Will Muschamp is the head coach of the Florida Gators

Will Muschamp will bring that fiery attitude to Gainesville

What we know:

• No head coach experience. Has served as a successful defensive coordinator for Auburn, LSU and Texas. At Texas, he was the coach-in-waiting behind Head Coach Mack Brown, but who knows when Brown will step down.
• Is known for being a good recruiter and that will help him in his new position. He has met with the recruits coming in this year and has introduced himself. He already has a commitment from the No.1 quarterback for 2011 class (Rivals.com), Jeff Driskel. So it’s very evident that he is not wasting anytime hitting the recruiting trail.
• Is a fiery, energetic person that will motivate his players; it’s easy to fall in love with his infectious personality.
• Muschamp can be successful at Florida with the right staff assembled. It is public knowledge that Major Applewhite, the former assistant coach and running backs coach of Texas, has been targeted as the next offensive coordinator. Nothing has been finalized yet, but sources say he will be the guy. Also Kirby Smart has been targeted as the defensive coordinator. Muschamp and Smart are good friends and this could lead to Smart leaving Alabama and signing for more money in Gainesville.

What we don’t know:

• Who were the other candidates for this job? Dan Mullen (of Mississippi State)?   Charlie Strong (of Louisville)? Chip Kelly (of Oregon)? Bobby Petrino (of Arkansas)?  Jim Harbaugh (of Stanford)?
• How will Muschamp handle being the head coach? With all the meetings, banquets, and other necessary things head coaches have to do, will he handle it well? What about the pressure from the media to perform?
• What will his recruiting classes look like?
• How will he fair coaching against Bobby Petrino, Les Miles, Houston Nutt, Steve Spurrier, and Nick Saban?
• Will the offense change to more of a pro-style offense? Less option-spread attack? Where does QB John Brantley fit into all of this?
• How will he game plan against Cam Newton considering how they tried to steal his spotlight on the day of the Heisman inauguration? There is definitely bad blood between these two programs, especially when reports came out of Florida about academic cheating by Newton. You can be sure he will be fired up to make a mockery of the Gator defense.
• Did Mack Brown’s push Muschamp out of the door?  After a dismal season (5-7), Brown was asked if Muschamp was going to have a say in personnel decisions and Brown soundly said “no.”

My Two Cents-Will Auburn play in the SEC Championship game?

Auburn hopes to have the scoreboard read in their favor come Nov. 26th.

Yes, I feel they have the best shot coming out of the SEC West. Auburn QB Cam Newton is just phenomenal. He broke the record for the most rushing yards(in history) of SEC quarterbacks in a single season at 1, 077 yards on the ground, and he has four regular season games left. Before the season started I actually thought that that Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett would make people forget about Tim Tebow but boy I was wrong. I do not think anyone knew how dynamic Newton would be and how much he means to his team. He is clearly the Heisman front runner and if it was up to me, I would give him the trophy now.

Everyone knows that the defense is the biggest problem on this team. They actually gave up only 17 points in this game compared to 43 points (against Arkansas) and 34 (against Kentucky). There are improvements on defense, even though it might be minimal. The cornerbacks need to track and play the ball, how many times have we seen them with their backs turned to the ball allowing wide receivers to make big catches?

The annual Iron Bowl will take place on Nov. 26^th and this will be another game, if Auburn wins, that will define their impressive season thus far. Alabama leads the rivalry with a 40-33-1 record, but I feel this year the Tigers will cause the tide to shift in their favor for the next couple of years. Last season they lost a close game to the Crimson Tide that came back to pull out the win, 26-21; however, Newton was not the quarterback and this brings a very interesting element to this game.

Nick Saban and Kirby Smart will have to dial up inventive defensive schemes to confuse and shutdown the running lanes, so Newton will be forced to pass. We thought, last week, that LSU was going to be that team that took away the holes in the defense for Newton but that did not happen. And that is why I strongly believe that he will continue to have success against Alabama.

The problem with ‘Bama is that this team is better suited when playing with a lead as opposed to being down. For evidence, check out the South Carolina game,  knowing that Auburn will put up points, what will happen if Alabama finds themselves down by 14 points or more? We know Auburn will not let up on the gas pedal once they have a lead so it could get ugly and embarrassing for the Crimson Tide, if they do not keep this game close. I can certainly see the Tigers coming out like gangbusters and then Saban corralling his troops, at halftime, and have them ready for the second half.

I strongly believe that this year belongs to Newton and he will give his all in the Iron Bowl, so there will be no shortage of effort on both teams. But Auburn will make a big splash with a win over Saban’s team and ride into the SEC Championship game on a high, where they could possibly face the Gamecocks again. Momentum is on the side of the Tigers this year with the SEC having a down year, so if Newton does not capture the SEC Championship this year then it will have to be the following year. One must realize that Newton will capture the conference championship before all is said and done for him at Auburn.

Cam Newton tosses his hat in the ring of Heisman contenders

Cam Newton is racing to the finish line in the Heisman race

Cam Newton is special.  I have to admit I was skeptical about him and even compared him to Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State. But after digesting three Auburn games, I can say that he is the real deal. Newton plays with passion and wants it all. When he takes off and run, there is a purpose behind it and he will run over you and juke you out of your shoes. If you want evidence on how dynamic of a player he is--look at the Arkansas game--watch how he eludes, spins, shuffles his feet and flat out breaks ankles. 

 Here I was thinking that QB Denard Robinson of Michigan was going to run away with the Heisman this year. But in the last two games, teams must have some Kryptonite stashed on them because he has looked anything but Superman like. To be successful in college football you must have a good supporting cast; Batman cannot exist without Robin at his side, and Superman cannot take on the likes of Lex Luthor without the Justice League.

I’m calling for Newton to win the Heisman; everything sets up so well for him: Auburn is 7-0, Newton is No. 2 in pass efficiency (65% completion rate), he has rushed for 860 yards, in seven games, passed for 1,278 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, and most importantly he plays in the SEC, which is the most watched conference in college football.

Sure, they have LSU at home and end the season in Tuscaloosa (Nov. 26), but the Tigers have played the most exciting football this season. And they find themselves week-in and week-out coming back from being down and winning in thrilling fashion. Newton is the reason why, and no longer is he in the shadows of another quarterback (was a backup to Tebow in ’07-‘08). Auburn has a legitimate shot to play for the SEC Championship and go on to the national title game to represent the Southeastern Conference.

However, the defensive side of the ball is a problem. They are ranked 63^rd in the nation, giving up an average of 367.86 yards per game. Yes, this is a major problem but as long as Newton is healthy it’s hard to see this team losing. But it will be interesting to see Auburn’s offense against LSU and Alabama and how they will fare.  Newton can pass the ball; he is not Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley, but he can be effective in the passing game when called upon to. Obviously, he is most dynamic when the tucking the ball and taking off for the end zone.

Gus Malzahn is the mastermind behind Auburn's explosive offense

I have to say if the Tigers get past LSU and Newton is still doing his thing, it’s safe to say they have a good shot of beating Alabama. The way they are scoring it will be hard for the Crimson Tide to match them.

Cam Newton has arrived, and he is playing at a high level and sky’s limit for him and the Auburn Tigers. I know the school was criticized for the hiring of Gene Chizik but it has turned out that he is the right man for the job. And the great staff he has assembled is another key to his success. If I had a Heisman vote, it would be for Newton without a doubt. He means the most to his team than any other player in the nation, and he is the most phenomenal talent on Saturdays. 

Alabama shows why they are the No.1 team in the nation, pushing past Arkansas, 24-20

Alabama is a great team -the best team in the nation- and they showed it Saturday in Fayetteville. In the opening moments, the entire Arkansas team was fired up to be at home and get the chance to knock off the No. 1 team. If there are still any doubts about Ryan Mallett, please put them to rest. He threw for 250 yards in the first half, and finished the day with 357 yards through the air. You have to be special to do this against an Alabama defense, albeit a young and inexperienced unit. But I tip my hat to Mallett because he is the real deal. The Razorbacks picked on cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick all game long and exploited his inexperience for a few big plays by Arkansas wideout Jarius Wright (6 catches, 131 yards). In the first half, the upset alert was going off as the wheels were falling off of the Crimson Tide. Greg McElroy was not his steady self in the first half and that had to do with a couple of bad passes and a fired up Razorback team. The second half was when Alabama stuck to their bread and butter: the running game with Mark Ingram (157 yards and 2 TDs) and Trent Richardson (85 yards, no rushing TDs, 1 REC TD), perfect strategy to keep the potent Arkansas offense off the field and wear away at the Razorback defense. Nick Saban’s boys showed resolve and true grit in the face of adversity. McElroy orchestrated drives that put his team in position to win; there was a sense of been-here-done-that attitude by the Crimson Tide. There was no point where I saw this team panic being down for the majority of the game, taking the lead with 3:18 left in the game. Three interceptions by the ‘Bama defense was the key factor to thwarting the Razorbacks. Robert Lester had two interceptions on the day, one very important one, setting up Alabama to take the lead; and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick picked off the last interception to seal the game and put an end to any chances for an Arkansas comeback. I feel in my gut that the Crimson Tide faced their biggest and stiffest test they will see all season. This team will be undefeated and have a chance to be back-to-back national champions. I really believe it and you should too. Greg McElroy will continue to improve, and he’s no longer a game-manager, maybe last year he was but not anymore; he comfortable with the offense and the playmakers around him. McElroy will end up being the most efficient passer in the SEC, or out of the BCS conferences. Arkansas really needs to work on establishing a running game to become more balanced with the passing attack. It’s a lot for Mallett to carry the offense with his arm for four quarters. But this team might just get the majority of their wins in shootouts; and the defense needs to improve as well. There are still signature wins to be had against Auburn, South Carolina, and LSU. And how Mallett performs in these games will put him right in the thick of the Heisman race, but no better win would have been bigger than downing Alabama.

Our Two Cents-Which team will have the quickest turnaround, Texas or Florida?

Matt Deringer Texas. Forget that the Longhorns are 3-0 and don't need a "turnaround" as much as they do an "acceleration", and look at the schedule. Sure, the first half of October is brutal - Oklahoma and at Nebraska - but after that, there's not a game they won't be at least touchdown-favorites in. The Gators, on the other hand, have to go to Alabama, play better-than-expected Kentucky and Mississippi State, host LSU and South Carolina - my pick to win the SEC East - and get rivals Georgia and Florida State. I think Urban Meyer is a better game coach than Mack Brown, but just-as-much talent in a not-as-tough conference makes Texas the pick. Matt Melon I do not think picking Texas is the easy answer to this question. I literally think both teams cannot stop tripping over themselves. Florida finds life in the second half of games, while Texas awakens in the second quarter. Both teams rely on their defenses and that is why they are undefeated. It’s true that defense does win championships, but you need to score as well. Of course, we know that Texas has perennially played cupcake teams in their nonconference games so you would think they would be lock to end up having a better season, and a quicker road to the BCS Championship game. However, Nebraska and Oklahoma are licking their chops to get a piece of this team that has no Colt McCoy or running game. And Texas finishes off with Texas A&M that gives them problems. Florida has some tricky SEC games coming up: @Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia, and South Carolina. They are fortunate that the meat of the schedule is at home, but the brutal Southeastern conference teams won’t be as forgiving as they will bring the toughness and the big hits, every Saturday. The Gators cannot afford to start scoring in the third quarter against their SEC brethren it will be too late, and when you are pressing turnovers happen. Both teams will stumble season-long to find their legs. Pick: Florida and Texas.

Auburn downs Clemson in a heated battle, 27-24 OT

I was expecting Auburn to run Clemson out of the stadium; I was expecting QB Cam Newton to have a big day; I was expecting Gus Malzahn’s offense to shred Clemson’s defense but none of these things happened. I tip my hat to Clemson and offer a bow for a good, solid performance. Auburn, by all accounts, won the game but they were very shaky on offense and Newton is still in developmental stages. Newton is the Southeastern conference version of Terrelle Pryor, a tall kid that is a long strider. Newton and Pryor look like they are thinking too much and just not playing the game, have fun guys. Newton was 7-14, 203 yards with 2TDs and 2INTs, hardly spectacular. Newton suffers from the syndrome of relying on his physical attributes to win games. Like Pryor, he makes ill-advised throws and hopes his wideouts will bail him out and Darvin Adams (5 catches for 178 yards and 1 TD) did in this game. But against a better defense those passes would not have been completed and probably run back for six points. If you are a dual-threat quarterback and things are breaking down, run like crazy, show some suddenness, cut through defenders. At times, it looks like once the play is a designed quarterback run, Newton saunters instead of hitting the open holes with authority. Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker was impressive, completing 21-35 for 227 yards with 2 TDs and no INTs. This kid has moxie, after taking a helmet to the middle of the back, to give his team the best shot to win but it was all for naught, as he overshot a wide open WR Jaron Brown in overtime. And a penalty caused a re-kick of field goal that was missed the second time to send Auburn away with a win. I did not expect this game to have so many brutal hits and two players being carted off the field in stretchers. Clemson brought their lunch pail and went to work, giving Newton and his offensive line fits all night. This heavy-hitting game reminded me of the 2007 LSU-Florida game, where Jacob Hester pushed in the endzone for the game-defining touchdown. This game will have repercussions for both teams going forward. Clemson gets a week off to rest before facing a physical Miami team at home followed up by another physical team in North Carolina on the road. The rest of the slate does not look bad, but they will probably wear down after their away game at Boston College (Oct. 30). Auburn, who is my dark horse this season (I’m not giving up on them just yet), has to face South Carolina next at home and face the likes of Arkansas (Oct. 16), LSU (Oct. 23), Georgia (Nov. 13) and @Alabama (Nov. 26). They are fortunate that they have home games against the meat of the SEC teams but in a physical Southeastern conference they will have trouble escaping with only two losses. But who knows, this is college football and like the weather (especially in New England), things can change very quickly.

Nebraska puts an end to the hype surrounding Jake Locker, 56-21

I’m glad it’s over, at least for now: the hype surrounding Jake Locker. Todd McShay has been flying his banner for a couple of years to go so far as to deem him the No.1 overall draft pick for 2011. I personally do not see it and have never seen it in Locker. As far as good quarterbacks that will be great at the next level, in the Pac-10, the honors go to Matt Barkley and Andrew Luck. Locker has the attributes: 6-3, 230 and has a live arm. Everything a coach wants in a quarterback, but he is widely inconsistent with his throws. We all expected marked improvement, in his second year, with head coach Steve Sarkisian (who is known for grooming quarterbacks at the collegiate level). However, the hard work has not paid dividends yet. The Nebraska defense did not give him time to check down to his wide receivers and made sure the running lanes were closed. The Cornhuskers utilized their speed to thwart the entire Washington Husky offense all day, so it was not only Locker’s inadequacies that cost them the game. His offensive line could not contain the feisty Nebraska defense that have the luxury of having two defensive coordinators in theory: Bo Pelini (head coach) was behind the successful defense of the 2008 National Champions LSU Tigers and his brother (Carl), who in actuality, is the defensive coordinator; so this team thinks defense first before anything else and it shows. If you can believe it, Locker was outplayed by redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez, who was doing his best impression of Denard Robinson: he threw for 150 yards with 1 TD and ran for 137 yards with 3 TDs. If you haven’t seen him, he is really fast and decisive once the ball is snapped. Who knows maybe Locker will find his stride later in the season, but all is not lost because if he pulls off improbable wins against Stanford at home (Oct. 30) and @Oregon (Nov. 6) these would be huge wins for him and the program. But that is a big “If.” Wins against USC and Oregon State does not hold the luster of winning at Stanford and Oregon. USC is in the rebuilding mold and trying to find their identity on both sides of the ball while if Oregon State gets creamed by Boise Sate this upcoming Saturday then it does not say much for a Husky win against them. It’s is fine not getting wins but your star quarterback and highly touted needs to do better than completing only 20% of his passes, how about above 50% and an average of 200 yards with no interceptions?! As any football fan knows, some collegiate players have an awesome college career and flop in the NFL and vice versa. So Locker might go down as a disappointment at the college level but might show the potential all the media types have been trying to shove done our throats at the next level. But as it stands now, he is going to have to show me more, and he can certainly fall in line with Jacory Harris and Terrelle Pryor as quarterbacks that do not deserve the hype, nor are they Heisman candidates.

LSU barely hangs on to beat UNC, 30-24

I don’t know what to say about LSU’s win. I think the most impressive thing is the tenacity of UNC with 13 players not playing because of NCAA violations, seven defensive starters out; and there secondary had all new faces for this game. As many football pundits will tell you, you cannot win if you turn the ball over, whether in the pros or the collegiate level. However, LSU did. They hung on to a prayer and were rewarded, just barely. Everyone glued to the television sets saw how dominant The Tigers were in the first half. Jordan Jefferson looked very efficient, Russell Shepard displayed how dangerous he is going to be this year (wherever he lines up), and Patrick Peterson was phenomenal with 257 all-purpose yards. I did not know how special Peterson is but now I know, and he can flat out fly. At halftime, the score read 30-10 LSU but the second half was a different game and different team. The Tigers only generated 78 yards of offense in the second half, yikes!! This is a major problem and it’s only going to get tougher for them when they play their conference games. If you cannot beat a depleted team in UNC, what does that say for your team going forward against the likes of Florida, Auburn, Alabama and Arkansas?! Turn the ball over against these teams and you will pay. I like what I saw from Steven Ridley in the spring game, but you have to secure the ball. Two fumbles in the same game. After the first fumble in the third quarter, he would have been benched for the rest of the game. Maybe LSU thought they had the game all wrapped up going into the second half and all they had to do was coast and not take care of the ball but they were sorely mistaken. I tip my hat to T.J. Yates who passes for 412 yards with 3 touchdowns and no picks but he does have a fumble to his name though, a super effort by the entire team. Les Miles has to figure out how to keep his team motivated and focuses when they are leading big. Jefferson is not an elite quarterback, nor will he ever be, but he has weapons and can play when he makes the right decisions. That boneheaded pass, he threw up before halftime that was picked off, was so ill-advised. Its one thing to struggle against a team at full strength, and everyone has heard about how tough UNC’s defense was going into this season. But to barely hold on against a team down thirteen players is not good. Let’s hope the Mad Hatter can turn his team around in the right direction after this performance.