I haven’t written anything meaningful in a while, so why start now? Here’s some quick notes from me, because I know you care.

1. The poll question on ESPN’s college football page is, “Who will win Saturday’s showdown in South Bend?” As of quarter-past eleven Sunday night, 58% of the voters are picking Notre Dame. As much as I love Weis’ Wunderkids, as much as I love an underdog, as much as I loved Rudy, as much as I love a good upset, and as much as I would love someone to take down the Trojans … I live in LA. I get to watch USC every week. USC is ridiculously good. USC is better than Florida was in 95-96, and that’s a tough thing to admit. USC is going to beat the tar out of Notre Dame.
2. In Her Shoes is a terrific movie. It’s well-written, the acting is superb, the soundtrack is good, the plot is lovely, and you get to see a lot of Cameron Diaz skin.
3. If you are not winning by more than a touchdown with less than a minute on the clock, do not fool yourself into thinking you’ve beaten the Patriots.
4. A History of Violence is bad. It is pathetically bad. It is painfully bad. The plot is actually pretty darn good. The acting, writing, soundtrack, editing, and hell even the title fonts are wretched. I am seriously considering writing William Hurt and Viggo Whatsisname and asking for $21.50. Spend an hour and a half picking up dog crap around your neighborhood rather than seeing it.
5. Grey’s Anatomy is almost as good as West Wing.

This week’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback includes a delicious link to college football’s funniest fight song. It also includes the best football commentary on the web, and a little bit about that lovable V’Ger, from the first Star Trek movie.

There’s an excellent excerpt from ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Game on the ESPN site right now. It’s the story of how the BCS was born and the history of the college football polling system. Go read it!

Remember the bad calls in last year’s big game?

The Southeastern Conference official who received death threats after a controversial penalty in last year’s Florida-Tennessee game has been removed from Saturday’s rematch, Florida Today reported.

Moreau made the personal foul call on Florida receiver Dallas Baker in the closing moments of Tennessee’s 30-28 win in Knoxville last year.

Officials also mistakenly stopped the clock after the penalty with 55 seconds remaining. The miscue gave the Volunteers more time to set up James Wilhoit’s game-winning, 50-yard field goal with six seconds to play.

from extendedabstract.com’s rejected letter to the editor of the UMass Daily Collegian

We can immediately think of some great chants for athletic events like “Go Hogs, Go Hogs, Go Hogs.” We could even use our arms while we chant to simulate the closing of the clam shell - much like the Florida Gators do. And finally you could do great graphics with an animated clam with big googly eyes and a mean face. Everyone would proudly wear sweatshirts with a simple “Q” on the front with the attitude that if you have to ask, you wouldn’t understand.

The Fighting Quahogs would be the talk of the sports world.

But regardless of all this, if you are honest, you just know that the arrival of the Gray Wolves on campus would be greeted with a resounding yawn. It might as well be a husky. You wouldn’t tell your friends, you wouldn’t buy the shirt or hat or banner. You wouldn’t go and howl at the basketball game. Jim Rome wouldn’t even talk about it on the radio. But the Quahogs, or Fighting Quahogs, or Killer Quahogs you know would be the talk of the sports world, random people would want our merchandise, and you would enthusiastically cheer on our teams with “CO-HOGS, CO-HOGS.” You would even go to the concession and buy a clam roll. It’s the total package.

“Suspended Florida State quarterback Wyatt Sexton was taken to a Tallahassee hospital on Monday evening by local police after causing a disturbance in the street, then identifying himself to police as ‘God’ and the ’son of God.’
Sexton was not arrested.”

Two South Carolina football players were arrested early Sunday and charged with simple marijuana possession, raising the total number of Gamecocks arrested since the end of last season to 11.

Head of SEC Officials Admits Timing Mistake in Vols’ Win over Florida

The Southeastern Conference’s supervisor of officials said Sunday the crew working the Tennessee-Florida game erred in handling the clock, allowing the Volunteers more time on their final drive, which ended with a game-winning field goal.

The mistake occurred when Florida receiver Dallas Baker was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after DeShawn Wynn was stopped on a third-down run with 55 seconds left in the game, with the Gators leading 28-27 Saturday night.

Bobby Gaston, the SEC supervisor of officials, said because it was a running play, the clock should have started on the “ready” — when the referee winds his arm — and not the snap.

Gaston said there’s “accountability with our officials,” but any punishment issued would be discussed with both schools and decided by the SEC’s commissioner. He said any punishment would not be made public.

“It was a game of close calls, tipped balls that went for touchdowns, kicks that slid wide of goalposts. But in the end, it came down to one call and one huge mistake for Florida.

Saturday night was the first two seasons in microcosm. When you think they’re done, they rally. When you think they’ve got it figured out, something goes wrong.”

Florida Game Rescheduled

The University of Florida’s season-opening football game with Middle Tennessee State University has been moved to October 16th due to the potential impact of Hurricane Frances.

The game is now scheduled to be played October 16th in Gainesville at Noon. Television plans for the game will be announced at a later date.

Read the rest of this entry »

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida linebacker Channing Crowder was arrested for fighting with police outside a nightclub.

Crowder, the Southeastern Conference’s freshman defensive player of the year, was arrested early Sunday along with junior safety Jarvis Herring, police said Monday.

According to the police report, Crowder got into an argument outside the club. After police told him to leave, Crowder stopped in the middle of the street, held up traffic and yelled at another man.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Most analysts have identified the Steelers needs in the upcoming NFL Draft as being at cornerback and offensive tackle, and everyone knows the team always is in the lookout for another pass-rusher to plug into its 3-4, and Coach Bill Cowher got a chance to see what might be available when he was at the University of Florida on Tuesday as part of an NFL contingent on hand for the Gators’ pro day.

The fifth Bachelor edition will also follow the established gradual process of elimination, as Jesse narrows the field of women from twenty-five to fifteen on the season premiere, presenting each of his choices with a single red rose. Jesse then closes the gap to 10, six, four, three, two and, ultimately, the one woman who captures his heart. As always, if at any point along the way any of the women decide that they are no longer interested in Jesse, they may reject his invitation to continue dating.

Jesse Palmer was drafted by the Giants in 2001 and became the team’s top back-up quarterback last season. Jesse ranks fourth on the University of Florida Gators’ all-time list with a 133.14 passing efficiency rating and was named to the Southeastern Conference’s Academic Honor Roll for the third straight year in 2000.

While the free agent stars of the NFL jet across the country, seeking mind-boggling contracts with multimillion-dollar signing bonuses, Danny Wuerffel goes to work each day in one of the worst neighborhoods in America.

Wuerffel could not be happier about it.

FSU invited University of Florida student Mike Murphy to its annual gambling symposium. Murphy spoke to the group about a friend’s compulsive gambling. But he also opened his speech to FSU student-athletes with a reference to the officiating in last season’s FSU-Florida football game. FSU football players weren’t impressed.