This time, we are serious

SEC drops the boom on Urban Meyer to the tune of 30 grand for his commentary on the refs.

Yes, yes, because Florida never gets the calls.

Here's the release.

MEYER FINED
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Nov. 6, 2009) – University of Florida head football coach Urban Meyer has been fined $30,000 by the Southeastern Conference for his public comments concerning officiating, Commissioner Mike Slive announced Friday.

The fine is the first since the conference’s Athletic Directors, with the full support of the league’s Presidents and Chancellors, voted to have all violations of SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 enforced by suspensions and fines.

“Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics,” Slive said. “SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league’s Athletics Directors and Presidents and Chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable.”

In other news: Enjoy this photo.

Bits and pieces: Eagles!

Some random things from a Saturday spent watching college football.

Numbers lie: Ryan Mallett might be the worst QB in the SEC. Here's why: Mallett's numbers are deceiving. Going into the Ole Miss game he had 17 completions of 30 yards or longer. Good, right? Well, here's where numbers hurt. The long completions accounted for roughly half of Mallett's passing yards for the season and always looking for the long bomb means that Arkansas is forced into long second and third downs if first down is an incomplete pass. It means the other team's defense knows what is coming and can scheme accordingly. It takes the running game out of the offense, unless it is a draw. It takes the tight end out of the offense. Mallett's passing is like a running back that has 14 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown. Good, right? Okay, but one carry is for 88 yards and most of the carries are no-gains or one-yard. The numbers look good on paper, but when you put them in context, they suddenly take a turn for the worse.

Just wondering: A top-ranked SEC team struggles in conference and observers note that it reflects the strength of the conference. A team from any other conference struggles and observers note that it means that the top-ranked team isn't as good as everybody thinks. That strike anyone else as a bit odd? I don't want to go off on one my patented rants on the strength of the Pac-10, but I'm sorely tempted. I just don't think it is fair to dismiss a conference because it isn't the SEC. I think the SEC is a strong league, but it is an apples-to-oranges comparison to look at a conference that requires every team play each other versus a conference where the top-ranked team would only play one ranked opponent in the regular season and skip half of the other division.

Celebrate good times, c'mon: Terrance Cody rips off his helmet, and it looks like the clock is still ticking. No call. Florida runs back an interception, reviewed and ruled a touchdown. Replay clearly shows he lost possession at the 2-yard line. Great teams get lucky on occasion, umm, okay, but c'mon. Wonder why a team that isn't undefeated doesn't get those "breaks?"

He said what?: Did Herby really say on ESPN that "Arkansas shot its wad against Florida." That is some kind of awesome if true.

I forget: I had one more thing to add, but I don't remember it now. Oh, wait, here's a question for the stat heads: Has Arkansas ever had a perfect Saturday? Meaning have all the Arkansas football playing colleges won on the same Saturday. It would have to be non-conference games since the old AIC and the current Gulf South have Arkansas teams playing each other. I suspect a perfect Saturday has happened, but I'm curious on the when.

Bits and pieces, plus Mad Lib!

Math is hard: Arkansas is a hard team to figure. I've seen them play live twice and I'm still not sure if the team that played against Mizzou State was the same team that beat Auburn.

In praise of $14.99: No really, Mexico Chiquito is running a two can dine for $14.99 deal and it is fantastic. With drinks, no booze, we skated out of there for less than twenty bucks and got food in styrofoam to eat later. Do it. Now!

I've been busy: No really, I've been busy and couldn't get to posting anything last week. It doesn't help that the Internet at the house is on the fritz. The phone company doesn't know why either.

Week 8 Mad Libs

Let’s face it, Houston Nutt is a great coach. He is the best thing that could happen to a program like Ole Miss. My favorite Nutt moment at Arkansas was when he jangled the keys, change, and cell phone in his pocket and said “now Jeremy, do you understand what I’m saying?” and I was like, "umm, yeah, I'm not a complete idiot." But that was just the voice in my head, in reality I just nodded. If only Gus Malzahn had been exposed earlier, the Razorbacks might be in middling shape now. Now he’s at Auburn where he is running the offense with piddling results for Gene Chizik, who was a odd hire. War Plainsmen to LSU, where it smells like corndogs all the time. Arkansas now has Bobby Petrino, who likes to yell mother fracker on the sidelines when the kicker fracks a field goal. Petrino also said, “durnit, I miss Battlestar Galactica, so say we all.” Should be an interesting weekend in which I will go I have no idea because of the ACC game and I’m puzzled by TCU and BYU as well and Arkansas is worth bonus points despite my feeling that Ole Miss will win, the bonus points are worth just too much since all the Piggies fans will pick Arkansas and pick up points that would bury me even deeper in the standings if they win and Mr. Steve Wells will do better than me.

For $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, which Jeremy Peppas plans to put beside his other Ramon Escobar Trophy, select your games and e-mail them back to me by 6 p.m. Thursday and be glad you do not have to watch the result of Clemson-Miami game like Bobby Knight might.

Bits and pieces

After a relaxing three-day weekend in the woods, one comes back to earth and reality.
Arkansas won Saturday night in Texas.
Lots of people went, or so I read in the papers, and the Razorbacks won handily.
It was a "must-win" game for them, or so everyone says.
This week is another "must-win"" game for them, or so everyone says.
Gots me.
I figured Arkansas would be 2-2 at this point and then reel off three consecutive losses before righting the ship against Eastern Michigan on Halloween.
After listening to the game on the radio, I didn't hear anything that would dissuade me from that.
It sounded like the defense played better. It sounded like the receivers didn't drop passes that hit them in the hands.
That's a good thing.
Here's the bad thing: I'm still don't Willy Robinson will have his job next season. I still don't think that Mallett is a truly great quarterback. I think he has a superb arm, but being a quarterback is more than being able to sling it 70 yards. If that was the case everyone would still remember Major Harris and he'd be in the Hall of Fame.

A few random observations
ISP, what's that?: Honestly, if you listen to the game on the radio, you will hear about ISP about 10,000 times. Also of note, non-ISP schools don't get radio snippets, just the score. That includes other SEC schools. It does get a little irritating though, when all you want to hear is the score and they are giving you an audio highlight.

Chuck and Keith: Did you know that Keith Jackson is available for public speaking engagements? If you didn't, that means you have never listened to a game on the radio. I don't much care for Jackson. I think he's a fake. Pretty clear his son didn't buy in.

Deep in the Heart O' Texas: The stars shine bright, deep in the night, etc, etc. One game in Dallas doesn't mean that Arkansas will sign the top 10 high school players in the Metroplex. But that is the wishful thinking that normally comes with all things Arkansas.

Headed to the hills: The Bits and Pieces girlfriend (BPG) has decided its time to take her first trip to and also her first game in Fayetteville this weekend. (HINT: I need tickets!) BPG is from northeast Arkansas, never made the trip up and didn't spend a minute in the University of Arkansas system, but yet, somehow, is still a Razorbacks fan. I blame going to a non-football playing liberal arts college and then off to Oxford for her master's. And by Oxford, I mean Ole Miss. She also despises Nutt, at least most days. She reads the blog. She thinks I'm nuts. Hi Honey *waves*

Bits and pieces, Part 1

Nick-S's Blueprint 2: Dear Arkansas opponent, corner blitz and you'll sack that inmobile, statue of a quarterback every time. Love, Little Nicky.

Dead Man Walking: Willy Robinson, I hope you rented and didn't buy a house in Fayetteville, because you will not be on the staff next season. You may not finish this season at Arkansas, given the current pace of the defense

Dead Man Walking, Part 2: John L. Smith, now I see why Sparty Nation thinks you suck. I think the "L." stands for loser.

Quantum of Solace: At least the idiot nation can laugh and point at Ole Miss instead of realizing their own team's problems, namely Arkansas is looking less likely to be bowl eligible, because of a terrible defense and an offensive line that can't block.

What's a star worth: Huh, I thought that kid from Helena was a 5-star, can't miss future pro and he can't get any playing time in Arkansas's craptastic secondary. Also of note, all-pro linebacker Patrick Willis was a no-star prospect at the start of his senior season of high school. He ended up two stars, simply based on his signing with Ole Miss. Why are fans fixated on the star system?

Who wants to be in the top 5: LSU won, barely, but are they worthy of being No. 4, while Boise won as well, and will the poll reward a non-BCS team with a No. 5?

To be continued with Michael Dyer, Auburn, more Arkansas crappiness and why I'm a heel.

Bits and pieces

Huh, Arkansas lost? Really, I hadn't heard: The hardcores noted during the Nutt-mania that they'd rather have Arkansas lose but still pass for 400 yards. They got their wish. Of course the defense, as usual, gives up 500 yards and all those passing yards and touchdowns don't mean squat when you lose.

Now for a little word on the obvious: The defense is terrible. And will be terrible for the rest of the season. But that's like an Arkansas tradition. Only the hardest of the hardcores won't admit that in terms of offense, Arkansas hasn't had a problem going back the last decade. It may not have been balanced like they would have liked, but the offense put up Tecmo Bowl like numbers. It was the defense that had trouble. Mostly because Arkansas couldn't get the athletes the other schools had and were playing people out of position. Linebackers at other schools were playing end at Arkansas and so forth and so on. Just undersized and lacking in the speed. Just look at the string of DCs who stretch back over the years: Reggie Herring, Willy Robinson, that other guy and then that other guy. You get the idea. Until the defense comes together and starts getting better recruits and better coaches. Arkansas will continue to lose.

Holy Toledo: You may have noticed Arkansas got a meaningless verbal commitment from a high school player in Florida. A wondrous athlete, of course, and he plays linebacker and a little bit of everything on offense, in Florida, so he must be good, right? Arkansas beat out the likes of Toledo (of Ohio) and no one else for his services. Yep, that's right, Toledo, the same place that the guy, Jamie Farr, who wore a dress on MASH, was from. That's all I know about Toledo but it seems that beating out the likes of Toledo for a prospect isn't putting Arkansas on the path to success. The kid might grow into a dandy, but, for now, the prediction for Arkansas's defense future is: Not good, again.

The Nutt-ys would have been out in full force: Former coach Houston Nutt took an amazing amount of criticism for signing players like the Florida kid and not getting the state's top prospects to stay at home. Yet Petrino, who has yet to get Michael Dyer budge from his anyone but Arkansas stance, hasn't caught the heat. Huh? I know about the honeymoon and all but I just wonder when it will come. Maybe this year if Arkansas limps to 5-7 or worse.

Hey dumb dumb: Jerry Franklin. Some were quick to note, not ESPN, that missing Arkansas's leading tackler from last season might be a problem for the Hogs against Georgia on Saturday night. Yeah, it wasn't good he was gone, but he was on the field and supposedly in coverage against the tight end, who caught Georgia's first score. Franklin's ejection might have screwed the pooch on that interception, but it didn't cost Arkansas the game.

Sexy teacher?: What look was Erin Andrews going for on Saturday night? Glasses, hair up, hair done and seriously, how tall is she? Doing the post-game with Joe Cox and she's not much shorter than him. He's listed at 6-feet-1-inches. I didn't much care for Andrews. Her lack of sideline reporting, you know, her job, from the game was seriously lacking.

Jeff Schultz's e-mail address is: Atlanta columnist Jeff Schultz does a prediction column on Friday. His take on the Arkansas-Georgia game: "Arkansas fans believe Petrino is there to stay. The rest of the world of the world is thinking: They can have him. He's 9-17 as a head coach since he stopped playing South Florida." Ouch and the record is now 9-18. Schultz might still be a little angry over the whole Falcons debacle but he makes a decent point that Petrino's Louisville record was cupcake fortified.

John Bob isn't related to Jim Bob: John Bob Reaves isn't a name Arkansas fans know because Arkansas fans have no knowledge of the SEC prior to 1992. Anyway the Orlando Sentinel had a nice look at Reaves, a former Florida and professional quarterback, who also happens to be a recovering alcoholic. More critically, Reaves is the father of Layla Kiffin, she of stripper boot fame, and the wife of Lane Kiffin. He brother is also, and Reaves's son, is also Tennessee's quarterbacks coach. Because of his addictions, Reaves and his children had a falling out. But they came back together after Reaves went into rehab. A trip that was partially funded by friends and former teammates, including some guy named Steve Spurrier.

On the road again: USC lost on the road and in the conference, again, on Saturday. Naturally this means that USC is out of the running for the national title because of the loss. A loss that is doubly loaded because of the perception of Pac-10 weakness. I'd argue that the Pac-10 is a better conference than the SEC heads give it credit for.

Seriously, what's the deal: USC with a potential national title on the line and not playing well on offense. Starting quarterback is out, backup is looking shaky and Pete Carroll still doesn't play Mitch Mustain? Really? Honestly something is weird out in Carroll's kingdom and nobody can seem to explain it. Carroll would rather lose to Washington than play Mustain. It doesn't get any stranger.

BCS buster busted: Poor BYU flying so high, only to be taken down so hard by Florida State. Whoa. Worse, it wasn't even competitive.

Da Bears: UCA beat Western Kentucky, on the road, on Saturday. You're next Glenville State!

Who am I: Not Mitchy's mom. Look hard at the photo of the Escobar Trophy and you'll see JEREMY PEPPAS as the winner, which makes me smarter than ya'll. Note: I've been told to play the part of the "heel" the term for wrestling's bad guy to generate more angry e-mails that will create greater amusement for Matt, because he likes to laugh. So while I'd prefer to be Junk Yard Dog (JYD, RIP) I will instead be the Iron Sheik. *shrug*

Red fish, blue fish, one fish, two fish

Back by popular request, no really, I got an e-mail asking where this was.
Who knew?
After reading the some of the responses, I thought the Piggie fans were going to march on my house with pitchforks and torches and maybe the did. I was in Orlando, so who know who swung by?
*shrug*

Since I was traveling, and didn't want to drop the $14.95 for internet access at Orlando's Rosen Shingle Creek Resort — stupid name, but a really nice place, I didn't post on Sunday. Sorry Fan! Or should it be Fan(s)?

So now it is Monday and in a tribute to the great Scott Faldon, who shamelessly ripped off the less-great Peter King, Five things I think I think:

1) Arkansas is going to lose to Georgia — big. Did anyone catch the Georgia-South Carolina game? After marching around Islands of Adventure, exhaustion caught up with us, and we camped out in the hotel for some football. Georgia is good and, at this point, simply better than Arkansas. The same can be said of South Carolina, but they might slide towards the end of the season. Both teams have better QBs than Arkansas and the laughable notion that Tyler Wilson is somehow the fourth best QB in the SEC despite the fact that he had to learn to take a snap from center when he got to Fayetteville. If he's really that good, why stay? So he could get switched to tight end like the kid from Camden who was the next great, in-state quarterback, who never managed to play quarterback at Arkansas.

2) Ohio State should switch to pink as the team color or maybe Tressel's vest should be pink from now on. You kick a field goal when it is 4th and 1 on the 1-yard line and then you end up losing down the stretch. Carroll had no trouble going for it, and USC won. That's what winner do, go for it. Ohio State deserved to lose and ESPN's Herbstreit should have cut loose on him but he didn't. Huh, I wonder why he didn't? Oh, Herbie played at Ohio State, still lives in Columbus and his kids all wear OSU gear when they go to games with their dad? Moving on.

3) Arkansas will win one of its next six games and that's all. I'm looking at you Texas A&M. Ring up loses to Georgia, 'Bama, Auburn, Florida and Ole Miss. Five and seven is looking more and more right. The swing game is South Carolina. Who knows where the 'Cocks heads will be at then?

4) A hardcore Razorback fan, who I know, had some unkind words for me when I pointed he was more worried about how Snead played at Ole Miss against Memphis than how Arkansas did. Isn't it about time for the hardcores to let Nutt go and move on? But now, much like the gay cowboys in Brokeback Mountain, they "just can't quit" Nutt. Stem the rose indeed.

5) Seuss Land rules! This isn't something I think, this is something I know.

Bits and pieces from Saturday

Hoozah and Kudos

* Brigham Young: Upset No. 3 Oklahoma after the various ESPN talking heads said BYU had no chance and would get blown out. Oops. In fairness, taking Sam Bradford out, had something to do with the Coogs win. Of course it won't happen since the NCAA is more concerned about protecting the power conferences, but the lesser thans -- BYU, Boise State -- should all play in BCS bowls. They won't, of course, since the NCAA is more worried about the Big East and the weak ass ACC.

* Central Arkansas: The Bears sure look a lot better than when I played for them 20 years ago. Yes, yes, your humble blog poster is a former college football player, not a very good one, but I had a number and everything. Uriah Perry maintains the tradition of squatty, not very athletic players wearing No. 60. Perry's an actual nose guard, while I was just the guy who played nose guard on the scout team. Anyway, UCA looked like a team to beat when they faced Hawaii on Friday. Or Saturday since the game kicked off here at Midnight. I was deeply enthralled until I heard from her, "really? It is nearly One and you are still up?" With that, it was off to bed and the wonders of Tivo to watch it on Saturday morning. Good show Bears, the win was in hand until a breakdown in the final two minutes. *shrug* Just the way of life when I-AA teams play up. Northern Iowa got a taste of that against Iowa. Richmond beat Duke though, so there you go.

* Kool-aid drinkers: One cup of sugar, plus one packet of Kool-Aid makes water taste so much better. The same can be said of Razorback fans, who get a constant diet of sugary coverage instead of honest analysis. Arkansas isn't very good this year. Yeah, yeah, they beat (Southwest) Missouri State 48-10. Who cares? Tennessee played Western Kentucky, one year removed from I-AA and the Vols laid the smack down 63-0 and a bajillion yards of offense. I thought 6-6 before the season started, and I may downgrade to 5-7 or 4-8. Tejada can't make a kick to save his life. He'll cost Arkansas at least one game, maybe two this season. And let's face it, Petrino is a poor coach. He sells people on what he did at Louisville, but he has yet to show any kind of inovation or player development. The defense stinks. The offensive line is pieced together with converted tight ends and academic mysteries. A Baker's Dozen running backs and none stood out since they all got five carries each. Mallett, laughed out of Michigan, looked wooden and unable to evade the SMSU pass rush. what happens when Rolando McClain, or one of a dozen other top-flight linebackers come pouring throught that porous offense line?

* Little Rock: Arkansas loves the Razorbacks so much, War Memorial didn't sell out. As a matter of fact, we walked up and bought two tickets an hour before kickoff. The row we were on, was not full. Really makes you wonder. It used to be said the whole state was for the Razorbacks, but that isn't true, not anymore. You ask a kid nowadays and they might rattle of pro teams or another college as their favorite team. Part of the fan experience is being able to go to the game, but two tickts were $90, plus $10 to park, and another $20 at the concession stand for drinks, peanuts and a package of M&Ms. One hundred and twenty dollars to watch Arkansas and a I-AA play some sloppy football and I live a mile from the stadium. So what does that say for the people who live hundreds of miles away and have the option of watching top 10 teams play on TV for roughly free or driving to Little Rock or Fayetteville for hundreds of dollars and that assumes they don't need a hotel, that they can't get just for one night. Their parents may still worship the Pig, but their kids, they are so far removed from gameday they wouldn't know what to do. Oh, and one more thing, tickets are still available for the Arkansas-Texas A&M in Dallas. For the low, low price of $300, you can buy one ticket for the game. Family of four is looking at $1,200 plus handling charges. Parking is $75. Then you have a hotel that you'll have to pay for two nights, plus gas to drive, meals and snacks at the game. No thanks.

* Orlando: Going on vacation next week. Hope not to comeback, but I will. Please leave tips on things to do at Universal Studios in the comments section. The whole trip with two week-long passes to Universal, two roundtrip airfares and five nights of hotel will be cheaper than four tickets to Arkansas-Texas A&M. Huh, I wonder why people aren't falling all over themselves to get to that game.

* Recruiting: I'm told any mention of Michael Dyer makes the blog light up like Jennings Obsbourne's house used to do at Christmas. So there's your Michael Dyer reference. Michael Dyer. Micahel Dyer. Michael Dyer. Auburn. Ole Miss. Tennessee. Arkansas. Etc.

NOTE: I know the NCAA doesn't recognize I-AA anymore, but that's stupid and I won't make the switch.