The best team doesn't always win the championship. Tough or easy schedules have a lot to do with who can run the table or get away with only one loss. Home or away, matchups...those are important determining factors. The biggest variable is emotion. South Carolina was better than Kentucky last season, but after beating #1 Alabama the prior week, UK was able to catch Carolina at the right time and at home. But these are the power rankings which I take to mean: take all the variables I just mentioned and throw them out. On paper, who are the most talented and experienced teams.
1. Alabama
2. South Carolina
3. Arkansas
4. LSU
5. Mississippi State
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Tennessee
9. Auburn
10a. Kentucky
10b. Vanderbilt
10c. Ole Miss
JB
Monday, August 8, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Allman Brothers Band
My Top 10 Allman Brothers Band songs:
10. "Don't Want You No More", 1969
9. "Ramblin' Man", 1973
8. "Blue Sky", 1972
7. "Every Hungry Woman", 1969
6. "Jessica", 1973
5. "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (Live), 1971
4. "Midnight Rider", 1970
3. "Melissa", 1972
2. "It's Not My Cross to Bear", 1969
1. "Whipping Post", 1969
JB
10. "Don't Want You No More", 1969
9. "Ramblin' Man", 1973
8. "Blue Sky", 1972
7. "Every Hungry Woman", 1969
6. "Jessica", 1973
5. "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (Live), 1971
4. "Midnight Rider", 1970
3. "Melissa", 1972
2. "It's Not My Cross to Bear", 1969
1. "Whipping Post", 1969
JB
Friday, August 5, 2011
Entitlement
These days, it seems like more and more people think they are entitled to something or another. My generation is filled with people who have a false sense of entitlement.
Liberals love entitlement...it's their main selling point. If someone thinks they are owed something, just for living, then the left is going to ask for their vote so they can try to get it for them. It doesn't matter if they've earned it, they should be entitled to it....I don't think so.
I think giving into a person's sense of entitlement gives them a false perception of reality. Every middle class teenager may think they are entitled to their parent's buying them a car when they turn 16, but if do nothing to earn that privilege they really don't learn anything, and will be shocked to find out when they are older that buying a car isn't as easy as saying, 'I want'.
If the portion of Americans who think they are entitled to food stamps, welfare, unemployment, social security, etc. would change their thinking to, 'how can I earn what I get' then we'd be able to backfill the socialism ditch we've been digging for the last few years that we are about to throw ourselves into and move on towards a lifestyle of success and pride.
JB
Liberals love entitlement...it's their main selling point. If someone thinks they are owed something, just for living, then the left is going to ask for their vote so they can try to get it for them. It doesn't matter if they've earned it, they should be entitled to it....I don't think so.
I think giving into a person's sense of entitlement gives them a false perception of reality. Every middle class teenager may think they are entitled to their parent's buying them a car when they turn 16, but if do nothing to earn that privilege they really don't learn anything, and will be shocked to find out when they are older that buying a car isn't as easy as saying, 'I want'.
If the portion of Americans who think they are entitled to food stamps, welfare, unemployment, social security, etc. would change their thinking to, 'how can I earn what I get' then we'd be able to backfill the socialism ditch we've been digging for the last few years that we are about to throw ourselves into and move on towards a lifestyle of success and pride.
JB
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Corporate Tax
Why are so many companies shipping off to other countries to base their business out of: corporate tax. A business' only function is to make money. There may be side benefits of business like helping others or doing good, but the main reason a business is in operation is to make money. So when a business is heavily taxed, and there is a place where they can pay less tax, they are probably going to go to that place.
Huge corporations pay a ton of corporate tax. When they leave for another country, they take that money they were paying in tax with them. So the idea of 'tax the evil corporations' so many people have is really a stupid idea if they can just pick up and leave.
Easy solution: lower the tax rate. I don't know exactly what it should be, but it should be low enough that people would rather come here for business than want to go elsewhere. If we keep corporations here, paying taxes, then they will all contribute to the pool of money we pay to the government. And the lower the tax rate, the more corporations can grow, prosper, and generate more money for more taxes. It makes sense to me.
JB
Huge corporations pay a ton of corporate tax. When they leave for another country, they take that money they were paying in tax with them. So the idea of 'tax the evil corporations' so many people have is really a stupid idea if they can just pick up and leave.
Easy solution: lower the tax rate. I don't know exactly what it should be, but it should be low enough that people would rather come here for business than want to go elsewhere. If we keep corporations here, paying taxes, then they will all contribute to the pool of money we pay to the government. And the lower the tax rate, the more corporations can grow, prosper, and generate more money for more taxes. It makes sense to me.
JB
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Toughest Non-Conference Schedules
The SEC schedule is so tough that you have to be really brave to play a difficult non-conference slate. Every single team in the SEC plays a 1-AA school. Only Ole Miss and Mississippi State do not play a BCS team in the non-conference. LSU and Vanderbilt make up for that playing two games each vs. BCS schools. Here is how I rank each team's non-conference schedule from toughest to easiest.
1. LSU - This was easy. They play the defending PAC 10 champ and national championship runner-up in Week 1. Then they've got to play at West Virginia in week 4. Northwestern State and Western Kentucky should be nice breaks during difficult September and November stretches.
2. Georgia - Playing Boise State in the Georgia Dome will basically be a home game but it will be a tough one to win. Then at the end of the year they've got 'clean old-fashioned hate' with Georgia Tech. Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State should be gimme's.
3. Arkansas - UPig usually has one of the easiest non-conference schedules but they are playing Texas A&M this year in Dallas and they look to be a Top 10-15 team. They play Troy who usually contends for the Sun Belt title but this ranking is based on the A&M game, the other games are Missouri State and New Mexico.
4. Florida - Florida State is expected to be a Top 10 team this year, and the Gators host them at the end of the year. They've also got UAB in Week 2 who should be improved. Florida Atlantic and Furman round out the non-conference slate.
5. South Carolina - East Carolina is a decent C-USA team, and that game will be played on a neutral field in Charlotte in Week 1. The Gamecocks host Navy who is always good and then the Citadel. The end of the year clash at Clemson is where most of the meat is though.
6. Alabama - Kent State, North Texas, and GA Southern will be an excuse to bring 100,000 fans to Tuscaloosa. The only real game is at Penn State, who may or may not be able to match up with the Tide.
7. Auburn - They open with Utah State who is no good, but then they have to travel to Clemson to face a talented team who battled their national championship team to the end last year. Games with Florida Atlantic and Samford will be stat-book stuffers.
8. Ole Miss - BYU is Week 1 will be a tough game for Ole Miss to win, but it should be a good matchup. Beyond that they have what should be a win vs. Southern Illinois and then they travel to Fresno State. Louisiana Tech rounds out the non-conference.
9. Vanderbilt - Hopefully Vandy will take care of business against Elon in Week 1 and prepare for a tough game at home vs. UConn. They've got Army, then at Wake Forest to finish the year.
10. Tennessee - The Vols have Montana, Cincinnati, Buffalo and Middle Tennessee State. Cincy could be a stumbling block but the game is at home and so UT should win all of these games.
11. Kentucky - The Wildcats are going to have the usual again. 3 patsies and Louisville.
12. Mississippi State - State has decided to go with the lightest load possible this year, playing a horrible Memphis team, LA Tech, UAB, and UT Martin.
JB
1. LSU - This was easy. They play the defending PAC 10 champ and national championship runner-up in Week 1. Then they've got to play at West Virginia in week 4. Northwestern State and Western Kentucky should be nice breaks during difficult September and November stretches.
2. Georgia - Playing Boise State in the Georgia Dome will basically be a home game but it will be a tough one to win. Then at the end of the year they've got 'clean old-fashioned hate' with Georgia Tech. Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State should be gimme's.
3. Arkansas - UPig usually has one of the easiest non-conference schedules but they are playing Texas A&M this year in Dallas and they look to be a Top 10-15 team. They play Troy who usually contends for the Sun Belt title but this ranking is based on the A&M game, the other games are Missouri State and New Mexico.
4. Florida - Florida State is expected to be a Top 10 team this year, and the Gators host them at the end of the year. They've also got UAB in Week 2 who should be improved. Florida Atlantic and Furman round out the non-conference slate.
5. South Carolina - East Carolina is a decent C-USA team, and that game will be played on a neutral field in Charlotte in Week 1. The Gamecocks host Navy who is always good and then the Citadel. The end of the year clash at Clemson is where most of the meat is though.
6. Alabama - Kent State, North Texas, and GA Southern will be an excuse to bring 100,000 fans to Tuscaloosa. The only real game is at Penn State, who may or may not be able to match up with the Tide.
7. Auburn - They open with Utah State who is no good, but then they have to travel to Clemson to face a talented team who battled their national championship team to the end last year. Games with Florida Atlantic and Samford will be stat-book stuffers.
8. Ole Miss - BYU is Week 1 will be a tough game for Ole Miss to win, but it should be a good matchup. Beyond that they have what should be a win vs. Southern Illinois and then they travel to Fresno State. Louisiana Tech rounds out the non-conference.
9. Vanderbilt - Hopefully Vandy will take care of business against Elon in Week 1 and prepare for a tough game at home vs. UConn. They've got Army, then at Wake Forest to finish the year.
10. Tennessee - The Vols have Montana, Cincinnati, Buffalo and Middle Tennessee State. Cincy could be a stumbling block but the game is at home and so UT should win all of these games.
11. Kentucky - The Wildcats are going to have the usual again. 3 patsies and Louisville.
12. Mississippi State - State has decided to go with the lightest load possible this year, playing a horrible Memphis team, LA Tech, UAB, and UT Martin.
JB
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Best Non-Conference Games
1. LSU vs. Oregon (Cowboys Stadium) - Week 1, Top 5 matchup...doesn't get much better than that.
2. Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Cowboys Stadium) - Week 5, another possible Top 10 matchup. Both of these teams play HUGE conference games the week before, Arkansas at Bama and A&M vs. Oklahoma State. They both also have pretty big games the week after as well...we'll see how that factors in.
3. Georgia vs. Boise State (Georgia Dome) - This may not be the third best matchup but it's one of the most intriguing so I'm putting it here. Boise St. is going to have another solid team and Mark Richt is feeling the heat. So let's get it started off with a bang in Week 1.
4. Florida vs. Florida State - Maybe the sizzle is back in this rivalry? Florida went on a dominating streak, winning 6 in a row while FSU was down, then the tables turned dramatically last year. I think Florida will rebound a little this year and the Noles will be even better.
5. Alabama at Penn State - With all the hoop-la last year around this game because Joe-Pa was finally returning to Tuscaloosa, this wasn't a close game. But Penn State should be better this year with 14 returning starters and the game is in Happy Valley.
6. LSU at West Virginia - LSU plays another tough opponent, and this one is in their backyard. WVU has had some coaching turmoil but they are always near the top in the Big East, and they play SEC teams well. The Tigers only won by 6 points last year in Baton Rouge, and the Mountaineers have 8 returning starters back on offense for their new offensive guru coach, Dana Holgorsen.
7. Auburn at Clemson - Clemson was the only team to take Auburn to OT last year and the game was at Jordan-Hare. The purple Tigers have 14 returning starters back including 9 on offense, although they lose QB Kyle Parker. Clemson plays FSU the week after, Auburn plays Mississippi State the week before.
8. Ole Miss vs. BYU - This game might fly under the radar in Week 1, but it will be an important game for both teams. BYU has 15 returning starters including 10 on offense. Ole Miss NEEDS this game to get the season started off right and possibly go to a bowl game.
9. South Carolina vs. Clemson - This should be a good game between two good teams. They both hope to be playing in their conference championship games the next week. South Carolina has won the last two in this series, but these teams have split the last four.
10. Tennessee vs. Cincinnati - Cincy really took a dive last year losing Brian Kelly and they fell to 4-8 after having an undefeated regular season in 2009. They've got 10 returning starters on defense, and this should be a good game between two less than middle of the road teams from BCS conferences.
11. South Carolina vs. Navy - Navy has been very consistent over the past few years winning 7,8,9 games. There is no question they have the capacity to beat the Gamecocks if they let their guard down. South Carolina has a tendency to do stupid things and coming off a game at Georgia that if they win could have them sitting pretty in the top 10 or top 5, who knows what could happen.
12. Georgia at Georgia Tech - By the time this game occurs we'll know how these team's season has gone, but they are both coming off disappointing 6-7 years. Both teams have high hopes for this year but who knows what this season will bring.
13. Kentucky vs. Louisville - Louisville beat Kentucky and went 12-1 in 2006, then Bobby Petrino left and UK has won the last four games. Charlie Strong is in his second year, and coming off a bowl win (first bowl game since '06). This game will be called the Bakery Bowl because both teams will play cupcakes in the two weeks leading up to the game.
14. Vanderbilt vs. Connecticut - UConn won the Big East and went to the Fiesta Bowl as one of the worst ever participants in the BCS. They have 16 returning starters from that team, however, they lose 71% of their offense. Vanderbilt may be the bottom feeder of the SEC, but with 19 starters and the game in Nashville, this could be an interesting Week 2 game.
15. Ole Miss at Fresno State - Pat Hill has had a good run at Fresno State, producing a winning team almost every year. Ole Miss hung 55 points on Fresno last year in Oxford even after they had lost to Jacksonville State and Vandy. This game is Week 5, in California...and it will be big for Fresno St. to get an SEC to play in their home stadium.
JB
2. Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Cowboys Stadium) - Week 5, another possible Top 10 matchup. Both of these teams play HUGE conference games the week before, Arkansas at Bama and A&M vs. Oklahoma State. They both also have pretty big games the week after as well...we'll see how that factors in.
3. Georgia vs. Boise State (Georgia Dome) - This may not be the third best matchup but it's one of the most intriguing so I'm putting it here. Boise St. is going to have another solid team and Mark Richt is feeling the heat. So let's get it started off with a bang in Week 1.
4. Florida vs. Florida State - Maybe the sizzle is back in this rivalry? Florida went on a dominating streak, winning 6 in a row while FSU was down, then the tables turned dramatically last year. I think Florida will rebound a little this year and the Noles will be even better.
5. Alabama at Penn State - With all the hoop-la last year around this game because Joe-Pa was finally returning to Tuscaloosa, this wasn't a close game. But Penn State should be better this year with 14 returning starters and the game is in Happy Valley.
6. LSU at West Virginia - LSU plays another tough opponent, and this one is in their backyard. WVU has had some coaching turmoil but they are always near the top in the Big East, and they play SEC teams well. The Tigers only won by 6 points last year in Baton Rouge, and the Mountaineers have 8 returning starters back on offense for their new offensive guru coach, Dana Holgorsen.
7. Auburn at Clemson - Clemson was the only team to take Auburn to OT last year and the game was at Jordan-Hare. The purple Tigers have 14 returning starters back including 9 on offense, although they lose QB Kyle Parker. Clemson plays FSU the week after, Auburn plays Mississippi State the week before.
8. Ole Miss vs. BYU - This game might fly under the radar in Week 1, but it will be an important game for both teams. BYU has 15 returning starters including 10 on offense. Ole Miss NEEDS this game to get the season started off right and possibly go to a bowl game.
9. South Carolina vs. Clemson - This should be a good game between two good teams. They both hope to be playing in their conference championship games the next week. South Carolina has won the last two in this series, but these teams have split the last four.
10. Tennessee vs. Cincinnati - Cincy really took a dive last year losing Brian Kelly and they fell to 4-8 after having an undefeated regular season in 2009. They've got 10 returning starters on defense, and this should be a good game between two less than middle of the road teams from BCS conferences.
11. South Carolina vs. Navy - Navy has been very consistent over the past few years winning 7,8,9 games. There is no question they have the capacity to beat the Gamecocks if they let their guard down. South Carolina has a tendency to do stupid things and coming off a game at Georgia that if they win could have them sitting pretty in the top 10 or top 5, who knows what could happen.
12. Georgia at Georgia Tech - By the time this game occurs we'll know how these team's season has gone, but they are both coming off disappointing 6-7 years. Both teams have high hopes for this year but who knows what this season will bring.
13. Kentucky vs. Louisville - Louisville beat Kentucky and went 12-1 in 2006, then Bobby Petrino left and UK has won the last four games. Charlie Strong is in his second year, and coming off a bowl win (first bowl game since '06). This game will be called the Bakery Bowl because both teams will play cupcakes in the two weeks leading up to the game.
14. Vanderbilt vs. Connecticut - UConn won the Big East and went to the Fiesta Bowl as one of the worst ever participants in the BCS. They have 16 returning starters from that team, however, they lose 71% of their offense. Vanderbilt may be the bottom feeder of the SEC, but with 19 starters and the game in Nashville, this could be an interesting Week 2 game.
15. Ole Miss at Fresno State - Pat Hill has had a good run at Fresno State, producing a winning team almost every year. Ole Miss hung 55 points on Fresno last year in Oxford even after they had lost to Jacksonville State and Vandy. This game is Week 5, in California...and it will be big for Fresno St. to get an SEC to play in their home stadium.
JB
Monday, August 1, 2011
On the Hot Seat
Going into the season there is always a lot of hope. Sometimes a coach can enter a season on the hot seat and end the season very safe. And the opposite can happen as well. As of right now, here is how I think each coach sits with regards to job security:
EAST:
Will Muschamp (Florida) - He just took the job so he's definitely safe through the season and into the next.
Mark Richt (Georgia) - Things started out so great for him at UGA, he was 52-13 after his first 5 years...being in contention for a national title or winning an SEC title every year. In '06 they struggled but the season was saved with a flurry of wins at the end, and '07 they overachieved winning the Sugar Bowl and having an 11-2 record. But ever since they were preseason #1 in 2008, things have gone downhill. 10-3 that year wasn't what fans expected and a horrible defense and 8-5 record in '09 had fans really upset. 2010 was his worst year, starting 1-4, ending 6-7 with a loss to Central Florida...Richt's seat is starting to warm up. I don't think he'll get fired if Georgia has a winning season, if they go 6-6 I'll say it's 50/50 and if they have a losing record I think he is gone.
Joker Phillips (Kentucky) - Phillips is only in his second year but he was the coach in waiting at UK and offensive coordinator for the previous six years. While Kentucky has been to 5 straight bowl games, the best stretch ever for their football program, they have slowly regressed record-wise during that 5 year run. Joker Phillips is safe, but if he doesn't do better that another 6-6 year he'll be feeling a little warmer going into next year.
Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) - Spurrier's tenure at USC almost feels like a favor than anything. There is no way he is or will ever be on the hot seat in Columbia.
Derek Dooley (Tennessee) - Derek Dooley was not Tennessee's first choice, but he is the best they could get for the situation Lane Kiffen left them in. Going into his second year, with a new A.D., he's probably going to be judged more like Joker Phillips...like it's his 3rd year instead of his 2nd. So another 6-6 season and his seat will start warming up.
James Franklin (Vanderbilt) - Another first year coach, and he is the safest coach in the SEC East because of it. As a 39-year-old up and coming coach he'll get at least five years at Vandy to make a name for himself.
WEST:
Nick Saban (Alabama) - Extremely safe. Bama fans are ecstatic about having Saban as their coach and can only dream that he'll be there for another 10 years.
Bobby Petrino (Arkansas) - I've kind of viewed Petrino and Arkansas' relationship as a cautious business one over the past three years. The Hog's fans don't want to get attached to him because he might bolt at any time, but he's a really good coach so they'll pay him well and hope he stays. So the Arkansas athletic department might have it's eye on a few coaches, but that's only so they aren't blind-sided when Petrino takes off in the middle of the night for a different job.
Gene Chizik (Auburn) - Even though he just won a National Championship, I would say Chizik is the 3rd most safe coach in the SEC West behind Saban and Mullen. Auburn is smart to pay their assistants top dollar, because they don't want to fall victim to other school gutting their coaching staff like what happened to Florida. The only thing that NC did for Chizik is give him 5 years to win 45 games. If he does that he keeps going, if not...he's asked to resign.
Les Miles (LSU) - Last year Miles was definitely on the hot seat, but some big wins later and he's off it for now. This is supposed to be a big year at LSU so going 7-5 might get him canned. 9-3 and his seat will be on fire going into next year. 11-1 and he's just fine.
Dan Mullen (Mississippi State) - Mullen is a close 2nd to Saban as far as being safe as an SEC head coach. MSU fans love him right now, and even if State falls off this year and has a disappointing season his seat won't warm up...it will probably take two years of losing for that to happen. Another 9-win season and he'll earn himself at least another 5 years as Bulldog HC.
Houston Nutt (Ole Miss) - Nutt got his final 'promised' contract extension after last season, and we'll see what happens after 2011. I don't think there's anything he can do aside from violate his contract to get fired this year because Ole Miss would have to fork over too much money, but the fans will definitely warm up his seat if he has another losing season.
JB
EAST:
Will Muschamp (Florida) - He just took the job so he's definitely safe through the season and into the next.
Mark Richt (Georgia) - Things started out so great for him at UGA, he was 52-13 after his first 5 years...being in contention for a national title or winning an SEC title every year. In '06 they struggled but the season was saved with a flurry of wins at the end, and '07 they overachieved winning the Sugar Bowl and having an 11-2 record. But ever since they were preseason #1 in 2008, things have gone downhill. 10-3 that year wasn't what fans expected and a horrible defense and 8-5 record in '09 had fans really upset. 2010 was his worst year, starting 1-4, ending 6-7 with a loss to Central Florida...Richt's seat is starting to warm up. I don't think he'll get fired if Georgia has a winning season, if they go 6-6 I'll say it's 50/50 and if they have a losing record I think he is gone.
Joker Phillips (Kentucky) - Phillips is only in his second year but he was the coach in waiting at UK and offensive coordinator for the previous six years. While Kentucky has been to 5 straight bowl games, the best stretch ever for their football program, they have slowly regressed record-wise during that 5 year run. Joker Phillips is safe, but if he doesn't do better that another 6-6 year he'll be feeling a little warmer going into next year.
Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) - Spurrier's tenure at USC almost feels like a favor than anything. There is no way he is or will ever be on the hot seat in Columbia.
Derek Dooley (Tennessee) - Derek Dooley was not Tennessee's first choice, but he is the best they could get for the situation Lane Kiffen left them in. Going into his second year, with a new A.D., he's probably going to be judged more like Joker Phillips...like it's his 3rd year instead of his 2nd. So another 6-6 season and his seat will start warming up.
James Franklin (Vanderbilt) - Another first year coach, and he is the safest coach in the SEC East because of it. As a 39-year-old up and coming coach he'll get at least five years at Vandy to make a name for himself.
WEST:
Nick Saban (Alabama) - Extremely safe. Bama fans are ecstatic about having Saban as their coach and can only dream that he'll be there for another 10 years.
Bobby Petrino (Arkansas) - I've kind of viewed Petrino and Arkansas' relationship as a cautious business one over the past three years. The Hog's fans don't want to get attached to him because he might bolt at any time, but he's a really good coach so they'll pay him well and hope he stays. So the Arkansas athletic department might have it's eye on a few coaches, but that's only so they aren't blind-sided when Petrino takes off in the middle of the night for a different job.
Gene Chizik (Auburn) - Even though he just won a National Championship, I would say Chizik is the 3rd most safe coach in the SEC West behind Saban and Mullen. Auburn is smart to pay their assistants top dollar, because they don't want to fall victim to other school gutting their coaching staff like what happened to Florida. The only thing that NC did for Chizik is give him 5 years to win 45 games. If he does that he keeps going, if not...he's asked to resign.
Les Miles (LSU) - Last year Miles was definitely on the hot seat, but some big wins later and he's off it for now. This is supposed to be a big year at LSU so going 7-5 might get him canned. 9-3 and his seat will be on fire going into next year. 11-1 and he's just fine.
Dan Mullen (Mississippi State) - Mullen is a close 2nd to Saban as far as being safe as an SEC head coach. MSU fans love him right now, and even if State falls off this year and has a disappointing season his seat won't warm up...it will probably take two years of losing for that to happen. Another 9-win season and he'll earn himself at least another 5 years as Bulldog HC.
Houston Nutt (Ole Miss) - Nutt got his final 'promised' contract extension after last season, and we'll see what happens after 2011. I don't think there's anything he can do aside from violate his contract to get fired this year because Ole Miss would have to fork over too much money, but the fans will definitely warm up his seat if he has another losing season.
JB
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