Tag Archives: #culture

Michigan*

Posted on by

At some point, one has to wonder how one program keeps getting away with so much. It’s almost, like, there’s a bias or something.

The NCAA on Wednesday, Sept. 16 acknowledged that the controversial ending of Michigan football’s narrow victory vs Western Michigan should never have happened.

In a statement summarizing a review of the end-of-game processes, the NCAA said that instant replay protocol was not properly followed after the conclusion of what appeared to be a game-ending incompletion by Bryce Underwood.

“Had the protocols been followed, the outcome of the game would have been different,” the NCAA statement reads.HAYES: Michigan football lost to Western Michigan. Then the Big Ten stepped in

That outcome would have resulted in a 12-7 victory for Lance Taylor’s Broncos over the then-16th-ranked Wolverines. As it stood, Big Ten officials put one second back on the clock, with Underwood completing a Hail Mary to JJ Buchanan in the end zone for a 13-12 victory on the final play of the game.

The NCAA’s acknowledgment that Western Michigan should have won the game — which comes after the Mid-American Conference sought to have the result overturned — also states that it has no power to overturn the result of a game.

The NCAA cited two rules on the subject:

  • Rule 1-1-3-b: When the referee declares that the game is ended, the score is final.  
  • Rule 5-2-9: No rule decision may be changed after the ball is next legally snapped, legally free-kicked or the second or fourth periods have ended.

Why, though, do I continue to be shocked. And in true NCAA fashion, we end with “and there’s nothing anybody can do about it”.

Funny, I seem to recall from the previous year that you can sue, sue, sue your way to a desired outcome.

Lawyers, get ready for the MAC Attack.

Mumme Poll Week 2: Bullish on the Cavaliers

Posted on by

Some of you mentioned voting for Virginia out of respect for the Senator…although I will say that Virginia does seem to have a good team, and they were the benefactor of the Mumme Voters the most this week, ranking 10 spots higher in the Mumme Poll than in the AP.

Note: red and green arrows denote rising or falling since the Mumme Preseason Poll.

Others receiving votes: Penn State, Floriduh and North Dakota State (6), Tulsa, South Carolina, Georgia State, and James Madison (4)

Left out of Mumme Poll but in the AP: Penn State (#24). Also, Oklahoma State did not crack the AP poll, despite beating Oregon.

Mississippi State got lots of love from our votes, which didn’t make the AP poll despite a good ole fashioned whooping against Minnesota this past weekend. I thought a victory against the greatest conference in the world should mean something? Isn’t Minnesota part of that top to bottom conference greatness they argue about? Hmmm.

Also notable…no Conference USA teams received any votes.

As to our two bonus questions this week…

63% of you thought Texas “maybe” back, but given that they literally have only two unranked opponents (I’m betting that Miss State will be ranked soon), they’ve got a tough road to hoe and I’m not convinced that they’re the juggernaut people are making them out to be given their 4th quarter miracle comeback.

And for our remaining most dangerous opponent? Overwhelmingly, 72% of you felt it was Alabama, 14% said Ole Miss, 9% said Florida, and 4% said Auburn. 1 person selected Missouri, and that’s my personal worry mainly because of the timing of the season and how good they looked with Austin Simmons under center. I don’t doubt Alabama and Ole Miss are probably better, but given prep, season injuries, and all that, they concern me.

Also, screw you, Georgia Tech.

Wednesday Wondering: Critical Ass

Posted on by
Our intent was to eat, respectfully.

Shot:

Chaser:

In Kirby’s defense, pretty much everybody had Texas winning against Georgia in 2024. Still, he entertained the reporter and said what he had to say, even throwing shade at the Network about it. But he did it in a “nice”, or let’s say, professional way.

Sark, meanwhile, is neglecting the preseason fodder that has declared Texass is back and many thought Texas should win, especially at the stadium where the rule book gets thrown out the proverbial window.

Meanwhile, Archduke got involved in it, making light of an AI generated video that shows Sark punching Holly Rowe in the face.

Arch had to later offer an apology, and Rowe replied that it was all good.

So your wunderkind quarterback gets his signature win, you act like you’ve never been in the arena, and the kid later has to issue an apology. Life comes at your fast, Archie. Let’s just say it starts at the top with the head leader of men, and how he reacted to Rowe in the first place. Instead of taking the time to advocate or beat his chest like Kirby, Sark chose the other road, and that makes all the difference.

Honestly, Sark acted like…

Well, that’s for you to tell us. Was Sark offsides? Even if he was, it’s Austin baby, and they don’t call Texas for penalties in Austin, do they?

Discuss.

He Went to Jared

Posted on by

Well, that didn’t take long.

Vanderbilt has named true freshman Jared Curtis its starting quarterback for Week 3 against NC State, head coach Clark Lea announced on Tuesday. The former five-star recruit played the majority of Saturday’s win over Delaware.

Fourth-year quarterback Blaze Berlowitz beat out Curtis in the preseason, but has struggled in the Commodores’ opening games of the 2026 season. Berlowitz has thrown for 178 yards, completing 14 of 25 passes through two weeks and a rushing touchdown. Curtis is 21 of 31 for 270 yards and a touchdown, along with two rushing touchdowns.

Vanderbilt beat Austin Peay 28-9 in Week 1 and survived Delaware 35-26 in Week 2. Berlowitz started against the Blue Hens, but it was Curtis who led the Commodores to the win.

He rushed for two touchdowns and threw his first career passing touchdown. He’s the first Vanderbilt freshman to record three touchdowns since Sept. 17, 2022. Curtis finished 14 of 22 for 210 yards and a touchdown.

Can’t say I’m surprised. This felt like it was predestined, but Jared will have to eat the frog in two weeks when Vanderbilt comes to town to face the Bulldogs on Homecoming weekend. Between what should be a “first big game” against Oklahoma on the 26th and the Alabama game on October 10th, I wonder if this wont’ find itself as a trap game for us with a motivated Curtis and a Georgia team kicking off it’s toughest stretch of the season.

I trust Kirby will find the proper motivation for his defense for this game. We aren’t *checks notes* Delaware (only in their second year in CUSA after moving up from FCS in 2025), after all.

Specializing in Specialists

Posted on by

Shot:

Chaser:

A perhaps underrated aspect of the Kirby Smart era of coaching has been reliable placekickers. Aside from this critical missed kick demonstrated by Blankenship above, it’s important to note that Blankenship, Podlesny, and Woodring are a combined 200 for 238 on field goal attempts during Smart’s ten years in Athens, good for an 84% success rate. At 82.5%, 82.4% and 88.1%, respectively, the three placekickers all have the highest success rates for any placekicker at Georgia attempting a minimum of 50 field goals…ever.

The next highest rate was Brandon Coutu from 2004-2007 at 80%. Blankenship still holds the total points scoring record at UGA at 440 points, and Podlesny is 5th with Woodring at 6th.

I say all this to say, it’s been hard to doubt that we have clutch kickers who can win big games for us when necessary. The placekicking position haunted Bobby Bowden as it haunts Ryan Day, and one has to wonder why a school with bottomless coffers can’t find themselves a more reliable clutch kicker.

Maybe Day doesn’t feel it’s a big deal, maybe he does. Somehow, it’s the little things that add up, and it seems like Kirby does like to sweat the little things…appropriately.

Open Mike Night

Posted on by

FSU fans are certainly tasting blood in the water, and are praying that they have front-row-center tickets for the kicking to the curb of the FSU Portal Master. And they’re already dreaming of a current Bulldawg heading up their program in the post-Norvell era.

If FSU cleans house, I’m thinking money first. Don’t chase 10 million dollar coaches, spend on the roster. My hires, for AD, Jeramiah Dickey from Boise State. Head Coach, Glenn Schumann. OC, Kade Bell. Strong Florida roots, he’s young, quarterback guy. And DC, Travaris Robinson, Schumann’s co-DC right now. – @JovaniDiaz35 on X (graphic credit to Jovani and AI)

Don’t chase $10 million coaches? Have they never heard of Jimmy Sexton? Hell, whoever they bring in will likely command a high dollar contract, and if it’s Schu, well, good on him. He’s put his time in and you’d be hard to argue against hiring from the Smart coaching tree (wait, what about Oregon?).

Also in Tallahassee…

Give them credit for their optimism, that’s all they’ve got right now. In truth, I’m sure Schumann would like to bring Robinson with him, although I think Kirby would offer a nice chunk of change to retain as much Georgia staff as necessary and let Schumann pick from other places.(note: Fran Brown hasn’t exactly been doing well at Syracuse, so he could always come back to Athens or head to Tally, if this is the manifested destination).

What do they say about if’s and but’s?

Screw the AP, Let’s Get the Rankings Right

Posted on by

You know what time it is Refugees…time to right the wrongs of those know-nothing media types by inserting your two pennies into the only poll that matters…the Mumme Poll.

Some of you said this used to wait until the release of the CFP, but let’s be participatory and get it going earlier this year, so weigh in on your thoughts about where the teams are ranking after the first games of the year.

MASH HERE

There’s two bonus questions this week:

  1. Is Texas back?
  2. Who is our most dangerous remaining opponent in 2026?

Mash, vote, and we’ll post the results tomorrow.

Us and Them

Posted on by

This an interesting word salad from a marked man.

It’s odd to me how quickly one can reference a team they were with less than a calendar year ago as “them”.

Safety issues are a reality for Lane as he stands ready to return to Oxford. That’s certain, but it’s also interesting how he’s already pivoting to say the game is on the players and not on the focus on him. It’s a hell of a motivator, and Lane should recognize that.

But, hey, it’s easier to pre-emptively throw your team under the bus early, right Joey?

He really was the perfect fit for Tennessee, we just never knew it.

Never Satisfied: Doing What You’re Supposed to Do

Posted on by

Dang, Kirby is sounding like a bitter wife. Not that that is anything new.

Handle business is Arkansas and again a week later against Oklahoma, and maybe the chatter gets turned down some. Not that I’ll expect it to be, especially since we have a five week stretch where we play Oklahoma, Alabama, and Auburn.

We’re getting in to business season…to borrow a long forgotten phrase, are we man enough?

Speaking of Kirby Breaking Programs

Posted on by

While we’re on the subject of destroying ACC programs for *checks notes* LIFE, how’re things going down in Tallahassee?

Well, let’s say if you could turn the lights on long enough to examine it…not good.

Leta face it, it’s way cheaper to buy out an AD’s contract than, say, this guy’s…

A lingering question sources have told On3 in recent days is whether Florida State moves on from Norvell and who would make the next hire. Alford’s firing signals he will not make the final decision on Norvell or who will handle a possible coaching search.

Senior associate AD Bruce Warwick will serve as Florida State interim athletic director, sources tell On3. 

“Changes like this are never easy, but sometimes necessary,” Florida State Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins said in a statement. “We have made significant investments and structural changes in our athletics program and Seminole Boosters over the past few years, but more are needed. This step begins the next phase of restructuring that the University must commit to in order to compete in this era of college sports. ”

Alford brought Norvell back for the 2026 season despite a 2-7 finish in 2025 after starting the year 3-0. Florida State is 8-18 since its ACC championship game win in 2023.

With FSU fans crowdsourcing Norvell’s buyout, safe to say that losing the AD is just the first domino to fall.

Sometimes, Kirby just has a way of breaking you. Let’s hope he’s done it to another guy, too…

Fun fact…Alabama lost helmet communications in the second half and scored 32 points against Kentucky.

Maybe it is the coach’s fault, after all.