It's just a game... [Archive]

ShallowsNole

09-03-2007, 05:17 PM

It's 4:00. Time to start cooking for the living room tailgate.

I am nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I had forgotten what being nervous over a football game was like. The last time was the '99 National Championship. Seriously. After we lost the 2000 MNC to Oklahoma, I got the que sera, sera attitude. Finally, changes were made. New attitudes formed. And tonight, we get to see if any of it worked.

I know miracles don't happen overnight, and right now the old boy's school in Hogtown has the recruiting edge. I know Death Valley is a helluva place to play (sorry Kurt, BR and TFT - it IS louder than Fla Field, albeit not by much). I'm not looking for another dynasty. All I want is for there to be hope for the Garnet and Gold.

Should we lose - and it's a VERY real possibility, no matter what my buddies at The Territory say - please let me console myself with the fact that it is just a game, and at least our uniform colors aren't garish.

Should we win, no need to call the cops, as they will know where all the noise is coming from anyway.

Anyway, Scalp 'Em!

I'm going to go throw up now. :blush:

Beach Runner

09-03-2007, 05:28 PM

Honey, I am as nervous as a groom before a shotgun wedding in the hours approaching every UF football or basketball game (sorry, Josh Edmondson, even if you are the BF of one of my daughter's longtime friends, I just am not into baseball).

I hear ya, ShallowsNole! Not certain about the noise level.;-)

Smiling JOe

09-03-2007, 05:32 PM

Beach Runner

09-03-2007, 05:37 PM

Surely, you ladies are joking about being nervous before football games. :idontno:You are not even playing. Now if you are betting your salary on the game, you should be nervous, but otherwise, drink some vodka and all well be well.
I am TOTALLY serious about being nervous before games. I have been since the 70's when I was a student at UF. The problem is that (a) I really want UF to win, and (b) everyone will razz me if UF loses. Maybe it's been too long since Georgia has been in contention for you to remember how that is?;-)

Of course, this will come back to bite me. All good teams have their ups and downs. But while the Gators are on a roll, I like enjoying the ride.

Smiling JOe

09-03-2007, 05:39 PM

I am TOTALLY serious about being nervous before games. I have been since the 70's when I was a student at UF. The problem is that (a) I really want UF to win, and (b) everyone will razz me if UF loses. Maybe it's been too long since Georgia has been in contention for you to remember how that is?;-)

Of course, this will come back to bite me. All good teams have their ups and downs. But while the Gators are on a roll, I like enjoying the ride.:floor: You are being silly. :drink2:

Beach Runner

09-03-2007, 05:41 PM

:floor: You are being silly. :drink2:
:rolling:

kurt

09-03-2007, 05:57 PM

I know Death Valley is a helluva place to play (sorry Kurt, BR and TFT - it IS louder than Fla Field, albeit not by much).

Clemson is a neat place and a great atmosphere. I have been to games at both and you are mistaken. No doubt anyone else will tell you the same.

I'm afraid it will be a long, long, long time before Seminoles are truly happy again. It will really be tough to watch a Bowden lose tonight. :biggrin:

30A Skunkape

09-03-2007, 06:02 PM

No, ShallowsNole is 100% correct, Death Valley is the toughest, loudest place to play...of course, I am not talking about that romper room in South Carolina:wave:

Beach Runner

09-03-2007, 06:07 PM

Clemson is a neat place and a great atmosphere. I have been to games at both and you are mistaken. No doubt anyone else will tell you the same.

I'm afraid it will be a long, long, long time before Seminoles are truly happy again. It will really be tough to watch a Bowden lose tonight. :biggrin:
I, too, have been in both places after living in Gainesville and Spartanburg. I remember not being able to get tix for a really big Clemson game and just listening to the game on the car radio while sitting outside Clemson Memorial Stadium. My godchildren went to Clemson, so I guess I'll be for them.

Beach Runner

09-03-2007, 06:16 PM

No, ShallowsNole is 100% correct, Death Valley is the toughest, loudest place to play...of course, I am not talking about that romper room in South Carolina:wave:
Hey, I lived in Columbia in the summer while completing the coursework for my second masters degree. Don't dis our Cocks! :floor:

Minnie

09-03-2007, 07:07 PM

09-03-2007, 07:41 PM

Go noles!!:clap:

Beach Runner

09-03-2007, 07:49 PM

The problem is that "B" happens because of "A". ;-)
How would you remember?:funn: :floor: :rolling: :lol: :rofl:

Just kidding. All in fun. Like I've said, most of us in the SEC have had our ups and downs. Hubby said that Michigan's loss on Saturday to Appalachian State (hello?) was a wakeup call for the Gators vs Troy on Saturday. "Stuff" can happen.

Minnie

09-03-2007, 08:24 PM

How would you remember?:funn: :floor: :rolling: :lol: :rofl:

Is there an insult hidden in that comment, somewhere. ;-)

30A Skunkape

09-03-2007, 08:37 PM

Hey, I lived in Columbia in the summer while completing the coursework for my second masters degree. Don't dis our Cocks! :floor:

No, no, no, no, not USC, Clemson:bang:

Beach Runner

09-03-2007, 08:40 PM

Is their an insult hidden in that comment, somewhere. ;-)
Sorry. The former president of the company for which my husband works is a huge UT fan. We have gotten into the habit of teasing him and other UT fans we know. As Gators, we've had our share of harrassment in the past. Nothing personal.:biggrin:

Minnie

09-03-2007, 09:00 PM

Sorry. The former president of the company for which my husband works is a huge UT fan. We have gotten into the habit of teasing him and other UT fans we know. As Gators, we've had our share of harrassment in the past. Nothing personal.:biggrin:

Just razzing you, too. I figured that is what you meant. I won't hold it against you unless TN beats FL then I will remind you. :rolling:

But that ain't likely to happen, so I think you are safe.

09-03-2007, 09:24 PM

This game isn't looking too good at all:bang: :bang:

09-03-2007, 11:13 PM

noles showing life in 3rd!!!!!!!!!:clap: :clap: :clap:

Smiling JOe

09-03-2007, 11:56 PM

Judging by the score which I saw at the RedBar, I see why Nole fans would be nervous before every game :funn: -- Tech and FL fans, too! :floor::biggrin:

NoHall

09-04-2007, 12:01 AM

Judging by the score which I saw at the RedBar, I see why Nole fans would be nervous before every game :funn: -- Tech and FL fans, too! :floor::biggrin:

Fill me in on why a Tech fan gets nervous. I don't have time for t.v., so I get nervous right before I read the Sunday paper.

ShallowsNole

09-04-2007, 12:26 AM

Just a note to say that the ShallowsNole family survived, and with the help of ibuprofen and tequila, I don't feel half as bad as I thought I would!

And I did see progress. I would have rather seen a win, but I saw progress. It's going to be an interesting season! :D

Beach Runner

09-04-2007, 07:25 AM

Judging by the score which I saw at the RedBar, I see why Nole fans would be nervous before every game :funn: -- Tech and FL fans, too! :floor::biggrin:
I don't get nervous before Tech games, just UF games. Before Tech games, I getted pumped up to par-tay. I mean, they play "Let's This This Party Started" by BEP just before the game starts. If the camera pans the opponents bench, you will see me dancing about 7 rows back!:D :drink2:

Just a note to say that the ShallowsNole family survived, and with the help of ibuprofen and tequila, I don't feel half as bad as I thought I would!

And I did see progress. I would have rather seen a win, but I saw progress. It's going to be an interesting season! :D
We went to bed at 10 EDT because it looked like Clemson was gonna blow out FSU (and today is my first day back at work other than a few minutes). At least FSU made it interesting at the end, according to ESPN.com.

ShallowsNole

09-04-2007, 10:58 AM

I
We went to bed at 10 EDT because it looked like Clemson was gonna blow out FSU (and today is my first day back at work other than a few minutes). At least FSU made it interesting at the end, according to ESPN.com.

You're forgiven. :D

However, my co-workers who claim to be FSU fans and who say we looked pitiful (which we did, at first) and then announce that they were asleep by halftime are REALLY getting on my nerves. If you're a fan, WATCH THE EFFIN GAME. Don't give up. Did the 11/26/94 Choke at Doak not teach you anything? Who gives a flying flip if you have to get up at five a.m. to get down here by 7:30! If I had thought it would interfere, I would have taken this morning off.

Dam bandwagoners. My head hurts and I'm sleepy. :angry:

BeachSteelers

09-04-2007, 05:31 PM

Do all the nole Fans need a cryin towel. Borrow Tennesse's they ought to be done with it by now. And as for Michigan...it's soaked and they need it again for their OSU and Bowl game losses to come.

sandflea

09-04-2007, 05:49 PM

Another Nole fan here...
I think I've gotten over my fit from last night/this morning. I threw everything I could find at the TV.

I would just like for the guys to come out and play the FIRST HALF too, for once!!!! :bang:

I'm hoarse today :blink:

ShallowsNole

09-04-2007, 05:56 PM

Why would people in the state of Florida give a rat's rear end...oh, never mind. My hangover's gone, Value Board Petition Deadline Day is over, all is calm, all is quiet. :blush:

Until next weekend!

BeachSiO2

09-04-2007, 05:59 PM

Why would people in the state of Florida give a rat's rear end...oh, never mind. My hangover's gone, Value Board Petition Deadline Day is over, all is calm, all is quiet. :blush:

Until next weekend!

Your signature line would be a classic headline with a little "tweaking."

Christian Ponder for Quarterback... Christian's ponder for Quarterback. ;-) :biggrin:

kurt

09-04-2007, 10:17 PM

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-met_107sep04,0,5072544.column

What I am about to say is going to shock Florida State football fans.

What I am about to say might just be the most disturbing news to hit Tallahassee since Claude Kirk was elected governor.

What I am about to say might just cause FSU fans to climb up on their appaloosa stallions, ride out into their driveways and stick flaming spears through the plastic bags harboring their Orlando Sentinels.

Here goes:

There's a very good chance that Florida State's offense, even under messianic new coordinator Jimbo Fisher, will be mired in mediocrity again this year.

I know, I know, we're only one game into the season, but the performance in the first half of Monday night's 24-18 loss to Clemson was much too pathetic to simply write off as first-game jitters. It was so bad that you could almost hear Jeff Bowden back home in Tallahassee screaming at his TV set, "See, Daddy, it wasn't all me!"

Granted, the Seminoles came back and made a game of it in the second half but, even so, it is hard to feel good about FSU's offense after Monday night.

Quarterback Drew Weatherford was under pressure all night. The offensive line missed too many blocks. The receivers dropped too many passes. The offense put the defense in too many holes.

As coming-out parties go, Fisher's first half will go down as the worst first performance since Mariah Carey's acting debut in Glitter.

"That first half was the worst half I've seen us play," FSU Coach Bobby Bowden said afterward.

For posterity purposes, let it be recorded that the first play of the Jimbo Fisher era was a huge success. Too bad it was on a broken play that Weatherford turned into a 22-yard scramble. Turns out that 22-yard gain on the first play of the game was FSU's only first down of the first half. Who knew "Jimbo" was an ancient Seminole Indian word meaning "three-and-out"? At one point during the first half, FSU's offense had seven consecutive three-and-out possessions. The performance became so inept that one pressbox wag referred to Jimbo as "Jeffbo."

Don't get me wrong, the awful first half certainly doesn't mean hiring Jimbo was a mistake; it just means that an offense doesn't automatically become great -- or even decent -- simply by adding a new coordinator. All you need to do is look around at some of the nation's most renowned offensive masterminds to recognize that it takes more than schemes and scams to move the ball.

Did you check out Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis' offense Saturday in the 33-3 loss to Georgia Tech? Weis was such a genius, the Fighting Irish scored no touchdowns and mustered just 122 yards of offense.

Take a guess what Urban Meyer's offense was ranked during his first year at Florida. It was ranked 61st in the nation -- two spots behind Jeff Bowden's FSU offense. And Steve Spurrier's offense during his first year at South Carolina? It was ranked No. 100 in the nation -- 60 spots behind UCF.

Spurrier, Weis and Meyer are considered among the three greatest offensive minds in college football and they still have been unable to put a dominant offense on the field. Translation: It will take Fisher some time to restore Florida State's offense to the dominance it enjoyed in the 1990s.

In those dynastic days of yesteryear, FSU's offense was loaded with names like Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke and Warrick Dunn and Peter Warrick. These days, the names have been changed to protect the innocent. There's not a single player on the Seminoles' offense -- with the possible exception of tailback Antone Smith -- who scares opposing defenses.

Jimbo Fisher already has proven he is a good offensive coordinator, but Florida State fans need to remember this:

Even the best playcallers need playmakers.

Jeff Bowden may be gone, but his talent still remains.

Spurrier, Weis, and Meyer are head coaches and Weis is not looking so hot now that Quinn is gone.

ShallowsNole

09-04-2007, 11:04 PM

Well...I don't care for Mike Biatchi (gator) or the Orlando Slantinel (full of gators), but he makes some good points. (btw, I had two different people e-mail that to me today. :roll: )

Many of these points I alluded to in my first post in thie thread, before the game was even played. :(

'Tis okay. I'm in for the long haul anyway. :cool:

30A Skunkape

09-05-2007, 07:13 AM

sandflea

09-05-2007, 08:21 PM

sandflea

09-05-2007, 08:25 PM

I'm in for the long haul anyway. :cool:

Me too Shallows.

Fisher also changed the way the receiver run routes - they go by strides instead of yards now. New system and learning curve.

Actually, the way the guys came back in the second half really surprised me. They could have mailed it in in the 2nd half but 'manned up' and dam near pulle dit out. (That last call was HORRENDOUS- I hate Ron Cherry :bang: )

kurt

09-05-2007, 08:47 PM

Jimbo went to Tallahassee but forgot to bring his first round picked quarterback and receiver:biggrin: I will be interested to see what Gary Crowton unveils this week in Baton Rouge...the word is that he has 58 offensive formations and LSU only lined up in 3 vs Miss. State.

"I don't like offensive football the way it is nowadays. Offensive football today is a game of formations. When I used to work the offense, you lined up in one formation and you played that way the whole game. You could tell every thing the other team was doing. If they did this, you go there. If they did this, you go here. If they do this, you do that. But now it's put this formation in and they do this. Put this formation in and they do that. Try to always get some kind of a mismatch. But that's the way the pros play it. Colleges are the same."- Bobby Bowden

:floor:

sandflea

09-05-2007, 08:52 PM

And yet Bobby is famous for the trick play ;)