, Willard finally got his credentials in order and filed this report.

Better yet, check out the scribe from Syracuse.

The most useful link I found today.

On a serious note, how about those Bravos!

Take 2 Aspirin and Drink Plenty of Water

It was a busy weekend in Valdosta with a slew of family in town and lots of golf, including the British Open on the tube. Watching Watson was reminiscent of my childhood, only this time I was pulling for him. In the end, it wasn't meant to be, but here's to @StewartCink. His twitter updates on his troubles getting to Scotland and his carry-on luggage coming back have been priceless. Rex Robinson opines here.

Back to the typical mid-summer football oleo that leads up to the SEC Media Days.

Jim Donnan was inducted into College Football Hall of Fame. I was never a big Jim Donnan hater, except for that opener back in 96, but he won me over in the rain against Texas-Tech and I stayed with him through Columbia in 2000. Mark Bradley gives his take, as does Bill King with a bonus recap of the greatest wins of the Donnan era as he sees it.

Tim Tebow is not unanimous selection as All-SEC QB per coaches. Why wasn't Tebow unanimous? Darrell Owenby examines, along with a myriad of other columnists and bloggers. Personally, I find the pre-season All-SEC team about as worthy as a Hanoi Jane diatribe, but hey it is summer and look at all the thousands of words produced in July.

The Dawgs are starting to roll in the "Verbal Commitment" department. These commitments are not binding, but Mark Richt is beating the hell out of par in holding onto his "verbals". Kipp Adams gives a great review of "Dawg Night". Ohio State bemoans the loss of Garrison "Jeff Owens 2.0" Smith. Blutarsky ran a great piece on SEC spending on recruiting with Knoxville and West Opelika leading the way. Chris Low knows a good story when he reads one.

Things are happening on the hard court and this blogger likes what he sees. The coaching staff has been finalized as Westerdawg reports. Daugman informs us about Sundiata Gaines and his aspirations to become an Atlanta Hawk. If you are a basketball fan, please do yourself a favor and take some time to read over his site thoroughly, he really has his finger on the pulse of Coach Fox's team.

Team Speed Kills gives a brief look at the schedule for Media Days.

Finally, it has been said, putting a football playoff together for D-1 is not rocket science. Perhaps, early in 2010, President Obama and teleprompter will give an inspiring speech proclaiming that we will develop the technology and where with all to implement a post season tournament to decide a football champion on the gridiron free of the politics of personal destruction (voters wearing vest).