Mike A. Tiger's Football Blog: Florida

We have the Gators right where we want them (Really!)

And why can't anyone get Tim Thibaut's name spelled right?

(Mike A Tiger overcame his bout with the Swine Flu (sat too close to the TV watching Arkansas play) so what follows is a UGA recap as well as a Gator preview.)

Graphic guru LSU Freek’s Silence of the Dawgs sendup above was accurate for about half of a day. Then the bullpups came out from under the porch whining and complaining of mistreatment. To hear many in red-and-black tell it, a blown ref call cost them the game. And the local print and radio media joined the chorus after the SEC office issued a statement that the excessive celebration penalty on AJ Green after their last score late in the game was an unfortunate mistake. That’s okay, we already know that UGA fans will never admit the winning team was better by making excuses, which if why they ARE The Complaining IFs.

Hey, I have an idea. Maybe if you could have prevented Trindon Holliday from gashing you for over 40 yards on the return, and simply made a couple of tackles on Charles Scott you wouldn’t have to make excuses today. You would have been the better team.

We have the Gators right where we want them (Really!)

And why can't anyone get Tim Thibaut's name spelled right?

(Mike A Tiger overcame his bout with the Swine Flu (sat too close to the TV watching Arkansas play) so what follows is a UGA recap as well as a Gator preview.)

And after Ground Chuck the Truck slipped that last guy he could have made the TD from 100 yards out. I also seem to remember we got

the same penalty call after our last score. You had almost a minute to get it done again. But we shut you down for two plays and then on third down Mr. Perry Riley of Stone Mountain, Ga. skipped up and picked off your quarterback. What a lovely way for him- and all Jawja Tigers - to end this game.

In truth it was a great SEC defensive struggle to behold under perfect conditions in Sanford Stadium. Both teams fought hard, but in the end we were just better and wanted it more.

Our offense has improved overall and while Jordan Jefferson has not shown great progress, he hasn’t hurt the team with stupid mistakes either. The real story is that the Tiger D is really starting to come together under John Chavis. His background with the Vols paid huge dividends against Georgia and hopefully will do so again preparing for Florida this week. It was fun to see Miles and Chavis throw their hats over the hedge into the fans after the game- a tradition that Chavis brought to the Tigers this year.

Jawja’s fans can bellyache, but their staff and team better get focused on the next game. If they fester over the belief they got jobbed it could become a huge distraction and they could come out flat against the Vols. Could it be the upset special of the week?

No - because the upset of the week will be the LSU Tigers beating down the Florida Gators in Tiger Stadium this coming Saturday. And it won’t depend on whether Tim Tebow plays or not. We have them right where we want them.

No, I’m Not Crazy. LSU will beat Florida straight-up this Saturday.

Yes, statistically we don’t match up this year at first glance, and they even have a slight edge in overall talent level. But statistics don’t tell the whole story and I have some interesting facts to share that bolsters my unshakable belief that LSU will win.

First, the intangibles:

LSU is riding at 32 game winning streak for games played in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night.
When was the last time LSU hosted an opponent at home with both teams ranked in the Top Five? October 31, 1959. Let’s get Billy Cannon a sideline pass.
LSU plays up for big games under Les Miles. As one blogger recently wrote, Never Fight a Land War in Asia with Les Miles
Forget last season’s poor showings in the SEC. The situation has changed and we are seeing leaders rise up and the team starting to gel. We put it all together this week.

Now, here’s a couple of facts you may not be aware of:

Florida currently ranks as having the #1 defense statistically. However, their strength of schedule to date ranks #107 out of 117.
LSU’s schedule over the same period ranks as the 24th toughest. Makes our performance to date a little bit easier to digest, huh?
We are ranked #4 by the human polls. Want to guess where those darned computer polls rank us: NUMBER ONE. IN ALL OF THEM. Don’t believe me? Do the links yourself:

Sagarin elo-chess (the elo-chess rankings are the only ones that matter)

Colley Matrix

Massey Ratings (The -BCS- column is the only one that matters)

Billingsley Report

Okay, so let’s deal with You Know Who....you know, Timmy.

No, not that Timmy - but after getting his bell rung in the Kentucky game, the orange and blue Superman started writing his name as Tim Thibaut and is spontaneously spouting scripture in Cajun French. His dad was most alarmed that Tim thinks he's now a Catholic, but the Gators fear his new-found love for fleur-de-Lis art and anything in purple and gold means he is still not ready to play.

Seriously, it was indeed a clock-stopping injury, and no one wishes harm on any athlete in sports. But you don't mess with head injuries, which is why Mike A. Tiger predicts that even the obsessed competitor Urban Meyer will hold him out of the LSU game. It's not impossible that he shows up, but if he plays and gets re-injured, Urban Meyer is the person to pin the responsibility to. Even though there is noise about him returning to practice, Mikey thinks Timmy Thibaut is toast for this Saturday folks.

Hmm. I guess the search for the Holy Grill is over. Hey, he's not the first sacred image to go on auction! Exorcism will not be necessary as Timmy finds his Tebow in two weeks, but according to the Miami Herald, the University of Florida, always a safe haven for the bizarre and macabre, will continue to implement its high-priority Anti-Zombie program on campus. (One of the links is bad in that story - read the actual Disaster Preparedness Simulation Exercise here - pretty funny.)

Game Prediction: At this point it would almost be better if Timmy did come out to play because there is no way he could execute in his normal fashion. 20 headlong rushes crashing into bloodthirsty linemen and linebackers won't happen two weeks after a level 3 concussion. John Brantley, former Gatorade All-American QB who broke Thibaut's high school passing record, will get the chance to show he belongs with the big boys Saturday night. His pedigree is strong and he has performed well to date, but all of his college action has been in garbage duty when the game has not been on the line. He will struggle, and knowing that watch for Demps and Rainey to carry the load rushing and taking safe passes out of the backfield. But also watch how the Tiger defenders spring their traps!

The real test that will determine our fate is how our offensive line and skill players (especially Jefferson) deal with the tenacious D of the Gators. Half of that unit will be taken in the first few NFL rounds, and we will have our hands full. However, watch for the Tigers to attack Florida up the middle where they have been more yielding than on options and sweeps.

Also look for more variety and more high-risk, high-reward plays. The preseason was over last week and we saw some more bold moves by Crowton and Miles. There is no reason to hold anything back now, and Jefferson has to now step up and thread some needles and shoot some balls over the middle. Also watch for Russell Shepard to throw a pass and to be lined up with Trindon Holliday to give the Gators fits.

We have the talent, and the team has now proven to themselves they can reach down and do whatever is necessary to win. The atmosphere in Tiger Stadium will be incredibly intimidating for them, as it was for us in Gainesville last year. Mikey expects a dominating win with a close-looking score will not tell the whole story. LSU earns their ranking and a welcome week off, and our spoiled fans shut the heck up...for now. LSU 24, Reptillian Zombies 18.

One more link: Don’t Screw with the Tiger Band, Gators! (Watch for around 1:20 in)

ATLANTA TIGER FANS – Watch for the Tiger Prize Patrol to roll into two locations for the Florida game - Sidelines in Suwannee and Copeland's Cumberland location. The amount of prizes given will be determined by how many participate - so tell your friends to come out and cheer the Tigers all the way to #1!

We now have FIVE metro area locations to watch the Tigers play this fall and all of the restaurants will have LSU fan specials and are donating a portion of your food and beverage purchase to LSU Atlanta. Each location will give away a door prize at halftime so make sure to see the host for your free ticket!

Keep telling your friends out there about it and it will grow!

Your Pal,

Mike A. Tiger

mike.a.tiger@gmail.com

2009 Blogs:

Washington Vandy ULL

2008 Season Mike A. Tiger Blog Archive

Appalachian State North Texas Auburn MSU “Fightin’ Amish” (Open Date) Florida

South Carolina UGA Tulane Alabama Ole Miss Arkansas Bowl Victory Blog

Mike A. Tiger's Football Blog: Florida
Submitted by Mike A. Tiger on October 6, 2009 - 1:49pm Sports football blog view ins
We have the Gators right where we want them (Really!) And why can't anyone get Tim Thibaut's name spelled right? (Mike A Tiger overcame his bout with the Swine Flu (sat too close to the TV watching Arkansas play) so what follows is a UGA recap as well as a Gator preview.) Graphic guru LSU Freek’s Silence of the Dawgs sendup above was accurate for about half of a day. Then the bullpups came out from under the porch whining and complaining of mistreatment. To hear many in red-and-black tell it, a blown ref call cost them the game. And the local print and radio media joined the chorus after the SEC office issued a statement that the excessive celebration penalty on AJ Green after their last score late in the game was an unfortunate mistake. That’s okay, we already know that UGA fans will never admit the winning team was better by making excuses, which if why they ARE The Complaining IFs. Hey, I have an idea. Maybe if you could have prevented Trindon Holliday from gashing you for over 40 yards on the return, and simply made a couple of tackles on Charles Scott you wouldn’t have to make excuses today. You would have been the better team. We have the Gators right where we want them (Really!) And why can't anyone get Tim Thibaut's name spelled right? (Mike A Tiger overcame his bout with the Swine Flu (sat too close to the TV watching Arkansas play) so what follows is a UGA recap as well as a Gator preview.) Graphic guru LSU Freek’s Silence of the Dawgs sendup above was accurate for about half of a day. Then the bullpups came out from under the porch whining and complaining of mistreatment. To hear many in red-and-black tell it, a blown ref call cost them the game. And the local print and radio media joined the chorus after the SEC office issued a statement that the excessive celebration penalty on AJ Green after their last score late in the game was an unfortunate mistake. That’s okay, we already know that UGA fans will never admit the winning team was better by making excuses, which if why they ARE The Complaining IFs. Hey, I have an idea. Maybe if you could have prevented Trindon Holliday from gashing you for over 40 yards on the return, and simply made a couple of tackles on Charles Scott you wouldn’t have to make excuses today. You would have been the better team. And after Ground Chuck the Truck slipped that last guy he could have made the TD from 100 yards out. I also seem to remember we got the same penalty call after our last score. You had almost a minute to get it done again. But we shut you down for two plays and then on third down Mr. Perry Riley of Stone Mountain, Ga. skipped up and picked off your quarterback. What a lovely way for him- and all Jawja Tigers - to end this game. In truth it was a great SEC defensive struggle to behold under perfect conditions in Sanford Stadium. Both teams fought hard, but in the end we were just better and wanted it more. Our offense has improved overall and while Jordan Jefferson has not shown great progress, he hasn’t hurt the team with stupid mistakes either. The real story is that the Tiger D is really starting to come together under John Chavis. His background with the Vols paid huge dividends against Georgia and hopefully will do so again preparing for Florida this week. It was fun to see Miles and Chavis throw their hats over the hedge into the fans after the game- a tradition that Chavis brought to the Tigers this year. Jawja’s fans can bellyache, but their staff and team better get focused on the next game. If they fester over the belief they got jobbed it could become a huge distraction and they could come out flat against the Vols. Could it be the upset special of the week? No - because the upset of the week will be the LSU Tigers beating down the Florida Gators in Tiger Stadium this coming Saturday. And it won’t depend on whether Tim Tebow plays or not. We have them right where we want them. No, I’m Not Crazy. LSU will beat Florida straight-up this Saturday. Yes, statistically we don’t match up this year at first glance, and they even have a slight edge in overall talent level. But statistics don’t tell the whole story and I have some interesting facts to share that bolsters my unshakable belief that LSU will win. First, the intangibles: LSU is riding at 32 game winning streak for games played in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. When was the last time LSU hosted an opponent at home with both teams ranked in the Top Five? October 31, 1959. Let’s get Billy Cannon a sideline pass. LSU plays up for big games under Les Miles. As one blogger recently wrote, Never Fight a Land War in Asia with Les Miles Forget last season’s poor showings in the SEC. The situation has changed and we are seeing leaders rise up and the team starting to gel. We put it all together this week. Now, here’s a couple of facts you may not be aware of: Florida currently ranks as having the #1 defense statistically. However, their strength of schedule to date ranks #107 out of 117. LSU’s schedule over the same period ranks as the 24th toughest. Makes our performance to date a little bit easier to digest, huh? We are ranked #4 by the human polls. Want to guess where those darned computer polls rank us: NUMBER ONE. IN ALL OF THEM. Don’t believe me? Do the links yourself: Sagarin elo-chess (the elo-chess rankings are the only ones that matter) Colley Matrix Massey Ratings (The -BCS- column is the only one that matters) Billingsley Report Okay, so let’s deal with You Know Who....you know, Timmy. No, not that Timmy - but after getting his bell rung in the Kentucky game, the orange and blue Superman started writing his name as Tim Thibaut and is spontaneously spouting scripture in Cajun French. His dad was most alarmed that Tim thinks he's now a Catholic, but the Gators fear his new-found love for fleur-de-Lis art and anything in purple and gold means he is still not ready to play. Seriously, it was indeed a clock-stopping injury, and no one wishes harm on any athlete in sports. But you don't mess with head injuries, which is why Mike A. Tiger predicts that even the obsessed competitor Urban Meyer will hold him out of the LSU game. It's not impossible that he shows up, but if he plays and gets re-injured, Urban Meyer is the person to pin the responsibility to. Even though there is noise about him returning to practice, Mikey thinks Timmy Thibaut is toast for this Saturday folks. Hmm. I guess the search for the Holy Grill is over. Hey, he's not the first sacred image to go on auction! Exorcism will not be necessary as Timmy finds his Tebow in two weeks, but according to the Miami Herald, the University of Florida, always a safe haven for the bizarre and macabre, will continue to implement its high-priority Anti-Zombie program on campus. (One of the links is bad in that story - read the actual Disaster Preparedness Simulation Exercise here - pretty funny.) Game Prediction: At this point it would almost be better if Timmy did come out to play because there is no way he could execute in his normal fashion. 20 headlong rushes crashing into bloodthirsty linemen and linebackers won't happen two weeks after a level 3 concussion. John Brantley, former Gatorade All-American QB who broke Thibaut's high school passing record, will get the chance to show he belongs with the big boys Saturday night. His pedigree is strong and he has performed well to date, but all of his college action has been in garbage duty when the game has not been on the line. He will struggle, and knowing that watch for Demps and Rainey to carry the load rushing and taking safe passes out of the backfield. But also watch how the Tiger defenders spring their traps! The real test that will determine our fate is how our offensive line and skill players (especially Jefferson) deal with the tenacious D of the Gators. Half of that unit will be taken in the first few NFL rounds, and we will have our hands full. However, watch for the Tigers to attack Florida up the middle where they have been more yielding than on options and sweeps. Also look for more variety and more high-risk, high-reward plays. The preseason was over last week and we saw some more bold moves by Crowton and Miles. There is no reason to hold anything back now, and Jefferson has to now step up and thread some needles and shoot some balls over the middle. Also watch for Russell Shepard to throw a pass and to be lined up with Trindon Holliday to give the Gators fits. We have the talent, and the team has now proven to themselves they can reach down and do whatever is necessary to win. The atmosphere in Tiger Stadium will be incredibly intimidating for them, as it was for us in Gainesville last year. Mikey expects a dominating win with a close-looking score will not tell the whole story. LSU earns their ranking and a welcome week off, and our spoiled fans shut the heck up...for now. LSU 24, Reptillian Zombies 18. One more link: Don’t Screw with the Tiger Band, Gators! (Watch for around 1:20 in) ATLANTA TIGER FANS – Watch for the Tiger Prize Patrol to roll into two locations for the Florida game - Sidelines in Suwannee and Copeland's Cumberland location. The amount of prizes given will be determined by how many participate - so tell your friends to come out and cheer the Tigers all the way to #1! We now have FIVE metro area locations to watch the Tigers play this fall and all of the restaurants will have LSU fan specials and are donating a portion of your food and beverage purchase to LSU Atlanta. Each location will give away a door prize at halftime so make sure to see the host for your free ticket! Keep telling your friends out there about it and it will grow! Your Pal, Mike A. Tiger mike.a.tiger@gmail.com 2009 Blogs: Washington Vandy ULL 2008 Season Mike A. Tiger Blog Archive Appalachian State North Texas Auburn MSU “Fightin’ Amish” (Open Date) Florida South Carolina UGA Tulane Alabama Ole Miss Arkansas Bowl Victory Blog