Let’s handle our business, and we’ll start with some staples.
Rules, friends. Here’s Paschall with a look at UGA QB Gunner Stockton’s patient haul from QB2 to QB1 for the Bulldogs.
More rules. Here’s Hargis with some perspective on Baylor’s state title win Thursday at Finley. What a tremendous football team.
As for the Rushmores, let’s go this way.
Rushmore of worst sports movies of the last 50 years (and this will not include any remakes, sequels or extended money grabs on a series like Rocky V or Major League 3 — which are awful — and any of the add-ons in the kids sports series) — “Amazing Grace and Chuck” (trust me), “The Fan,” “Wimbledon” and “Juwanna Mann,” which, considering the talking point that transgender athletes in sports is, currently would 1,000% never get the green light today.
Rushmore of “Aaron,” and let’s do sports and non-sports — Hank Aaron, Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Donald, super-tough former UGA QB legend Aaron Murray; non-sports, Aaron Burr, Moses’ brother Aaron, Aaron Sorkin and Aaron Spelling, with all apologies to Aaron Paul, who was amazing in “Breaking Bad.” If you have not watched “Breaking Bad,” you need to, and if you start this weekend, you will binge it before you unwrap Christmas gifts. Thank me later.
Rushmore of “Seinfeld” cameos by celebrities who appeared as themselves — Keith Hernandez, Bette Midler, Marissa Tomei, and Raquel Welch, with apologies to other Yankees and Jon Voight.
Rushmore of back-up QBs — Nick Foles, Earl Morrell, our very own BackUp QB and Jonathan Moxon, who came off the bench when Lance Harbor got hurt to lead the West Canaan Coyotes and topple Coach Bud Kilmer’s doctoral run in the so-bad-it’s-good “Varsity Blues.”
Which leads us to a loaded and creative mailbag.
From Steve
When you asked about all-time back-up quarterbacks, I wondered this: If Drew Bledsoe had not been hurt, would Tom Brady be the GOAT of back-ups?
Steve
Wow, a great question, and Bledsoe’s injury that allowed a sixth-round pick from Michigan to inherit the keys for an iconic run with the Pats is the NFL’s Wally Pipp-to-Lou Gehrig, right?
I mean talent rises, so maybe the Pats would have seen what Brady was and what he could be either way. But the reverse is also certainly possible.
Man, Tom Brady sitting on the porch talking like Uncle Rico is an image that will linger this weekend.
From GG
In the CFP (or the proper name, I’m told, the ESPN Invitational), which teams in front of Vandy could you possibly leave out to get them in the Invitational?
GG
Such a good question and narrative that won’t be debated on GameDay any time soon because let’s play everyone’s third- or fourth-favorite 5-at-10 game of “Blind Resumés.” Spy, cue the music.
Vandy — Heisman-contending QB who may be the most dynamic player in college football; losses at No. 13 Texas and at No. 9 Alabama; best wins (and rankings are at the time of playing) at No. 11 South Carolina, vs. No. 10 LSU, vs. No. 15 Missouri, at No. 19 Tennessee.
Team A — Fringe Heisman RB1, losses at No. 12 and at home to No. 7; best wins vs. No. 20 and at No. 22.
Team B — Superstar freshman WR, losses against unranked conference foes, wins at home over No. 6, at No. 18 and at No. 22.
If you removed the logos, Vandy’s resumé is better than Team A (Notre Dame) and Team B (Miami), but the unwhispered part here is the committee’s charge of finding the best field for the Invitational as well as creating the best TV product possible.
If we don’t expand, do we need to do away with the auto conference championship bids.
Would you rather see Virginia, Tulane/North Texas or even James Madison in this field more than the Vandy Pavias?
Great question.
From Josh
Jay, I saw this online and wanted your answer. Here’s the question: “You’re at the plate. You get 10 strikes from Paul Skenes … If you make contact with any of them, you get $10M. If you whiff on all 10 … you go to jail for a year. Are you taking the bet?”
Well, interested minds want to know?
Josh,
Wow, that’s the stuff that makes social media fun.
I would need some fine-print details:
> Are they all strikes?
> Are they all fastballs, or his he going to his full repertoire?
> Can I bunt?
And that last one is the most critical.
If I could bunt 10 times, I would consider it.
If I had to swing … well, I’d have a better time stealing Livvy Dunne from Skenes than making contact, so no thanks.
From Sam
I noticed at the semifinal football game between Baylor and McCallie two weeks back, there were 22 players from Canada between their rosters (not all starters). Some are having to learn or improve on their English. With all the player demands across all sports these days, what if those guys started wanting special treatment?
> If more than 5 Canadians in a huddle, plays must be called in French (e.g., Le jet sweep on duex!)
> Pregame meals must involve croissants and brie cheese
> A lot of the players have hyphenated names on their jerseys; they want apostrophes
> If paid NIL, it must be in the higher trading currency — American or Canadian
> They are allowed one day a week they can wear their Hate Trump apparel
Going out to see Baylor’s D G-G tonite — what a stud!
Sam
Now that’s funny. And yes, DGG is bona fide. He’s a suitor and was the title game MVP with 28 carries for 151 yards and three catches for 60 more yards.
Any word on how many big-name coaches were in attendance at Finley last night?
From Mike
Jay — last year we had players moving in the portal before the college football playoffs; this year we have coaches. So all of the Lane Kiffin media coverage [last] weekend got me to wondering, should McCallie recruit sophomore QB Knox Kiffin so that we could watch Manning (Baylor) vs Kiffin (McCallie) in the fall? It might draw an even bigger crowd. Happy holidays.
Mike
Yep, this is the cleverness and wisdom of this forum.
Wait, is Knox Kiffin potentially Canadian?
Have a great weekend, friends.