Week 1 Thoughts.....

So, in staying with my theme to skip on the politics for a while I'm going to keep in line with something that actually hits my passion: College Football

First off, being in Columbia Thursday, with all the usual crowd and tailgating just like we always have was great. Then being in the stadium, sweating our asses off in the student section while Tommy Beecher threw 4 INTS was a bit challenging, but we hung in there and when the 4th Quarter rolled around things really started going. Our defense dominated the whole game, giving up 138 total yards and once Chris Smelley replaced Beecher things really started moving on offense as well. The 4th Quarter is what I expect of our team all year. An all around team effort in which we dominate both sides of the ball. We're 1-0 and hope is still eternal!

A few Observations:
1. I'm not kidding when I say that I watched College Football from about 11am on Saturday until after midnight that night. I ran a few errands throughout the day, but for the most part I watched football. I've waited more than seven months for this day to come and while it might not have been the most productive thing in the world, it was what I wanted and it's what I did.

2. Seeing Rich Rod lose to Utah was great. Sorry, but I just don't have much love for a guy that leaves his home state school, his school and his "dream job" in the dust for greener pastures. Serves him right that his team looked sloppy and unorganized. Meanwhile, WVU looked excellent as Pat White threw for 5 TDs and WVU rolled. Next up for WVU, Skip Holtz's surprise ECU team.

3. Speaking of Skip....Congrats to the whole coaching staff and players at ECU. Skip got a raw deal at Carolina. With all due respect to his daddy, he took the fall for his dad's deficiencies at Carolina and has rebounded nicely. Plus, he has Phil Petty on his staff which further deepens the ties to between ECU and Carolina. While I like WVU and will find myself pulling for them throughout the year, you're crazy if you think I won't be pulling for another big ECU win this weekend.

4. Clemson. Let's see....what can I say that hasn't already been said? My guess is when Tommy got home late Saturday night (Early Sunday morning) he probably wasn't surprised to find a bunch of "For Sale" signs in his front yard. Tommy has soooo much talent at Clemson. Yet, he can't get them to play as a team. Seriously, he's been there for 10 years, has some of the best talent in the country and CANNOT coach these guys into consistent winners. Tommy either better get his team to rebound and rebound in a hurry or this year will be his last. There are way too many coaches that get more out less talent just waiting for an opportunity like Clemson. Tommy better watch his back.

5. Dammit Tennessee.....You had'em right where you wanted them and you "LET'EM OFF THE HOOK!" Seriously, UCLA was BEAT. How do you lose to those guys? Now we probably have to listen to the PAC 10 say they are on the same level as the SEC. After the weekend we had as representatives of the SEC (less MSU) you had a chance to but an exclamation on the dominance of our conference and you dropped the ball.

6. I thought Virginia might have had a shot to keep it close against SoCal. I thought wrong. By the time Virginia finally woke up the game was over.

7. The ACC is soft. UNC almost lost to McNeese State, Virginia got smacked by SoCal, NC State only managed 138 total yards against South Carolina, VaTech got beat by ECU and Clemson, well Clemson dropped the biggest bomb of them all. The good news is the ACC basketball schedule came out last week and Midnight Madness should start in another month or so. By the way, the class of the ACC this past weekend was Duke and Wake. How would've ever imagined that?

8. Seemed like defense was really the theme this past weekend. Saw a lot of sloppiness on the offensive side of the ball and saw a lot of heads up play on the defense side. The Bear would be awfully proud.