Sunday, October 1, 2017

Ole Miss Grades

Vol Calls

Mark: “Travis is on a cell phone. Make sure the delay is working…. What’s up, brother?”

Travis: “It’s all good, guys.”

Kevin: “Really?   I recognize the phone number, man, what have you done with Travis?”

Travis: “No, dude, it’s me, for real. I’m just …. Well, I’m working on being a better me.”

Mark: “Wow. That’s great. And let me say, I really respect you. You feel me?”

Kevin: “So, do you want to talk about the Vols?”

Travis: “Yeah, actually……so….OK….we lost to Georgia…..and we lost to Florida……but don’t we still have a path to get to Atlanta for the championship game?”

Unidentified Female: “Travis…..Travis, hand me the phone……No…..don’t do that….you know our agreement……you need to hand me the phone now….”

Kevin: “Uh, Travis?,,,,,”

Mark: “Hello?…..

Travis: “LSU lost to Troy…..we’re better than Troy….”

Unidentified Female: “Dr. Gold is waiting Travis…..you need to give me the phone…..

Mark: “It looks like we lost Travis……call back……if you can…..”



Tiger Talk:

Luv: “……huit cent cinquante mille, dollars.  Pour Troy. Incredible”

Claude: “Oui. Absurdite. And for our listeners in English-speaking parts of Louisiana, Luc was pointing out that LSU paid Troy $850,000 to come to Baton Rouge for the homecoming football game.......So, Luc, quel est l’avenir de Coach Orgeron?”

Luc: “Un homme mort qui marche.”

Claude: “Dead man walking?.....Ah oui….you predict he will be sans employ?”

Luc: “Dans mon coeur, c’est aujourd’hui”

Claude: “Today? Well, that is une predication audacieuse. But la buyout…..comment allons’nous payer le buyout?”

Luc: “Quelle buyout?”

Claude: “La buyout de douze mille. …. Twelve million….in dollars Americain.”

Luc: “Merde! Je ne savais pas la buyout de douzemille de dollars Americain…… Le monde entire n’a pas ca.   Eetes-vous sur?”

Claude: “Oui, Luc….I am certain….the buyout for Coach Orgeron is twelve million dollars Americain. …. So, do you still believe he will be sans employ?”

Luc: “Non…..c’est impossible”

Claude: “So what is the future for LSU? Qu’est-ce qui arrivera a LSU?”

Luc:  “Nous aurons bientot du success.”

Claude: “Success in the future?  How?”

Luc: “Nous vaincreons Tennessee!”


            Some things need no translation. The disarray in certain SEC football programs is one such thing. Alabama’s dominance in college football is another.

            But just in case someone reading this blog is not convinced the Crimson Tide is the standard against which all others are measured, consider this: under Coach Saban, Alabama has played 55 games ranked as the nation’s number one team. Its record in those games is 49-6 (89.1%). No other coach has ever achieved such a record of success; not Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, Tom Osborne, and not Coach Bryant.

            Bama’s 66-3 victory set a scoring record in the Ole Miss series, which dates back to 1894. The previous high (64 points) was set on October 26, 1917 and reached again on October 4, 1930.  It was obvious from the game’s first series that Alabama was the superior team, and the size and scope of the Tide’s ultimate victory started coming into focus by the end of the first quarter, with Alabama leading 21-3.

There are lots of things to talk about in plain Englsih, so here is how I grade the game:

Offense:            A+            For the second consecutive week, Alabama gained more than 600 yards of total offense (613) (365 rushing) earning 26 first downs. The Tide converted 10 of 18 possession downs (3 of 3 on 4th down) and possessed the football for 36:37.

Jalen attempted 19 passes, completing 12 for 197 and 2 TDs. Jalen has now attempted 169 consecutive passes without suffering an interception; however, an Ole Miss DB came very close to breaking Jalen’s pick-free streak early in the game. Tua completed 3 of 5 pass attempts for 51 yards and a TD.

Calvin Ridley was, once again, the leading receiver with 60 yards on 4 receptions. Josh Jacobs, Jerry Jeudy and Robert Foster each caught two passes. Jacobs caught a pass for a TD as did Henry Ruggs, III, and tight end, Hale Hentges. Nine different receivers caught passes.

Jalen also led all runners with 101 yards and a TD on 10 runs. Damien Harris gained 67 yards on 7 runs. Josh Jacobs averaged 25.5 yards per carry on his two rushes which gained 51 yards. Najee Harris ran the ball 7 times for 43 yards and a TD. Tua also scored a rushing TD, and gained 37 yards on 4 running plays. Bo Scarbrough scored a TD and gained 18 yards on 6 runs, mostly in the first quarter.

The best rushing TD, however, was scored by Ronnie Clark [RS-Jr., TE. 6-2, 224; Calera]. Ronnie was rated the number 3 athlete nationally by Rivals as a senior in high school. He saw his 2014 freshman season cut short with a torn Achilles tendon and was granted a medical red-shirt. Since recovering from injury, he has played in four games over two seasons. He is a dedicated team-player, who has earned the respect and admiration of his teammates and coaches. His 4th quarter TD against Ole Miss marks his first career TD at the Capstone. He gained 22 yards on 5 carries against the Rebs.

Alabama mounted eight drives gaining 40 or more yards [51, 85, 75, 55, 48, 69, 44, 91] resulting in 6 TDs, a FG and a missed FG. The Tide’s longest drive [91 yards] consumed 8:09 of the 4th quarter, took 12 plays and culminated with Ronnie Clark’s rushing touchdown.

The Tide held the football for 13:09 of game time in the 4th quarter.

Defense:              A+                 Ole Miss entered the game boasting of the league’s best passing attack. Against the Tide, Mississippi was able only to net 165 yards passing, completed only 14 of 29 pass attempts and suffered 2 interceptions. Ole Miss had 15 possession downs [13 third downs and 2 attempts on 4th down]. Alabama’s defense denied a conversion each time. Ole Miss was held to a three-and-out 6 times, and the defense scored a pick-six [Levi Wallace (Sr. DB; 6-0, 183; Tucson, AZ)].

Minkah Fitzpatrick led all defenders with 8 tackles [2 TFL]. De’Ron Payne made 7 stops while Hootie Jones was credited with 6. Tide defenders made 10 tackles for lost yardage [5 sacks] forced 2 fumbles, intercepted two passes [Levi Wallace] broke up 2 passes and hurried the Ole Miss QB 9 times.

Special Teams:

Punting:           A+       JK Scott averaged 42.5 yards on two punts. One kick resulted in a touchback and the other was downed inside the Ole Miss 20. Henry Ruggs, III and Trevon Diggs combined to return 4 Reb punts for a total of 58 yards.

Place Kicking:      A        Pappa missed a FG from 40 yards. Scott made a 48-yard FG attempt. Pappa converted each of 9 PATs.

Kickoffs:          A          Scott was really tired at the end of last night’s game. He averaged 63 yards per kick on 11 kicks; 5 were touchbacks. Ole Miss returned 6 kicks for 84 yards, the longest of which gained 20 yards.


Coaching:                    A                      A quibble here and there with play selection, particularly on Bama’s first offensive series, and 7 penalties for 60 yards are enough to justify not giving the coaches the +.  The participation report lists 71 players who saw action in the game.

In the run up to the game, Ole Miss players….obviously having read last week’s edition of The Grades…..were careful not to say anything that could be used to stoke the competitive fires in the hearts of Tide players. So, Coach Saban challenged the team to find internal motivation….it is also reliably reported he said something along the lines of “Those Ole Miss players disrespect you so much, they don’t have anything to say about this game!”

            The SEC West is clearly a two-team division consisting of Alabama and Auburn. The Tigers have a very good defense and seem to have found an offense….on Ebay maybe? I don’t know…..but anyway, they are scoring points and the Villagers have gotten back on board the Gus Bus. The Iron Bowl looks like it might have outsized importance this year…..but all that is in the future, far away.

            The most important game of the year is going to be played October 7 at 6:15 in College Station. The Aggies are celebrating yesterday’s 24-17 conquest of the Fighting Chickens, and are feeling much better about themselves now. Yell practice this Friday will no doubt be quite spirited.

            Oh, by the way….……remember, we need to translate one more thing. This coming Saturday, the first verse of the Rammer Jammer is: “Hey, Aggies!”

Roll Tide Y’all


The Commissioner

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