Thoughts of the day: October 10, 2022

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

CAN THE GATORS CUT THE HEAD OFF THE SNAKE?

Al McGuire called it cutting the head off the snake. That was his defensive strategy: Take the other team’s best player out of the game and make the other players beat you.

That has to be Billy Napier’s strategy Saturday night when the Gators (4-2, 1-2 SEC) face LSU (4-2, 2-1 SEC) and dual threat quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels is most dangerous when he can get outside the tackles where he has the option to run or throw. At the midway point of the season, the Arizona State transfer has thrown for 1,216 yards (6.9 per attempt) and seven touchdowns (only one INT) whil looke running for 359 yards (4.72 per carry) and three more TDs.

Tennessee did an Al McGuire on Daniels Saturday in Baton Rouge. The Vols didn’t let Daniels get outside very often (16 carries, 38 yards) and forced him to stay in the pocket. With Daniels’ capacity as a runner reduced, the Vols managed only 55 rushing yards in 28 attempts (1.96 per carry). Daniels did throw for 300 yards but he only averaged 6.7 yards per attempt. He dinked, he dunked and he kept getting sacked by the UT pass rushers who got to him five times for 34 yards in losses. The Vols moved the ball up and down on the LSU defense, but it was their ability to keep Daniels contained that was their biggest key to victory.

The question for Florida is can the Gators contain a dual threat quarterback? And if they manage to keep a dual threat like Daniels in the pocket can they get to him with the pass rush or make plays in the secondary? Against Missouri Saturday, the Gators did a pretty good job of keeping Brady Cook contained in the pocket where they sacked him four times, but Cook completed 22-30 passes for 220 yards including 65 on three plays when it was third-down-and-another area code.

Daniels is a far better quarterback than Cook so it’s going to take Florida’s best defensive effort of the year to win this game. If the Gators can’t cut the head off the snake it could be a night to forget at The Swamp.

Associated Press top 25: 1. Georgia 6-0; 2. Ohio State 6-0; 3. Alabama 6-0; 4. Clemson 6-0; 5. Michigan 6-0; 6. Tennessee 5-0; 7. Southern California 6-0; 8. Oklahoma State 5-0; 9. Ole Miss 6-0; 10. Penn State 5-0; 11. UCLA 6-0; 12. Oregon 5-1; 13. TCU 5-0; 14. Wake Forest 5-1; 15. North Carolina State 5-1; 16. Mississippi State 5-1; 17. Kansas State 5-1; 18. Syracuse 5-0; 19. Kansas 5-1; 20. Utah 4-2; 21. Cincinnati 5-1; 22. (Tie) Kentucky 4-2 and Texas 4-2; 24. Illinois 5-1; 25. James Madison 5-0

AFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Alabama 6-0; 2. Georgia 6-0; 3. Ohio State 6-0; 4. Michigan 6-0; 5. Clemson 6-0; 6. Southern California 6-0; 7. Oklahoma State 5-0; 8. Tennessee 5-0; 9. Ole Miss 6-0; 10. Penn State 5-0; 11. Oregon 5-1; 12. UCLA 6-0; 13. North Carolina State 5-1; 14. Wake Forest 5-1; 15. TCU 5-0; 16. Kansas State 5-1; 17. Mississippi State 5-1; 18. Syracuse 5-0; 19. Utah 4-2; 20. Kansas 5-1; 21. Cincinnati 5-1; 22. Kentucky 4-2; 23. Baylor 3-2; 24. Texas 4-2; 25. North Carolina 5-1

Other UF sports

UF volleyball: The 15th-ranked Gators (13-3, 5-1 SEC) took two matches from LSU over the weekend, taking down the Tigers in four sets Saturday then following it up with a 5-set thriller on Sunday. Saturday, Marina Markova and Merritt Beason each had 15 kills and five blocks while Sofia Victory had 13 kills and three blocks. Bre Kelly had eight kills, seven blocks and two aces. Sunday, Beason had 21 kills and eight blocks, while Victor had 16 kills and a block, Markova had 14 kills and four blocks and Gabbi Essix had 12 kills and 10 blocks. The Gators will travel to Starkville to face Mississippi State next Friday and Saturday.

UF soccer: The Gators (2-11, 0-6 SEC) had a tough weekend, falling 1-0 to Arkansas and then 3-2 to Missouri on Sunday. The Gators are idle until next Sunday when they travel to Lexington to face Kentucky.

UF baseball: Wyatt Langford’s 415-foot home run that cleared the left field bleachers was the highlight Sunday evening as the Gators opened their first fall practice with a scrimmage. Hit off Blake Purnell, the exit velocity of his home run was 103 miles per hour. Earlier in the evening he hit an absolute bullet to center field that left his bat at 111 miles per hour. Freshman second baseman Cade Kurland hit an opposite field home run off a 95-mile an hour fastball from Southern Miss All-America transfer Hurston Waldrep.

Brandon Sproat threw consistently at 95-96 while showing a nasty mid-80s slider. Waldrep was consistent at 96. Freshman Jake Clemente looked very good in his debut, heating up a couple of times to 96 on the gun.

SEC football No. 3 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC): The Associated Press may have given Nick Saban all the incentive he needs for Tennessee by dropping the Crimson Tide to No. 3 in the rankings after they beat Texas A&M without Bryce Young … Despite their close call win over Texas A&M, the Tide has been established as 7.5-point favorites to take out Tennessee. Next week: at No. 6 Tennessee (6-0,

Arkansas (3-3, 1-3 SEC): KJ Jefferson didn’t play in the loss to Mississippi State due to concussion protocol. He should be cleared to play against BYU on Monday … Cade Fortin started at QB but was relieved by Malik Hornsby who threw for 234 yards and a TD and ran for 114 and one more TD … The Hogs are 3-point underdogs against BYU. Next week: at BYU (4-2)

Auburn (3-3, 1-2 SEC): The biggest shock of the weekend was that Bryan Harsin was still gainfully employed as of Sunday midnight. Next week: at No. 9 Ole Miss (6-0, 2-0 SEC)

No. 1 Georgia (6-0, 3-0 SEC): The Bulldogs are back to No. 1 after allowing Auburn just 258 total yards in a 42-10 win over Auburn. Georgia had 500 total yards, 292 on the ground with six rushing touchdowns … Georgia is a whopping 39-point favorite against Vanderbilt. Next week: vs. Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-2 SEC)

No. 22 Kentucky (4-2, 1-2 SEC): Without QB Will Levis, who was unable to go (foot in a boot), the UK offense managed only 299 yards against South Carolina. Kaiya Sheron, who had never thrown a pass in a game, threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns (1 pick) but he was sacked six times for -54 yards. Next week: vs. No. 16 Mississippi State (5-1, 2-1 SEC)

LSU (4-2, 2-1 SEC): Take away the 39 yards Jayden Daniels gained on scrambles and LSU managed only 16 rushing yards in the loss to Tennessee. Daniels threw for 300 yards and a TD but he also threw an interception … The Tigers are 2.5-point underdogs next Saturday in The Swamp. Next week: at FLORIDA (4-2, 1-2 SEC)

No. 16 Mississippi State (5-1, 2-1 SEC): Will Rogers threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns, which is what is expected. What wasn’t expected in the Bulldogs 40-17 win over Arkansas was 177 rushing yards including 100 (2 TDs) from Dillon Johnson … The Bulldogs are 6.5-point favorites in Lexington Saturday night. Next week: at No. 22 Kentucky (4-2, 1-2 SEC)

Missouri (2-4, 0-3 SEC): After losing to Florida despite outgaining the Gators, Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz said, “There’s some things we’re getting better at but we’re not getting the results.” Next week: Open

No. 9 Ole Miss (6-0, 2-0 SEC): Jonathan Mingo caught nine passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns as the Rebels scored 35 of their 52 points in the second half against Vanderbilt. Jordan Watkins had seven catches for 117 yards and a TD … The Rebels are 15.5-point favorites at home against Auburn. Next week: vs. Auburn (3-3, 1-2 SEC)

South Carolina (4-2, 1-2 SEC): After a night when the Gamecock defense sacked the UK quarterback six times in a 24-14 win, Shane Beamer reminded his team that UK coach Mark Stoops had taken a shot at the South Carolina program at SEC Media days when he mocked Beamer wearing sunglasses and dancing after wins. Immediately after telling his team to be classy, Beamer put on sunglasses and started dancing to “Turn My Swag On” by Soulja Boy. Next week: Open

No. 6 Tennessee (6-0, 2-0 SEC): Hendon Hooker passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns without a pick and ran for 56 as the Vols torched the LSU defense for 502 yards. Jabari Small ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns … The Vols are 7.5-point underdogs against Alabama, which has beaten them 15 consecutive seasons. Next week: vs. No. 3 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC)

Texas A&M (3-3, 1-2 SEC): Jimbo Fisher got plenty of criticism over his play call on the last play of the game against Alabama, but Greg McElroy defended the call. McElroy tweeted, “The call was fine. The route was awful. It was WAY TOO FAST. You have to be really patient on a pylon comeback. Gotta get 5 yards deep in the end zone to give yourself room.” Next week: Open

Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-2 SEC): Even though the Commodores have lost three of their last four games, they’re still averaging 33.2 points per game, which is more than they averaged the last two seasons combined. Vanderbilt has scored more points (199) in six games than they did all last season in 12 (189). Next week: at No. 1 Georgia (6-0, 3-0 SEC)

Our SEC orphans in the Big 12

Oklahoma (3-3, 0-3 SEC): Not only did the Sooners get their doors blown off by the Longhorns, they lost their third straight game, the first time that’s happened since 1998. The 49-0 loss was the largest margin of defeat in Oklahoma football history… Despite losing three in a row, the last two by a combined 77 points, the Sooners are 7-point favorites at home against Kansas. Next week: vs. No. 19 Kansas (5-1, 2-1 Big 12)

No. 22 Texas (4-2, 2-1 SEC): Quinn Ewers threw for 289 yards (9.3 per attempt) and four touchdowns in his first game since he was injured against Alabama … The Longhorns are 14.5-point favorites against Iowa State. Next week: vs. Iowa State (3-3, 0-3 Big 12)

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey was in Baton Rouge Saturday for the Tennessee-LSU game. Meeting with the media prior to kickoff, Sankey answered questions about the future SEC scheduling format (hopefully implemented sooner than later), Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC (by 2025 at the latest, but perhaps sooner) and the NCAA speeding up the enforcement process against rules violators.

It's interesting that this question was raised since both LSU and Tennessee could spend a few years in the NCAA jailhouse if and when the organization ever gets around to prosecuting cases against LSU basketball and Tennessee football. The LSU basketball case dates all the way back to 2016 and it still hasn’t been prosecuted even though there is wiretap and under oath evidence in Federal Court that former LSU coach Will Wade bought players. Tennessee committed 18 Level I football violations under former head coach Jeremy Pruitt.

Both these cases are serious enough that the schools should NOT get off easy but the longer they linger, the more likely it seems they will either skate or get off with light sentences.

“The NCAA has a responsibility to bring these issues to conclusion,” Sankey said. “That is the membership’s trust being placed in the association’s work. That trust has to be fulfilled.”

Sankey is probably the smartest person in any room he’s in. He’s right to say the NCAA has a responsibility to bring these cases to conclusion but he is wrong to think that the NCAA is capable of getting it done in a timely fashion. What we need done in a timely fashion is for all of Division I to figure out the infrastructure needed to form a new organization because the NCAA is too (a) corrupt, (b) inept and (c) it’s led by Mark Emmert, who, despite a PhD isn’t smart enough to run a convenience store.