The Sunday Blog wants to extend a shout-out to the great people at LSU’s athletic department who do their best to make visiting sportswriters feel welcome.
One suggestion — turn down the volume on the PA system. It’s enough to give you a headache. That and Florida’s performance were the only downers from another weekend on the road.
The Sunday Blog also wants to recommend The Fox and The Hound if you get to Baton Rouge. Great food, cold beverages and incredible scenery plus TVs everywhere.
THE NOT-READY-FOR-PRIME-TIME
COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25
1. LSU: The Tigers were what we thought they would be.
2. Alabama: The Tide just wore down Vab=ndy’s defense.
3. Oklahoma: What a beatdown the Longhorns took.
4. Wisconsin: I can’t but think what the noise will be like if Wisky goes unbeaten and doesn’t get to the national title game.
5. Stanford: Can the Fins go ahead and draft Andrew Luck now?
6. Oklahoma State: Cowboys could have scored 100 on Kansas if they wanted.
7. Boise State: The Broncos are really good, but …
8. Clemson: Big key is how long Tajh Boyd is out.
9. Oregon: Quietly, the Ducks are now rolling.
10. Arkansas: Total domination of Auburn.
11. Michigan: How good was that Brady Hoke hire?
12. Georgia Tech: May be the best offense in the country.
13. South Carolina: Bad news for the East — Steve Spurrier is calling plays again.
14. Nebraska: Great comeback win for the Huskers.
15. Illinois: The Zooker is now 6-0. How did that happen?
16. Virginia Tech: The Hokies are another tough team to figure.
17. West Virginia: What’s with the slow starts?
18. Michigan State: Sparty playing some defense.
19. Kansas State: Talk about coming out of nowhere.
20. Arizona State: Dennis Erickson is saving his job.
21. Texas: Let’s see how the Longhorns rebound.
22. Georgia: Doggies haven’t beaten anybody but at least they’re winning.
23. Houston: Don’t sleep on Kevin Sumlin’s team.
24. Baylor: I really like this Bears team.
25. Texas A&M: Nice shootout win for Gaggies.
THE SEC FOUR-PACK
1. Both Alabama and LSU have games before Nov. 5 but it has to be hard for Nick Saban and Les Miles to keep their teams from looking ahead. That game was the subject of conversation in both the press box Saturday night and the airport Sunday morning since Florida has served as a measuring stick for both teams the last two weeks. I think Alabama is a little better after seeing both teams in person. But both teams are really good, especially when you don’t have a quarterback.
2. Changing quarterbacks is all the rage in the SEC this season. Some of it has been caused by injury (Florida and now Tennessee because it appears Tyler Bray suffered a broken thumb) but some of it is coaches becoming frustrated with their starters. Auburn, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Kentucky and Vanderbilt all saw their starters benched. After the day Connor Shaw had for the Gamecocks, you wonder if Stephen Garcia has seen his last meaningful snap.
3. You talk about a change in the climate. Four weeks ago, Georgia fans were tired of Mark Richt. Now he’s won four straight (albeit against four mediocre teams) and people are talking like the Dogs have won the SEC East. Up next — Vandy, open date, mighty Gators.
4. I don’t think there is a whole lot of doubt who the All-SEC quarterback is going to be. Tyler Wilson is putting up amazing numbers at Arkansas. It’s clear Auburn doesn’t have a very good defense which makes the Tigers win over South Carolina that much more puzzling.
