We played them even in the second half, although it didn't seem like it. 35 points each.

Unfortunately, that first half was the killer.

I guess some days you throw it up there and it won?t go in.

Seems like Alabama had the same problem

A lot of the time some of their shots look like they are just throwing the ball up to the rim. And not a real shot.

When they go in, great. When they don't, well, it looks like tonight.


[/quote
And, has anybody taken a charge this year

https://x.com/rossdellenger/status/1880380761238597692?s=46

https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-justice-dept-questions-landmark-ncaa-athlete-pay-settlement-2025-01-17/

https://x.com/rossdellenger/status/1880381446474592519?s=46

A school that's playing in March Madness could win in the first round and then enroll and use players from other teams that lost in the first round, so long as they could get them enrolled as students. 😳

When the NCAA lost the Alston case in the Supreme court, which said a citizen can get paid by anyone at any time.  College athletes are fee. Like we are and have been. They can agree to some type of controls . They cannot be forced to. The universities main concern now is getting sued.

If he thought he needed another year to prepare for the NFL, as many thought he did, why did he leave UGA?

girlfriend plays basketball there---and that is undefeated

portal has evened the playing field. They say that the SEC has been paying players all along. So have all the others. I don't think it evens the playing field as much as it just ensures the rich programs will get richer. Plus those that are holier than thou about their favorite program, acting like they don't cheat.

bama sure as shizzle did

 

At that time it was legal. but against the ncaa rules. The Alston case officially made it legal. The biggest worry universities have now is getting sued.

Glad he mentioned the LBs.  I would put that ahead of WRs actually, and OL could make a case for being no. 2.

He didn't mention safety, we need a couple there also IMO.

Ol? is number 1. As always.

...but on this day he was. That was masterful. UGa's talent advantage was evident, but the playcalling made up for it.

ga is not as talented as they have been

That's what you get when you expect a team laden with 4* and 3* players to beat a team laden with 5* and 4* players. Plus our coaching is lacking as well. Everyone has deemed Heuple an offensive guru. He's not. Nico has not progressed near as much as he should have. He still has that deer in the headlights look when he does his progressions and no one is open. OSU getting Chip Kelly as OC was a huge move. I think the 12 team playoff is letting a lot of teams think they can match up and play with the elite teams. They cant. About 8 schools have elite programs consistently. Unfortunately 3 or 4 of them are in the SEC and we ain't one of them. Until we start getting top5 recruiting classes it's not going to happen because UGa, Texas, Bama and OU will always be close to top 5 recruiting every year. We may beat some of them periodically but not regularly. OU and Bama will not be bad long. OSU and Oregon winner probably wins the title. Sucked to draw OSU first game for us but their was multiple teams that I thought we could beat that was in the playoff. I have doubts about that now.

What 3 or 4 teams are elite in the SEC?  The only two I see prior to Texas and OU coming in are Uga and bammer, and bammer is now down a notch.  As you point out, OU is not elite currently.  Texas is...kind of.  They have only been a playoff team for two years now.  Their claim to fame last year was that the beat bammer in tuscaloosa.  This year, its hard to tell how good they are, their schedule was incredibly soft, and uga beat them silly n their home field.

As for OU, they are currently way behind us in the 2025 recruiting rankings.  They may catch us through the later signing day and/or portal, but they have a rough road ahead iMO

Alabama, Georgia and Ohio state are  1-2-3 in 247 composite rankings now. Tenn is 17

That's what you get when you expect a team laden with 4* and 3* players to beat a team laden with 5* and 4* players. Plus our coaching is lacking as well. Everyone has deemed Heuple an offensive guru. He's not. Nico has not progressed near as much as he should have. He still has that deer in the headlights look when he does his progressions and no one is open. OSU getting Chip Kelly as OC was a huge move. I think the 12 team playoff is letting a lot of teams think they can match up and play with the elite teams. They cant. About 8 schools have elite programs consistently. Unfortunately 3 or 4 of them are in the SEC and we ain't one of them. Until we start getting top5 recruiting classes it's not going to happen because UGa, Texas, Bama and OU will always be close to top 5 recruiting every year. We may beat some of them periodically but not regularly. OU and Bama will not be bad long. OSU and Oregon winner probably wins the title. Sucked to draw OSU first game for us but their was multiple teams that I thought we could beat that was in the playoff. I have doubts about that now.

However, a QB can?t develop much if he spends most of the time running for his life.

They are just way better than Tennessee. Jimmies and Joes. There's a big gap between the top 4 or 5 programs and their talent compared to the second tier teams. That's just my opinion.

I don't think Neyland would have changed the outcome at all. They are better at almost every position than Tennessee. They beat Tennessee 8 or 9 out of 10. It is what it is.

Learn from it and move forward.

The Vols are only 4 years removed from Jeremy Pruitt. Tennessee is improved but just aren't there yet.
[/quo


You are correct.

[Offense:]

I haven't read anything, anywhere on the game.  These are my personal observations of the debacle

A few general observations:
The portal defections hurt us.  Nimrod (WR), Smith (LB) and Mathews (CB) to varying degrees hurt us.  In most cases, when we had to reach their evel the replacements were much les skilled/experienced (more specifics later).
We substitution far less in this game than we had all year, including the bamer and UF games.
I felt that in several areas we regressed from the end of the season

Offense:
OL: Our tackles are STILL an issue, especially on the right side.  The pre season injury to Heard hurt his progression but there are no excuses for the right  side
I think we had one false start (on Sprags though I would have charged it to Mays).  We weren't going on a snap count all night.  The LG would slap Mays when Nico was ready and Mays would snap it when he was ready.  This method ELIMINATED any tempo, for the entire game, even when we were trying to have some urgency
Grades: Interior C and tackles F

RB:  The injury to Sampson hurt.  IT was clear even on the first series he wasn't right and with Bishop in on the 2nd series I knew
We ran two different offenses with Bishop and Lewis in the  game.  With Bishop more pass and  with Lewis more run.  Draw your own conclusions
Bishop had a couple of nice blitz pickups, though one was ruined by the RT.  Like to see Bishop used in the pass game more (we threw once to Sampson and once to Lewis (same pattern for each)
Grade: C (were given many opportunities)

WR: Bru, not himself but perhaps the most effective.  Followed by Thornton (who  played X and Y last night, started on the right and was first B/U for Bru).
Squirrel possibly was open the most but fragile as a fresh egg.
Brazzell REGRESSED badly.  He and Nico were clearly not on the  same page
Staley hadn't played all year and it showed.  Several times he had to be told where to lineup (on the left especially)  Very tentative.   More later
Matthews didn't get into the game till the 4th.  WHY?!?
Grade: D

TE:  Weren't a factor last night.  Don't know why.  When Squirrel was hurt, Davis was actually the first replacement slot receiver.  NEVER threw to him, don't know why.   
Grade: Incomplete (B-/C+)

QB: Nico played as well as he could in my view.  Our primary offense all night was run Nico on designed runs and Nico running for his life.  It seemed that Nicoand the  receivers had not worked a lot together in the last 3 weeks (by design or injury).  In any case, it showed, badly
Grade:  B (did what he could with the hand he was dealt)

Coaching: I get we were on the road but given Sampson's injury why not run at least some tempo?!?  The play calling was pedestrian and strange, at best. (more later)
Grade: F

Defense:
DL:  Just like at uga we couldn't get to the QB (unlike at uga we had time to get there often) and when we did we grabbed the facemask
Had some run misfits, again.  The last one was pure lack of effort.period.dot.
A couple of plays late Pearce affected the play but it was rare and not very effective, expected more
Grade D-

LB:  SUCKED.  Followed eye candy all night.  Totally ineffective in the pass game.  Plugged the wrong hole, a LOT
Grade: F-

CB:  Had difficulty covering WRs all night, though McCoy had some nice coverages in the 2nd half, in one, Smith ran an out and up that McCoy covered very well.  It was too bad that the LBs and safeties couldn't cover the drag route underneath   BTW, I don't think that it was PI in the  3rd, and was totally uncatchable in any case (one ref signaled that immediately but was overruled McMurray came in for Gibson (after he was burned for a TD) for a series and then wasn't back in till mid way through the 4th
Grade D

Safeties:  Too slow, can't cover their shadow at were NOT effective all night
Strange sub pattern.  All year we had been rotating 2, 35 (starters) with 14 and 9.  Last night I didn't see 9 in the game till the 4th. 14 usually subbed for 2 last night
We rotated the safeties side to side last night with Brooks the boundary and whoever the other safety was the field, probably due to the lack of speed
In zone Brooks, especially was extremely slow to recognize and react to receivers in his zone. Especiall early that was a good 20 yards for them EVERY time we were in zone
Grade: F-

Coaching:  IMO a poor game plan, weird sub patterns and extremely slow to make changes - see crossing and drag routes that we NEVER covered, ALL  night.
Grade: F

Coaching (year end summary):
WR: REPLACE.  Extreme lack of development.  Both Mathews and Staley at various times showed that issue.  We were in our 13th game! and Staley has issues lining up?!?   WTF!!!
Other receivers to varying degrees also had development issues.  Nimrod went to the portal and we had NOBODY ready for his spot, after twelve (12) games!  For reference I refer you to Williams and Smith who we played against this year.

OL:  REPLACE (will never happen but we can dream).  Why not give the younger guys an opportunity to get some big time game experience (even a series or two individually after the game got out of hand?.  Especially at center! Heard did improve throughout the year, I think more on talent than development.  I could make the case that Sprags actually regressed this year, why?

Safeties:  Perhaps time for Banks to turn over all secondary positions to whomever is coaching corners next year

LB: Inge on probation.  Just one year in but development was an issue.  Spillman was hurt all year and his performance showed his rust last night.  Smith had every opportunity but never really showed improvement IMO.  22 and 7 had repetitive issues at times all season, skill issues or development?

RB:  Retain.  I thought Simms and our backs showed development this year.  Lewis coming from nowhere to get quality snaps is a prime example

Special Teams:   Retain, though there were cracks at times some of that was just poor execution

DL:  Pay RG and Coach Chop whatever need to retain  them!  As an aside, through mutual friends I've had the opportunity to chat with Coach Chop's wife.  Nice lady!

QB:  While We know that Heup is the real coach I think  that Halzle needs to improve.  our FR QB got into only two (2) games this year!

TE: Retain!  I think TEs were our one bright spot this  year on offense.

OC:  I would not retain Hazle because of game planning and management issues.  I get the Heup has his finger on it heavily but he needs to get someone he trusts, like he did with the Mad Russian.  Till then, our offense will be limited.

DC: Retain, though there are games (AR, GA and last night) that drive me insane Banks has improved the defense year on year, every year.

As usual, YMMV

I haven't read anything, anywhere on the game.  These are my personal observations of the debacle

A few general observations:
The portal defections hurt us.  Nimrod (WR), Smith (LB) and Mathews (CB) to varying degrees hurt us.  In most cases, when we had to reach their evel the replacements were much les skilled/experienced (more specifics later).
We substitution far less in this game than we had all year, including the bamer and UF games.
I felt that in several areas we regressed from the end of the season

Offense:
OL: Our tackles are STILL an issue, especially on the right side.  The pre season injury to Heard hurt his progression but there are no excuses for the right  side
I think we had one false start (on Sprags though I would have charged it to Mays).  We weren't going on a snap count all night.  The LG would slap Mays when Nico was ready and Mays would snap it when he was ready.  This method ELIMINATED any tempo, for the entire game, even when we were trying to have some urgency
Grades: Interior C and tackles F

RB:  The injury to Sampson hurt.  IT was clear even on the first series he wasn't right and with Bishop in on the 2nd series I knew
We ran two different offenses with Bishop and Lewis in the  game.  With Bishop more pass and  with Lewis more run.  Draw your own conclusions
Bishop had a couple of nice blitz pickups, though one was ruined by the RT.  Like to see Bishop used in the pass game more (we threw once to Sampson and once to Lewis (same pattern for each)
Grade: C (were given many opportunities)

WR: Bru, not himself but perhaps the most effective.  Followed by Thornton (who  played X and Y last night, started on the right and was first B/U for Bru).
Squirrel possibly was open the most but fragile as a fresh egg.
Brazzell REGRESSED badly.  He and Nico were clearly not on the  same page
Staley hadn't played all year and it showed.  Several times he had to be told where to lineup (on the left especially)  Very tentative.   More later
Matthews didn't get into the game till the 4th.  WHY?!?
Grade: D

TE:  Weren't a factor last night.  Don't know why.  When Squirrel was hurt, Davis was actually the first replacement slot receiver.  NEVER threw to him, don't know why.   
Grade: Incomplete (B-/C+)

QB: Nico played as well as he could in my view.  Our primary offense all night was run Nico on designed runs and Nico running for his life.  It seemed that Nicoand the  receivers had not worked a lot together in the last 3 weeks (by design or injury).  In any case, it showed, badly
Grade:  B (did what he could with the hand he was dealt)

Coaching: I get we were on the road but given Sampson's injury why not run at least some tempo?!?  The play calling was pedestrian and strange, at best. (more later)
Grade: F

Defense:
DL:  Just like at uga we couldn't get to the QB (unlike at uga we had time to get there often) and when we did we grabbed the facemask
Had some run misfits, again.  The last one was pure lack of effort.period.dot.
A couple of plays late Pearce affected the play but it was rare and not very effective, expected more
Grade D-

LB:  SUCKED.  Followed eye candy all night.  Totally ineffective in the pass game.  Plugged the wrong hole, a LOT
Grade: F-

CB:  Had difficulty covering WRs all night, though McCoy had some nice coverages in the 2nd half, in one, Smith ran an out and up that McCoy covered very well.  It was too bad that the LBs and safeties couldn't cover the drag route underneath   BTW, I don't think that it was PI in the  3rd, and was totally uncatchable in any case (one ref signaled that immediately but was overruled McMurray came in for Gibson (after he was burned for a TD) for a series and then wasn't back in till mid way through the 4th
Grade D

Safeties:  Too slow, can't cover their shadow at were NOT effective all night
Strange sub pattern.  All year we had been rotating 2, 35 (starters) with 14 and 9.  Last night I didn't see 9 in the game till the 4th. 14 usually subbed for 2 last night
We rotated the safeties side to side last night with Brooks the boundary and whoever the other safety was the field, probably due to the lack of speed
In zone Brooks, especially was extremely slow to recognize and react to receivers in his zone. Especiall early that was a good 20 yards for them EVERY time we were in zone
Grade: F-

Coaching:  IMO a poor game plan, weird sub patterns and extremely slow to make changes - see crossing and drag routes that we NEVER covered, ALL  night.
Grade: F

Coaching (year end summary):
WR: REPLACE.  Extreme lack of development.  Both Mathews and Staley at various times showed that issue.  We were in our 13th game! and Staley has issues lining up?!?   WTF!!!
Other receivers to varying degrees also had development issues.  Nimrod went to the portal and we had NOBODY ready for his spot, after twelve (12) games!  For reference I refer you to Williams and Smith who we played against this year.

OL:  REPLACE (will never happen but we can dream).  Why not give the younger guys an opportunity to get some big time game experience (even a series or two individually after the game got out of hand?.  Especially at center! Heard did improve throughout the year, I think more on talent than development.  I could make the case that Sprags actually regressed this year, why?

Safeties:  Perhaps time for Banks to turn over all secondary positions to whomever is coaching corners next year

LB: Inge on probation.  Just one year in but development was an issue.  Spillman was hurt all year and his performance showed his rust last night.  Smith had every opportunity but never really showed improvement IMO.  22 and 7 had repetitive issues at times all season, skill issues or development?

RB:  Retain.  I thought Simms and our backs showed development this year.  Lewis coming from nowhere to get quality snaps is a prime example

Special Teams:   Retain, though there were cracks at times some of that was just poor execution

DL:  Pay RG and Coach Chop whatever need to retain  them!  As an aside, through mutual friends I've had the opportunity to chat with Coach Chop's wife.  Nice lady!

QB:  While We know that Heup is the real coach I think  that Halzle needs to improve.  our FR QB got into only two (2) games this year!

TE: Retain!  I think TEs were our one bright spot this  year on offense.

OC:  I would not retain Hazle because of game planning and management issues.  I get the Heup has his finger on it heavily but he needs to get someone he trusts, like he did with the Mad Russian.  Till then, our offense will be limited.

DC: Retain, though there are games (AR, GA and last night) that drive me insane Banks has improved the defense year on year, every year.

As usual, YMMV

Sounds like we don?t have enough talent or coaching to compete with the better teams. Which was what we saw last night.

Dear Lord, just let it end.

Totally disappointing.

I wasn't optimistic about winning. But I thought we would make it a game. 

We can?t defend the pass.

We are totally lost in pass coverage
[/quot

It?s no talent. Or no coaching?

There was a total change in play calling post our pick
Effective but strange to me

They let Nico play. They have managed him to much.

Then they put on the shirts
Made a point

They are not making a point now

But they are now

I guess it took a quarter abd half to thaw out after coming out with no shirts,
That was a clown show

I was worried this would be a tough matchup. If you look at it without your orange colored glasses how many actually good teams did we beat. Bama is the win we hang our hat on.  We are getting outcoached and out talented so far. Plus Nico has not progressed as much as he should have. But most swear Heuple is an offensive guru.

And we now know that Bama can and did play poorly at times

Then they put on the shirts
Made a point

They are not making a point now

Got fooled on a twist second down

Sounds like we need better players and better coaching

Well, we're in trouble.
[/qu


Getting embarrassed.  Absolutely no OL

why are they not pressuring that QB. It's pretty ignorant. Coaching makes a difference.

Coaching is highly suspect

This offense better get going. What is the reason they start slow repeatedly. It will get you beat against a good team.

The answer.  No OL

A veteran OL shouldn't be this bad.

It?s talent or coaching

This offense better get going. What is the reason they start slow repeatedly. It will get you beat against a good team.

The ok is pitiful. Has been most of the season

Texas, Boise, Indiana, Notre Dame, Penn St, SMU, and Clemson are a COMBINED 1-9 against the Top 20 with the only win being Clemson over SMU.

That is an amazing statistic.

The best road to the CFP is now a schedule full of cupcakes, it seems.

It is. Strength of schedule is now irrelevant. The platoons has gone woke.

Bench Canpbell, forever

And a week