From Crash and Burn
Has Lamar Jackson lost his trophy tonight?
Crash and Burn -
No, but that's mainly because he was so far ahead of the field, and there is no real sealer cut No. 2 right now.
Seriously, who would be second on most ballots?
J.T. Barrett maybe. Gabril Peppers possibly. Deshaun Watson as a default, but he's among the country's worst in picks and turnovers. The running backs have done R-U-N-N-O-F-T and will not be a factor.
Now if either of Barrett or Peppers steals the show in eight days when the Buckeyes and the Wolverines go at it, well, that could be a real challenger. And how about that egg Louisville and Petrino laid last night. Wow that was stunning.
It reaffirmed Tom Herman as the hottest name going and crushed any and all of Louisville's playoff hopes. Been a while since we have been that surprised by a big game like that one.
From Jason
I don't know if this will make it into the mailbag but may you can talk about it on your show tomorrow. But did you see Luke Keuchly leaving the field in tears tonight? Man, that was odd. What do you make of that?
Jason -
That was stunning. Truly stunning.
Kuechly, for those who did not see it last night, is an All-Pro linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. He was injured in the fourth quarter in last night's win over the Saints.
He is a big, fast gladiator, and dude was in tears with a child-like bewildered look on his face.
The moment was captured by NBC announcer Cris Collinsworth like this: "He was sobbing out on the field. I don't know what's going on here.... Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I mean nobody loves the game of football and is loved by this city and is loved by his teammates more than that guy."
Now, add in the fact that Kuechly needed to ride off on the cart. Remember this was a head injury first and foremost, and he was carted off.
Maybe Kuechly knew he was done for the year. Maybe he knew how serious this was.
But that was down right scary, and a reminder of how dangerous that game is.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts finishes a 4-yard touchdown run to stretch Alabama's lead to 23-0 in the second quarter of Saturday's home game against Mississippi State. Hurts finished with 447 yards of total offense as the top-ranked Crimson Tide won 51-3.From Bama John
How can you say that the SEC is not the best conference?
The SEC has the best team -- Bama, duh -- and the best division with the West. It will have the most first-round picks and most overall picks. Your just one of those mainstream media people who is looking to stir people up.
Bama John -
The best team in the country does not mean the best conference in the country.
As for your point about best talent, we agree with that, and that magnifies the struggles of these teams. It's an indictment in a lot of ways of the lack of quality development for some of these programs. And it screams about the lack of high-caliber quarterback play in this cycle of SEC teams.
Yes, that will change in years to come considering the freshmen at Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and now Ole Miss who have delivered and matured and looked the part.
The experience and the balance of the Big Ten makes it way more impressive, and remember, because we believe head-to-head should count, the fourth-best Big Ten team Wisconsin manhandled LSU, which looks like the second-best SEC team.
As for the best division, well, is the SEC West that much better than the Big Ten East considering the top three are Alabama, LSU and Auburn compared to Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State, of even the ACC Whatever that has Clemson, Louisville and FSU? And the SEC East is way, Way, WAY worse than the counterpart division of those conferences too.
That said, there is no doubt which is the best team in the country. That's clear and the divide is not close.
Also, it's kind of impressive that in the worst collective season for the SEC in a decade, it's still debatable if they are the best conference in the country.
From Christina
There are a lot of us here who discuss your Rushmores at lunch. On Fridays we wish you would include one in your mailbag. Is that possible? Thank you Mr. Greeson, and thanks for the 5-at-10.
Christina and lunchmates -
Wow, Mr. Greeson. Did you mean to send this to my dad? (Thanks for being polite Christina and in truth since we just turned 46 last month, we have become somewhat comfortable with the Mr. tag. Key word there being somewhat.)
OK, first, let's run back the couple of Rushmores we've had this week. The Scorsese Rushmores from Thursday, we'll go Goodfellas (an all-timer for us), Cape Fear, Gangs of New York and Departed. (We're not as high on Casino as a lot of others.)
Best directors of the last 40 years, we'll go Spielberg, Scorsese, Ridley Scott and the Coen Brothers. (And man that list was tougher than most realize.)
Hoosiers Rushmore of best lines, we'll tip the visor to the suggestion of "My team is on the floor" as the fourth. (Although we loved the prayer when Strap's dad quotes the Good Book and says simply, "And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen.") The others were: Jimmy - "I'll make it." and Shooter - "Fellas, don't get caught watching the paint dry." and Announcer (played by Kentucky legend Cawood Ledford): "The pint-sized, barely big enough for three syllables Hickory Huskers against the Mighty Bears of South Bend Central." (And yes, I did all of those from memory friends.)
We could do a cartoon character Rushmore since today is Mickey Mouse's 88th birthday after making his debut in "Steamboat Willie" on Nov. 18 in 1928. Whatcha' got?
As for an extra Rushmore, did you know that Abe Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address was in 1863 on Nov. 19, which is Saturday? What is the Rushmore of most famous speeches, real and movie-related.
Real, we'll start with the Gettysburg Address, MLK's I Have a Dream speech, FDR's radio address after Pearl Harbor (the one with this day living in infamy) and maybe JFK's inauguration speech (the one with ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country, which is a great line and unbelievably pertinent today).
As for best movie speeches and we made be a little out there, but we'll take William Wallace about free men in Braveheart, Crash Davis unloading what he believes in in Bull Durham, Pacino in the locker room of Any Given Sunday and what?
From A Reader
I read your columns and listen to Press Row on the drive home. I know you cover a lot of topics, but have you ever considered answering questions about personal issues as well.
If you will, would you answer this (and please change my name in case my girl friend reads this) -- I am going to my girl friend's parents house for Thanksgiving. It's out of town and we are staying Wednesday, eating Thursday and then coming home. What advice can you give and what should I be looking to bring?
Thanks.
A Reader -
We are more than happy to offer random life advice. (After all, we have officially become Mr. Greeson to some of our readers.)
OK first and foremost, no hanky panicky. None. Don't try to be the hero. Don't give into to the urge. Just do not even think about. And if you are thinking what's the worst thing that could happen, well, try this on for size: You mess around with your girl, and her parents or worse yet a sibling learns of it, and then comes the prayer on Thursday with the subtle line of "And Lord we are thankful for those who know how to act when visiting others," or something of that ilk.
It's one night.
If your girlfriend's family enjoys the occasional wine or Co-Cola, a nice bottle of wine for Wednesday night could be quite classy. And if you really dig this girl, find out what her old man drinks - scotch, clear liquor, what have you - and deliver his favorite brand. Repeat, deliver his favorite brand, not yours. If dude is a whiskey drinker and he likes George Dickel, then show up with George Dickel. If you show up with Gentleman Jack or something even higher brow than that you run the risk of trying to big time the head of the household. And that's a terrible way to start because he already is worried about you trying to have sex with his daughter in his house.
(Side note: If her dad is a beer drinker, just skip it. Showing up with a 12-pack under your arm gives the feeling of frat party on first appearance. Go with the wine for the misses or something that goes well with meal. Ask the folks at the liquor store about a good choice, and if you go wine, do not skimp. Seriously, if this lasts three years from now or even at your rehearsal dinner do you want the story to be how you showed up with the $3 bottle of pinot grigio from the Wal-Mart?)
As for food, if you have something of a traditional nature that you actually feel comfortable making, by all means offer it. Start here with the girlfriend, and get an idea of how this will go. Is it traditional? Is it super fancy? (If it is super fancy with like hired help and all, you may want to google some Emily Post etiquette tips. Just an idea.)
If it's like most Thanksgivings and you are like most dudes, there probably is not a lot of thinks you can contribute to the table. No one over the age of 7 wants Kraft Mac-n-Cheese or your instant potatoes.
If that's the case, offer to bring bread - bakery bread is always good and lean toward the yeast/dinner rolls - or you can splurge and bring a Honeybaked Ham possibly.
Hope this helps. (And remember, hands to yourself.)
Enjoy the weekend gang.