College Football Odds and Sods: Could Florida State Make America Embrace Nick Saban?
By Ty Duffy
Florida State escaped, again. The Seminoles overcame a poor start against another inferior opponent, edging Miami 30-26 on the road. The result peeved quite a few people. Preeminent programs normally attract some measure of public animosity – recent vintage Alabama, Florida, USC, Ohio State etc. – but this overt Florida State hatred has a particular vitriol. They aren’t just heels.
Sports seasons follow familiar narratives. Among the least endearing of those narratives is the “ridiculously talented team struggles to put it all together against competition that should be over-matched” one. There’s nothing to work with. Florida State resembles the LeBron-era Miami Heat on the court. It’s irritating when a great team isn’t great. Should that team finally find its level, there is no catharsis.
Compounded with that is thwarted justice, perhaps the hardest to swallow story in any walk of life. Florida State has not experienced its deserved loss on the field, after disappointing sub-par play. Off the field, Seminole players have benefited from apparent police negligence and misconduct. Karlos Williams remains on the field. Most notably, Jameis Winston remains on the field.
The Heisman winner was not charged with sexual battery, after a mishandled criminal investigation. His student conduct hearing over the incident has been postponed, probably to a time when it is no longer relevant. Far less seriously, common sense indicates he violated NCAA rules by accepting money for signing autographs. But, there’s no paper trail. Florida State has experienced no consequences and shown no contrition.
This 2014 Seminole team is a perfect, bitter stew of bad sports stories, spiced with a vigilant, aggressive and hyper-reactive social media contingent. They are unlikeable or, as the kids would say, “the worst.”
Will the rest of the nation get its desired schadenfreude? It seems unlikely. Florida State plays Boston College and Florida at home to close the season. While Georgia Tech could bring deliverance, the ACC Coastal winner may be Duke.
America may have to embrace its righteous champion, Nick Saban, in the playoff. That is how far public opinion has soured.
Playing Off
Florida State survived unscathed. Mississippi State did not. Alabama beat the Bulldogs 25-20 with a late touchdown ameliorating the scoreline and costing Las Vegas a great deal of money. Dan Mullen’s team would still be a favorite to reach the playoff at 11-1 though. Or will it?
Mississippi State climbed to No. 1 by beating three Top 10 teams in succession. Those wins don’t look so hot after Saturday. LSU was shut out 17-0 by Arkansas to fall to 7-4. Georgia crushed Auburn on the road in Athens 34-7, dropping them to 7-3. Texas A&M lost to Missouri at home a week after beating Auburn to drop to 7-4. Texas A&M and LSU still play each other, meaning one of those teams will finish 7-5.
The committee has prioritized opponent winning percentage and who teams have beaten. A second-place 11-1 Mississippi State, especially if Arkansas beats Ole Miss, would have a vulnerable case.
Arizona State became the latest highly ranked Reser casualty, falling 35-27 to Oregon State in a letdown spot. It’s hard to win when you allow three scoring plays of longer than 60 yards and throw a pick six. One-loss Oregon should be the Pac 12’s only playoff shot, possibly an 11-2 UCLA if they avenge their Oregon loss in the title game.
TCU looked sloppy and never got out of second gear in a narrow 34-30 win at Kansas. A win is a win, technically. But that one eroded whatever argument the Horned Frogs might have had over Baylor after their head to head defeat. Even that argument may prove unnecessary. The Thanksgiving trip to Austin looks far more interesting than it did a couple weeks ago.
Ohio State could not close the back door, but emerged against Minnesota and the bitter cold 31-24. The Gophers could finish out 7-5 and still be the Buckeyes’ second-best regular season win. Time for Urbs to hit the campaign trail. Nebraska squandered any latent playoff hopes and much of Bo Pelini’s accrued goodwill losing 59-24 at a not-so-great Wisconsin. It was another historic night for Nebraska’s Blackshirts defense, conceding an FBS record 408 yards and four touchdowns to Melvin Gordon on 25 carries through three quarters. Oof.
The Good
Road Upset… Northwestern bounced back, after losing the season’s ugliest game 10-9 to Michigan. The Wildcats amassed more than 40 points and 500 total yards to beat the Fighting Irish 43-40 in overtime in South Bend. Northwestern has now beaten Wisconsin and Notre Dame and lost by six touchdowns to Iowa in the same season. Our “why 9-3 Notre Dame should still be in the playoff race” post will be out later this week.
Rocky Top… Tennessee eviscerated once-promising Kentucky 50-16. Josh Dobbs completed 70 percent of his passes, averaged 11 yards/attempt and produced four total touchdowns. Beating Vanderbilt will get the Vols to their first bowl game since 2010. Beating Vanderbilt and Missouri could secure the Volunteers’ first better than .500 season since Lane Kiffin left. Smokey enjoyed the spectacle.
A Win is a Win… Virginia Tech averaged 4.0 yards/play and converted 2/15 third downs. But, their two touchdowns via the forward pass and a field goal provided enough to knock off a ranked Duke team 17-16 on the road. Beating Wake Forest next week could bring the Hokies’ horrible brand of football to the postseason. Rematch with Michigan? Make it happen…or don’t.
The Not So Good
Chomped… Florida was about to kick a field goal to go up 20-10 over South Carolina with less than four minutes remaining. Then, the Gators had the field goal blocked, had a subsequent punt blocked, conceded a game-tying touchdown to the Gamecocks on a bizarre fumble and lost 23-20 in overtime. Classic Florida or Classic South Carolina. Take your pick. The loss saw Will Muschamp relieved of duty. Gator fans won’t be lighting candles.
That Tim Beckman Defense… Illinois fell to 2-20 in the Big Ten under Tim Beckman. They did so in what has become typical Illinois fashion. The Illini defense allowed 587 total yards and 7.4 yards/play at home to Iowa. Kirk “Punt Inside the Opposing 40” Ferentz felt confident enough to go for it three times on fourth down. Dumber players can tackle better? This remains the defining moment of Tim Beckman’s tenure.
Not Very Stoudt… Clemson lost 28-6 at Georgia Tech. Cole Stoudt, spelling an injured Deshaun Watson, completed 3/11, the same number he completed to the opposite team, including one that was returned 62 yards for a touchdown. He averaged more yards/carry (3.7) than yards/pass (1.7).
Screen Grab of the Week
This dapper Illinois fan was patrolling the sideline in cold impervious style.
GIF of the Week
There’s “cold” and then there is “Minnesota cold.” Positive degrees? Still outdoor ice cream weather.
[USA Today Sports]