Updated Nov. 6
How do you answer "fan" mail at 30,000 feet on a flight to Birmingham? Very carefully when people are looking over your shoulder.
Yeah buddy, I'm talking about you and that SBD (silent but deadly) you just delivered. Get your hairy appendage off my arm rest and your eyes off my correspondence.
This week's screeds ...
From: uconnhuskiefan
If Iowa loses to Ohio State but Penn State would beat Ohio State, who goes to the Rose Bowl?
uconnhuskiefan?:
In the confusing world of the BCS, that would allow Boise State to win the national championship.
Just checking to see if you're awake.
Iowa would win because it beat Penn State head-to-head. I'm assuming that you're assuming that the teams would win the rest of their games, too.
From: ckfoc TCU has beaten no strong teams and yet they should be in the BCS? Their signature win is against a BYU teams that was crushed by a mediocre Florida State team. The reason TCU, Boise State and Cincinnati aren't receiving love by the masses is that the majority of fans want to see Alabama-USC or Texas-Florida, not Horned Frogs, Bearcats or blue turf.
Big Time: Actually, TCU's signature win may turn out to be Clemson which is still in contention for the ACC title. Try to name me the number of teams that have won twice in ACC venues this season -- I thought so.
If you haven't been paying attention, the best of the rest can play. Boise beat Oklahoma and Utah beat Alabama. What games are you watching?
From: Phyllis
I am tired of Tim Tebow. I know he's really great and a very nice person. I suppose he could still throw downfield and run and catch it himself. Will they make a new Heisman trophy in his image?
Ms. Diller:
You have broken news that I was trying to keep quiet. Actually, yes, they ARE recasting a new Heisman Trophy in Tebow's image. It's a guy in a robe with a long beard with his hands held up to the sky and laser beams shooting out of his eyes.
They're renaming it the "On High(sman)."
From: Gator Head Your bias against Tim Tebow and the Gators is evident. Catch up with the Gators? You've been hoping and writing about this all year. Can you not write a positive article after a 24 point win, over a legacy rival, where Tebow threw for 2 and broke the SEC record. Try and dig up more reasons why the Gators 'may' crumble. Nice bias.
Dude:
You don't read me much do you? I've practically opened a branch of the Tim Tebow Fan Club here in the Midwest.
And if you considered that a negative column then you didn't watch the game. I'm just trying to keep Superman upright.
From: Hatley Dennis, I'm sure you're familiar with the tale of the emperor and his new clothes, a story by Hans Christian Andersen.
An emperor hires two tailors who promise to make him a set of remarkable new clothes that will be invisible to anyone who is either incompetent or stupid. When the emperor goes to see his new clothes, he sees nothing at all for the tailors are swindlers and there aren't any clothes. Afraid of being judged incompetent or stupid, the emperor pretends to be delighted with the new clothes and wears them in a grand parade through the town. Everyone else also pretends to see them, until a child yells out, He hasn't got any clothes on!
Now, if this doesn't fit Czar Mike Slive of the SEC to a T, I don't know what does. The poor, old fool's now suffering under the delusion that, if no one, especially no one on an SEC coaching staff, is heard to utter a discouraging word regarding the abysmal officiating in the SEC this season, such incompetence cannot, therefore, exist.
So, the way to root out incompetence in the officiating corps is to silence those who point out the incompetence. If that's not the very apotheosis of arrogance and malfeasance, I don't know what is. No wonder The Emperor -- or is it Der Fuhrer? -- has 90 of the SEC fan base calling for his head.
English Lit Major:
I have to admit that Slive's edict was a bit Bolshevik. Just because coaches are fined into silence doesn't mean the officiating ISN'T bad. But, please, keep your high-minded analogies away from this sports hack.
Do these stories you speak of come from – oh what are they called -- books?
From: Judy
I read your column on via link from the gatorsports.com website. The vast majority of comments on your column from gator fans were negative. They felt you had it out for Tebow and/or the team. They're wrong. I agree with your viewpoint.
I am a physician and former team physician and feel Tebow should not have been left on the sidelines after his concussion, should not have been played in the first place with the flu having a fever and virus condition … and he should not have been played after two weeks of rest (from the concussion), especially having him taking the pounding he has been receiving with five receiver sets and no blockers in the backfield, and expecting him to take the hits or run up the middle.
Also not utilizing (Emmanuel) Moody the way this large back should be used to run rather than Tebow is a mystery to everyone. It's a medical staff and coaching mistake. Tebow has not appeared the same since the Kentucky game hit because he is not fully recovered!!!
Dr. Judy:
I could not have broken it down better myself. Fans should take off the Gator goggles and get a dose reality.
Look, the kid is one of the best players ever. It just seems to me they're riding him like a broken-down horse. Sooner or later that horse is going to stop running.
From: Innovative
There was a moment when Tebow had a dazed look in his eyes, but he got right back up and continued to lead the team. He's undoubtedly the toughest QB in any stadium since Brett Favre.
Don't hate, innovate: Yikes! Don't go there. Favre was so beat up, he got addicted to pain killers.
From: Chris
Why does no one say that (quarterback) Josh Nesbitt carries the ball too much for Georgia Tech? Or that Tommie Frazier carried the ball too much for Nebraska? Besides, Tebow suffered the concussion on a pass play. At least on a running play he has more of a chance to protect himself by bracing or preparing for the impact.
Chlose but no chigar Chris:
Because neither of those players came close to carrying the ball as much as Tebow. That's why the column works and your argument fails.
From: Jemc59 A point nobody brings up regarding USC: USC looked flat and tired both mentally and physically against Oregon. They have played 5 of the last 7 games ON THE ROAD at some tough places taking everyone's best shot,,,and this takes its toll both physically and mentally especially on a young, inexperienced team.
Back on the road again this week at Arizona State. Substitute home games against Coastal Carolina and The Citadel in place of Ohio St and Notre Dame and USC would be in much better shape. Props to USC for their schedule, shame on the Penn States, Texases, etc. for theirs.
Schedule Unmaker:
The difference is USC used to win all the games, no matter where they were played. The Washington loss ended their championship run. That Oregon game officially ended their dominance in the Pac-10.
