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Tigers Fall to South Florida, 31-26

December 31, 2010
Filed In Feature Stories, Football

CHARLOTTE, N.C. –  The new year cannot come soon enough for Clemson fans who are ready to move forward after a dismal season in 2010.

The Tigers were hoping to finish the season on a good note with a win in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Big East opponent South Florida. The Tigers made the game exciting with little time remaining in the fourth quarter. However, the Bulls proved to be too much for this Clemson team.

The Tigers’ first offensive possession was reminiscent of a season-long string of blunders and missed opportunities. After a promising march down field, the Tiger O sputtered near the red-zone, setting Chandler Catanzaro up for a 46-yard field goal. Catanzaro was off the mark on his kick. He would redeem himself, however, going 2 for 2 on his next attempts.

The Bulls scored the first touchdown of the day with 2:25 left in the first quarter. After being shut down on their previous two possessions, South Florida found success in the short-intermediate passing game. A late hit penalty by Clemson defensive back Xavier Brewer moved the Bulls 15 yards closer, setting quarterback BJ Daniels up for a 25-yard touchdown pass to Demetri Martin.

South Florida did not waste any time in building momentum. On Clemson’s ensuing drive, pressure in the backfield forced quarterback Kyle Parker to flee the pocket. He threw to a well-covered Bryce McNeal, resulting in an interception by Bull defensive back Quenton Washington. The Bulls began their drive with a short field, but settled for a field goal, taking the lead 10 – 3.

Clemson would not fare any better on their next possession, going three and out. The South Florida offense made use of their opportunity with a 9 play, 64-yard drive that resulted in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Dontavia Bogan.

The Tigers would end the first half by scoring 10 unanswered points. Clemson took their next offensive drive downfield 48 yards in 8 plays and tacked on 3 points with a 44-yard field goal from Chandler Catanzaro.

The Bulls fumbled on their ensuing possession, giving the ball back to the Clemson offense with only 1:20 left in the half. A near-busted play resulted in a big gain through the air from Parker to receiver Marquan Jones. The play set up Jamie Harper for a 1-yard touchdown run with 50 seconds remaining.

South Florida led at the half, 17 – 13.

The Bulls tacked on 7 more points to start the third quarter. South Florida was driving when a defensive pass interference call moved the ball inside the Clemson 15-yard line. The Bulls capitalized with a 13-yard touchdown run. The point after made the score 24 – 13 in favor of USF.

Tajh Boyd had little success in his first two possessions of the second half. The Tigers went three and out on Boyd’s first drive early in the third quarter. The fourth quarter started with Boyd throwing an interception to South Florida defender JaQuez Jenkins. Jenkin’s 48-yard return gave the Bulls possession at the 5-yard line and resulted in another score, extending South Florida’s lead to 18.

Clemson made for some excitement with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game.

Quarterback Tajh Boyd found wide receiver Brandon Ford in the end-zone for a touchdown with 1:47 left in the fourth. The Tigers opted to go for two, but could not convert.

Clemson proceeded to kick and recover an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. A personal foul penalty against South Florida gave the Tigers the ball back inside the Bulls’ 50-yard line.

Boyd again led the Tiger offense downfield and found Ford again in the end-zone for another touchdown with only 43 seconds left in the game. Catanzaro added the extra point, making the score 31-26.

The Tigers tried another onsides kick and, again, recovered. However, fate would not fall in favor of the Tigers. A flag was thrown and upheld for touching the ball before it travelled the designated 10 yards.

South Florida took possession of the ball and kneeled to end the game.

With the loss, Clemson finishes the season 6-7 overall. It is the Tigers’ first losing season since 1998 and only the fourth since 1976.

Dabo Swinney is now 1-2 in bowl games and 19-15 overall as Clemson’s head coach.

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Check the meaning of the word ‘integrity’

December 31, 2010
Filed In Feature Stories, Football

This whole hear-no-evil-see-no-evil approach with the NCAA looking past major crimes as if they were parking ticket violations puts the integrity of college football squarely in harm’s way. The latest being that Ohio State’s fearsome fivesome will, indeed, be allowed to dress and probably play in the Sugar Bowl — even though they will sit the first five games of the next season.

First though, somehow the whole Cam Newton issue gets swept under the rug so Auburn doesn’t miss its BCS title date with Oregon. I don’t have any proof, but as sure as O. J. Simpson murdered his wife and got off, we’ve not heard the last of this mess. And when the other shoe does finally fall, the checks will be cashed and only the taillights of guilty parties will be visible.

Funny thing is that if Auburn wins and winds up vacating the title, and if Newton has give the Heisman Trophy back, what about the money? No mention is being made of what will happen to the Brinks trucks that went to Birmingham and the Southeastern Conference. They may give back the trophies, but not the cash. And Mike Slive, who fined Urban Meyer $30,000 for questioning a hit by Georgia on his quarterback, doesn’t even issue a slap to Auburn on the wrist for Cecil Newton’s part in this corrupt scheme? And Cam didn’t know about it?

Maybe Jesse James should have used that defense, saying his brother Frank never told him the money they stole from those banks and trains belonged to someone else.

I think the NCAA should have hired Gordon Gekko as its new president, because it’s all about the money — always. He could have this famous quote of his put in all the locker rooms: “The point is ladies and gentlemen that greed, for lack of a better word, is good.”

The blatant admission of Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan that he lobbied for a delay in the suspension of Ohio State five players so they could play Jan. 4 against Arkansas smacks of improper influence. And then he bragged about it.

“I made the point that anything that could be done to preserve the integrity of this year’s game, we would greatly appreciate it,” Hoolahan said. “That appeal did not fall on deaf ears, and I’m extremely excited about it, that the Buckeyes are coming in at full strength.”

Jim Tressel would only say that if the players hadn’t promised to return next season he wouldn’t haven’t flown them to New Orleans and dressed them for the game. And will they play? Well, says Tressel, it depends on “how they practice.” I’m going to take a wild stab and this and predict that Terrelle Pryor and his mates are going to have a great few days of practice.

Also, I’d like to suggest somebody look up the meaning of the word “integrity” in the dictionary. Something got lost in the translation by Mr. Hoolahan.

*     *     *

It was not the time and place to ask — or get an answer — from Steve Addazio about his new job at Temple or whether he might be taking any Gator assistant coaches with him. The Florida offensive coordinator had just come from “Senior Tackle Day” where last-year players are honored and talked about by their teammates, each other and their coaches.

Addazio’s eyes were red and his throat raspy, so he begged off talking about the new gig. He said it was “hard to say goodbye.”

“I just want to talk about the Gators right now — the Gators and my guys,” he said. He did briefly reminisce about his first day at The Swamp, in all its glory, where the state high school playoffs were underway, the sun was shining and the new-car smell of the Urban Meyer era was an overwhelming fragrance he will never forget. He said he sat in the stands thinking, “wow, I am so fortunate to be here at this place at this time with these people.”

*     *     *

Whatever the Outback Bowl lacked in glitter it has compensated for in sociability.

Meyer getting a chance to go out coaching against the legendary Joe Paterno, one of his all-time favorites.

Former Gator head coach Galen Hall, unceremoniously dumped in 1989 for what some people still think were bogus charges, coming back to the state and being welcomed by Jeremy Foley, who wasn’t in charge then but remembers Hall fondly.

“We revisited old times,” said Foley. “We talked about old friends, and I think time always takes care of those situations . . . Galen’s a good guy, and he’s a good person.”

*     *     *

As The Gator World Turns: Count Jeremy Bates out as a candidate for offensive coordinator job at UF — and it’s doubtful he was ever really in, because he’s an NFL guy . . . Apparently Dan McCarney has hired Indiana State offensive line coach Mike Simmonds for the same job at North Texas . . . It is expected Will Muschamp will waste no time announcing his staff – probably Monday, but maybe even Sunday. He is respectfully staying on the sideline to allow his predecessor a graceful exit.

*     *     *

The media is starting to get the message about its irrelevance and reduced role in coverage of programs like Florida’s. And it was reminded again Thursday when more than a dozen reporters waited 40 minutes past the scheduled time for a press conference with Gator coordinators, was allowed all of about six minutes and a half dozen questions with Addazio and Teryl Austin, during which nothing of news value was uttered. “Drove over a hundred miles to get here for this,” said one disenchanted scribe. Sometimes one must be grateful, I guess, for a few crumbs when they are hungry.

*     *     *

Mish-mash-dot-dash-internet-trash:  Reports that Mississippi State gave Dan Mullen with a new four-year contract that will average $2.65 million per year, just under Muschamp’s.  Mullen will have a $1.4 million buyout . . . How long is this alleged interview with Mike Leach at Maryland going to last, anyway? . . . Ralph Friedgen was fired, they say, because he wasn’t able to fill up the new luxury boxes. You think coaches aren’t in the entertainment business? Besides, he just wasn’t pretty enough.

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The countdown for Urban’s finale, part 2

December 31, 2010
Filed In Feature Stories, Football

TAMPA — When he wakes up Sunday, he will be just plain old Urban Meyer, not “coach” Urban Meyer. “Coach” is a title he embraces with great admiration and respect, both for himself and others. He will still be “coach” to his former players and maybe his peers, but whether he plans to re-enter the profession remains to be seen.

Right now he’s not even ready to answer that question for himself, let alone anybody else. In fact, he’s not even sure how his team will perform Saturday, considering their collapse in the second half of the season when the Gators lost five of their last eight games.

Although he admits he has thought about coaching his last game, Meyer declined to share those feelings in his final press conference Friday, choosing to reflect on other parts of his past and talking a little about game preparation, injuries, etc. Admitting, at the same time, he’s not sure what to expect out of his team — other than the fact that his seniors will play “like there’s no tomorrow.” Much like opposing players did for their coach in his last game three years ago.

“That’s the essence of coaching,” Meyer said when asked what he expected from the Gators in his last game. “That’s the essence of practice, that’s the Plan to Win, that’s the ‘Four to six seconds of relentless effort.’”

When Florida lost to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl after the 2007 season, it was Lloyd Carr’s last game as Wolverine coach. Carr said then he hoped for Urban that “his team will play as hard for him in his last game as mine did today.”

Meyer, of course, remembers Carr’s comment and reflected on it a bit Friday.  “I have great respect for Coach Carr,” Meyer said. “I’m a big fan of those old coaches, so I do remember that very well.”

The title “coach” is spoken with great reverence, and always affixed to those in his profession as if it were earned like a doctorate. It is indicative of how Old School Urban Meyer is at his core.

*     *     *

There are those who think Meyer used his analytical skills to evaluate his future and realized that the cataclysmic change in the game did not bode well for either his career or health. Long tenures as head coaches appear to be going the way of the dinosaurs. Old fossils like Paterno and Bobby Bowden are as rare as the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

“It’s the pressure induced by the money,” said an attorney and longtime observer of college football. “There will be a ‘coaching churn’ from now on and you’ll see turnover ever three to five years in most programs.”

Friends say Meyer will sign with ESPN as a studio analyst soon. Urban likely sees himself in the TV booth for at least a year and maybe more. It’s a perfect gig for a guy who wants to be home all week with his family and can jet his way to the studio on Friday afternoons or even Saturday mornings to watch and talk football — and get paid well for doing it.

He can always get back into the coaching game later because he is still relatively young. Just a little over half Paterno’s age, Meyer is almost puppy in the profession. As an example, when Bear Bryant was 46 he began his second year at Alabama. Steve Spurrier was already 44 when he began at UF and 51 when he won his first national championship. Meyer was 41 when came Gator head coach and at 43 already a national championship coach.

Don’t bet against him being back in coaching before he’s 50 (he turns 47 on July 10), but maybe only on a short burst of 3-4 seasons. Much will depend on vacancies at places like Ohio State, Michigan or Notre Dame, his “Big Three” choices. But don’t rule out a run by Penn State if Paterno retires after net season. Happy Valley is still a bit of a safe haven, but even the long arm of social media dips into the Mayberry RFD of college scenarios.

Life is a bit more pastoral in Happy Valley. And while expectations are high for Penn State football, they’re not off the charts unreasonable. It could be an ideal setting for Meyer’s do-over.

*     *     *

Indeed, he has always revered the Old Guard, including Paterno.

Of Paterno, Meyer said: “I love the man, I consider him one of my closest friends and allies in this game of college football. You just get tired of hearing about the bad. Joe Paterno is about the good.”

Clearly Meyer still loves the profession and still loves the game — but maybe just not the marriage right now. That could change if the timing, and the job, are right.

There are some people in Pennsylvania who think when JoePa does hang it up in a year or two that the folks in State College would come calling for Urban. After all, it has been a mutual admiration society all week between Meyer and Paterno — JoePa heaping praise on the outgoing coach as one of the game’s true innovators and somebody “who does it the right way.”

First and foremost, however, Urban Meyer needs time away from the game, almost a rehab.

*     *     *

It remains puzzling to the more skeptical exactly what prompted Meyer to quit this time, despite the reasons he has given — health, family etc. Although certainly a valid explanation, there will always be those that believe Meyer came back to put a band-aid on the program then ducked out.

Another factor in his choice to quit now may have been diminishing passion for challenge. The real truth is probably that the all-in, totally committed romance with the game was over for him. And he knew it. Perhaps once his “Braveheart” quarterback had left, he fell out of love with the idea of being a warrior himself.

Additionally, the changing culture of the athletes and their sense of “entitlement” go directly against his coaching philosophy.

Still others believe he began get discouraged by the lack of total support from the institution and administration.

Meyer fears the game is getting out of control. Asked about the current state of the game, Meyer said this week:

“I’m concerned, but I’m sure I’m not the only one, and it’s part of life right now. I hope to see it come back to the way it was, and that was a team sport that a bunch of good guys doing it the right way and guys getting education, graduating from college and looking at their college experience as the greatest experience they’ve ever had. That’s what I love college football for.”

Whatever, Urban just doesn’t have in his heart to coach right now. A year from now he might feel differently.

For sure he won’t miss the “struggle.” Meyer is a big fan of history and likes to quote older football philosophers like legendary Michigan coach Fielding Yost on the mission of unselfishness and teamwork.

“I think Fielding Yost had one of the greatest quotes of all time when he talked about the game of football in 1903,” Meyer said. “It was, ‘football is not a fad.’ It’s turning into a fad. It’s different from, with all due respect, all sports. You have to love football. Football separates people in practice. If you have a real bad day in football, you have a real bad day.
I think the last line of that quote is you have to love the struggle.”

*     *     *

Although Urban says there is never the “perfect time” to step aside, he realized he had used up his mulligan. He says he intended to come back all along — remember his “mini-promise” about getting “tough-ass players” and “tough-ass coaches” after the loss to FSU? — but it came upon him one morning after prayer that this was the time to go.

Fives things bode well regarding the timing:

1)    He didn’t have to call the mover and could stay in his home.
2)    His bosses didn’t kick him out and, with the good graces of his successor, agreed to build him an office at UF.
3)    The ability to step right into the TV studio would keep him involved in the game.
4)    Having gone through this as a dress rehearsal, Meyer was able to secure two-year contracts for his assistant coaches, which meant they wouldn’t have to go stand in the unemployment line.
5)    The news of his resignation, though sudden, would not catch Jeremy Foley totally off guard.

Also, despite what you might have read, his health is pretty good. And you can tell by the look in his eye and smile on his face that his mental state has rebounded.

“I’ve really enjoyed these last two weeks,” Meyer said on Tuesday, “I enjoyed practice yesterday, enjoyed being around the players. If there’s ever a good time, obviously I don’t know that there ever is, but this kind of worked out very well.”

*     *     *

Just how history finally judges Urban Meyer as Florida coach depends on his evolving legacy as a transformative force. Measuring his success against those Florida coaches in the future will be relatively easy, because it will be visible in the numbers and the trophy case as a formidable standard.

His legacy will also be reflected in the careers of his former coaches who how have head jobs: Ten from his staff in 10 years. While it’s true that some have since moved on that that others (Dan McCarney, North Texas State) had already been head coaches, it is still an impressive coaching tree:

McCarney, Greg Brandon (formerly, Bowling Green), Mike Sanford (formerly, UNLV), Tim Beckman (Toledo), Kyle Whittingham (Utah), Gary Andersen (Utah State), Dan Mullen (Mississippi State), Doc Holliday (Marshall), Charlie Strong (Louisville) and Steve Addazio (Temple).

So does Will Muschamp become Johnny Brantley, chasing the ghost of a legend? Or is Muschamp more like Urban Meyer, who finally caught up to the Godfather of Gator football and even surpassed Steve Spurrier in everything but most SEC championships?

And if Muschamp falls short, will he begin to look more like Ron Zook, whose biggest sin was that he wasn’t Steve Spurrier (plus the fact that he never addressed problems publicly)?

Either way, when the finally horn sounds Saturday and Urban Meyer is no longer “coach” Urban Meyer, he becomes yesterday’s news. Which, by the way, might be best scenario for some members of the Gator Nation to fully appreciate this recent six-year “Platinum Era” of Gator football.

In fact, the more years that pass following Urban Meyer, the better he will begin to look. They should just go ahead right now a reserve a fourth statue at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, not to mention a spot in the Ring of Honor.

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Meineke Car Care Bowl predictions

December 31, 2010
Filed In Feature Stories, Football

The Clemson Tigers will look to win a bowl for the second year in a row for the first time since 1990 when they battle South Florida Friday at Bank of America stadium.

Clemson Offense vs South Florida Defense:

South Florida’s defense had an outstanding season.  They finished 21st in the nation in total defense giving up only 319 yards per game.  South Florida is 19th in the nation in scoring defense giving up only 19.5 points per game.

Kyle Parker will start his final game for the Tigers.  Tajh Boyd will also see playing time Friday afternoon.  The extra bowl practices should have helped the Tigers improve the passing game.  DeAndre Hopkins is no longer a true freshman after playing in twelve games this season.

Jerrell Young has three interceptions for South Florida who ranks No. 21 in the nation in passing defense.

Clemson will try to run the ball against the nation’s No. 33 rushing defense.  Jamie Harper will once again carry the load for the Tigers.  Harper finished the year with 726 yards rushing and a 4.1 yards per carry average.

The Tigers will need to score some touchdowns Friday to get the victory.  South Florida has a huge advantage at kicker so if it becomes a game of field goals the Bulls will take home the victory.

Turnovers will be critical.  If the Tigers turn the ball over they will not bring home the victory.

Edge:  South Florida

Clemson Defense vs South Florida Offense:

The Clemson defense continues to be one of the best in the nation.  The Tigers rank No. 9 in the nation in scoring defense only allowing 17.75 points per game.  DaQuan Bowers leads the nation in sacks with 15.5 and is second in the nation in tackles for loss with 25.

The Bulls will play both quarterbacks Bobby Eveld and B.J. Daniels to Skip Holtz.  Daniels finished the regular season completing 123 of 218 for 1496 yards and nine touchdowns.  Eveld finished the season completing 42 of 75 for 454 yards and two touchdowns.

Clemson will try to shut down the Bulls running game and force them to throw.  Expect DaQuan to put on a show in his final game as a Tiger.  Bowers will look to set the Clemson single season sack record with one more sack.

DeAndre McDaniel told me Thursday that he was going to pick off two passes Friday.  One will probably be enough to help lead the Tigers to victory.

Edge:  Clemson

Special Teams:

Clemson and South Florida rank No. 29 and No. 30 nationally in punt returns.  They are also very close in kickoff returns with the Tigers at No. 29 and South Florida at No. 33.
The Tigers have a big advantage in punt return defense as they rank No. 25 nationally while South Florida ranks No. 80 nationally.  Clemson also has the advantage in kickoff return defense ranking No. 43 compared to No. 81 for South Florida.
South Florida has the big advantage at kicker.  Maikon Bonani is 16-19 on the season.
This one is a tough call but you have to give the advantage to South Florida because of Clemson’s struggle at kicker.
Edge:  South Florida

Overall Analysis:

Bowl games are usually won by the team that wants to be there the most.  The Tigers would certainly rather be playing in a better bowl, but the team has been very focused this week on the task at hand.  We won’t know for sure until tomorrow afternoon if the team will play like they want to be in Charlotte.

The Clemson players have said all of the right things this week, but I have learned not to pay much attention to what the players say during the week.  The Tigers said all of the right things the week leading up to the Boston College game and we saw what happened.  The same could be said for the week leading up to the debacle against South Carolina.

Clemson should have the bigger crowd Friday, but the ticket sales for the Tigers have been disappointing for the second year in a row.

The team that plays the best offense will win this game.  Expect the Clemson passing game to be improved with the extra bowl practices.  The experienced Clemson offensive line could be the difference in this one.

Jamie Harper played a major role in the Tigers bowl victory last year.  This year he once again will help lead the Tigers to a close victory.  It won’t be pretty, but the Tigers will win their second bowl in a row for the first time since 1990.

Clemson 21  South Florida 17

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Parker brings own cheering section

December 31, 2010
Filed In Football, Video

Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker will play his final game as a Tiger Friday and he will have his own fan section.

Have you ever had a press conference in a pizza joint before?

“No I haven’t.  I was smelling the pizza earlier and I was thinking they were cooking pizza for breakfast earlier,” said Parker.

How has he enjoyed the week in Charlotte.

“It has been really fun.  I have enjoyed being here with my teammates.  We had some cool activities to do and the practices were good so it has been an enjoyable time,” said Parker.

What has been the highlight of the week?

“The NASCAR thing was extremely fun.  I could go do that every day,” said Parker.

Kyle will have a big cheering section Friday as the kids from PowerCross come to the game.  Kyle bought tickets for ten of the kids and the family collected donations for another 20 to come.  The kids will get a tour of the facility before the game and they will have tokens to get some food at the stadium.  Kyle and his parents non-profit organization Athletes to Champions has worked with the kids for the past three years and the kids have become Kyle’s biggest supporters.  Last year Kyle hit homeruns at UNC Charlotte and Wake Forest when the kids were in attendance so he is hoping for another strong performance on Friday.

“It is always fun to get those kids from my mom’s charity to come out and enjoy it.  They don’t get things like this in their life very often at all.  It is always great to give back and give those kids a good experience,” said Parker.

Over the past three years Kyle has grown very close with a number of the kids from PowerCross.

“Oh yeah without a doubt.  I know pretty much all of them.  Some of them text me sometimes.  It is always nice to try to be a role model and try to give back.  Any time you are in the position I am in you have to give back,” said Parker.

Kyle said he expects to pickup a bat within the week to start working towards his future in professional baseball.

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Bulldogs plan for Robinson

December 30, 2010
Filed In Feature Stories, Football

In the complete and storied history of NCAA Division I football, only one player has run for over 1,500 yards and passed for over 1,500 yards in the same season, ever. On Saturday, the Mississippi State Bulldogs have the task of slowing that man down when Denard Robinson steps on the field for Michigan in the Gator Bowl.

“He’s electric,” sophomore cornerback Corey Broomfield said. “There’s no one like him in college football. I heard on the All-American team they had to make a position for him. Like I said, his accolades speak for themselves.”

While the Wolverines have not been world beaters, Robinson has been a human highlight reel with his ability to move up and down the field.

Senior defensive end Pernell McPhee said when the Bulldogs first watched film on the Michigan QB, “We was like ‘wow.’”

One could question if that might have a negative psychological effect on a team to see someone so intimidating, but defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said that is not the case.

“It’s good,” he said. “You want that. First of all, nothing is going to intimidate us. We’ve played a laundry list of guys that all could’ve been invited to New York this year. We won’t be intimidated. Really, when you come back for a bowl game, you want to make sure guys feel challenged.”

Mullen, Broomfield and McPhee, along with the rest of the team, recognize that Robinson is a special player. However, Diaz said it does not necessarily change the defensive philosophy.

“We’ll do what we do. We’re going to run what we run,” Diaz said. “It’s all about gap control. They do some pretty good things with their run game. If they’re going to ask you the questions, you have to have the answer for them. The thing is, if there’s a play where you miss the answer, he’s got a chance to go 80 yards because he’s so fast.”

Diaz said it is less about ‘scheming’ for the Wolverine offense and more about every player knowing his role and sticking to his assignment.

“We have such a small margin for error,” he said. “It might be our depth. I mean, bowl games you’re worried about the conditioning. It might be hot on Saturday. You might put a backup in, and again, all it takes is one guy to stick his nose to the left instead of to the right, and he’s got a seam. He’s hard to catch once he gets going. They key with him is don’t let him going. Once he gets going, I already know the outcome. I don’t have to watch, just get the extra point team ready.”

Diaz said another key will be the defense adjusting to it’s first live game action since the Egg Bowl.

“The best way to defend it, even if you do everything right, it still creates a lot of one on ones, that’s why they’re good at what they do. Everyone on the field has to count,” Diaz said. “Everyone on the field has to tackle. Tackling is the other big concern with bowls, because we haven’t tackled anybody in five weeks. And we’re going to find that out together.”

While the focus is on Robinson the runner, Broomfield said UM has a number of talented, physical receivers, which he said helps Robinson be so effective. Because of that, Broomfield said the secondary has to be mindful of the play-action pass.

Diaz said there is one main thing it will take to combat Michigan’s effective play-action.

“Discipline. I think they key word is discipline,” Diaz said. “The teams that Michigan has put big numbers on gave up explosive plays in the run and the pass. The team that generally made Michigan earn everything they got, made them go the length of the field, they were able to hold them to smaller numbers on the scoreboard. That’s who we are. That’s not a stretch for us. We give up more yards than we do points, generally speaking. Our kids know our philosophy and what it takes to win.”

Fair or not, Robinson has been compared by some to Auburn’s Heisman winning quarterback Cam Newton. The Tigers left Starkville victorious, but Diaz and MSU held Newton in check better than anyone else this season, something McPhee certainly remembers.

He believes the Dawg defense is plenty good enough to hold Robinson in check.

“Hands down, our scheme of defense is to stop the running offense, and Michigan is a running offense. We’re just going to go in with our plan and try to contain,” McPhee said.

Senior linebacker Chris White, who will be a big part of the defensive plan, said he is impressed at what Robinson can do.

“He’s just fast,” White said. “It’s amazing how small he is and how hard he runs.”

However, White thinks the Dawgs will be just fine. He knows about the hype around Robinson, but he believes it all comes down to the matchups. And White said MSU will come out on the right side of that.

““We want to be attackers and not getting attacked,” White said. “Our defense is an attacking style defense. Like Coach Diaz said before, we match up well against spread offenses.”

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Fond bowl memories

December 30, 2010
Filed In Feature Stories, Football

As I noted in my last column, the best thing about going to a bowl game is the reward it gives to the players. It gives them a taste of what winning is all about and it helps your younger players. For the fans, it gives them a sense of going somewhere to a party and our fans enjoy that trip regardless of what bowl game it is.

This game is really a big game because it’s the SEC versus the Big 10. This is the first time we’ve faced Michigan so it means an awful lot to our players, coaches and fans.

When you look at this game, objectively, it’s a big deal to Dan Mullen because it will be his first bowl game at Mississippi State. It’s also a New Year’s Day bowl game and that is a big plus. As a coach and for the fans, games on New Year’s Day is always the big one. We all grew up knowing the importance of playing on New Year’s Day.

During my time at Mississippi State, we had some big bowl games and obviously some were my favorites. Even though we didn’t win, the biggest one was having the ability to go to the Cotton Bowl. If you are in the Western Division, if you don’t go to the BCS title game or the Sugar Bowl, the next pick is the Cotton Bowl. Because of the history of the Cotton Bowl, this was a bowl game that used to be as big as any BCS bowl game.

Now that the Cotton Bowl is in the new Texas Stadium, I expect the Cotton Bowl to be the next pick in the group of BCS games.

Certainly beating Clemson in the Peach Bowl was very, very big as was beating Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl. If you ask folks across the country that year which bowl game they remember the most, most would say it was that game in the snow. Fans across the country flipped that game on and didn’t turn it off because of all the snow and also because of the number of points being scored. It is still one of the highest-rated ESPN bowl games and probably is the highest-rated Independence Bowl game ever.

As I looked at this year’s Independence Bowl, I saw a lot of empty seats and it was not very full. With all the snow we had that year, I was proud our fans stayed for the entire game and they showed great support.

In that game, we faught for 60 minutes and never gave up. I remember near the end of the first half, we scored and then had to kick off to Texas A&M. I told our kicker to lay the ball down and squib kick it. Well, our kicker did that but he slipped down and nearly missed the entire ball. I remember Joe Lee Dunn

looking at me as if to say “why in the hell are you onsides kicking it?”. After that, A&M scored right before the half but our kids never quit fighting in the second half.

We came back and forced overtime. We blocked the extra point and got those two points, which was very critical. Then we all remember Wayne Madkin scoring the game-winning touchdown and I am still not sure if he knew he crossed the goal line because of all the snow.

And the snow never bothered our players and they had a lot of fun playing in it. But getting back to Starkville was a nightmare. The next day, we made it 20 miles outside of Shreveport and I saw a lot of cars in the median because of the icy roads. So I turned around and went back to stay in Shreveport for another night. Even two days after that game, I still saw a lot of cars in the ditches between Shreveport and Vicksburg.

When we played in the Peach Bowl, Clemson had a great team that year and a great offensive team. Meanwhile, we had a lot of young players that really stepped up. Guys like Josh Morgan, Pig Prather and Dicenzo Miller really played well and they ended up making a lot of big plays. Madkin was also a young player then and winning the MVP of that game was a big deal to him and his confidence.

In preparing for any bowl game, especially Dan as a first-year coach, the biggest thing to watch for is the bowl people want you to go many functions. If you don’t understand or be careful, then you can wear your players out. The key is getting all your work done before you leave town and arrive at the bowl site.

That way, you can enjoy the times that the bowl people have set aside for the different functions. But at the same time you are still working on the gameplan and keeping a routine. But you also give your players their down time, whether it’s the players just sitting in their room or going to the movies or being with family and friends.

But saying that, it is important to monitor what they do at night and control where they go. What I usually did was meet with the bowl people but I also met with the local authorities to find out what places were safe and which places were not safe to go to. We would put some places off limits and made sure we had the ability to monitor that. I learned that a long time ago and I sent many kids home over the years for not doing the right things at a bowl game.

On one hand, you want your guys to have fun but you also must have control of the situation.

In our first bowl game at Mississippi State – the 1991 Libert Bowl – I was always concerned about our players not understanding the importance of being smart. And it showed up on game day and that’s the thing.

Players that take care of themselves, mentally and physically, are ready to play. Some teams are very excited to be in a bowl game and it shows on game day. Some teams feel they should be at a better bowl game and are not as excited and that also shows up on game day.

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Mullen gets his raise

December 30, 2010
Filed In Feature Stories, Football

Two years ago Mississippi State found their man and on Thursday afternoon they announced they plan on keeping him. The Bulldogs have inked a deal with Dan Mullen to keep him in through the 2014 season to the tune of over $10.6 million.

“We’ve agreed to a new contract with Dan, pending IHL approval. It’ll be a four year deal, $10.6 million over the four years. $2.65,” said Stricklin. “We’re excited for the work Dan has done with us.

Our goal is to build a program that can win consistently and have success and win championships. This is a big commitment for us to make sure we have the people in place who can make that happen.”

The bump in pay pushes the second-year head coach into elite company as the sixth highest paid coach in the Southeastern Conference, 20th in the nation. Despite this fact, Stricklin doesn’t want to boast about the new contract.

“It’s a top 20 salary. In our league, you can be top 20 in the nation and be 8th or 9th or 10th in the league. The salary is not where you compete. You compete on the field in wins and losses. I don’t take any pride in having a certain number next to the coach. I take pride in winning games and taking home trophies.”

Mullen will average $2.65 million per year over the term of the contract. And while many of the details aren’t known one could expect the head coach to have a base of roughly $2.2 million in year one and increase from that point.

Needless to say Mullen is pleased with his new contract and Mississippi State’s commitment to the program.

“I’m very happy to be here for a long time to come,” Mullen said. “Really excited with the direction the program is going. The leadership with Scott in the athletic department and with Dr. Kennum. The vision that they have, everybody is on the same page.

“We see a great future at Mississippi State and we’re gonna do some great things. Hopefully we get that done in the short term and the long term.”

The contract also features a variety of incentives that could push his annual income over the $3 million mark. One can easily see why Mississippi State is so willing to have incentives rolled into his contract.

“I’ll just go back to 2008, which the last year before Dan got here,” said Stricklin. “Between that year and his first year, we were about $5 million or so in ticket revenue, and we’re up to about $8 million or so after Dan’s first year. That’s a pretty significant jump, and that doesn’t even take into account all the Bulldog Club donations and everything else that are impacted by that.

“We’re not in a bottom line business, like a corporation would be, but finances are pretty important to what we’re trying to do. Our bottom line is a little bit more about the experience, and how we’re trying to impact for our fans and student-athletes. But the more resources you have, and the more revenue you produce, the more opportunities you have to improve those experiences.”

The gravity of the situation isn’t lost on Mullen either. He knows it is now on him to deliver the product State fans are hungry for.

“I better make sure I make the state proud,” Mullen said. “Our players and our program, we just don’t play for the names on our back of our jerseys. We play for the name on the front. We play for Mississippi State and the state of Mississippi. Hopefully I give the state a lot to be proud about not just this Saturday but in years to come.”

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Florida prospects in All-America games

December 29, 2010
Filed In Football Recruiting

Football recruiting fans will have a lot to watch during the next two weeks. Three major All-American games will showcase the skills of the nation’s top prospects.

The Offense-Defense Bowl in Myrtle Beach, S.C. will be played Friday at 4 p.m. on CSS. The Under Armour All-American game will be played Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. on ESPN in St. Petersburg. The tenth annual Army All-American game will be played on Jan. 8 at 12 p.m. on NBC in San Antonio, Texas.

Florida will have several verbal commits displayed during these games and several undecided prospects to keep an eye on.

OFFENSE-DEFENSE BOWL

Florida Commits – DE Clay Burton (6-3/225, Nokomis/ Venice HS), *DB Loucheiz Purifoy (6-0/170, Pensacola/ Pine Forest HS), and K/P Kyle Christy (6-2/180, Brownsburg, Ind./ Brownsburg HS)

Others to keep an eye on – WR Kelvin Benjamin (6-6/225, Belle Glade/ Glades Central HS), OL Cameron Clear (6-6/265, Memphis, Tenn. /Memphis Central HS), DE DJ Pettway (6-3/255, Pensacola/ Catholic HS), and LB Kent Turene (6-2/230, Sunrise/ Boyd Anderson HS)

*Though Purifoy is listed on the roster, he will not be participating in the game because of an ankle injury he recently sustained.

Jeff Driskel
Gator commit QB Jeff Driskel / Tim Casey GatorCountry.com

UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICA GAME

Florida Commits – QB Jeff Driskel (6-4/224, Oviedo/ Hagerty HS), WR Ju’Juan Story (6-3/190, Brooksville/ Nature Coast HS), DB De’Ante “Pop” Saunders (5-11/185, Deland/ Deland HS), TE A.C. Leonard (6-3/240, Jacksonville/ University Christian HS)

Others to keep an eye on – S Ha’sean Clinton-Dix (6-2/194, Orlando/ Dr. Phillips HS), DE Anthony Chickillo (6-3/240, Tampa/ Alonso HS), ATH Quan Bray (5-10/180, Troup County, Ga./ Troup County Comprehensive HS), S Jabari Gorman (6-0/180, Miami/ Monsignor Pace HS), WR Malcolm Mitchell (6-0/185, Valdosta/ Valdosta HS), LB Stephone Anthony (6-2/220, Wadesboro, N.C./ Anson HS), LB A.J. Johnson (6-4/225, Gainesville, Ga./ Gainesville HS), OL Marcus Jackson (6/2/295, Vero Beach/ Vero Beach HS)

US ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL GAME

Florida Commits – RB Mike Blakely (5-9/194, Bradenton/ Manatee HS)

Others to keep an eye on – LB Curtis Grant (6-3/222, Richmond, Va. / Hermitage HS), RB Dee Hart (5-9/190, Orlando/ Dr. Phillips HS), DE Jeoffrey Pagan (6-4/250, Asheville, N.C./ Asheville HS), DB Gerod Hollimon (6-0/180, Miami/ Southridge HS), DT Tim Jernigan (6-2/275, Lake City/ Columbia HS), S Wayne Lyons (6-0/185, Ft. Lauderdale/ Dillard HS).

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