The last couple of years, Bammer and I have taken turns on "Hate weeks". He has some personal history with Tennessee, so that hate week has always spoken to him more. For myself, there is one team I hate above all others, Auburn.
I hate their colors.
I hate the stupid string of luck that buoyed them for nearly 2 seasons.
I hate how they dress up rule abuse as innovation.
I hate their hypocrisy.
I hate seeing this garbage on my tv.
I hate Auburn.
Share you hate in the comments below.
College football viewer, you might have seen nothing impressive in Alabama's defeat of Western Carolina. But the voters in the USA Today coaches poll saw it as the sign of a true champion. At least, a larger minority than last week saw it as the sign of a true champion. Or maybe they saw Florida State being one errant kick away from overtime against Boston College and thought that wasn't the sign of a true champion. Yeah, it might be the latter.
Bama is #2 in the AP, and #1 in the Coaches' Poll. FSU is still #1 in the AP. Congrats on reminding people how terrible the AP is, AP.
Alabama opens as favorite in Iron Bowl, but point spread not as large as 2013 | AL.com
Alabama is the favorite in the Iron Bowl, but Auburn is not as big of an underdog as it was last season. Auburn opened Sunday as a 7-point underdog, according to VegasInsider.com, but the line moved up to 9.5 in the evening.
Malzahn 'hopeful' D'haquille Williams to return for Iron Bowl - CBSSports.com
Gus Malzahn said Saturday night he is "hopeful" his struggling Auburn offense will get one of its biggest weapons back for its showdown with top-ranked archrival Alabama.
Tigers leading receiver D'haquille "Duke" Williams could return for this Saturday's Iron Bowl after missing the past two games with a knee injury suffered against Texas A&M on Nov. 8, Malzahn said, per al.com. Williams has 609 yards and a team-high five touchdowns in nine games.
"We are hoping he will be back this week," Malzahn said. "I am not ready to make that call yet, but we are hopeful."
Alabama QB Jacob Coker shows improvement in expanded role vs. Western Carolina | AL.com
"Obviously coming into our offense, it's a little bit time constraining to learn it," center Ryan Kelly said. "I think he did a pretty good job throughout the summer and continuing this year, improving on just the looks we can get.
"Every game he plays he's improving." Coker uncorked a deep pass to get Alabama started on its next possession, and it got the job done even though it fell incomplete.
The Crimson Tide got rolling after pass interference was called, as Coker connected with Chris Black for 25 yards and Robert Foster for 14 on third-and-8 to keep the chains moving.
"We kind of got more chemistry with Coker," Black said, referring to the Crimson Tide's second-team receivers who most often work with him. "We all do a great job of practice throughout the week."
Western Carolina head coach Mark Speir agrees with that assessment after the Crimson Tide beat his Catamounts 48-14 on Saturday.
"I'm pulling for them," Speir said. "This place is a class act and we're trying to emulate this place. Sure, I think they're the No. 1 team in the country and I hope they go win it."
Somebody's working hard for a job offer.
Jameis Winston's contact with official did not warrant unsportsmanlike penalty, ACC says - ESPN
Doug Rhoads, the ACC's coordinator of officials, said in a statement Sunday: "The center judge's positioning, which was due to the experimental year of having an eighth official, combined with the late substitution and by rule the need to allow the defense to matchup, led to contact between himself and the player. The official believed the contact was incidental and insignificant and did not rise to the level of unsportsmanlike conduct and automatic disqualification."
FSU coach Jimbo Fisher and Winston said there was nothing malicious about the contact between the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and an official in the third quarter of the Seminoles' 20-17 win against Boston College on Saturday.
"He was just holding me because he said we had a substitution," Winston said of the official. "It was actually a fast-tempo play, so I was trying to get up under there and let it ride."
Fisher said the play call was for Winston to snap the ball quickly after the previous play, but the official ruled Florida State made a substitution at running back, the coach said he was told.
"I don't think [Winston] realized it. He was caught up in the excitement of the moment," Fisher said. "Hey, you get emotional. He didn't realize. He thought he could snap the ball. ... He knew that was his job -- get out there and set and snap the ball." Fisher said he didn't talk to Winston about the contact, which he felt was innocuous and unintentional.
Not to hijack AU hate week, but if I'm being completely honest with everyone here, I have to say that FSU is right up there with (and maybe outpacing) AU for active antipathy this season. With that in mind, here's your bonus vent of the day: this is some straight up bullcrap.
On the off chance that you missed the play in question, here it is:
And, here's another angle:
There is nothing innocuous, unintentional, incidental, or insignificant about that play. He clearly shoves a ref, almost pushing the guy down, and then seems to turn and bark something at him immediately after. How did Fisher feel about the way the play went down?
"They did a good job on that from that standpoint," he said. "I think they understood what was going on. Those guys handled that part of the game. They managed the game itself and that part, I thought, very good. They did a very nice job."
The more I saw the play the more I thought, well surely the conference will step in, right? I know they're only shot at the playoff is on the line, but they can't be ok with enabling such comically unacceptable behavior. Right?
The ACC routinely evaluates every game and reports from their officials. The ACC said it considers the matter closed.
Nope.
Videos
Nick Saban post game press conference
Players talking about the Iron Bowl
Reggie Ragland (linebacker)
Blake Sims (quarterback)
Ryan Kelly (center)
Landon Collins (safety)