From Johnny Tigers Fan
This is my first entry to the mailbag. I started reading the 5@10 because of Press Row. I heard you on the radio saying you think Alabama rolls in the CFB championship. What? Why in the world do you think that since Clemson should have won last year and is better this year?
Thanks and enjoy the show.
JTF -
Welcome to the program and thanks for listening.
Yes, I have been all over Alabama all week on the radio. Here's why:
First, Clemson's weakness is pass protection and consistency across the offensive line. Now remember that Alabama has the best defensive line since, well, maybe ever. Ask yourself this: What other defensive front seven had four likely first-round seniors playing together in their final game for all the marbles?
And that group is going against the weakest part of the Clemson team.
OK, Deshaun Watson is excellent, and likely deserve the Heisman if the ballots were due Jan. 1 rather than Dec. 1. So too is receiver Mike Williams and the Clemson defense has rebounded from massive NFL losses from the last two years. So we're happy to admit Clemson is good. (Saying they 'should have won last year' is a little far-fetched in our view.)
But we ask this again and again when it comes to Alabama and its opponents: How many Clemson players would start for this Alabama team?
Watson? Absolutely. Williams? Yes, he may be the top WR picked in April. But how many others, and we ask that seriously?
And while Watson makes a world of difference and gives Clemson an All-American and a chance against anyone - Alabama included - but the measures of these teams 1-22 are far more one-sided than many realize because of a landslide against an Ohio State team that laid down.
(Side note: We have been banging the Alabama drum hard all week, so it would be this Auburn grad's luck for Alabama to lay a stinker out there and watch the lines light up come Tuesday for people wanting me to eat crow on the show.)
Florida's Antonio Callaway (81) makes a dive for end zone while Tennessee's Justin Martin (8) defends. Callaway was called out, but the Gators scored their first touchdown several plays later. The Florida Gators visited the Tennessee Volunteers in a important SEC football contest at Neyland Stadium on September 24, 2016.From Andy J.
Tee Martin is the next coach of Tennessee. Buy or sell?
Andy J. -
Sell.
Fast and long.
Tee Martin had a great year, but he also found a great quarterback. That can't be the measure of a great offensive coach, and as an Auburn fan we know this first-hand. If a coach can only be effective with a hot-shot quarterback, then when the hot-shot is only a warm shot, the offense flatlines.
And that doesn't even cover the point that Tennessee would be rolling the dice big-time by giving anyone control of the program and that be his first head coaching gig.
Now, that said, here's betting Tee Martin will be a pretty hot name - it's pretty reasonable to expect Sam Darnold and USC to be just as explosive next year - come December 2017 for a mid-major gig.
Now if Butch re-establishes the momentum in Knoxville and removes the heat from his seat next year, then that's the one way Tee could be the next head coach in K-town. But he won't be the man at his alma mater before 2019 if we had to make an educated guess.
CORRECTS PARK SPELLING TO LUEDERS, NOT LEUDERS - Sister Venus and Serena Williams, right, speak during a dedication ceremony of the Lueders Park tennis courts Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, in Compton, Calif. The courts were dedicated in their name. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) From Steve
You had some great Rushmore topics this week. That's may favorite part of the 5-at-10. Did you ever put out your sports siblings Rushmore?
Steve -
Now is a good time to update what we thought of this week's Rushmores:
- Second sports siblings: Eli Manning, Venus Williams, Reggie Miller (Yes, he's a Hall of Famer, but Cheryl was the MJ of her sport), Marc Gasol
- Mel Gibson movies: Braveheart, The Patriot, Road Warrior, Lethal Weapon.
- Best bowl games ever: Miami-Nebraska, USC-Texas, Ohio State-Miami, Auburn-Oregon. (Yes, that last one may have some personal bias.)
- Rushmore of sirs: Sir Isaac Newton, Yes Sir (good manners never go out of style), Sir Mix-a-Lot, Sirloin.
- College hoops stars: Maravich, Alcindor, Laettner, Walton
- Sports organizations over the last 40 years: Steelers, Yankees, Lakers and Celtics
FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2016, file photo, Chris Berman introduces former Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith during his jersey retirement ceremony at halftime of an NFL football game, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Berman isn't disappearing from in front of the cameras or from behind the microphones.He's simply stepping to the side a bit. The longtime ESPN fixture is giving up his regular on-air NFL and baseball spots for a new role at the network.(AP Photo/Bill Wippert, File) From Scott
Oh Mr. 5-at-10, we need your final input. A bunch of us were discussing the all-time ESPN Rushmore with the announcement that Chris Berman is retiring. Who you got?
Scott -
Great question and yes, all things considered, Berman has to make the ESPN Rushmore. Yes the last 10 years or so, Berman has fallen off and been a caricature of himself. We would go with Bob Ley, Tom Mees, and Berman as the old-school three that form the foundation of the Rushmore.
The last one, well, we'd lean toward Dick Vitale for who he is and what he has brought to the plate in a franchise that was the first big-time, high-profile sports entity that the network landed.
From Alex
What was your favorite moment of the bowl season? What did you think was the best game?
Alex -
Wow, great question, and maybe one that we throw out on Press Row today.
(Side note: We will be broadcasting live from World of Wheels today from 3-6. Swing by if you have the chance.)
Best game: Rose Bowl, USC 52, Penn State 49.
Best performance: Sam Darnold, USC quarterback. Calvin Cook, the FSU running back is a close second.
Worst game: Citrus Bowl, Florida 30, Iowa 3. (Although the LSU 29, Louisville 9 game was just as unimpressive.)
Worst performance: Let's go with Bobby Petrino and Heisman winner Lamar Jackson. Three FGs? really?
Worst performance by a team: Ohio State. Wow, that was bad.
Best conference: ACC. Louisville's floater aside, the league has been excellent across the board, going 8-3 heading into Mondya's title game.
Worst conference: Big Ten. The powerful group's big three went bagel-and-3.
Best hype: The Orange Bowl, with Michigan and FSU completely lived up to the billing.
Worst hype: The playoff semifinals were dreadful. Period.
Thoughts?