Thoughts of the Day: November 26, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Friday morning:

WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT …

There was a time when Florida-Florida State was one of the two or three most anticipated college football games every single season. From 1987-2000, Florida State finished no worse than No. 4 in the final Associated Press poll and won national championships in 1993 and 1999. From 1990-2001, Florida won at least nine games every year, finished no worse than 13th in the AP poll and won the 1996 national championship.

It seems that was a lifetime ago when Steve Spurrier coached the Gators and Bobby Bowden coached the Seminoles. There have been pockets of success since then. With Urban Meyer, Florida went 65-15 from 2005-10, winning national championships in 2006 and 2008. Florida went to a bowl game every year from 1980-2012. Jimbo Fisher went 83-23 from 2010-17, winning the 2013 national championship. Florida State went to a bowl game every year from 1977-2018.

Hard times have befallen both programs. Florida is a very average 87-51 since 2011 and the Gators are searching for their fourth coach since Meyer retired in 2010. Florida State, which is on its second coach since Fisher departed for Texas A&M after the 2017 season, is trying to avoid a fourth straight losing season, something that hasn’t happened since 1973-76.

When the two teams meet Saturday at The Swamp, both the Seminoles (5-6) and the Gators (5-6) need a win to become bowl eligible. Florida is a very shaky 2.5-point favorite. The big question for UF is will the Gators mail it in or will the underclassmen use this game as an audition for whoever is the next head coach? FSU is probably viewed as having more motivation. They know that Mike Norvel will be their head coach next year and they believe good times are ahead.

Do the Gators win one for the Gipper in abstentia since you know Dan Mullen will be watching? Do they view their Gipper as Greg Knox, the running backs coach who is the interim? Do they decide they aren’t going to lose to FSU or an ACC team? The Sayer says sooth: FLORIDA 30, Florida State 24

THE SEC SOOTHSAYER Friday’s game Missouri (6-5, 3-4 SEC) at No. 25 Arkansas (7-4, 3-4 SEC): Both teams have performed better than anyone could have imagined but Arkansas is the better team and home. Did any of you see Arkansas winning eight games? The Hogs are favored by 14.5 points. The Sayer says sooth: Arkansas 31, Missouri 17

Saturday’s games No. 1 Georgia (11-0) at Georgia Tech (3-8): Two things you can count on: (1) Georgia will finish the regular season unbeaten and (2) it will be a miracle of parting the Red Sea proportions if Geoff Collins has a job on Sunday. Georgia is favored by 35. Why so few? The Sayer says sooth: Georgia 45, Georgia Tech 3

No. 3 Alabama (10-1, 6-1 SEC) at Auburn (6-5, 3-4 SEC): It might be a shock if Alabama plays down to the competition. Expect an angry Crimson Tide that wants to make a statement about next week’s SEC Championship Game. Bama is a 19.5-point favorite, but it feels like that’s not enough. The Sayer says sooth: Alabama 42, Auburn 14

No. 15 Texas A&M (8-3, 4-3 SEC) at LSU (5-6, 2-5 SEC): Can LSU pull off a win one for the Gipper in Coach Oeaux’s final game? Or are the Tigers ready to just get it all over with? The Aggies are a very shaky 6.5-point favorite. If the Aggies can’t get the running game going this will be white knuckles. The Sayer says sooth: Texas A&M 24, LSU 14

No. 23 Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5): Gamecock fans are full of themselves and believe they can beat Clemson for the first time since 2013. Clemson folks think the current four-game winning streak means the ship isn’t taking on water anymore. Clemson is favored to win by 11.5 points. The Sayer says sooth: Clemson 28, South Carolina 14

Kentucky (8-3) at Louisville (6-5): This could be a lot of fun. Don’t expect a lot of defense. The over/under is 57. The over is probably the safest. Louisville is a 3-point favorite. The Sayer says sooth: Kentucky 38, Louisville 30

Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7 SEC) at Tennessee (6-5, 3-4 SEC): No one in his right mind had Tennessee bowl eligible and on the verge of a seventh win. With two wins, Vanderbilt has actually met expectations. Expectations for this one are for Tennessee to win by 31.5 points. It may not be that close. The Sayer says sooth: Tennessee 48, Vanderbilt 10

Thursday’s score: Ole Miss (10-2, 6-2 SEC) 31, Mississippi State (7-5, 4-4 SEC) 21

SEC BASKETBALL Thursday’s scores: Iona (6-0) 72, No. 10 Alabama (4-1) 68; No. 19 Auburn (4-1) 62, Loyola Chicago (4-2) 53; Louisville (4-1) 72, Mississippi State (4-1) 58

Friday’s games: Tennessee Tech (2-3) at Tennessee (3-1); Mississippi Valley State (0-2) at Ole Miss (3-2); North Florida (1-5) at No. 10 Kentucky (4-1); Penn State (3-1) at LSU (5-0); Wichita State (4-1) at Missouri (3-2)

Sunday’s games: Troy (4-2) at No. 23 FLORIDA (5-0); Rider (3-4) at South Carolina (4-1); Wofford (4-2) at Georgia (3-4); Pennsylvania (3-5) at No. 13 Arkansas (5-0)

A FEW BASKETBALL ZEBRA REVIEWS IN THE ATHLETIC Brian Hamilton and Dana O’Neill of The Athletic polled Division I basketball coaches about their favorite and least favorite zebras. Since the NCAA frowns upon coaches speaking out publicly about their officials, the comments are anonymous but here are a few that you might recognize and thoughts of the coaches and my thoughts afterward:

Pat Adams: “He’s a good communicator. There’s a humility there — ‘Hey I might’ve missed it,’ or, ‘Hey I’ll take a look at that.’ An ability to not be a know-it-all. To not be insulted if you ask a question.” My thoughts: I like him but he can carry a grudge for an entire season about a certain coach or player (see Billy Donovan 2013-14).

Tim Clougherty: “I’m not a Tim Clougherty fan. I just don’t think he’s very good, to be frank.’’ My thoughts: I can’t imagine anyone who does think he’s very good.

Mike Eades: “He’s very competent. He’ll communicate. He’s a guy that will come over and say, hey, your big fella keeps backing that guy down with the shoulder, I’m gonna get him. After a free throw he’ll say, ‘I’m not sure I like that last one. You let me know what you see on the film.’ Fantastic.” My thoughts: Competent, yes. Outstanding? Hardly.

Patrick Evans: “Won’t communicate at all. Saw him doing a game on TV the other night, and he was doing the same thing. He was making a face at (the coach).” My thoughts: He’s not well liked and he’s barely competent.

Tony Greene: “Needs to retire. Bad official. And here’s the thing about him: At one time, I didn’t feel like he was like that. First of all, he’s just bad. And you can’t say anything to him.” My thoughts: Nicest guy you’d ever want to meet. Lousy official. His sell-by date expired 10 years ago.

Ron Groover: “Terrible personality and a bad official.” My thoughts: That might be the nicest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say about him.

Anthony Jordan: “I think he tried to go to the NBA and it didn’t work out or he didn’t like it. I think he’s fair. He’ll communicate a little bit.” My thoughts: Put him with a great crew and he’s outstanding. Put him with a bad crew and he officiates to the level of his crew.

Kipp Kissinger: “Kipp is approachable and someone you can talk to throughout the game and is consistent with his whistle.” My thoughts: He gets better every year. He was bad when he started.

Joe Lindsay: “Joe Lindsay’s on your game? The game is going to be officiated great.’’ My thoughts: Above average but not great.

Jamie Luckie: “The biggest arrogant prick ever.” My thoughts: This coach is being kind.

Doug Shows: “Shows has a commanding presence. Keeps a firm control of the game. Very consistent.” My thoughts: You may not like the game he calls, but what he calls in the first five minutes of the game will be the same call in the last five.

Doug Sirmons: “You know he’s an elite official. You just know you don’t test him. He’s a serious guy. And he’s really good. Anytime I’ve been like, I wasn’t sure about that, you catch the tape and say, he’s right most of the time, you leave him alone. You tell your players, that guy is working in the Final Four, and don’t question him.” My thoughts: I think he’s one of the two or three best zebras in the game.

Ted Valentine: “Ted Valentine is the best. He’s the best. He doesn’t anticipate anything. Now there are some things that go along with having Teddy on your game. But if you have a big game, you want him on it. He’s seen every play, been in every situation.” My thoughts: His ego could apply for statehood but he knows the game, he’s consistent and he’s the one zebra you want your team to have on the road.”

SIX GAMES TO WATCH Louisiana-Monroe (4-7) at Louisiana (10-1): This is on ESPNU Saturday (4 p.m.) if you’re hoping to get a glimpse of Billy Napier’s team in action. The Rajin Cajuns are 21.5-point faves to finish the season 11-1 over Little Terry Bowden, who has actually done a marvelous coaching job to get four wins out of that bunch. There will be good years ahead for Monroe Doctrine. We’ll see what happens with the Cajuns once Napier lights at his new destination.

No. 2 Ohio State (10-1) at No. 5 Michigan (10-1): If Jim Harbaugh doesn’t beat Ohio State this year with this defense and playing at home, he never will. Ohio State is favored by eight. If C.J. Stroud comes up big he could win the Heisman.

(Friday) No. 4 Cincinnati (11-0) at East Carolina (7-4): If the Bearcats catch themselves looking ahead to Houston in the AAC Championship Game they might get surprised. ECU is a team on the rise and Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium can get hostile. Cincinnati is a 14-point favorite, but it might be a lot closer than expected.

No. 10 Oklahoma (10-1) at No. 7 Oklahoma State (10-1): Okie State has the best defense Oklahoma has seen this year. This is a bad time for Oklahoma’s offense to be sputtering like it has last two games. There are rumors swirling that Lincoln Riley is talking to LSU about bolting Oklahoma. Okie State is a 4-point favorite at home.

Penn State (7-4) at No. 12 Michigan State (9-2): We could call this the Panic Bowl because the people at both Penn State and Michigan State panicked at the thought their coaches would go someplace else, so they signed them to ridiculous long term extensions. Penn State and James Franklin are 1.5-point favorites over Michigan State and Mel Tucker.

No. 22 UT-San Antonio (11-0) at North Texas (5-6): Can the Roadrunners finish a perfect season for second-year coach Jeff Traylor? North Texas coach Seth Littell is possibly coaching for his UNT career. UTSA is a 10.5-point favorite.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: The coaching carousel in 200 words or less. Billy Napier has not signed a deal with Florida but could. Lane Kiffin would like the Florida job if Napier says no, but may wind up at Miami if Miami will only fire Manny Diaz. LSU keeps offering mega money but nobody wants the job it seems. Lincoln Riley isn’t budging, at least at the moment even with a rumored $12 million a year on the table. Dave Aranda passed on $9.4 million from LSU and maybe more from Southern Cal for a long term deal at Baylor. Matt Campbell is available if Southern Cal or LSU want to sign him up. Is he a backup at UF if Napier and Lane aren’t available? Is Billy Napier holding out for LSU? Southern Cal and Washington seem clueless. Bill O’Brien would welcome a call from anyone. Billy Napier has said no to VaTech and TCU and Dave Clawson seems content to stay at Wake Forest Gump. Confused? Impatient? Take two Xanax and call me in the morning. The doctor will be in at that time.