FSU and Miami are mirror images plus other thoughts from around the nation
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by user Kkfla737
Mirror Images and Other Thoughts
Saturday's pathetic performances by once proud programs in Tallahassee and Coral Gables showed beyond any question that two programs that defined College Football in the 1980s and changed the game have become once again mirror images of one another. From the early 1980s thru the mid 1990s Miami and FSU had more speed, more innovation and more success than any other programs in the nation. Now in 2006, the two programs join Georgia as the teams doing the least with the most talent. Florida State gave up on running the football several years ago and went to spread oriented shotgun offense. This year Miami, despite having a RB arsenal most ACC teams outside of Clemson would covet has decided to do the same. Copying Jeff Bowden should earn any coach a quick ticket to the unemployment line, but Miami coordinator Rich Olson, late of the NFL seems to think Miami should run Jeff Bowden's chuck and duck offense and today it was on display. Despite leading the whole afternoon, Miami had Kyle Wright operating out of the shotgun on every first down play in the 2nd half save one. Much like FSU, Olson resorted to quick screens and jump balls to make this offense work. The net result was Miami's lowest rushing output against a team with a losing record since a 1979 game versus La. Tech. (Yes, I looked that up.)
As bad as things are in Coral Gables, the situation in Tallahassee is worse even though FSU did beat Miami in a game that set Football back 50 years, last month. FSU is completely incapable of running the football and the mental mistakes that have plagued FSU for years are getting more and more damaging. Miami today did their best FSU imitation with 5 personal foul penalties, most of which either kept Duke drives alive and stalled UM drives.
Miami has been officially Bowdenized and FSU has been officially Cokerized. It's time for both programs to move on.
Other Thoughts:
-Georgia just escaped versus Miss State between the hedges. The Dawgs barely avoid a 3 game home losing streak.
-Bill Callahan's clock management and play calling in the last minute versus Texas is a quick lesson as to why he didn't last as an NFL Head Coach very long.
-I'm not sure why UCLA was playing a soft zone instead of a straight prevent in the last minute.
-C.J. Spiller could have been a difference maker for Florida. At FSU he would have been wasted. Tommy Bowden is using him better than anyone could have though and that's probably why he choose Clemson.
-Reggie Ball is still Reggie Ball. One game on fire, the next cold as ice.
-Kirk Ferentz probably should have left Iowa when he could.
-Rutgers win at Pitt put them in the driver's seat for the Big East title. Seriously, it does. Both West Va and Louisville go to Pitt in the upcoming weeks in addition to playing one another. Rutgers also plays both and based on Ray Rice's hard running today, they can effectively control the clock against both and keep the high octane offenses on the sideline.
-Brian Brohm doesn't look right. If I were Bobby Petrino i'd consult with the doctors and possibly bring Hunter Cantwell back in the starting lineup for the forseeable future.
-Washington will learn how to win. Eventually.
-I'm going to for once give John L. Smith some love. See I did it! Moving on.........
