Stop Me If You Have Heard This Before...Melvin Gordon Is A Beast, Malzahn's Year Three Is Huge...

If anyone has seen erven the least bit of Big 10/12 Football this season, you have noticed the tailback for Wisconsin and his prowess running the football. The Outback Bowl was no different- 34 carries for a bowl-record 251 yards and three scores...

Even if, on one of his touchdown runs, he absolutely decided to latch on to Jermaine Whitehead's face mask with his own hands and yank him into the endzone with him for the final ten yards of the run... all that on a 4th and 1 from midfield
((HT: ESPN))


It was one of many penalties not called on the day by the officiating crew- on both sides- but the bottom line was that Auburn still cannot stop anyone with great regularity defensively.

Here's the wrap from our friends at WISC-TV in Madison


But, Will Muschamp has already rubbed off on the guys who played in a 13th game this season. There were some signs that the fundamentals of tackling on defense- especially by the linebacking corps- have returned. There was some wrapping up of running backs on tackles at the ankles. The tackling-optional approach of the pursuit of the past was less than before.

The pass rush still is non-existent, save a handful of plays late in the game when Badgers QB Joel Stave had to sit in the pocket and look to his left for a prospective receiver when the whole building knew he wasn't doing anything else. And the speed that Wisconsin used on jet sweeps showed another weakness of the Tigers- getting off blocks, chasing running backs to the edge, and getting there first for a tackle as opposed to the idea of being a step behind and giving up 12 yards a look.

Which happened consistently New Year's Day- and all 2014 season long, really...

Wisconsin, under returning interim coach Barry Alvarez, was one dimensional under Gordon and Corey Clement. They ran the ball behind an offensive line that averages, tackle to tackle, 325.8 pounds. But, when the other team can't stop you- as Auburn found on several occasions on their own this year when they were winning games- there is no reason to deviate from the plays that give you a win. And if you get out of town healthy and in a hurry, why do anything different...???

54 carries for 400 net yards on the day for Wisconsin... 521 yards total

"We knew it was coming and it still worked," Auburn cornerback Trovon Reed told Al.com's Brandon Marcello. "I will say that is a selfish act on our end for not paying attention to detail, but if we could take it back, we'd fix it."

And they need to...

Defensively, if the 7 recruits listed as either signed from the JUCO ranks or "hard commits" all lock in, the spring should be interesting:

Darrell Williams (LB) from Hoover, Jordan Colbert (S) from Griffin (GA), Richard McBryde (LB) from Charles Henderson (Troy, AL), and LB's Elijah Sullivan (Tucker, GA) and Montavious Atkinson (Langston Hughes- Fairburn, GA) have been high school-dominant. So, it will be interesting to see how their talents translate to the next level.

And we all know that Will Muschamp will work on conditioning, tackling, and pass rush starting...

Right...

Now...

Year Three will be an important one to see how the new attitudes will translate in a Nintendo-scoring world...

ICYMI: Auburn Lands Will Muschamp as Defensive Coordinator

Oh boy, this is going to make things a bit more interesting in 2015.

Auburn University hired a new defensive coordinator Friday night. The guy they hired made his reputation as one of the best d-coordinators in the business.

And he was recently fired as head coach at the University of Florida.

Will Muschamp did not come cheaply, but we are guessing Auburn fans are perfectly okay with that as the wake up Saturday morning.

Reports say the former Texas and LSU defensive coordinator and disciple of Nick Saban reportedly nabbed a deal that will pay him somewhere in the $1.6 to $1.8 million a year range, making him the new gold standard for college coordinators. He joins the staff of Coach Gus Malzahn immediately.

And raising the absurdity bar for the cost of college coaches.

But Muschamp will be worth it to the folks on the Plains if he can help a sagging defense that has been the Tigers achilles heel the past several seasons. If the defense improves enough to take down Alabama and get Auburn to the College Football playoff, well, then in their minds, the cost will be worth it.

Muschamp will meet the crazed, assembled masses Saturday in what is sure to be a well attended press conference.

Will Muschamp Heading To South Carolina? That's News To The Head Ball Coach

South Carolina's Scout website Gamecock Pride is citing an unofficial source confirming that Will
Muschamp will be hired as the Gamecocks new defensive coordinator.

"No, I haven't hired Will," South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier told The State newspaper. "I haven't really talked to anybody about additions (to staff)."

Lorenzo Ward remains South Carolina's defensive coordinator.

Reportedly Muschamp has offers for open defensive coordinator positions at either Auburn or Texas A&M.

Should he choose Muschamp won't be unemployed very long.

It appears that Ward won't be unemployed soon either.  Spurrier told The State he has no plans of making any staff changes.

“All our coaches are out recruiting. All of our coaches are under contract,” he said. “Some of them may get a job somewhere else, you never know, and we’ll go from there. We are probably pretty flexible right now a little bit on the staff, but I believe that almost all of our guys will be back.”

The coaching carousel continues to spin.

Muschamp Speaks

Here's Will Muschamp's statement following his dismissal as head coach at Florida.

“I appreciate the opportunity that has been offered to me and my family by Dr. Machen, Jeremy Foley and the University of Florida,” said Muschamp. “I was given every opportunity to get it done here and I simply didn’t win enough games – that is the bottom line. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get it done and it is my responsibility to get it done.

“I have no bitter feelings, but this is a business and I wish we would have produced better results on the field. We have a great group of players and a staff that is committed to this University and this football program. They have handled themselves with class and I expect them to continue to do so. As I’ve said many times, life is 10 percent of what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond.”

Whoa! Just came out of church to the News of Will Muschamp being fired at #Florida. That's a BIG TIME JOB OPENING. And the carousel begins.
— Rachel JOY Baribeau (@RachelBaribeau) November 16, 2014

Will Muschamp fired. Knew he was in trouble when Florida lost to Kentucky for the first time in like 30 years. pic.twitter.com/d9cQB6TzXa
— Not Jerry Tipton (@NotJerryTipton) November 16, 2014

Defense wins championships? Will Muschamp would like to disagree with you. Lack of an offense is getting him fired.
— alpha1906@gmail.com (@alpha1906) November 16, 2014

DEVELOPING: Coach Boom Gets Lowered At Florida

The only thought was: WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG, JEREMY FOLEY???!!!

What the entire world thought was going to happen after the Missouri fiasco finally happened after the South Carolina fiasco...

Here's the sheer, shocking end to the game that gifted the Gamecocks the win...
((HT: SDS/SEC Network))


Which led to this...
((HT: GoGamecocks))


And this postgame commentary...


Now, the next questions are twofold:

Does Jeremy Foley even survive this...???
And, as put forth by TBH: Would Muschamp like to be Auburn's defensive coordinator...???

Will Muschamp had proven himself to be a solid Number Two, but a Shaky Number One...

What happens with his resume next will be an interesting subplot to the shenanigans in Gainesville...

And the irony that the Ess-E-Cee Network is showing the Sakerlina-Florida game right now has not escaped the HQ...

Hey, Florida, we know someone who can fill the opening for a few weeks...

"The Fixer" for Florida's Problems...???

If It Wasn't For Bad Luck Florida Would Have No Luck At All, Gamecocks Win Over Gators In OT 23-20

It's been well documented here at OSG Sports what a miserable season the Florida Gators are experiencing.

Today's game at Gainesville against South Carolina with UF alum Steve Spurrier on the opposite sideline was a clear definition of without bad luck the Gators would have no luck at all.

In the fourth quarter with the Gators up 17-10 all Florida kicker Francisco Valez had to do is split the uprights on a 32 yard field goal and the game would have been put on ice.  Except it wasn't.


Brison Williams blocked the kick giving the Gamecocks life.

With a minute and a half left in the game Florida was punting only it was blocked too.


Carlton Heard's big play on special teams led to South Carolina's tying touchdown and forced overtime.

In the overtime the Gamecocks prevailed with Dylan Thompson's four yard touchdown run and it's a 23-20 win for South Carolina.


You just get the feeling that Gator fans are numb to all of this.

That or just waiting to be put of their misery.  At least Will Muschamp's head on a pike.

Coach Boom Started His Presser This Way Yesterday

((HT: CoachingSearch.com))

Yep, he actually did this...
((HT: Tampa Bay Times))


And, in a lot of ways, he's probably right...

If he wins out, he can be a pain in the Ess-E-Cee East and his (and Jeremy Foley's) job are safe for another week...

While Florida fans are actually going to deal with the confusion of success and, simultaneously, being stuck...

Enjoy...

Early CFB Returns: TCU Survives, Muschamp May As Well...

((HT: ESPN/CBS))

It took a lot of patience by Gary Patterson and TCU to win in a hostile environment- one of the most hostile environments around in Morgantown.

But, if you hang around long enough, what TCU (in their very stylish whites) was able to pull off in a 31-30 win to stay at least #10.

Down 9 points in the fourth, the last-second field goal preserved the win.


The larger story came out of the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville where Florida head coach Will Muschamp may have, in fact, saved his job.

Georgia Defensive Coordinator Jeremy Pruitt fell on the sword postgame as his team gave up over 400 yards rushing on, almost, 60 carries.

The HQ has known Mark Richt to be one of the nicer guys around. He is officially nice enough to have a Georgia alum keep his job.
Here's how Georgia didn't show up for their rivalry game.


The last three games on the Gators schedule are fairly winnable for Muschamp so he and AD Jeremy Foley can, in fact, hang around...

Surprise: Will Muschamp Still Coaching at Florida for Now

It wasn't exactly a ringing vote of confidence, but it wasn't "We've decided to head in another direction" either.

University of Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley issued a statement Monday afternoon saying that among other things; "At the beginning of the season, we said we would evaluate the season as it played out. We will continue to do so. Our sole focus right now is supporting our coaching staff and players as they prepare for Georgia".

So, Gator fan, it appears that you will have Coach Will Muschamp around a little longer. With Florida off this week, many have speculated a move would be made now instead of waiting.

Particularly after the embarrassing 42-13 Homecoming loss this past Saturday to Missouri when the Gators managed to lose after giving up just slightly more than 100-yards of offense to the Tigers.

Nothing has gone right for Muschamp or the Gators, though they are still 3-3 on the season. Giving up touchdowns on punt returns, kick returns, interception returns and fumble returns in one game will generally anger the masses.

Which is exactly what happened in that game and led the crowd to start chanting for Coach Boom to be fired. All well and good, though the cast of characters that could replace may not excite the folks in Gainesville either.

Just saying'...

There's a Difference Between "Coach Boom!" And "Coach, Boom!"

((HT: Saturday Down South))

Missouri is making some kind of a point tonight in Gainesville in their blowout of the Gators on Homecoming!

The HQ doesn't quite know what it is- whether they REALLY need help with their offense as they go forward or Florida is just GAWD AWFUL!

It came to this, however, when a defensive touchdown sent people flooding out into the streets...


According to some of OSG's sources, Muschamp is going to be fired on Monday morning. Some folks might like to see Athletics Director Jeremy Foley to go after Muschamp as well.

But the other issue is Mizzou's offense...

Florida picked up 200 yards of offense in the third and fourth quarter when the game was out of hand, but the Tigers only had 119 yards of TOTAL offense- relying on a pick 6, a kickoff return, a punt return, a fumble recovery, a rushing score and 2 field goals...

So there's that...

No Pease In Gainesville, Florida Fires Offensive Coordinator

You knew if Will Muschamp"s head wasn't going to roll following Florida's first losing season since 1979 someones would.

Sunday Brent Pease was called into the office for the bad news.

Pease has been fired as Florida's offensive coordinator first reported by the Associated Press.

Florida fires OC Brent Pease via @APMarkLong http://t.co/HER3AwXxtJ
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) December 1, 2013

Peace came to Florida in 2012 after a successful six years as Boise State's offensive coordinator.  

Gator offensive line coach Tim Davis was let go too.

"I have a lot of respect for Coach Pease and Coach Davis,'' Muschamp said. "They are both
good football coaches and even better people. There have been a lot of unfortunate
circumstances this year, but that is part of the game sometimes. I want to thank each of them for their contributions to the program both on and off the field."

"I am grateful for the opportunity to come to the University of Florida and work with a bunch of great coaches, administrative staff and players,'' Pease said. "I know we came up short of our ultimate goal, but I will carry on knowing I gained valuable friendships and relationships during my time here."

You knew it was coming, Florida's offense has been just awful this year ranking 112th in the NCAA in total offense.  

When you lose you top two quarterbacks, three offensive tackles and your starting tailback to injury you are going to be weakened offensively.

Somebody had to write a big check to buy Pease out who still had two years remaining on his contract and is owed $1,18 million.  Pease was to receive a longevity bonus of $100,000 on January 31st.

Ga. Southern Beats Florida: Yes, This Really Happened

In a season of bad luck and things gone wrong, we're pretty sure for the once-proud and always big-talking Florida Gators have hit rock-bottom.

The Gators got beat Saturday afternoon by FBS (D-1AA), Georgia Southern 26-20, in the Swamp.

We could go on for a long, long time about all the mistakes Florida and coach Will Muschamp made and how they got beat by a team that threw for 0 yards, but that would be piling on. Wouldn't it?

The now 7-4 Eagles were expected to be a playoff team on their level and are making the move to the FCS (D-1) Sun Belt next season.

But there still isn't a universe that exists where they should beat Florida, yet they did.

429 yards rushing was more than enough for Southern, who up until Saturday afternoon, had never actually beaten an FCS team, never mind an SEC team some thought might compete for a title.

We won't go into too much detail in this story, I will file a column when I have more time, but suffice to say, Florida coach Will Muschamp has a lot to worry about this holiday season. And as for Florida fans. Well, there's always basketball....

ESPN gives us a look at the last play of the game (And yes, I'm still laughing)

 

Vandy Beats Florida in Gainesville: Is This The End of Coach Boom?

So…how far have the once mighty Florida Gators fallen?

Wasn't it just yesterday when Tim Tebow was leading the Urban Meyer run Gators to a National Title?

Well, to the Florida faithful, that probably seems like a century ago. Especially in light of Saturday afternoon's 34-17 loss to Vanderbilt. In Gainesville. And it was the first time Vandy's won in the Swamp…since 1945.

Mind you, Vandy is not bad. 5-4 on the season and 2-4 in the SEC East, they are not the pushovers of Vandy teams past.

But this loss was about Florida ineptitude as much as was Vandy capitalizing on it. The Gators had 4 turnovers and only 39 yards running the ball.

The loss dropped the toothless Gators to 4-5 on the season and 3-4 in the SEC East. It also probably lowers the chance they make a bowl game. Aside from a game with Georgia Southern, the Gators finish with South Carolina and Florida State, neither game, one likely they'll win.

And the loss has raised the volume on people screaming for coach Will Muschamp's head. Muschamp has managed to avoid heat up to this point, despite a 22-13 record in his now 3rd season. And even more importantly, he's 0-3 vs. arch-rival Georgia and only 13-10 in the SEC.

Yes, that type of record got Ron Zook run out of town a decade or so ago.

Sure, the team has been wrecked by injuries, but so have other teams, some of whom have struggled. But none have looked so pathetic.

We will also add, this is a bit of karma paying the Gator faithful a visit, they got a bit smug during the Tebow years. This should serve as a reminder the rest of the world can easily catch you.

Carousel season is quickly coming up and we suspect come the second week of September, you can find Florida on it, watching and looking for riders.

Though we seriously doubt they can take back Urban Meyer. (ooooh, yeah, we said it)

Here's your highlights from the game. (Thanks SEC Digital Network)

Guess What...??? Texas Regents Talked About Saban To Agent, Dodds Not Retiring

Surprising no one...

Regent Wallace Hall along with one of the Hicks brothers, Steve (yes his brother Tom is the former Liverpool and Texas Rangers owner) talked to Nick Saban's agent, Jimmy Sexton about his client's possible interest in being the head coach at the University of Texas.

Hall and Hicks had a conference call with Sexton a few days after the national title game. Then, Tom Hicks had a meeting with Mack Brown to see if he was still interested in coaching the Longhorns. Brown told Hicks he was not interested in retiring, so the matter wasn't pursued any further.

Mack Brown is set to be paid $5-million a year through 2020...

Saban is getting $5.6-million, but with Brown's buyout at only $3.25-million, this could be a very quick eventuality after the conclusion of the 2013 season.

"Wallace Hall brought this to the chairman and myself. Nothing was authorized by the board and the chairman and myself thought the board should not be involved," Steve Hicks told the Associated Press. "Tom and Mack are friends and talk often. They simply visited and just talked the idea through. It was dropped and nothing happened ... It was a short conversation."

Along that same line, rumors are swirling about AD DeLoss Dodds retiring- which would make another piece of the puzzle for the removal of Mack Brown- forced or otherwise...

Dodds, of course, is denying it...
((HT: Longhorn Network))


Conventional wisdom is saying that a 5-year, $50-million offer is on the table for Saban to succeed Mack Brown- which lends itself to Carousel...

The HQ anticipates three names tied to Alabama: Bob Stoops (whose message has grown stale in Norman), Will Muschamp (whose move from Gainesville might be thought of as "sideways"), and Dabo Swinney- the alum with the hot name after an allegedly successful season-to-be in Clemson.

HQ's coin is on Swinney- who will get destroyed...

ICYMI: U of Florida Has Six Suspended for Opener (UPDATE: Muschamp Slams Media)

((ht: palmbeachpost.com))

If you are a Florida Gators fan, you are probably breathing a sigh of relief your season starts with a practice game vs. Toledo.

The reason: You'll be without six players for the season kickoff due to a rash of suspensions.

Previously suspended starting linebacker Antonio Morrison will be joined by star cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy and 5 backups.

According to a report in the Palm Beach Post, Purifoy and backup WR Latroy Pittman won't get to play due to failing drug tests.

You can read the entire Palm Beach Post story RIGHT HERE

Florida head coach Will Muschamp isn't saying much about what happened, but this doesn't really send a good signal after what was a "difficult" camp. From starting QB Jeff Driskell's appendectomy to 4 starters who won't play Saturday due to injuries, things haven't exactly gone according to plan.

The Gators kickoff the season Saturday at 12:20 p.m vs. Toledo. It will be very interesting to see how all the backups perform.

SUNDAY UPDATE: Coach Boom went after the media postgame for the inaccurate reporting of the Jay-nard Bostwick suspension- specifically calling out something called GatorCountry.com, the Palm Beach Post, and the Gainesville Sun

Here's Muschamp's answer for them...


So there...

Really: Gators LB in Trouble Again For Harassing Police Animal (Updated)

Antonio Morrison/Mugshotsgainesville.com

((ht: orlandosentinel.com))

What is that saying about trouble doesn't find you, you find trouble?

Florida Gator LB Antonio Morrison must be really good at finding things. That's because for the second time in slightly more than a month, he's in trouble with the law.

This time: He was arrested for harassing a police animal. He barked at a police dog.

No really. This mugshot was from said arrest. We aren't making it up.

Morrison, at least of this writing early Sunday morning, is sitting in the Alachua County Jail and facing the above charge and one for resisting arrest without violence.

Read more from the Orlando Sentinel RIGHT HERE 

You'll recall Morrison was already in trouble after an arrest for punching a bouncer at a Gainesville, FL bar.

You can read about our story on that incident RIGHT HERE

He pled and accepted deferred prosecution in the case, which if he complies with the set terms, will clear his record in 6 months.

By the way, he's expected to be the Gators starter at Middle Linebacker this season, which may explain why he's not suspended, though coach Will Muschamp has stated on the record that internal discipline was involved.

Muschamp hasn't commented on Morrison's latest adventure, which we suspect he probably is just learning about. And it raises some interesting questions: (1) Does this violate the terms of Morrison's agreement in the 1st case and if it does, what impact will it have and (2) Is this enough to get Morrison in actual trouble with the football team.

We will see....

((UPDATE---Indeed coach Boom is aware of what happened and reacted. Per GatorZoneFootball--"I'm extremely disappointed in Antonio Morrison's decision making. He's been suspended from the team and will miss at least 2 games to begin the season."

The Gators play Toledo and Miami (FL) in Game 1 and 2 this season.

SEC Media Days Day #1: Will Muschamp Fires Back

For those of you unaware, the football season is just about upon us. And one of the events that makes college football fans...and in particular SEC Football fans heart go aflutter--Media Days.

The SEC's official/unofficial 2013 Season Kickoff began in Hoover, Alabama Wednesday afternoon. The event, which now draws over 1,000 accredited media types and hundreds of fans is a bit of a circus, 16 coaches with 2 players each taking turns shuffling between multiple media "Group" rooms and individual network interviews.

Batting leadoff today--Florida coach Will Muschamp, who while optimistic about his team, was a little less than thrilled at some shots taken by "Another Program" not in the conference.

That program, Ohio St., led by former Gator coach Urban Meyer. The Buckeyes are alleged to have alerted the NCAA twice to alleged recruiting violations---neither of which were proven and at least one of which may have cost Florida a recruit. Meyer claims it was his schools compliance department that turned the Gators in. And he knew nothing about it.

Read more about those allegations RIGHT HERE

Muschamp took a minute during an early side session and fired back, saying in part; "We appreciate our friends from Ohio educating us on NCAA rules. They certainly know a thing or two about them"

Oooohhh....burn.

And a little later in the main session with writers, he took a very indirect shot at Meyer and the heat Meyer has been getting regarding discipline when he was in Gainesville.

Q- "How much is a head coach responsible for the off-the field behavior of its players? Can a head coach know everything that's going on and control that?

A--"Well, you're 100% responsible. When you sign an athlete to come to the University of Florida, I look at his parents, guardians, whoever is important to him in his life, tell them it's my job to be an extension of what's already happened at home. But you're a hundred percent responsible for the young man. Everything that happens."

"I can't possibly know everything that happens every single night with our football team. You also can't stick your head in the sand and pretend everything is okay either. You need to be very aware of the kind of guys your guys are hanging out with....But you are 100% responsible for every student-athlete on your football team"

University of Florida Middle Linebacker Arrested

((ht: gatorsports.com))

Hmmmm....wonder how this is going to be handled?

Antonio Morrison, a rising sophomore expected to start at middle linebacker for the University of Florida this upcoming season may have a legal issue or two to deal with.

That's because the 19-year old was arrested early Sunday morning and accused of punching a bouncer at the Kava Lounge in Gainesville in the head.

Oh, did we mention he played the: Do you know who I am, I'm a UF Football player card too.

Read more from GatorSports.com RIGHT HERE

No word as to whether the young man was drinking, which would in theory also be an issue since he's not of legal age. Though that never seems to come up in these incidents. Also, nothing was mentioned about how or why he was entering a Lounge, despite not technically being old enough to do it.

But that's splitting hairs....

According to the report, the UF coaching staff, including Coach Boom (Will Muschamp) is aware of what happened, but at the time we are publishing this, they've yet to comment.

We, and we are sure most SEC Football fans will be very interested to see how this plays out.

Auburn AD Jacobs Officially Refutes Selena Roberts And ESPN

((HT: Auburn Athletics))

First, to recap...
Here's what everyone is talking about...

Here's the link to the Selena Roberts story on her new site that stirred up trouble...

Roberts discussed it with Tim Brando during the week of the national title game in Atlanta...
((HT: CBS Sports))


And the hurriedly-assembled Shaun Assael story from the four-letter...
((HT: ESPN))


Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs, himself under fire for running the successful athletics program into the ground on the field, came out swinging Monday morning with the release of the University's own investigation into the above firestorm brought on by Auburn alumna Roberts...

The school's conclusions...

No academic fraud on Michael Dyer's behalf:

The article alleges improper grade changes took place to make nine student-athletes eligible for the 2011 BCS National Championship Game. That is false. In fact, six players were academically ineligible for the BCS National Championship game, and none of them made the trip to Arizona with the team.

The article also states that former football student-athlete Michael Dyer was academically ineligible prior to the BCS National Championship game. That is also false. Mr. Dyer was never in danger of academic ineligibility. In fact, he passed 15 hours during the fall of 2010 (nine more than required by the NCAA) and had a 2.8 GPA at the end of the fall semester. Mr. Dyer actually passed a combined 24 hours in the summer and fall semesters.

Mike McNeil's grades were adjusted according to university policy and not by an alleged academic counselor that acted on behalf of the university:

The article also implies that an academic counselor who works with the athletic department kept Mike McNeil eligible by changing his grade in a course from an F to a C. The article fails to point out that the professor changed Mr. McNeil's grade after documented reasons were provided, including excused absences from classes for medical reasons. The independent review by Auburn University Internal Auditing showed that all institutional policies regarding grade changes for excused absences were followed.

Shenanigans around McNeil, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Will Muschamp...??? The university investigation gave this:

It is also worth noting that while Mr. McNeil also alleges that former Auburn assistant coach Will Muschamp paid him during the 2007 season, Coach Muschamp immediately and publicly denied the allegations, as was widely reported throughout the media.

The article also claims that Mr. McNeil recalls receiving $500 cash to entertain a former prospect, Dre Kirkpatrick, while Mr. Kirkpatrick was on an official visit to Auburn. Mr. Kirkpatrick never took an official visit to Auburn. Mr. Kirkpatrick has since publicly stated that no one at Auburn gave him money or spent money on him during unofficial visits to our campus.

Jacobs also defended former head coach Gene Chizik and Darvin Adams released a statement through Chizik's attorney denying his effort to be paid to "stay" in school for his senior season... which seems somewhat counter-productive to anyone who thinks they have a chance at a pro career... if you want to go and people tell you that there's a chance you'll get drafted...

You'll go...

The Athletics Department even goes on to a point-by-point discussion of the allegations involving contact between the McNeil family and the school by divulging phone records, drug testing time frames, and McNeil's desire to transfer to another school.

Now, if Jacobs had shown this kind of nerve earlier in his career, he may not be on the hot seat that he's on now...

Georgia Takes The Cocktail Party

((HT: CBSSports/SEC))

Oh, sorry...

We're not supposed to call it that anymore...

You can look at this game in a few different ways...

Either it was great defensively, or just downright sloppy...
The game had nine turnovers- six by Florida (on a side note, the HQ would LOVZE to hear what the Coach Boom lecture was after the game...) including a last-minute strip of Jordan Reed by all-world linebacker Jarvis Jones that resulted in a touchback and preserved the UGA lead.

What was that, Lane Kiffin...??? Not interested in Jarvis Jones, anymore...???

Okay, then... Jones finished with 13 tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. Not a bad day's work for the Carver-Columbus grad.

It was the first time since 1989 that Georgia got back-to-back wins against the Gators. And both teams combined for 24 penalties in a game that was beyond-chippy.

Here's the game-winning score...


Georgia now needs to beat Ole Miss and Auburn to secure its place in the Ess-E-Cee title game so they can be beaten by Alabama.