Thoughts of the Day: September 14, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning: PERHAPS THERE IS A METHOD TO DAN MULLEN’S MADNESS

At his Monday press conference, Dan Mullen didn’t seem fazed in the slightest by calls from the Florida fan base and national media to turn his offense over to redshirt freshman quarterback Anthony Richardson.

“I’ll be honest with you; I don’t listen to many suggestions,” Mullen said. “If you’re in our staff meeting, I’m going to listen to your suggestion. I don’t run down to Shands Hospital and say, ‘Boy, I think you should really do that procedure this way.’ I think those guys probably got that under control, you know? So, they’re the people, they’re the experts who are doing it.”

Some might consider this Mullen digging in his heels when it comes to starting quarterback Emory Jones, almost an ‘I’ll show you’ moment. But, if you’ve followed Mullen’s career from the time he was the offensive coordinator for Urban Meyer through the nine years at Mississippi State and now the 40 games he’s been the HBC at Florida, then you have to know there is usually method to his madness.

That might be the case right now. Consider these three points:

First, in the event that Richardson’s hamstring is slow to heal, does Mullen really want to wreck the confidence of Emory Jones with Alabama coming to town Saturday? If Richardson is limited or unable to play, the last thing Mullen needs is for EJ to think his coach doesn’t believe in him. We’ve seen Jones plagued by indecision when it comes to throwing the football. Perhaps that’s a lack of confidence on his part and if it is, he needs his head coach pumping him up and making him believe. A quarterback who lacks confidence isn’t going to beat Alabama.

Second, does Mullen want to throw a redshirt freshman quarterback to the wolves by sending him out for his first start against the No. 1 team in the country? Seeing how electric AR15 has been in the last two games, there is also that possibility that Mullen wants the jolt of energy that will consume the stadium the moment Richardson trots out to take charge of the huddle.

And third, is it possible that maybe, just maybe, Mullen has intentionally limited Richardson’s snaps in the first two games? Mullen knows what AR15 can do. He sees him every day in practice and from all accounts, Richardson routinely lights up the defense. Does Mullen really want to show Nick Saban and his bazillion analysts any more than he has to? There is that possibility that Anthony Richardson is Dan Mullen’s special surprise for Alabama.

Just a few things to think about, boys and girls.

MATT HAYES ON FLORIDA’S FUTURE WITH ANTHONY RICHARDSON In his Monday column at Saturday Down South, Matt Hayes offered the following comments:

“Let’s be clear about one thing: Florida will win a national championship with Anthony Richardson … It may not be this season, and it more than likely will take a few games before he wins the starting quarterback job for the Gators. But once he does, the dynamic will change in the SEC and national championship races.”

And this …

“The only player who compares to his skill set is Cam Newton, who began his career at Florida before transferring to junior college and eventually leading Auburn to the 2010 national championship. Newton won the Heisman Trophy that season with one of the greatest single seasons in NCAA history.”

OVER, UNDER, AROUND AND THROUGH THE SEC Alabama (2-0): Linebacker Will Anderson is listed day-to-day for the Florida game after suffering a knee injury against Mercer. If Anderson can’t go his place in the lineup will be taken by Chris Braswell.

Arkansas (2-0): Linebacker Hayden Henry, who had 15 tackles against Texas, was named the Walter Camp Defensive National Defensive Player of the Week … The SEC fined Arkansas $100,000 because Hog fans stormed the field after their dominating 40-21 win over then 15th-ranked Texas. Judging by their reaction on Twitter, Arkansas fans seem to think it was worth every single dollar.

Auburn (2-0): The Tigers, who travel to Penn State this weekend, are the No. 1 scoring offense in the country (61 points per game) and tied with Georgia as the No. 1 scoring defense (5.0 per game).

Georgia (2-0): Kirby Smart says that defensive back Tykee Smith and tight end Darnell Washington are both out of their boots and putting weight on their surgically repaired feet. Neither are expected to play this week against South Carolina.

Kentucky (2-0, 1-0 SEC): Although Kentucky can practice indoors in the field house that it shares with the track team, it’s one of only two SEC teams (Vandy is the other) without a 100-yard indoor practice field. “We need an indoor,” HBC Mark Stoops said Monday. “You can do the research on how many teams don’t have an indoor.”

LSU (1-1): Running back John Emery is academically ineligible for 2021. Emery’s family says they will pursue every legal option available to try to rectify the situation. Without Emery, LSU’s running game is hurting. The Tigers are averaging just 86.5 yards per game on the ground.

Mississippi State (2-0): Liberty Bowl Stadium will not allow Mississippi State fans to bring in their cowbells for Saturday’s game with Memphis.

Missouri (1-1, 0-1 SEC): Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz says the defense got its “butt whupped up front” against Kentucky. Kentucky ran for 341 yards on 52 running plays against Missouri last Saturday night.

Ole Miss (2-0): Matt Corral was selected the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 285 yards and five touchdowns against Austin Peay.

South Carolina (2-0): Quarterback Luke Doty, who has missed the first two South Carolina games with a foot injury, is expected to be 100 percent Saturday night against Georgia.

Tennessee (1-1): HBC Josh Heupel wouldn’t elaborate on Joe Milton’s injury or whether Hendon Hooker has earned the starting QB job after he played so well in relief of Milton against Pitt. “We’ll find out where [Milton] is at during the course of the week,” Heupel said Monday. “… there’s multiple factors that play in [who is] going to be taking the snaps.”

Texas A&M (2-0): Redshirt freshman quarterback Haynes King had surgery to repair what Jimbo Fisher said is a “crack in his lower leg.” Zach Calzada will be the No. 1 QB moving forward with Eli Stowers as the backup.

Vanderbilt (1-1): Quarterback Ken Seals threw for 238 yards and two TDs without throwing an interception in the win over Colorado State. Seals threw two picks in the loss to East Tennessee State two weeks ago.

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: WEEK TWO Extinct Species List

Les Miles: I wonder if he’s still married after his dalliances with cheerleaders have been made public? Randy Edsall: And to think there was a time when Jeremy Foley had him on his short list of coaches to hire at Florida.

Clay Helton, Southern Cal: Believe it or not, he’s probably the most relieved man in the entire state of California. Considering the previous two coaches fired by Southern Cal – Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian – wound up as offensive coordinators at St. Nick’s Rehab Center for Wayward Coaches, expect Helton to find his way to Tuscaloosa, maybe before the ink dries on the severance contract. The buyout money from USC will go a lot further in Tuscaloosa.

On Life Support

Scot Loeffler, Bowling Green: The Fighting Falcons almost won a game. They lost, of course, to South Alabama, but it was close. That’s what counts. This week BG plays one of those will work for beer and a big paycheck games at Many Sodas.

Scott Frost, Nebraska: He’s 2-1 after beating Buffalo. This week he goes to Norman for what should be a beatdown. If he goes 6-6 this year he should win the Annie Sullivan Award as the 2021 miracle worker (see Helen Keller if that went right over your head).

Walt Bell, UMass: UMass was a 37.5 point road dog at Boston College last week. The Minutemen only lost by 14. That’s progress! UMass is also a 17-point home dog to Eastern Michigan. Maybe they’ll make it close again.

Tom Arth, Akron: Circle this week’s game with something called Bryant. Is it Bear Bryant? Or maybe Bryant Gumble? Bryant is on a 1-game (count ‘em) win streak having beaten Sacred Heart (Convent? Homeless Shelter? University?) last week. It’s Akron’s one shot at a win and the Mighty Zips better make the best of it.

Endangered Species List Ed Orgeron, LSU: The Tigers beat McNeese State, abusing Coach Oeaux’s son Cody Oeaux, who was the McNeese QB to the tune of eight sacks. That was the only thing impressive LSU did. The Tigers are looking like a 6-6 team. They get Old Yeller and the Central Michigan Tortilla Chips this week.

Dino Babers, Syracuse: It must have been Big East déjà vu all over again last week when Rutgers came to the Carrier Dome. Syracuse lost, of course. Albany State comes to Syracuse this week. There is hope for another win this year, too. Florida State is on the schedule.

Chip Kelly, UCLA: They’re loving on the Chipster in Westwood right now, but will they Saturday night? Fresno State is just pesky enough to win and the Fire Chip Kelly folks will be out in full force if that happens.

Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois: Northern Ill is 1-1 with a paycheck win over Georgia Tech. They go to the Big House Saturday for another paycheck. Michigan won’t be as generous as the boys from the North Avenue Trade School.

Dana Dimmel, UTEP: He got clocked by Boise State on the Smurf Turf last week but that happens to a lot of folks. UTEP is 2-1 baby! And maybe 3-1 after Saturday because they get Los Lobos (New Mexico), a winnable game. Three wins at UTEP? Almost unheard of.

Phil Montgomery, Tulsa: There’s nothing like an 0-2 start to erase all the good will earned by last year’s unexpected bowl team. Tulsa Time has to go to the Horseshoe this week. Ohio State will score 60.

Steve Addazio, Colorado State: He’s 0-2, having lost to a D1AA team and even worse, Vandy. Holy Toledo and Iowa on the road the next two weeks has the feel of an 0-4 start that could put Vitamin A On Life Support.

Checking for a pulse Dana Holgorsen, Houston: What a week for Houston. On Friday, the Cougars joined the Big 12. Saturday they beat (Beans and) Rice, 44-7. Grambling’s in town to win halftime this week and then it’s Navy Beans and Tulsa Time. There are also games with USF, Shirley Temple and UConn. Holgorsen really needs nine wins to make admin feel good about him.

Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech: Climpson and the Tar Heels are the next two games. Patience is wearing thin on North Avenue.

Marcus Arroyo, UNLV: Things are so bad that Tate Martell might be the QB this week when the Running Rebs take a beating at the hands of Iowa State.

Jimmy Lake, Washington: He’s 0-2 with one of the losses to a D1AA team. In two games, the Huskies have run for 115 yards. They’re inept. He probably doesn’t get fired this year, unless he does a reverse run of the table. Anything is possible.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: With wins over California and arch-rival Utah, soon to be Big 12 member BYU is now 2-0 against the Pac-12. With Arizona State this week and Washington State and Southern Cal later in the season, the Cougars have a very good chance to finish the season unbeaten against the league. It’s worth mentioning BYU because (a) the Pac-12 has rejected BYU for membership at least three times and (b) other than Oregon, the Pac-12 is woefully inept. The Pac-12 would have been smart to add BYU when it had the chance. The Big 12 won’t have a team with the same clout as departing Oklahoma or Texas, but adding BYU, Houston, UCF and Cincinnati is going to make it as good or better top to bottom than the Pac-12.