Thoughts of the Day: October 18, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

WHAT DIABATE’S COMMENTS SAY ABOUT UF’S DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR Mohamoud Diabate is the type of kid that when he speaks, you listen. He’s very bright (3.96 GPA), very thoughtful and he chooses his words carefully. What he said Saturday after Florida’s 49-42 loss to LSU in Baton Rouge should be a telling indicator that Florida’s defensive players aren’t exactly buying in with coordinator Todd Grantham.

Asked what level of confidence the Gators have in Grantham’s schemes, Diabate replied, “I’m confident in my teammates and my teammates ability to play hard and be where they’re supposed to be. I’m confident in my teammates.”

Notice there nothing that would indicate Diabate or anyone else on the defensive side of the ball believes the coordinator can consistently get the job done.

Asked what could have been done to stop LSU from running the same play over-and-over again, a counter trap that sprung Tyrion Davis-Price for the bulk of his LSU single game school record 287 yards, Diabate responded, “That’s not my decision to make. I don’t look into those things. I’m like a soldier. When the general tells me where to shoot I shoot. I don’t ask too many questions.”

Maybe Diabate isn’t asking questions publicly, but that comment should tell you players are asking questions about the defensive scheme.

When you shop at Publix, you notice there is a sell-by date on every food item you buy. When it expires, it has to be removed from the shelf. Judging by what we saw Saturday at LSU and too many times over the last two years, it seems pretty obvious the sell-by date on Florida’s defensive coordinator has expired.

The Coaches Top 25 Poll: 1. Georgia 7-0; 2. Oklahoma 7-0; 3. Cincinnati 6-0; 4. Alabama 6-1; 5. Ohio State 5-1; 6. Michigan 6-0; 7. Michigan State 7-0; 8. Penn State 5-1; 9. Oklahoma State 6-0; 10. Oregon 5-1; 11. Iowa 6-1; 12. Ole Miss 5-1; 13. Notre Dame 5-1; 14. Kentucky 6-1; 15. Wake Forest 6-0; 16. Coastal Carolina 6-0; 17. Texas A&M 5-2; 18. North Carolina State 5-1; 19. SMU 6-0; 20. Baylor 6-1; 21. San Diego State 6-0; 22. Auburn 5-2; 23. Pittsburgh 5-1; 24. Clemson 4-2; 25. UTSA 7-0

The Associated Press Top 25 Poll: 1. Georgia 7-0; 2. Cincinnati 6-0; 3. Oklahoma 7-0; 4. Alabama 6-1; 5. Ohio State 5-1; 6. Michigan 6-0; 7. Penn State 5-1; 8. Oklahoma State 6-0; 9. Michigan State 7-0; 10. Oregon 5-1; 11. Iowa 6-1; 12. Ole Miss 5-1; 13. Notre Dame 5-1; 14. Coastal Carolina 6-0; 15. Kentucky 6-1; 16. Wake Forest 6-0; 17. Texas A&M 5-2; 18. North Carolina State 5-1; 19. Auburn 5-2; 20. Baylor 6-1; 21. SMU 6-0; 22. San Diego State 6-0; Pittsburgh 5-1; 24. UTSA 7-0; 25. Purdue 4-2

THE SEC AFTER WEEK SEVEN By announcing that Ed Orgeron will be allowed to coach LSU until the end of the year, athletic director Scott Woodward has removed the uncertainty and that will give him essentially six weeks to find a replacement in order to salvage a recruiting class that currently ranks ninth per 247Sports. Woodward has a history of big name hires – Chris Peterson at Washington; Jimbo Fisher and Buzz Williams at Texas A&M; Kim Mulkey (women’s basketball) and Jay Johnson (baseball) at LSU – and with LSU prepared to spend whatever money is necessary, expect him to go for an established head coach.

That might eliminate Billy Napier at Louisiana, a good candidate but not a big enough name, and perhaps the two assistants who had so much to do with the Tigers’ 2019 national championship run – Dave Aranda (now head coach at Baylor) and Joe Brady (now offensive coordinator for the NFL Carolina Panthers). Aranda and Brady would be excellent hires and they’re probably on the go-to list if Woodward strikes out with the splash hire. Circle these three names: James Franklin (Penn State), Mario Cristobal (Oregon) and Mel Tucker (Michigan State). Of the three, Cristobal makes the most sense since he worked for Nick Saban, knows the SEC and is a dynamite recruiter. Why would Franklin go to a place where he will be in the same division as Alabama, Texas A&M and soon Oklahoma and Texas? He already is in the same division with Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State. He can go to Southern Cal and rule the Pac-12. As for Tucker, he was only at Colorado one year and he’s in his second at Michigan State, possibly a hindrance.

If there is a wildcard it is Jimbo Fisher. He was offensive coordinator at LSU for both Saban and Les Miles so it’s familiar territory. Even with the contract extension he just signed at Texas A&M there is absolutely ZERO in the way of a buyout. With Texas coming into the SEC, does Jimbo want to share the state with the Longhorns? It’s one thing to play them every year. It’s another thing to have to share a state with them in the same conference. He would OWN Louisiana.

Alabama (6-1, 3-1 SEC): Perhaps the worst thing that could have happened to the rest of the SEC was the loss to Texas A&M. Alabama responded with a 49-9 win over Mississippi State in which the defense came up with six sacks and three interceptions while the offense chewed up the Bulldogs for 543 yards. Next week: vs. Tennessee (4-3, 2-2 SEC)

Arkansas (4-3, 1-3 SEC): For the second straight year, the Hogs got screwed by SEC zebras with a bad call on an Auburn fumble. As Jarquez Hunter was lifted off the ground at the Auburn 10, he lost the football (very clear while he was in the air) and Arkansas recovered, but officials ruled no fumble. The explanation given to Arkansas HBC Sam Pittman was because Hunter was in the air, it couldn’t be a fumble. Instead of getting the ball on the Auburn 10 when trailing by four, Auburn punted past midfield, then its defense did a three-and-out. Next week: vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff

Auburn (5-2, 2-1 SEC): It was good Bo Nix Saturday against Arkansas. He threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 42 yards and another TD. Next week: Open

Georgia (7-0, 5-0 SEC): Jordan Davis has become the most feared defensive lineman in the Southeastern Conference since the days of Reggie White. The fact he has to be triple-teamed on nearly every play makes it possible for all the other Georgia D-linemen and linebackers to make easy plays. He took away the middle of the line for Kentucky. The Wildcats ran for 51 yards on 27 carries. Next week: Open

Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC): The bad news for the Wildcats is they got boatraced by Georgia. If there is good news it is that Kentucky became the first team all season to score two offensive touchdowns against the Bulldogs. Next week: Open

LSU (4-3, 2-2 SEC): Coach Oeaux says: “After he [AD Scott Woodard] came and talked to me after the Kentucky game, I knew it was time.” Next week: at Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1 SEC)

Mississippi State (3-3, 1-2 SEC): Describing the Bulldogs’ 49-9 loss to Alabama, Mike Leach said, “We died of self-inflicted wounds because we tried too hard to do special things.” Next week: at Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-3 SEC)

Missouri (3-4, 0-3 SEC): Missouri did nothing to disprove that it has the nation’s worst run defense. The Aggies ran for 283 yards, 6.74 per carry. Mizzou continues to rank dead last in Division I in run defense. Next week: Open

Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1 SEC): Matt Corral may have regained the top spot in the Heisman Trophy discussion by throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns while running for 195 yards in the Rebels’ 31-26 win over Tennessee. Next week: vs. LSU (4-3, 2-2 SEC)

South Carolina (4-3, 1-3 SEC): Former graduate assistant turned QB Zeb Noland, who led the Gamecocks to a 2-0 start this season, came off the bench to drive South Carolina 75 yards in eight plays for the game-winning score. It was a 9-yard pass from Noland to Xavier Leggette with 37 seconds left that lifted South Carolina to a 21-20 win over Vanderbilt. Next week: at Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2 SEC)

Tennessee (4-3, 2-2 SEC): The big question for the Vols heading into next Saturday’s game at Alabama will be the health of quarterback Hendon Hooker, who left the game late in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury. Prior to his injury, Hooker had thrown for 245 yards and a TD and run for 108 yards and another TD. Next week: at Alabama (6-1, 3-1 SEC)

Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2 SEC): The Aggies went ground and pound to whip Mizzou, 35-14. Isaiah Spiller ran for 168 yards and a TD while Devon Archane went for 124 and two TDs. Next week: vs. South Carolina (4-3, 1-3 SEC)

Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-3 SEC): Vandy came about as close as it could hope to get to an SEC win this season when it took South Carolina scoring with 37 seconds left for a 21-20 win. Next week: vs. Mississippi State (3-3, 1-2 SEC)

FOOTBALL IN THE MINOR LEAGUES ACC: Wake Forest (6-0) is the only unbeaten team in the ACC but with North Carolina (4-3), North Carolina State (5-1) and Clemson (4-2) still on the schedule, nobody is expecting the Deacons to run the table. Pittsburgh (5-2) has emerged as the team to beat in the Coastal Division. You can forget an ACC team in the playoff.

Big Ten: Iowa (6-1) lost its first game to Purdue (4-2) and now has to be concerned about winning the Western Division. All hell is about to break loose in the Eastern Division where Michigan State (7-0) leads, followed by Michigan (6-0), Ohio State (5-1) and Penn State (5-1). They all have to play each other. Smart money is on an Ohio State-Michigan showdown for the Eastern Division championship.

Big 12: There is no quarterback controversy at Oklahoma. Caleb Williams is the man, particularly after he hit 18-23 passes for 295 yards and four TDs while running for 66 and another TD in the Sooners’ 52-31 win over TCU. Oklahoma State (6-0) is the league’s other unbeaten after its 32-24 win over Texas (4-3).

Pac-12: Utah (4-2) stunned Arizona State (5-2) to take over the lead in the South Division. UCLA (5-2) remains in the hunt. The Bruins are home Friday night against North leader Oregon (5-1). No playoff (again) for a team from the Pac-12.

Group of Five: Cincinnati (6-0) doesn’t have another difficult game on its schedule until a November 20 showdown with SMU (6-0). With Cincinnati so high in the rankings, QB Desmond Ridder is becoming more of a factor in the Heisman Trophy discussions ... UT-San Antonio (7-0) is ranked for the first time in school history … San Diego State (6-0) is the last remaining unbeaten in the Mountain West … Coastal Carolina (6-0) faces Appalachian State (4-2) in Boone Tuesday night, maybe the last chance for the Chanticleers to lose in the regular season.

Independents: A lot of higher ranked teams will have to lose for Notre Dame (5-1) to make the College Football Playoff.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: File the firing of Coach Oeaux under “Only in the SEC.” Where else would a coach less than two years removed from a national championship be fired even though the contract buyout is $17 million? A year ago, buyout money wasn’t a factor when it came time to jettison Gus Malzahn (Auburn paid him $21.45 million to go away) and Will Muschamp (South Carolina paid him $16 million). There are very few places like the SEC that will (a) pay a head football coach a fortune only to (b) pay him another fortune to go away. Maybe this is what they’re actually talking about with that SEC slogan “It Just Means More.” Yep, more money if you’re a head football coach and even more money if they want you to go bye-bye.