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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 5, 2022 22:38:31 GMT -5
The plane that was supposed to carry the Utah football team and traveling party back home broke down at Gainesville Regional Airport. There were not enough hotel rooms to put them up, and not enough food at the airport to feed that many people.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 5, 2022 17:04:55 GMT -5
Ohio State runs a very complex offense. They aren't going to be in mid season form in a season opener. I don't believe that Notre Dame suddenly got good after years of being throttled by basically every good team that they play.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 5, 2022 17:01:02 GMT -5
Could also be that the semester had not started. We didn't do a halftime show for my first game either, because school hadn't started. There is only so much that can be accomplished in the limited time of band camp, without daily rehearsals.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 4, 2022 18:16:07 GMT -5
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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 4, 2022 18:08:05 GMT -5
I can't help but think how much this game will pay off this season. The idea that you never give up was never more in play than last night. Let's face it, things looked pretty grim. Utah sitting there on the doorstep trying to win it, but *knowing* they could tie it and go into OT. But the QB made a bad decision and Amari Burney was there to make him pay. Burney said, "Someone had to make a play. It happened to be me." This game will help the spirit of the team, the fight, the knowledge that it truly ain't over till it's over. It's going to help recruiting, it's going to help erase that fiasco of a bowl game last year. It's all good. All good. Don't kid yourself. That was a very good team who came into Gainesville on Saturday. A lot of the remarks at yesterday's watch party were compliments about Utah's QB and receivers. That was a game that Florida could easily have lost, and one that many people expected them to lose. Yet they found a way. A defense that bent a lot came up with the plays when Utah was about to put the game away - twice. Anthony Richardson was phenomenal. Like many of you, I am wondering why Dan Mullen was so obsessed with Emory Jones when he had a talent like Richardson on the roster. If AR keeps playing like this, he will be one and done as the starter and off to the NFL Draft. On the telecast last night, it was stated that he is currently the #12 overall prospect for the 2023 draft.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 4, 2022 17:59:49 GMT -5
Florida Gators' Anthony Richardson dazzles with arm, legs in upset of UtahRichardson said he had pregame jitters but worked them out after the first few series. With the game on the line and Florida trailing 26-22 with the clock winding down, Richardson said Napier told him to go score the game winner.
"My heart kind of froze," Richardson said. "I'd never really heard those words. Especially in a situation like that, with a crowd as big as that. Just having the ball in my hands, I feel like the team trusts me. The coaches trust me to make a play, make something happen. I'm glad they trust me for that."
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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 3, 2022 16:15:24 GMT -5
Some players bailed after Cristobal left.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 2, 2022 22:30:48 GMT -5
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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 2, 2022 21:31:07 GMT -5
SEC
Florida 29, Utah 26 - Great start to the Napier era. The first offensive drive was looking great, until the ball was ripped out and returned to the 25, setting up the first Utah TD. Offense was better than expected. Defense needs some work, especially pass coverage and pass rush. Gators had 283 yards rushing in a game with five yards difference in total offense. A third quarter goal line stand was huge. Just when it appeared that we may have left too much time on the clock scoring with 1:25 left, a diving interception in the end zone by Amari Burney on second and goal with 17 seconds remaining sealed the victory.
Florida State 24, LSU 23 - What an insane ending. The Seminoles took a 24-10 lead with 9:04 remaining. At 4:07, LSU scored on a 22-yard pass play to cut the lead to 24-17. LSU forced a punt after the first three-and-out of the night, which was muffed and recovered by Florida State at the LSU eight yard line with 2:15 remaining - the Tigers' second turnover on a muffed punt. With FSU about to put the game away, they pitched back on a running play, which was fumbled and recovered by LSU at the one yard line with 1:20 left. LSU drove the length of the field. As time expired, LSU QB Jayden Daniels threw a two-yard TD pass. The extra point was blocked.
Tennessee 59, Ball State 10 - The Vols' defensive line overpowered the Cardinals' o-line. Ball State had 74 yards rushing and three turnovers. Tennessee did not get the Bronze Stalk Trophy.
Missouri 52, Louisiana Tech 34 - The Tigers trailed 3-0 after one quarter, then they scored in double digits in every other quarter, including 24 points in the second. Five turnovers in the game, including three by the Bulldogs. Tech had 11 yards rushing.
Georgia 49, Oregon 3 - And it could have been worse. The Bulldogs scored on their first seven possessions. Bo Nix is the answer for Oregon. The question is, who will suck at QB for the Ducks. Dan Lanning, I don't think you're in Georgia anymore.
Texas A&M 31, Sam Houston 0 - The FCS national champions were no match for the Aggies, who had 497 yards total offense.
Arkansas 31, Cincinnati 24 - Solid win for the Razorbacks against a quality opponent. All of the Bearcats' points came in the second half.
Ole Miss 28, Troy 10 - Sloppy game with five turnovers, three by the Rebels.
Alabama 55, Utah State 0 - Another season opener, another Tide blowout. The Aggies had 136 yards total offense.
Kentucky 37, Miami (OH) 13 - A struggle early, as The Wildcats led 13-10 at the half. UK's 17-3 third quarter broke it open.
Auburn 42, Mercer 13 - One of many season opening tuneup games in the SEC. The Tigers has two turnovers or it might have been worse.
Vanderbilt 42, Elon 31 - Not quite the beatdown that the Commodores delivered to Hawaii in the opener. Vandy led 28-10 at the half and coasted.
South Carolina 35, Georgia State 14 - The Gamecocks led only 12-7 at the half, but a 16-point third quarter was decisive.
Mississippi State 49, Memphis 23 - The Bulldogs led 28-3 at the half.
National games
Penn State 35, Purdue 31 - Competitive throughout, and both teams had leads. The Nittany Lions won it on a ten-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds remaining.
Pittsburgh 38, West Virginia 31 - The Panthers won the Backyard Brawl on a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown with 2:58 remaining. Both teams led at different points, but no one was up by more than seven. Pitt had only 76 yards rushing.
Oklahoma State 58, Central Michigan 44 - Not nearly this close, as half the Chippewas' points came in the fourth quarter after the Cowboys had built a 51-22 lead. After what happened the last time that CMU visited Stillwater, no way that OSU was going to allow them to hang around.
Florida International 38, Bryant 37, OT - It took a 24-point fourth quarter by the Golden Panthers to force OT. They were outgained by almost 100 yards. After the Bulldogs scored seven points in OT, FIU made a two point conversion after a TD. FIU was held to 67 yards rushing.
William and Mary 41, Charlotte 24 - Looks like a long season ahead for the 49ers, losing to the FCS Tribe after getting throttled by 30 at FAU last week. W&M outscored Charlotte 21-0 in the fourth quarter after the 49ers had taken a 24-20 lead.
Old Dominion 20, Virginia Tech 17 - Not the first time that the Monarchs have knocked off the Hokies. Only one team scored in each quarter; Tech in the first (7) and third (10), ODU in the second and fourth (ten points each). The winning touchdown was scored on a one-yard run with 33 seconds remaining. Five turnovers by V-Tech, including a botched snap on a FG attempt that was returned for a TD.
Indiana 23, Illinois 20 - The Hoosiers' only points of the second half came on a one yard touchdown run with 23 seconds remaining. Indiana had only 32 yards rushing.
North Carolina 63, Appalachian State 61 - A furious fourth quarter rally by the Mountaineers, scoring 40 points. They scored a touchdown on a 26 yard pass with nine seconds remaining, but missed the two point conversion that would have sent the game to OT.
North Carolina State 21, East Carolina 20 - The Pirates missed a PAT and s field goal in the final three minutes.
Iowa 7, South Dakota State 3 - The Hawkeyes managed a field goal and two safeties against the FCS Jackrabbits.
Ohio State 21, Notre Dame 10 - Giving credit where it is due, the Irish made this much more of a game than I expected. ND led 10-7 at the half, and the Buckeyes didn't take the lead until 17 seconds before the end of the third quarter.
Houston 37, Texas-San Antonio 35, 3OT - A leaping two pointer by the Cougars was the difference in a game that they had to score 17 points in the fourth quarter to tie.
Wyoming 40, Tulsa 37, 2OT - The teams traded field goals in the first OT before the Cowboys won it with a 30 yarder in the second.
Arizona 38, San Diego State 20 - The Wildcats were awful a year ago, but an influx of talent (50 players who weren't on the roster a season ago) left them capable of handling the Aztecs in a game that they led from start to finish.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Sept 1, 2022 17:23:07 GMT -5
Well, it was the 1970s. Breakfast was a screwdriver and a peanut roll. Some things you just don't forget. I hear you. The things I remember are insignificant yet somehow memorable. Then I can't remember the important stuff. Probably wasn't the weed though. I never really got into weed. Just didn't do much for me.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 31, 2022 19:16:45 GMT -5
Yeah but I bet you had weed in the back of that bus. Well, it was the 1970s. Breakfast was a screwdriver and a peanut roll. Some things you just don't forget.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 31, 2022 11:53:09 GMT -5
...I find it refreshing that our new head football coach realizes and appreciates the importance of the band in game day atmosphere and motivating his players. Coach Billy Napier recently paid a visit to band practice in Gainesville. Contrast this with my time at UF, when head coach Doug Dickey tried to get out of taking the band to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl to save money for the university. The Sugar Bowl people told him that we were part of the deal. Still, we spent 13 hours each way on buses while the team flew to New Orleans and back.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 31, 2022 1:33:51 GMT -5
In the post game presser, Frost seemed to take a shot at his OC, saying that they "had to learn to be creative." I don't believe that the OC called the onside kick with Nebraska up 11. IMO, Northwestern just figured out what they were doing and did a better job of stopping it.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 30, 2022 20:08:56 GMT -5
You're talking about Vanderbilt? The Commodores? From Nashville? Something's not adding up here. Hawaii scored a touchdown on their opening drive, then three points the rest of the game. That 7-0 lead didn't mean much. Watch the highlights on YouTube. Looks nothing like the Vanderbilt that we have seen for the past several years. While I am hesitant to draw conclusions based upon one game, when the difference from one year to the next is this stark (this is a team that once lost to both UNLV and East Tennessee State at home, and neither game was close), I take notice. The helmets have changed. The star is gone, replaced by a simple gold V with black outline on a white shell.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 29, 2022 22:57:07 GMT -5
Had he stayed at UCF, he would have had his name on the stadium. Exactly. His reputation as a miracle worker has taken a beating after what has happened at Nebraska. Basically, Nebraska has been at best mediocre after firing Frank Solich (another alumnus) in 2003 after a 9-3 season, although Bo Pelini had some success for about three years. The program was in poor shape when Frost took it over, and it has been so long since they were really good that they can no longer trade on reputation with recruits.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 29, 2022 13:52:21 GMT -5
I kind of feel sorry for the guy. He caught lightning in a bottle at UCF and something going. He could have rode that job into the UCF history books as the builder of the program. Could have been a small conference legend. Instead he got guilted into trying to save a once legendary program that time had passed by. I still believe he really didn't want to leave UCF, but he was guilted by big boosters and former coaches to go and save his alma mater. Now they are about to kick him to the curb. Hope he lands softly and gets another chance somewhere else (not in FL). Had he stayed at UCF, he would have had his name on the stadium. However, when your former head coach calls you and tells you that alma mater needs you, it's difficult to say no. Ironically, had Frost stayed in Orlando, he would have had a Power 5 job with UCF joining the Big 12 in 2024. A decision that has been universally panned and will be questioned for the rest of the season is Frost's choice to attempt an onside kick after Nebraska had just scored to push their lead to 28-17 in the third quarter. Northwestern recovered, and they took advantage of the short field to score and cut the lead to 28-24.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 28, 2022 20:18:13 GMT -5
Impressive opener for the Commodores. In a game that the ESPN Game Day crew unanimously picked them to lose, they destroyed Hawaii 63-10 in front of a home opener crowd for the Rainbow Warriors. Vandy had 601 yards of total offense, with 404 yards rushing, including an 87-yard TD run by QB Mike Wright. His incredible mobility kept plays alive, and he completed 16/28 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. QB mobility has been a problem for them in recent years. The offense showed big play potential, scoring 35 points in the third quarter to break open a game that they led 21-10 at the half. The defense returned two fumbles for touchdowns.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 28, 2022 17:36:47 GMT -5
And be a 17-point underdog at Ohio State?
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 27, 2022 16:08:07 GMT -5
Nebraska drove down the field on the opening drive like they were going to replicate last season's 56-7 drubbing of Northwestern, leading 14-3 in the first quarter en route to a 31-28 loss. Early on they were choking off the Wildcats' running game. Adjustments were made, and Northwestern outrushed Nebraska 214-111 and outgained them 527-465. Nebraska blew double digit leads twice, leading 14-3 (before trailing 17-14 at the half) and 28-17 in the third quarter. The Wildcats scored the only points of the fourth quarter on a short touchdown run with 11:37 remaining. An interception with 1:27 remaining ended the final Nebraska drive. Both teams were led by transfer QBs, Nebraska by Chester Thompson, a transfer from Texas, and Northwestern by Ryan Hilinski, a transfer from South Carolina.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 27, 2022 15:38:29 GMT -5
Love the content. I edited the format to make it easier to read.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 27, 2022 15:29:17 GMT -5
Saban is 70 now.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 26, 2022 20:18:22 GMT -5
Spiraling at super speed. I just don't know how it corrects, I would say market correction but fans (especially super rich ones) are so delusional that even if they pay a kid in high school who never plays a down for their team they feel like they've "done something." If the kid hits? Next time someone will try to get the next big thing in middle school. Things have gotten so bad here with Bishop Gorman (who had a home game televised on ESPN) that high school coaches in Nevada petitioned the Nevada High School Athletic Association to ban them from the state playoffs. Gorman recruits (you may have seen an ESPN series about Snoop Dogg's kid playing there before going to UCLA; DeMarco Murray is also an alum). Two years ago, the high school that is within walking distance from my house was the #2 team in the state. Gorman, of course, was #1. Gorman beat them 55-3. Such is the gap. People move here so that their kids can play for Gorman, and they cherry pick the best athletes from high schools all over town.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 24, 2022 12:48:18 GMT -5
Great. So the for-profit football mills will become even more dominant in high school athletics. This is spiraling out of control.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 24, 2022 1:11:43 GMT -5
The opener is a sellout, so hopefully you are right.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 23, 2022 19:38:52 GMT -5
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 23, 2022 19:34:42 GMT -5
Two players on the Indiana State football team and a non-player ISU student were killed, and two other players remain in critical condition following a single-car accident last weekend. The crash, which involved the car striking a tree, happened about ten miles from the ISU campus in Terre Haute. Two Indiana State football players among 3 killed in single-vehicle crash
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 23, 2022 19:29:26 GMT -5
People in Gainesville are now telling me that it is still a possibility. The only thing is that my brother-in-law, who helped me to get tickets, is my ride to Gainesville and I had planned to sit with him. That I haven't picked up a horn in 35 years is inconsequential.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 23, 2022 19:23:36 GMT -5
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 23, 2022 18:24:36 GMT -5
One thing on our side: we have film of the Utes and they have almost nothing on us. I don't see Napier as a trick play kind of guy, but scared money don't make money, you know? I would like to be optimistic. However, the reason that Utah won't have any film on us is that we haven't run a single play in a game situation under this system. Timing takes repetition, and when your first opponent is a top ten team, things happen quickly. Think Georgia a year ago.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Aug 23, 2022 18:17:52 GMT -5
Missouri. The hell of it is that I didn't realize until after my brother-in-law and I had bought tickets that it is homecoming, and I could have done alumni band. At my age, I don't know how many more opportunities that there will be.
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