University of South Carolina photo / Former Georgia quarterback and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is the interim head coach at South Carolina after Will Muschamp's firing earlier this week.Mike Bobo grew up dreaming of playing quarterback in the Southeastern Conference and accomplished that goal at Georgia, leading the Bulldogs to a 10-2 season in 1997 that included a triumph over rival Florida and an Outback Bowl drubbing of Wisconsin in which he completed 26 of his 28 passes.
Bobo got into college coaching not long after that and is now heading an SEC program, but this scenario hasn't gone to plan.
The former Georgia offensive coordinator and Colorado State head coach began this season as Will Muschamp's offensive coordinator at South Carolina, but he became interim head coach of the Gamecocks after Muschamp's firing this past Sunday. Bobo's first test occurs Saturday night, when the Gamecocks host Missouri in a matchup of teams trying to stay above the 53-player eligibility threshold in order for the game to transpire.
"I didn't come to South Carolina to be the next head coach or the interim head coach," Bobo said Wednesday. "I came here to work for Will Muschamp. When things happened the way that they did, the first thing you feel is that you let Coach down. We didn't do our part offensively well enough like we should, and now the next job that I have is to try and be the interim and hold this team together through this difficult time.
"Not only have we lost our coach, but we're going through COVID and opt-outs. Whirlwind is definitely a word I would use for it, and I'm just trying to keep my head down and trying to make sure these coaches and players remain positive and that it's about us."
Bobo guided Georgia's offense to program records in each of his last three seasons from 2012-14. His first three Colorado State teams played in bowl games.
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Arkansas hosts LSU on Saturday in the "Battle for the Golden Boot," but this week began with Razorbacks first-year coach Sam Pittman making a friendly phone call to Tigers counterpart Ed Orgeron.
"He wanted to tell me, 'Coach, thank you for paving the way for line coaches to become head coaches,'" Orgeron said. "He told me that at an SEC meeting, too. We talked about COVID, and I told him we were fine, and then I congratulated him on what a great job he was doing."
Said Pittman: "I just wanted to let him know that he is one of the guys who has paved the way for noncoordinators because of the great success he's had."
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Baylor's Brendon Harris stiff-arms McCallie's Wyatt Hughes during a home game for Harris and the Red Raiders against their rivals on Oct. 13, 2017.This could be a lengthy Saturday for Vanderbilt redshirt sophomore defensive back Brendon Harris, the former Baylor School standout who is awaiting the arrival of Florida's high-powered offense guided by quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Kyle Trask.
The 6-foot-1, 212-pound Harris has amassed 24 tackles, two pass breakups and a sack this season for the Commodores, who are still seeking their first win. He racked up 10 tackles at Mississippi State and tallied his first career forced fumble against South Carolina.
"Brendon has really come along," Vandy coach Derek Mason said. "He's seen himself getting more playing time and becoming more familiar with what we're asking him to do. He's been a mainstay back there after we had some injuries and some opt-outs, and I think Brendon is only going to get better. He's still young. He's a redshirt sophomore in a year when he'll be a redshirt sophomore a year from now.
"I think all the valuable experience he's getting now is going to pay valuable dividends in the future. We just need him to grow and play fast and play smart while continuing to be physical."
When asked about Harris playing in four of the six games so far, Mason said, "We don't talk about the COVID situations of our football team, but you can sort of read between the lines in all of it. If he didn't play, there was a reason for him not playing."
Photo by Patrick Murphy-Racey / Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano throws as his offensive line tries to keep the pocket from collapsing against Auburn during an SEC matchup on Oct. 13, 2018. The Vols upset the 21st-ranked Tigers 30-24 that day in Alabama, ending a streak of 11 straight league losses and giving Jeremy Pruitt a big win in his first season as coach. Auburn and Tennessee will meet this season as one of the added matchups for the SEC's 10-game conference-only schedule.Pasquali's Pix
Indiana at Ohio State: This is the first top-10 showdown during a regular season in Hoosiers history. Buckeyes 42, Hoosiers 17.
Clemson at Florida State: The Seminoles have reached a new low as 35-point home underdogs, nearly doubling the 18-point underdog status they possessed two years ago when Dabo Swinney's Tigers came to Tallahassee. Tigers 44, Seminoles 16.
Florida at Vanderbilt: The Gators are a lock to eclipse 35 points for a program-record ninth consecutive time. Gators 59, Commodores 20.
LSU at Arkansas: If you had to choose two SEC coaches to help out your side in a bar brawl, wouldn't Orgeron and Pittman be your picks? Tigers 27, Razorbacks 22.
Kentucky at Alabama: The Crimson Tide are seeking their 30th straight conquest over an SEC East opponent. Crimson Tide 35, Wildcats 7.
Tennessee at Auburn: Amid this offensive-crazed season, the Tigers are the only SEC team yet to allow more than 30 points in a game. Tigers 30, Volunteers 27.
Mississippi State at Georgia: The Bulldogs of Starkville last defeated the Bulldogs of Athens inside Sanford Stadium in 1956. SEC East Bulldogs 34, SEC West Bulldogs 3.
Missouri at South Carolina: Eli Drinkwitz's Tigers have endured five scheduling adjustments this season, with COVID-19 responsible for four and Hurricane Delta one. Tigers 26, Gamecocks 21.
Other picks:
Louisville 28, Syracuse 19
Michigan 42, Rutgers 21
Liberty 29, N.C. State 28
Oklahoma 45, Oklahoma State 26
Oregon 26, UCLA 25
Maryland 31, Michigan State 24
Memphis 40, Stephen F. Austin 7
Cincinnati 33, Central Florida 20
BYU 37, North Alabama 12
Wisconsin 24, Northwestern 13
Troy 27, MTSU 10
Virginia 55, Abilene Christian 6
Virginia Tech 20, Pittsburgh 17
Appalachian State 32, Coastal Carolina 31
Winners - 18
Flying clipboards - 1
Pasquali is now 132-46 overall (74.2%) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.