Hope you have enjoyed the week and have big plans for the weekend. Good times. Saturdays in September? Great times.
From the "Talks too much" studios, hey, Peyton just threw another TD.
UTC defensive back Dee Virgin (19) celebrates after recovering a fumble by UT Martin during the Mocs' season opening football game.From Billy-in-Brainerd
Mocs minus 10 looks like a Jeff Sagarin line. Here is how he ranks these 4 teams: UTC [139], Samford [146], UT-Martin [156], Ga State [201]. Ga State had 463 yards in total offense against Samford. Mocs D gave up 451 yards to Martin. I am going to the Dome this Saturday and I am worried. Someone please tell me why i should not be...
Billy,
Relax. Deep breaths.
We think UTC's performance last week was bad on almost every level. We also believe it was an isolated incident that will be solved tomorrow.
We also believe that UT-Martin was better than we expected.
The No. 1 factor in the Thursday night debacle for UTC was an offseason of the Mocs hearing how good they are. That is a drastic and clear problem for college football teams. In fact, other than his acumen as a recruiter, Nick Saban's best attribute is that he can keep a highly successful program hungry and focused depsite being highly successful.
As for the Mocs, here's saying not many folks have been bending their ears about how good they are the last 10 days. That motivation will serve them well.
We're expecting the best from UTC on Saturday - but what do we know? We thought they could be unbeaten going to Tuscaloosa.
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From Tike via the Twitter
How many of those Peyton 'hater' callers from yesterday are rethinking their thoughts. Prob not after one game, but still...
and
From Stewwie
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18). (AP Photo/Steven Senne)Will you post your Peyton rank later today? In fact, let's see a Rushmore.
Stew,
Well, Stew, Mr. Manning made the most of his extra time to support your claim for Peyton being the best QB ever.
For those of you living under an ESPN-less rock, Manning threw seven TD passes last night in the Broncos' 49-27 season-opening destruction of the Baltimore Ravens. It was overwhelmingly impressive and impressively overwhelming.
As Tike suggested it was a magical performance, highlighted by five second-half TD passes. When Manning is clicking he is something else - and when he's clicking he moves the pieces and changes the puzzle to the point that guys are CUH-Razy wide open.
It did not change our rank, however. After discussing the topic for more than an hour on Press Row on Thursday, it became clear that the best QB ever debate may have more criteria debates than any other sports topic.
Are stats most important? What about rings? What about the eye test?
And no matter which angle you believe is the most important, there are outliers that compromise it.
If stats are your thing, is Warren Moon the best? Dan Marino? Bret Favre?
If it's rings, you have the choice between Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana in the Super Bowl era.
The eye test leaves you wondering how Jeff George wasted so much potential.
All three have a say, and left us with a Rushmore of Montana, Elway, Brady and Manning. Yes, we likely sold short Johnny U. And we believe Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach are right there on the edge in the second Rushmore.
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From sportsfan
Jay - I read the 5 at 10 when I can. I haven't had the chance to hear the show on 105.1 yet. If it's anything like your guest appearances on Sporttalk, I'm sure it's Heisman worthy. For the Friday mailbag...what advice would you give Tebow? Convert to the TE position? Go to the CFL? Go to the CFL and convert to the TE position? Enter the 9 to 5 work world? Actually, it's more like 7 to 7, but who's counting...
Sportsfan,
Thanks for the support Sportsfan. The radio show from 1-3 on 105.1 FM has been fun. And crazy. So it goes, and we've always said we'd rather be busy than bored. We surely do not have to worry about the latter.
This photo taken Aug. 2013 shows New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow throwing during warmups before a NFL preseason game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit.As for Mr. Tebow, here's how the 5-at-10 would have a Mr. C-from-Happy Days-type chat:
5-at-10: Timmy - TIMMY! - thanks for swinging by. Have a seat.
Tebow: Who are you and why do you refer to yourself in third person with a numeric internet nickname?
5-at-10: Grab some wood there bub. You're the one that needs the advice, and we're just the family-oriented, interweb-based sports columnist to deliver it.
Tebow: Whatever.
5-at-10: So, you find yourself looking for work. Have you given any thought to playing tight end or fullback?
Tebow: No sir. I am committed to pursuing my dream of being an NFL quarterback. I am a quarterback.
5-at-10: Actually you're not. You're unemployed.
Tebow: Yeah, but...
5-at-10: No buts there Mr. Squeaky Clean. Listen, you could not even stick with the Patriots considering the following advantages. 1) The owner wants to adopt you. 2) The offensive coordinator is the guy that was drunk enough to spend a first-round pick on you. 3) The team's off-the-field image right now really could use a heavy jolt of Tebowing. It's not working.
Tebow: What do you recommend?
5-at-10: Glad you asked. If you want to give playing QB one final shot, go to Canada and work on your mechanics and accuracy. They need some serious work.
Tebow: Yes. I'll make it happen sir. Thanks for your time.
5-at-10: One more thing. When/if that doesn't work, here's what you need to do. Call Will Muschamp and ask him to be an offensive assistant coach with the Gators. We're pretty sure there's ZERO chance he'll say no. We have a sneaky feeling that you would be a home run on the recruiting trail - what momma wouldn't send their boy to play for Tebow - and sooner rather than later you will be a very successful college head coach.
Tebow: I like it.
5-at-10: That or look up the seventh son of the Llama with the flowing robes. Striking.
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From JMC
I know Tennessee is no Alabama and Austin Peay is no UT Martin. But given some of the write-ups regarding WKU, the Hilltoppers are almost poised (on paper mind you) to pull a North Dakota State (or Appy State) in Mother Knoxville. Thoughts?
JMC,
With all the talk and all the buzz, you'd think the Hilltoppers were coming to Knoxville ranked No. 6 in the country with a Heisman candidate and two All-Americans. They beat a Kentucky that will be lucky to win four games.
Are they dangerous? Certainly they are because they have a coach that is among the biggest in-game difference makers in college football and primarily because this Tennessee team has been Dooleyed to the point that losing a 5-foot-7 white wide receiver gives Johnny Vols Fans cause of concern.
That said, all of the talk and the hand-wringing starts to stall when you look to the folks that are putting their livelihood on the line on this one. Vegas has WKU as a two-touchdown underdog. If we were forced to pick this one, we'd likely go with the Hilltoppers and the points, but we're not in love with this one as most everyone else.
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From Two-Timer
I have started reading the 5-at-10 after listening to you and Paschall on the radio. It's pretty good stuff.
Funny how you guys talked about Peyton and then he did that. Last night he was "in the zone."
Which athletes do you remember being in the best "zone".
Thanks and thanks for the 5-at-10.
TT,
Great question, and Manning is one of those guys that, as we mentioned before, when it's going good, it's going REALLY good.
In fact, he's one of the all-time zoners. Hey, let's do a Rushmore of Zone:
Peyton Manning - if you need any more evidence, call the Ravens
Jordan - Dude was awesome on a daily basis, but when the perimeter shots were falling, he was unstoppable
Barry Bonds - He spent most of the 2001 season in the zone
Reggie Miller - Money. Simply money.
Discuss.