Thoughts of the Day: September 28, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning:

EMORY JONES: SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK, EXCEPTIONAL TEAMMATE

What Emory Jones did in leading the Florida Gators to a 38-14 win over Tennessee Saturday night – 21-27 for 209 passing yards and two touchdowns; 15-144 rushing – was bound to earn some recognition from the Southeastern Conference. What Jones did at Florida’s Monday press conference is the kind of thing that makes him the team leader and ultimate teammate.

Named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, Jones made it a point to heap credit on his teammates for his success: “I mean when I saw that the first thing I thought of is like my guys up front – the offensive line – because they really made everything happen … Ethan White (left guard), he won co-offensive player of the game for our team. So I mean all that happened because of the guys up front, all the skill players outside making plays for me. So I just made sure I told them, made sure I thanked them for everything they did and for playing their tails off during the game.”

Those are not disingenuous remarks from a star who’s trying to enhance his public image. Jones is a confident leader, but he’s genuinely humble and understands that it’s a team game that requires all parts functioning as one.

He’s also not the jealous type. No one seems happier that the electric Anthony Richardson should be able to play Saturday against Kentucky than Emory Jones.

“He’ll switch things up for the defenses and make them have to defend us in a lot of different ways,” Jones said. “I’m all for it.”

Richardson hasn’t played since tweaking his hamstring in the fourth quarter of game two at South Florida. Florida coach Dan Mullen said Richardson could have played against Tennessee but was held out as a further precaution.

“We thought just about at 100 percent last week but just decided to be cautionary,” Mullen said. “… When you think you’re 100 percent wait one more week and then you are good. So, that’s kind of what we were able to do that on that front.”

Injury report: The Gators played the Tennessee game without starting right guard Stewart Reese and starting cornerback Kaiir Elam. Starting right tackle Jean Delance played only a few snaps. All three are expected to be ready to go against Kentucky. Additionally, backup quarterback Anthony Richardson is expected to be ready to go Saturday evening.

Mullen said, “Stewart Reese, we held him back last week. He was cleared to play but wouldn’t have been 100 percent and Josh Braun came in, I thought did a great job for him. Again one of those situations where we felt Josh at 100 percent was going to be better than Stewart at 75 percent and now we expect to have Stewart back healthy to go this week. Same kind of with Jean Delance. Played a little bit and was banged up. Michael Tarquin did a great job last week and came in. So hopefully not only has it created some depth but it’s allowed those – the two older guys – to get healthy getting ready for a tough road battle.”

Regarding Elam, Mullen said, “I met with our trainers this morning. We’ll know later this week but I’d say he’s probable. They feel pretty good about him being back in the game this week.”

OVER, UNDER, AROUND AND THROUGH THE SEC

Alabama (4-0, 2-0 SEC): At his Monday press conference HBC Nick Saban called Ole Miss QB Matt Corral, who the Crimson Tide must contain Saturday, “… very elusive. He can extend plays, he’s a very accurate passer. He can make plays with his feet. He’s as talented as anyone we’ve seen run or pass in a long time” … Kick returner Jameson Williams was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Arkansas (4-0, 1-0 SEC): There are few things more dangerous in college sports than a team that finds itself believing in its coach and teammates passionately. Count Arkansas one of those teams after scoring wins over Texas and Texas A&M. “For us to have this belief in Coach (Sam) Pittman and the guys on this team, we’ll believe anything now,” stud linebacker Grant Morgan said Monday on “SEC This Morning.” Morgan, through 3-1/2 games (missed the first half of the A&M game because of a bogus targeting penalty the week before), has 25 tackles including 3.5 for loss, two pass breakups, a half sack and three quarterback hurries … Wide receiver Treylon Burks was named Co-SEC Offensive Player of the Week and end Tre Williams was named Defensive Lineman of the Week.

Auburn (3-1): HBC Bryan Harsin fired wide receivers coach Cornelius Williams. Through four games, Auburn ranks ninth in the SEC in pass offense but receivers are averaging only 11.36 yards per catch. Former Boise State offensive coordinator and Auburn analyst Eric Kiesau was elevated to a full-time assistant replacing Williams … Harsin wouldn’t name a starting quarterback between Bo Nix and TJ Finley for Saturday’s game in Baton Rouge against LSU.

Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC): Tight end Brock Bowers was named SEC Freshman of the Week.

Kentucky (4-0, 2-0 SEC): HBC Mark Stoops has to be concerned with the five fumbles so far by tailback Chris Rodriguez, who is the SEC’s leading rusher (552 yards) through five games. “I’m not in a state of panic or anything, but anytime you have an issue early in the season you need to get it corrected,” Stoops said Monday … Center Luke Fortner was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.

LSU (3-1, 1-0 SEC): At his Monday press conference, Coach Oeaux talked about the possibility that the Tigers will be matched up with former teammate TJ Finley, who transferred to Auburn during the summer and is expected to get the start Saturday against LSU. Finley started several games at quarterback last year. “He didn’t want to leave … he cried,” Coach Oeaux said. “LSU meant a lot to him, but I knew that. It was a decision that was made and it was best for him. So he left, and looks like he’s doing well” … Linebacker Damone Clark was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Mississippi State (2-2, 0-1 SEC): The Bulldogs lead the SEC in passing (363.5 yards per game) but they’re dead last in rushing (62.75 yards per game).

Missouri (2-2, 0-1 SEC): Tyler Badie ranks second in the SEC in rushing with 417 yards (5 touchdowns) and he has caught 20 passes for 176 yards and three TDs).

Ole Miss (3-0): Most of the Las Vegas sports books have moved QB Matt Corral into the favorite position to win the Heisman Trophy. Corral was considered a 50-1 longshot to win it when the season began a month ago.

South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC): Kevin Harris, who led the SEC in rushing with 1,138 yards while averaging 6.15 per carry last year, has only 92 yards on 35 carries (2.63 per carry) this season. “I don’t think it’s the scheme,” HBC Shane Beamer said Sunday night regarding the problems running the ball.

Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 SEC): Quarterback Hendon Hooker is not in concussion protocol after a big hit in the Florida game, but HBC Josh Heupel isn’t certain Hooker “will be available or not” Saturday when the Vols travel to Missouri.

Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1 SEC): Offensive tackle Jahmir Johnson, who had to leave the Arkansas game when he hyperextended his knee, is expected to play Saturday when the Aggies host Mississippi State. Right guard Layden Robinson, who has missed the last two games dealing with an injury, is practicing this week and could play again. Starting wide receivers Chase Lane and Caleb Chapman are listed day-to-day.

Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-1 SEC): Vanderbilt’s 62-0 loss to Georgia is the worst loss in school history.

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: WEEK FOUR

Extinct Species List

Les Miles: The entire football culture has changed since The Hat was canned. Lance Leipold won’t win this year (1-3 so far) but he will in years to come. Randy Edsall: Things are looking up with Edsall gone. UConn could actually win games this week at Vandy and next week at UMass. Now they need to beg the Atlantic Coast Conference to add them in expansion.

Clay Helton, Southern Cal: Don’t be surprised if the wheels come off. Admin hated Helton but the players loved him.

Chad Lunsford, Georgia Southern: The folks in Statesboro don’t have a sense of humor. Three straight bowl games and yet they fire the HBC after a 1-3 start?

On Life Support

Scott Frost, Nebraska: Nobody can lose a game like the Fighting Frosts. They led Michigan State 20-13 and didn’t allow a first down in the second half but gave up a punt return TD and threw a pick that led to a game ending field goal. If they lose to Northwestern this week, he’s a goner.

Walt Bell, UMass: Losing by 50 to Coastal Carolina didn’t exactly help his cause. UMass needs to dip back down to D1AA.

Tom Arth, Akron: The ultimate loser’s bowl is this week when the Zipperheads host Ohio U. They are a combined 0-8.

Endangered Species List Scot Loeffler, Bowling Green: He’s off life support thanks to that shocker of a win over Minnesota. It’s possible he gets another year based on beating a Big Ten team.

Ed Orgeron, LSU: He got a win at Mississippi State, but it’s a long season and his leash is short.

Dino Babers, Syracuse: He got a surprise win over Liberty, but still needs to get to six to stay gainfully employed.

Chip Kelly, UCLA: The Bruins are 3-1 after beating Stanford. The Chipster needs to go 8-4 to feel safe.

Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois: He got a win over John Hevesy’s alma mammy (Maine) but that only makes him 2-2. He needs four more wins.

Dana Dimmel, UTEP: He’s 3-1 and has a legit shot at a 6-6 season. Six wins at UTEP is like going 30-0 at Alabama.

Phil Montgomery, Tulsa: He’s 1-3 and somehow needs a 5-3 finish. Stranger things have happened.

Steve Addazio, Colorado State: The Fighting Addazios had Iowa on the ropes. They’re 1-3 and a 4-4 finish probably keeps Addazio safe one more year.

Butch Davis, Florida International: He was 0-5 last year and is 1-3 this year with the Fighting Willie Taggarts up next. This is not what they envisioned when they hired him.

Checking for a pulse P.J. Fleck, Minnesota: He really wasn’t in trouble until he lost to Bowling Green. He can’t afford another slipup.

Manny Diaz, Miami: They really can’t afford to fire him but players are about to do the rats deserting a sinking ship thing. The next three weeks will determine if he’s going to stay or go.

Ken Niumatolo, Navy: Two years ago he was 11-2 and last year was a COVID year, but if he oh-fers the season he could find himself in the middle of the Atlantic with a rowboat, a jug of water and a compass.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: The new so-called “Alliance” was formed by the still wet behind the ears commissioners of the Big Ten (Kevin Warren), Pac-12 (George Kliavkoff) and ACC (Jim Phillips as a way to combat the dominance of the Southeastern Conference and Greg Sankey, who is only the single most powerful man in all of college sports. What they’re opposed to is that in an expanded 12-team playoff that the SEC could command half the field with a conference champ and five at-large selections. If they think that’s dominance then consider what could happen this year in the four-team playoff. The way things stand right now, the SEC would have two of the four slots. Could there be three from the SEC? Entirely possible if there is one unbeaten and two one-loss SEC teams because (a) the ACC is all but out of it; (b) the Big 12 is highly unstable; (c) Oregon is the last unbeaten in the Pac-12 and the Ducks seem to always lose a game they shouldn’t; and (d) it wouldn’t be shocking if no team from the Big Ten emerges with fewer than two losses. If you want to see the “Alliance” push for a 12-team playoff, just let the SEC get three teams in this year.