Where’s Double Standard? Ohio State Sanctions Lenient

The folly finally unfolded on the day the NCAA deliberated and reached its final verdict against the Ohio State infractions perpetuated to inflame another brouhaha, considering all that has swirled around the much-publicized scandal in college sports.

Most of the ghastly, rugged penalties puts the university in a complicated situation as the NCAA hit Ohio State with a one-year bowl ban and other sanctions on Tuesday for violating NCAA rules that included eight players accepting $14,000 in cash and tattoos in exchange for Buckeyes memorabilia. The severity of penalties was once imposed at USC and caused more havoc as the Trojans were placed on two-year probation, banned from earning any bowl-game appearances and stripped of all wins after former star Reggie Bush accepted improper benefits from prospective agents.

The harsher sanctions – including the Heisman Trust stripping Bush of the prestigious award he won in 2005 and leaving the trophy vacant — rattled Southern California harder than an earthquake. It’s inconceivable, after a lengthy investigation had found that eight players received cash payments and preferential treatment from the owner of a tattoo parlor in Columbus, Ohio, that the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions handed down lighter punishments and would be pigheaded in dropping the hammer justly on any university for wrongdoings.

The purpose of the committee is simply to react properly and inflict harsher, not lenient penalties for violation of the rules — even to forsake defiance and any mockery to academia. The NCAA figured the Buckeyes would not produce more revenue, signify the beauty of the Big Ten, a conference unworthy of its own television network, or increasingly see a growth in TV ratings from a far more prominent university and even go on successive bowl runs had it taken heavier disciplinary actions.

The Buckeyes weren’t hit with a Blackeye. Rename them the Blackeyes had the NCAA imposed the double standard after it harshly handed down sanctions at USC as fans reacted angrily and vented their disillusionment. Yet the NCAA people ruled that Ohio State, a well-known school particularly for its staunch football program, wasn’t as repulsive, severe or contemptible, the reality is the violations were worse than the incidents that materialized in Southern California. With the latest news in full force, it doesn’t make sense that Ohio State wasn’t spanked severely and won’t have to pay the consequences for its sins.

What the NCAA is teaching us is the lack of institutional control and fairness it exercises in handling a horrific situation, regarding a hideous scandal that elicits much humiliation for collegiate sports which is in tremendous disarray, not having its priorities straightened out. The recent outrage, put simply, is the epitome for one of the worst cases in college football and became an issue at Ohio State, following a systemic breakdown and cover up by former head coach Jim Tressel. It was, without a doubt, a far worst scandal than USC.

“We are surprised and disappointed with the NCAA’s decision,”Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said in his statement. “However, we have decided not to appeal the decision because we need to move forward as institution.”

Surprised, really? Surprised? In a sense, we should be a bit surprised at the fact Ohio State wasn’t punished hard enough. Move forward? Yes, moving forward is a good decision. The standard here is an insult to USC, if anything. It makes no sense whatsoever, but Ohio State got away with wrongdoings and was treated like it has never done anything quite shocking and horrifying. This is a shame, because the justifications for such harsh penalties are ridiculous, flat out ridiculous when the Ohio State violations are contrasted to the USC mess. It must be said, to sound politically correct, that USC was in a quandary but it was never that damn nefarious. It’s your right to feel sorry for the Trojans, and Ohio State, too.


But it’s your right to feel even more sorry for the Trojans when all Bush did was receive cash and gifts from a sordid agent, while Tressel covered up the truth in Columbus as eight of his players were receiving cash and tattoos in exchange for autographed jerseys, rings and other memorabilia. To be frank, it was a worst crime than Bush pocketing money and earning rent-free housing. The disparity of the two scandals is that USC, which was defiant and arrogant of the allegations, wasn't compliant during the investigation when Ohio State cooperated but Tressel lied in his conversations with the NCAA, covering up the dirtiness to try and protect the university’s name. You could easily argue, and maybe it’s a possibility, that Smith’s job is in jeopardy.

The university’s first priority is recovering from the NCAA sanctions, along with the self-imposed penalties. It certainly wasn’t right and, just as USC felt the pain, Ohio State can relate even if the punishment isn’t all so bad. The guess is the school will recover quickly from the sanctions and won’t be affected by it as the newly hired coach Urban Meyer will change the culture in Columbus, Ohio, by recruiting brilliantly, although the stripping of scholarships may have an effect on persuading many of the top-level recruits. The lost of three scholarships a year for the next three years will slow down the process in adding to the depth, but the Buckeyes may still win the Big Ten title and earn the right to play in a BCS bowl.

So maybe former USC coach Peter Carroll, who often said the punishment was too harsh and he would not return, fled because of the mess and accepted the Seattle Seahawks coaching job. So maybe ex-USC athletic director Mike Garrett had a point when he was critical of the NCAA and said at an alumni gathering after the penalties were imposed that the NCAA was jealous of the Trojans. It’s almost ironic that Smith remains the Buckeyes AD despite the stain at Ohio State, while Pat Haden was hired to purge all traces of ruination and clean house. When the sanctions were announced, he repeated that the university had not agreed with the rulings

“We had our two shots,” Haden said. “We were disappointed with the results, but we have gotten beyond that and are moving forward.”

If the school really want to seek revenge or fight for rights, USC could sue the NCAA and maybe have the sanctions reversed, but it would cost the university about $5 million.

It almost feels as if collegiate sports are politics, prompting largely a debate around the nation, as the folks locally are questioning and ripping the NCAA for inequality and slapping the Buckeyes on the wrist. This is a school under scrutiny, but apparently not as much as USC dealt with the shame of a bloated, formidable scandal. As it turns out, the Trojans weren’t made the men of Troy but the poster boys. Wrong as it is, Alex Holmes – a former Trojan and teammate with Bush – blasted the NCAA irate about the sanctions involving Ohio State via Twitter Tuesday morning.

“I just don’t get it,” Holmes said after reading that the Buckeyes will be docked nine scholarships and only banned for one postseason. “I don’t understand the NCAA’s logic.”

Yeah, I don’t think no one does.

Beyond all, he was unhappy and confused mainly that USC was docked 30 scholarships over the next three years for one player’s bad actions, while Ohio State was stripped of nine scholarships over a similar span for breaking rules with Tressel having full knowledge of the misdeeds. You can bet the NCAA justice system won’t revisit harshness, after the Trojans were treated unfairly and the Buckeyes were treated like the gods.

Seems unfair, right?

The justice system is deceiving in its own way and has never been a respectable or an impartial scheme but dreary over the years. Because there are no written orders all through an investigation, it leaves out important details that could be helpful if no eyewitnesses talk to provide information for a better understanding on the allegations.

But if you want a school to pay the price, punish every collegiate program fairly. It’s called the double standard.

Liar Liar! Sorry, Don’t Buy the Urban Meyer Hiring

If there’s a man who is hired to take on a new coaching gig, amidst an economic downturn that can’t be trusted as times become more fragile and scarier, Urban Meyer is clearly the man.

Life at Ohio State will never be fabulous or euphoric until Meyer stuns folks with his notorious I-Quit episodes that’d reveal another stunning development. There is something suspiciously odd about the Meyer hiring, a sense of bad vibes spreading throughout the university, enough to give off a foul smell at the Horseshoe.

He always has a flimsy excuse for everything and everyone, simply using health issues as an escape hatch to end the stressful moments when the going gets tough. By now, he’s run out of reasons not to be trusted but have the credentials to seemingly stand as a great football leader, in which his availability attracted schools that were seeking a first-class coach for filling their coaching vacancies. The problem today is, he’s not the perfect coach for the job, primarily selling one of the finest athletic programs in the nation.

The search is over, and it just happens so that Meyer accepts a challenging role, a heavy task for a man who doesn’t handle an array of stress too well. Only months after the university was rocked by a memorabilia-for-tattoo scandal that led to Jim Tressel’s abrupt departure, Meyer is brought in to revitalize Ohio State. He is hired to guide a storied program that demand good standards to quite fittingly portray a purpose, and Meyer is also back to turn Ohio State into a national powerhouse, vowing he intends to accelerate the process of superiority by eradicating poison.

For now at least, he is authentic about his recent hiring, ready to come out of his early retirement to become the head coach at Ohio State. And it was a wonderful if very outlandish comeback for someone who has a nose longer than Pinocchio and obligated to tell a lie and step down, considering his frivolity and deceptiveness in the past, not upfront with any athletic department. It’s only a matter of time before he calls it quits again, but in the meantime, he feels “fantastic” after 11 months away from coaching.

How long will that last, I wonder?

On a count of 1..2…3 “Tell me lies. Tell me sweet little lies.” Sing it all together now… Tell me lies. Tell me sweet little lies.


So, when is he expected to pull another switcheroo, expected to turn his back on a university that trusts in him until he shockingly decides to leave and stun the world? When is he planning to abandon the institution? What is the timetable for his next announcement of early retirement?

The Buckeyes have hired a replacement, an elusive coach who couldn’t tell the truth. Much enigma surrounds Ohio State, and it would be sensible to think that Meyer is spewing lies in Columbus, a wishy-washy personality that has had a frequent pattern of untruthfulness. This is a common trait seen often from Meyer, telling lies and promising a school that he’d desire to take charge and transform a team into a national power, but we can never conceive the mind of a coach if he talks in riddles. It’s impossible for anyone to believe the truth from a person who is laughably a trickster and a liar, not an honest or credible living soul.

“I made this clear to Jeremy Foley (Florida Athletic Director), if I am able to go coach, I want to coach at one place, the University of Florida. It would be a travesty, it would be ridiculous to all of a sudden come back and get the feeling back, get the health back, feel good again and then all of a sudden go throw some other colors on my shirt and go coach? I don’t want to do that. I have too much love for this University and these players and for what we’ve built.”

I have too much love for this University? Are you kidding me? The only love he has is for a six-year contract worth $4 million a year, along with another $2.4 million total in retention payments, according to the school, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. He’s not just an immoral quitter, but also a traitor after resigning at the University of Florida, not once but twice, and then leaving for supposedly the sake of his health.

The funniest thing is that Meyer feels this is the best job in America and that the fans are the best in America. Please, don’t tell me you buy into his untruthful words, just because he was willing to accept the Ohio State coaching job, one with many headaches and much stress. In the coming days, we’ll hear that he’s mentally fatigued and burnt out from coaching, particularly when times turn rough, if you already know Meyer. Of course, if he doesn’t build a product at Ohio State and abolish the mediocrity as disappointing as it has been in Columbus, he’ll prefer to relieve himself of his duties and step down from the challenge.

But what is perplexing about this, by Meyer deciding to take over at Ohio State, is that he came back just 10 months after he said he was leaving Florida to spend more time with his family and care for his obscure health issues. It’s almost a cliché that he was a man of family values, one in which he vowed to devote his time to family obligations with his wife, Shelley, and his three kids. This is not what we wanted right now, a so-called family man who is ailing with illnesses -- taking on another coaching gig and then suddenly renege in the end unable to handle the stress and headaches if the program struggles from futility.

So there was Meyer, in his black suit and red tie, announced as the new head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football program at a press conference Monday afternoon, as cameramen snapped photos and reporters pontificated the hiring. It’s hard to understand the variations of his mind, whether he’s committed to the profession of coaching, and whether he has the sense of pride or self-respect for a football program. The spinning wheel is forever circling inside Meyer’s mind and, this time, the wheel stopped in Ohio State’s direction. Before his arrival, he turned around Utah with his hard-driven style and spread-option that cultivated the Utes.

Long ago, he was part of the Utes ripening into national contention, capturing a BCS victory in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl and developing quarterback Alex Smith, who became a No. 1 draft pick of the NFL Draft. As one of the most decorated coaches in college sports — despite his flip-flopping – Meyer spent six years at Florida, winning two BCS titles. The specifics of his retirement gave him time to spend with his family and attend his daughter’s volleyball games. During his days spent at Florida, he couldn’t balance the schedule and the coaching task at the university, which may have led to his departure.

But then again, it’s so vague that we really don’t know what to believe. Just when we thought he was tired of coaching, although we should have known that his un-retiring ideas were likely, he’s not working as an ESPN analyst but as a college football coach. We wanted to believe he was a devoted 47-year-old husband and father of three, but he is more than just a family man of college football coaches. He is, however, a liar and hard to believe.

You can’t trust him, if your life depended on it. But in every way, that is, he accepted a demanding assignment, now the coach on one of the nation’s most storied programs, one that has won seven national championships and seven Rose Bowls while producing seven Heisman Trophy winners. It’s on him to turn around a premier program bothered by the well-publicized infractions, but he won’t be the curer if he lies and calls another emotional press conference, reducing to tears during the announcement.

At his news conference Monday afternoon, he said, “Health-wise, I feel great. Our objective is to make the state of Ohio proud.”

He said that at Florida. We shouldn’t know what to believe.

As he grew up in Ashtabula — a town about 200 miles from Columbus — rooting for the Buckeyes and attending college at Cincinnati and beginning his coaching career at Ohio State as a graduate assistant under Earle Bruce, he said that he would have only accepted this job. It’s a rarity that coaches leave positions for family and then take on another coaching job months later, but on the bright side of things, he’s at home.

“It’s a great opportunity to come back to my home state,” he said.

I can’t tell whether he’s lying.

Guess it’s needless to say that he is 104-23, including his 22 record in two seasons at Utah in 2003 and 2004 in 10 seasons as a head coach. He is, without question, one of the best coaches in football, but he is just misleading and enigmatic. It will take savvy recruiting and rebuilding if Meyer is aiming to add national titles. As for the stunning retiring and lies every so many months, citing health issues and that he is devoted to spend more time with his family, this is a hiring that remains in limbo, a hiring that can’t be trusted and a hiring of wariness. Meanwhile, Meyer, who has lost an abundance of credibility and prestige for his bad decorum, is the wrong man to try to repair a program’s image.

To state the obvious, Meyer is a LIAR!! And here it is, he is a two-faced liar, accepting a job where much is expected of him. If he underachieves, there’s no doubt that he’ll be one of the most scrutinized coaches of collegiate athletics. It’s good to assume, I suppose, that life is just as tough in the Big Ten Conference. Meyer, on the other hand, moved from a tougher conference to a lighter one, but still it doesn’t become any easier for him, particularly if he doesn’t manage the effects of stress. At anytime now, he could step down and leave the university emotionally again after misleading the athletic program the entire time. At this time, he feels he can balance a healthy life and a tense job that comes with much pressure.

“I had a health scare a couple of years ago that made me sit back, reflect,” Meyer said. “I didn’t feel right. But I feel fantastic now.”

Let’s see how long he’ll feel fantastic. I’m not convinced, and neither should you.

“If not for the coaching position at Ohio State, I would not have coached this year,” said Meyer, a native of Ohio.

Sorry, not buying into this inanity, after he clearly stated that he wouldn’t coach anywhere else but Florida. He broke his promises, deceived an entire university, lied to their faces, and now everyone in Gainesville should be hoodwinked and betrayed by Meyer’s BS words. This season alone interim coach Luke Fickell, who took over when Jim Tressel stepped down for breaking NCAA rules of infamous violations, carried the Buckeyes to a 6-6 season and helped them qualify for a bowl game. There is nobody that we’ve heard of more incredulous than Meyer.

He lies so much, that he can’t even tell a straight one. The guy running the program right now, which is Fickell, who will stay as an assistant to Meyer, is more trustworthy than his new boss. It wasn’t necessary for Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith to hire Meyer when there were other candidates available. However, he had a conversation with Meyer about the coaching job by phone on Nov. 20 and then they met face-to-face three days later.

Not too long ago, he responded to reports saying that he had “not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place.”

It was too good to be true. Whatever happened to the time he went to the hospital after a game for heart problems? Not to say it was, but that may have been a lie, too

What is true about Meyer is that he’s a liar. And to this day, he hasn’t learned to tell the truth openly and publicly.

Urban Meyer Cowardly Bails on Florida Gators as Pressure Turns Immense

Suddenly, he shocks us again by pulling the switcheroo without unleashing a shred of specifics. And yet again, another mysterious update from his baffling, stunning developments. This is considerably a misfortune for Urban Meyer, one of the greatest collegiate football coaches in history, the annoying flip-flopper who can never make up his freaking mind and quickly turns into a clone of Brett Favre.

So now, he's leaving behind his successful brand of work, cowardly bailing out on the University of Florida, a frequent pattern of his trait to continuously part ways with a prestigious school known for stockpiling championships. In hindsight, it's the equivalent to the stock market crashing on Wall Street, but the only difference in this situation, of course, is that his unexpected departure is disheartening to the show business in Gator Nation. And now, after leading the Gators to two national championships during his accomplished tenure, he's inexcusably using the escape hatch and has sorely relinquished one of the premier jobs in college football.

What's next? He publicly steps to the podium and makes an announcement that he's willing to sacrifice and take a leave of absence, similar to his last resignation a year ago on Dec. 26, 2009, when he was smart to admittedly think wisely of his family and unveiled the significance of family values?

Then again, maybe he's a devoted husband and father of three children, willing to spend the rest of his days with a caring family and relieve heavy stress and pressure from a burdened life in football, ready to care for health issues. And for whatever reason, if you believe he'll return to fill his own vacancy in the next 24 hours, you probably believe Charlie Brown will eventually marry Lucy.

He spoke of his severe chest pains after a devastating loss in the SEC Championship a year ago, when he left us confused in a riddle and emotionally announced that he was leaving to attend to his health. In theory, the latest press release Wednesday announcing Meyer's resignation wasn't a knee-jerk reaction to a health scare a year ago when he briefly resigned, but presumably was a misleading story that swirled instantly and refreshed our memories of his inability to suddenly endure headaches.


This time, hopefully, he leaves for good, cowardly taking an easy way out of a situation instead of enduring the downcast publicity or anguish that clouded a noteworthy program. By all accounts, he no longer had the desire building a storied program, burnt out of having demands within a program he had shrewdly assembled. This time, for once, he felt at peace and had expressed no emotions at the news conference.

"I think I'm doing what's best for the University of Florida, my players and myself and my family," said a composed Meyer.

However, in Gainesville, the Gator faithful were caught off guard, livid by the uncertainty when he walked away for the second time within a year. There is, in a sense, an evident assumption that he's bailing on the Gators for ending a dreadful season all so miserably and finishing the worst season of his career. Minus the presence of Tim Tebow, the Gators dropped below average and toppled to miss out on the BCS bowl activities, which never settled too well with the 46-year-old Meyer.

Is he abandoning the Gators? Few believe he's running from burdens, and I believe he's running from the awful letdown of this season as well. It's likely, as the expectations of coaching an elite program are immense at Florida, that he's simply exhausted mentally and physically by the traveling, stress and pressure. Is this whole theory misguided? By tomorrow, he could announce to the nation that he's coming back to coach next season.

"At this time in my life, however, I fully grasp the sacrifices my 24/7 profession has demanded of me, and I know it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field. The decision to step down was a difficult one," he said in a statement released Wednesday by the school. "But after spending more than two decades motivating and celebrating the young men I've been so proud to coach, I relish the opportunity to cheer for my three terrific kids as they compete in their own respective sports."

Does he expect me to really believe that?

In fairness, Meyer is a coward, a pitiful quitter with no morals. All of his recruits means nothing to him, just as much as the University of Florida means zilch. For the most part, considering that he stepped down to cuddle and embrace life with his family, is not necessarily accurate.


But more importantly, he tries to avoid having his name linked to the Newton scandal and protect his legacy, roughly giving up as a way to keep his well-known status intact with the university and realized the Gators were vastly languishing as a lack of physical presence toppled Florida. It's as if the school knew this was coming when Meyer called athletic director Jeremy Foley, who stood behind the podium Wednesday evening, to tell him he was contemplating retirement and had finalized his arrangements on Tuesday.

"He said it's the right time in his life, as he said, he's at peace with the decision," Foley said.

All because he's running away, he's at peace.

He cannot endure Florida's 7-5 record, including a 4-4 record in the SEC. As his arrogance renders, it's hard to swallow a 24-point defeat to interstate rivals Florida State, the first loss to the Seminoles since 2003, just as it's hard to bear the distasteful rout to Alabama. In addition, he ultimately watched nine seasons of a .842 winning percentage diminish, but most of all, he cannot accept losing and escaped his failures by quitting on his players, the fans and the university.

On a positive note, Meyer will coach his last game for Florida in the Outback Bowl, as the Gators most likely will be riding the coaching carousel in search for their next head coach. There's much speculation, in the meantime, that he's the primary candidate to be hired as the next Denver Broncos head coach and unite with his former star quarterback Tim Tebow, who ran a stout offensive system efficiently unlike John Brantley. As you reflect back on Meyer's stint, erase it from your minds instantly.

Good riddance.

NCAA Waited Late to Crack Down on Hypocrisy, Conspiracy

If there is any ultimate hypocrisy denting collegiate sports, it’s because of the apathy and recklessness of the NCAA.

The same committee that allowed much to poison the prestigious image of college football wasn’t historically stern enough to investigate a repulsive, ongoing scandal.

Before the recent revelations of wannabe or legit sports agents lavishing student-athletes with a wealthier style of living, the NCAA was deceived and publicly embarrassed when dishonest college stars were duplicitous and extorted the indulgent system.

But suddenly, the NCAA is imposing severe sanctions for any wrongdoings and infractions, tarnishing the reputation of collegiate sports and grasping a sense that athletes have had relationships with corrupted agents.

The brand of the NCAA is scams and shams as numerous schools make a mockery of academia, disrespecting the tenor and significance of education.

By now, trustees and the committees are discerned of the average student-athletes’ wishes, unlike decades ago when education represented higher value, rather than lifting to unimaginable heights at the pro level.


But now that we live in the modern age of athletics and reside in a country where the average kid dreams of blossoming as the next acclaimed superstar, it’s realistic to assume kids aren’t attending school to establish a profession as a doctor, lawyer, or even a sports writer.

As of recently, the dark and gloomy times indeed reduces the aspects of purity and rectitude.

But more than anything, schools aren’t getting involved in the unscrupulous infractions that have created dreaded woes and expunged believability.

Four schools are under investigation for agent-related incidents and apparently, it is only the beginning of an ugly ordeal that maligns the integrity and ignores the magnitude of amateur refinement.

There’s a nightmare brewing in the SEC with the issue of incongruities and hypocrisy as the NCAA is conducting investigations in the Southeastern Conference, aiming to drag down the high-powered and superior conference.

If there are top prospects committing to high-caliber universities and older adults are capable of influencing the minds of college athletes, it’s very unlikely to jettison the scandals.

But the NCAA waited too late in cracking down on sleazy agents and allowed matters to turn worse. The probing of Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina are warning signs of infringement and the epitome of ignorance and unawareness within an association in denial.

Years ago, the NCAA never reacted to agents or addressed the countless violations destroying a school’s pride and respectability.

Years ago, the so-called business advisers approached campuses and athletes, awarding uneducated and unprofessional athletes with unlawful gifts and cash. It’s been a fraudulent industry and rarely were the Infraction Committees proactive in probing misleading agents, labeling collegiate sports as a disingenuous business.

Because agents are the sphere of college sports, as are athletic directors for permitting immunity and having no awareness in what strangers are introducing to their student-athletes, it’s disturbing to know that frauds and lies still exist in college sports, looming as the dirtiest crisis in the NCAA.

Greater than coaches recruiting over the phone, overworking players in practice, or hiring hostesses as a way to coax prospects into committing with the program, the NCAA mismanaged conspiracies and negated the poison of a tattered Tank Black—the former sports agent who donated payments to several Florida players.

But eventually he was charged with federal conspiracy and sentenced to seven years in prison. What’s staggering is that the NCAA refused to investigate Black and had access to public records of his payments.

That year, the Gators won the national title with the deepest and most talented team in the nation, but considering that Black had a meaningful relationship with Florida, ultimately the finest program in the nation wasn’t legit and had tarnished because of the misdeeds.

With all the dismal scandals, the NCAA is finally taking action and helping fortify its own cause for monitoring faulty agents, eroding an industry that profits on high-powered talent, rituals and images.

If ever there were a time to dismiss college football, it would be a good time now, with all the latest destruction at USC.


It used to be the most prestigious university before turning into the most poisonous University for violating NCAA rules, deciding to return its replica of Reggie Bush's Heisman trophy and withdraw from all the achievements of Bush and O.J. Mayo.

It took NCAA investigators three years to probe a malicious scandal at USC, accusing the star running back of unlawful deeds. Bush obtained $300,000 from two wannabe agents during his prosperous career with the Trojans, and his parents were given a $757,000 house.

As a way of punishing Bush for embarrassing the program and violating rules, he will be remembered as a forgotten Trojan.

It’s hardly fair to crack down on two players and insult a pair of prolific stars who aren’t fully accountable for the Trojans infractions.

If the administrators weren’t aware, obviously Bush or Mayo weren’t aware of the scandals becoming a trend and casting facades in college football.

Ravaged by shame, Athletic Director Mike Garrett was dismissed of overseeing the ruptured department at USC on Tuesday.

The mental state of the Trojans is anything but flawless, and punishing Garrett is a severe lesson as Southern California is essentially trying to remove the indulgence and apathy in their program. His cockiness and stubbornness impaired a well-respected program, as did Pete Carroll, who is in denial and arrogantly denies the violations as well as the sanctions.

Maybe he fled Southern California for Seattle because of the sanctions. Above all, they are on four-year probation, losing recruits and stripped of a Heisman. All of this ruins the opportunities of grabbing the top prospects in the country.

But now, the affliction resides allegedly at the Swamp and Alabama. Mostly at SEC Media day, all the talk circulated the muck agents, a nightmarish situation that threatens a program withheld of accusations.

Mike Slive, commissioner of the SEC, vented on the ongoing obstacles and requested for “national strategy” and “education not enforcement.”


If there was one irate coach harshly ripping agents, it was Alabama’s Nick Saban during the press conference on Wednesday, once Marcel Dareus of the Crimson Tide was reportedly announced ineligible after the university compliance officials investigated his involvement with agents.

It certainly doesn’t mean he’s an asterisk or a criminal, until proven guilty. And even if he’s accused of violating rules, then accuse the agent of influencing the minds of young and inexperienced athletes.

There are accusations pending against Maurkice Pouncey, but the ex-Florida star denies ever accepting $100,000 from the representation of a sordid agent at the Southeastern Conference title game and the Sugar Bowl last season.

“I did not accept $100,000, it is an absolutely ridiculous claim. I have completely cooperated with the investigation and answered any and all questions put to me,” Pouncey said in a statement released by his attorney, M. Stephen Stanfield.


Recently, he met with Urban Meyer and Athletic Director Jeremy Foley, and told them he’s innocent and never had a relationship or any connections with agents.

“He never lied to me before,” Meyer said.

Isn’t that what we all want to believe?

As much as the nation admires college football, the investigations involving agent-related inquiries are upsetting and absurd, nauseating our stomachs and disappointing our consciousness as North and South Carolina's programs were announced last week to be part of the NCAA investigation.

This isn’t a coincidence or an illusion, but an omen of corruption—something that should have been discovered and handled a long time ago.

Meyer's Gator Stunner Is Riddles, Leaves Us Guessing

It’s kind of hard to tell where he’s coming from, hard to tell his next decision. When the stunning development unmasked, he broke down into tears, helpless and saddened of his sudden departure.

He alarmed us all with his announcement of periodic chest pains. He shocked us all by informing the world of frequent health problems. Lastly, the announcement was a stunning development when he told the Florida football program that he’d resign.

This meant Mr. Meyer would never return to a program he installed, standing as a symbol of greatness. In the meantime, Gators’ faithful aren’t scowling or scorning Urban Meyer of a bizarre story. It leaves us scratching our heads, searching for reasonable answers to why suddenly Mr. Meyer misled us the last three days.

Wasn’t he resigning to spend valuable time with his family and care for health? Wasn’t he ailing and couldn’t measure up to the stress level of coaching? At least a resignation was understandable and his intent, until he arrived to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the Gators’ Sugar Bowl practice in Gainesville. The population at the Swamp emotionally had tears draining down their faces, along with immediate speculations on the next in line to coach an endearing program.

But there’s a clear understanding that Meyer hasn’t made up his mind. He pondered before an official resignation was declared. Maybe it’s difficult to aloof from the game he has mustered a tremendous passion for. Or maybe adjusting to a peculiar seen is tough. He’s accustomed to and relish mentoring players willing to mature into prospering men. He’s used to building a contiguous relationship with each of his players. Leaving all behind is burdensome to adapt to.

So suddenly, an emotionally departure of his coaching job was lightened into a leave of absence. Guess there won’t be any reason to search for a coach, or theorize if offensive coordinator, Steve Adazzio, steps into command. That means we don’t have to hear rumors and names of Bob Stoops or Dan Mullen. Of course, it would’ve been a good coaching campaign, but if there’s a sublime coach unsure of his status, looking for another coach is the least priority.

Isn’t Meyer coaxing the program enough, by informing us he plans on staying in Gainesville? Doesn’t his obligations to stay in contact and within the program tells you Meyer is aspiring for partial decision-making? From ailing and withstanding chest pains and an arachnoid cyst on his brain forced him to take a hiatus. At a point spending quality time with his family seemed more valuable, he stressed the importance of family values and faith.

And as a coach he had already accomplished a lifelong adventure, owning the highest coaching percentage in college football. He could leave the game and lift his head proudly, for leading Utah to an unbeaten season in which he built an eye-catching future in college football. Therefore, he grasped our attention and became a much-beloved coach in parts of Florida.

But we can’t ensure he’s leaving the game for good. You should be confused, of course, trying to put together pieces of this missing puzzle. For those in Gainesville, life is a riddle. Yes, Mr. Meyer has baffled us all. And ever since he returned the next day to inform us all that he expects to coach next season, believing Meyer is like believing Pinocchio. What’s difficult to grasp is why draw a huge distraction, by telling us about a resignation when Florida’s huge bowl game against Cincinnati is looming?

If it was the case, it could have waited until a day after the bowl game. Now, the Gators are likely to play with heavy hearts, worried of Meyer’s health status. The last thing a program wants to happen amid a substantial bowl game is questions to circulate, strictly on the health status of Meyer’s. When he spoke of his vital chest pains following the lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship game, he looked worn down, fatigued as if he was ready to call it a career. If so, then was the exact moment to depart. Either way, he would’ve left the game atop coaching at the collegiate level. But when winning is taking into consideration, the Gators are caught in a continuous riddle.


At 45, Meyer feared the mischief of mortality, valuing his life before reconsidering he’d rather salvage the coaching job. And Florida athletic director, Jeremy Foley, discerns the significance of health, but doesn’t feel he has to find a replacement if Meyer is in good condition to recruit a potent class and mentor kids, teaching the fundamentals of winning, so they can leave as a better individual.

That is, of course, before he told his wife, Shelley, and three children he was quitting for health problems and family. Not too sure if he stayed true to his word, when his wife believed he’d spent every second with his lovable family. His wife text a message to the Orlando Sentinel that said: “No chance… This is the best decision for him and us right now.”

Foley has a careless demeanor, insisting on Saturday for Meyer to take a leave of absence. It’s obvious he knows what Meyer brings to the program, diligence and charisma. But also it’s apparent he’s ignoring the health of a man, facing a tremendous amount of uncertainty.

Times next fall may seem a bit stressful without the likes of Tim Tebow, who’s a top name in April’s NFL Draft. Florida’s challenging schedule within a superb conference is when Meyer should absorb pressure, in which we’ll actually find out if he still does well in controlling the program.

But until then, his status remains a crazy riddle.

Validated: Alabama Is Title Worthy

For the first time ever, at least from what I can remember, Tim Tebow broke down mentally and dripped tears before thousands at the Georgia Dome, where you couldn’t argue it was an electric, national title atmosphere.

The Florida Gators encountered an interesting challenge, a rigid matchup against a superior opponent, and Alabama bombarded the well-balanced villains of the Southern Eastern Conference.

Instantly, it smeared a potential dream of creating a historic finish in NCAA history. It smeared an inconceivable dynasty built on Tebow’s inspirational leadership and unparalleled sprints, stiff-arms and jump passes. Of course, the country such as ESPN’s College Gameday analysts Lee Corso or Kirk Herbstriet, predicted the Gators are victorious crusaders.

This country had forgotten about a potent and dynamic program in the same conference. This country paid less attention to an entire state, which admires football and spends their average Saturday afternoon’s rooting on a systematic program, brilliantly built by Coach Nick Saban.

That would be the Alabama Crimson Tide, a robust program aiming for a national title amid their endeavor. It earned hype as the biggest SEC showdown in conference history, simply for the two powerhouse teams that define college football.

Without Florida-‘Bama in a fray, the game is dull and the BCS system suddenly becomes elusive. If there’s no Florida-‘Bama, there isn’t a point for having a conversation on football.

For a few years now, it has been interesting watching the SEC as the Deep South kept us guessing and produced action-packed, high-powered excitement. Before our very eyes, Florida is no longer as threatening or powerful. Instead, the boys from Sweet Home Alabama have convenient tools to win the national title next month.

After pounding the Gators, not allowing fans to perform the Gator Chomp gestures, emotions flared in an unusual way. Instead, shedding tears indicated agony as a reign many were accustomed to suddenly ceased. Dating back to last season when a distraught Tebow emotionally apologized and promised to fans following a disappointing loss to Mississippi, consecutive losses weren’t much of a concern, until the Gators finally saw triumph perish.

However, the Tide finally avenged their upsetting loss a year ago against the Gators, which cost a national title berth. Getting used to a well-balanced program isn’t as bad as it seems. Yet, Tebow won’t arrive to perform his erratic jump passes or another remarkable finish, Alabama has similarities with a relentless rush attack engaged to confront amid an onslaught all times on turf. Such as playing the Gators, when almost every possession was blown sprints, spins, stiff-arms, and blistering speed of tailback Mark Ingram.

His three touchdown effort set a mental tone in the game, to whereas the Tide dominated until time expired and emerged a celebration. Of course, a delirious Alabama crowd embraced a spirited moment, cheering on the boys from Sweet Home Alabama. In contrast, the Gators were throbbed in a 32-13 loss, and an inspirational tale came to a terminal in a game the religious and well-respected sports figure in the country dripped tears onto his eyeblack.

For the longest time, it took the longest yard for Alabama to reach a pinnacle most are accustomed to. Well, the program finally has a resembling coach of Bear Bryant. When Saban committed to take on a prestigious job in the country, he left behind a complex job at the pro level, signing an enormous deal to coach Alabama. This country criticized him, teased him, expressed anger for a well-known reputation of accepting jobs because of greed and riches.


But now, we can praise Saban for bringing tough-minded, charismatic leadership to this program. Besides dwelling on whether he left behind unfinished business to coach a program willing to throw in huge bucks, dwell on the fact he has revived a program.

Now, we can utter, he prepares kids for big games against huge opponents. If you notice, Alabama plays with tremendous urgency, heart and resiliency. During press conferences Saban emphasizes the point of remaining alert when facing any team.

If someone has grudges with Saban, it doesn’t matter much. Folks, in Alabama appreciate his ability to recruit top high school prospects. If he tries even more so, Saban could possess nearly every top prospect in the South.

Almost everyone knows Saban is experienced and has been around the game long enough to inspire a convincing core. As a result, the Tide are a victory away of renovating championship notability for the first time since winning it all in 1992.

If the Tide smeared a historic picture by manipulating and pummeling the Gators, same goes for the Texas Longhorns. Being denied of a historical finish is painful, especially if you are an upperclassman. And Tebow is a senior, in which it was agonizing missing out on a return to the national title game and trying departing with a bang.

From the bright side, Tebow accomplished something ordinary athletes couldn’t. He was named a Heisman winner, and hoisted the stiff-armed statue. Aside the individual awards, Tebow celebrated and hoisted memorable trophies such as the crystal football, winning three national titles.

Unfortunately, the Gators won’t win its third national title in four years, losing for the first time in 22 games. So now, Alabama will travel to Pasadena, not for roses but a national title game every team dreams to participate in.

With a chaotic BCS system, a team has to be near perfect if expecting to qualify for the final game. And the Tide are near perfect.


Rarely is there a team with complete depth, having its way against defending champs. Ingram ran faster than lighting, McElroy removed the saboteur label and now is an essential piece to Alabama’s championship beliefs.

Julio Jones, arguably the nation’s best wide receiver, was explosive and outran Florida’s defenders, catching an 18-yard touchdown pass on the first play from the line of scrimmage.

Another national title is out of the equation. Had the Gators won, they’d have been off to Pasadena. But instead, the losers earn a privilege to play in the Sugar Bowl, a BCS game with less prestige. As for Alabama, exalted winners will fulfill a dream and play for a national title.

Good luck, Texas. The Tide come in with a complete package, a package full of potential champs.

Tebow Relieve Headaches But Restores Title Urge

Well, this was bound to happen, a low-scoring contest with a pair of top-notch teams clashing in a Saturday night SEC showdown. Once again, the Florida Gators aren’t pulverizing their opponents or failing to create large margins.


It certainly signifies that Urban Meyer’s squad is not nearly the same dominant team as a year ago. No team is intimidated or agitated, encountering a well-mannered citizen Tim Tebow, who is an immaculate and generous man quarterbacking the Gators to meritorious achievements.

He’s a cool dude, engaged with strong religious backgrounds at the Swamp where he's building upon a valuable legacy that will always have its own realm. His endearing charisma is likable, changing the mindsets and reminding teammates to take the urgent approach.

Even though most are accustomed to Tebow’s unpredictable jump passes and outlandish tricks rarely executed by a quarterback, he’s not an almighty god or Superman. Our minds are brainwashed, used to seeing his unexpected game-changing plays, and ignore possibilities of freak accidents.

Just like the rest, Tebow is human. He divulged this when he suffered a severe concussion two weeks ago and carefully prevailed yet in the most substantial game. On an important night, it constituted a contest with massive bowl implications. In his first return since the injury, at a hostile territory where LSU faithful were rambunctious under the raindrops, Tebow was an intrepid adventurer.

That’s what most referred to him as, recovering slowly from his frighten injury. But he guided Florida’s offense, handing off more passes in the spread formation. The running game was active and dynamically a perfect concept on a night his soft skull was in danger of additional damage, even when doctors cleared Tebow to play mid-morning.

If it had not been for Urban Meyer, Florida’s mastermind coach, who had the national title on his mind and selfishly insisted that Tebow take a risk, John Brantley could've started and made an attempt guiding the top school in the nation. Leading up to the game, Meyer encouraged Tebow to put his career and life on the line, to stay national title bound.

The problem I had with this ordeal is how could a coach encourage a player to start the game after suffering a brutal injury? And how could he give much latitude, calling it a game-time decision? Fine, much was at stake, entering a matchup with fourth-ranked LSU. Perhaps keeping national title hopes intact was more crucial than a weakened skull that couldn’t experience another bull-rush, painful collision.

Each possession offered scary thoughts, quickly recalling the incident that occurred two weeks ago, when he vomited, appeared dazed and was carted off the field. Later, he was transported to an ambulance and to a Kentucky hospital, where he stayed overnight before finally been discharged.

From experiencing a dangerous moment, predicting that Tebow was better off sitting it out, indicated common sense. Oh, but not for a tough guy, willing to put his life in harms way to keep national title dreams alive. He wasn’t worried, surviving aggressive bull-rushes and blitzes by LSU’s much-improved defense. But he lasted a three-hour contest without taking significant hits directly to the head, and ultimately downplayed the aftermath of his terrifying concussion.

The most beloved athlete in the nation failed recognizing possible aftereffects and dangerous speculations of significant head trauma. At Death Valley, he faced frightened afterthoughts, but took harassment and violent tackles from defenders. Instead of sitting out a game, Tebow wasn’t concerned about his health and guided the Gators to a 13-3 victory over the Tigers to keep them in national contention.

His presence was vital, and favored their outcome in Baton Rouge, where it seems like an intimidating environment. It was momentary, when Tebow amazingly outlasted a corner blitz and formidable jerk when Lazarius Levingston yanked the facemask, to which he was whistled for a personal foul that initiated leeway for the Gators offensively.

Despite recovering from a concussion, Tebow gets fired up instantly. Having a tough-driven mentality, allows him to create in the option and spread formation. It certainly seemed to be their trick, when he hurled a 24-yard scoring pass to a wide open Riley Cooper.

A large crowd made the trip, Gator-chomping on an evening with much uncertainty. A nice capacity witnessed a splendid performance by Tebow, throwing 11 of 16 passes for 134 yards and an interception in a meaningful game. As most Gators faithful were proud, few worried heavily until the game ended at Tiger Stadium, where LSU had won 32 consecutive games.

Tebow dominated on the field, staying healthy as if he had never suffered a concussion. That's because he’s a tough-minded player, and doesn’t allow an injury to cease his capabilities. On the night, he was mobile as usual, despite limited rushes because the Gators medical staff wanted to be cautious.

Sure, it was relatively expected, when precautionary actions had to be taken. Most would’ve had common sense, knowing that his presence as a rushing quarterback would be minimized. But mostly, he completed the game phenomenally, despite not having an effective rush attack, a dynamic attribute that describes a powerful Tebow.

He’s the world’s powerful athlete, and greatest role model. Usually, when a player takes a shot to the head, they are confounded, but Tebow is the same as before. He’s a player with heart, dignifying passion to win.

He’s a champ, by far, surviving Baton Rouge trauma. No more concussions, just an antidote for putting aside headaches and uplifting gratifications.

Face Reality: Tim Tebow Needs to Protect Health, Not an Optimistic Year

There’s no doubt college football benefits when Tim Tebow plays—a folksy quarterback with religious beliefs symbolizing humankind and aspiration for a better future. Not only is he an ambassador for college football, but the top-ranked Florida Gators, whose showdown against fourth-ranked LSU might dictate a national title.


At large, bowl implications are pivotal, if the Gators are craving to defend their title, but more significant is Tebow’s health status.

Two weeks ago, Superman indicated to the nation that he’s just as human as the rest of us living in a society were citizens believe their beloved heroes are invincible and made of steel.

Unfortunately, a horrid scene occurred on the field when Tebow collided brutally with a team-mate’s knee, bouncing off the turf as he sustained a concussion, quickly becoming another victim of head trauma in a win over Kentucky. A vital injury scared Gainesville, stopped Gator Chomps, left fans in a state of shock and elicited constant queries about his status for the biggest game yet on the calendar.

It shouldn’t matter which team the Gators are playing, but what should matter is protecting Tebow. Another significant blow to the head is risky, meaning it could be career-threatening or life-threatening. Urban Meyer should weigh his options carefully before rushing a hesitant Tebow back in a position, where contact generally transpires.

No doubt he’ll be the primary target on LSU’s agenda in a Saturday afternoon SEC clash. But more importantly, Tebow must be protected from sustaining another concussion. In recent years, players have died when medical staff failed to monitor thoroughly, allowing players to return prematurely.

If the Gators were to bring back Tebow, the program isn’t only jeopardizing a successful title run, but risking a life.

No game is that important, in which someone’s health is vulnerable of more unpredictable trauma, creating hapless ordeals and chaotic burdens. Knowingly, the importance of Tebow’s presence is crucial, if the Gators desire a victory.

This is a huge burden on Meyer, publicizing that the former Heisman winner is a game-time decision, and that he’s ready to return in a hostile game. Not good or a clever choice in a bitter territory, where he'll take unsympathetic abuse for two-hours.

He runs often, meaning the defense is already familiar with his game plan and well-designed options. And you can’t imagine him making an impact immediately, sluggish while still recovering. Since his concussion, Tebow hasn’t played and had limited practice, making it difficult to predict.

There’s not much to anticipate, when he really should sit this one out. Most have urged Tebow not to play until a well-known doctor gives advice and clears him. Losing a game won’t destroy an entire season with the SEC ranked as the best conference in football.

If the Gators lose to the Tigers, a national title remains irrefutable, and will keep hopes alive. In likelihood, they’re only victims of BCS fraud by dropping two or more games. That’s not envisioned because of their depth and defensive regimen, giving them slight advantages in the toughest conference.

You shouldn’t worry about the Gators. You should heavily worry about Tebow.

There’s much on the line in severe weather conditions, with heavy rains expected in the forecast. The top-ranked Gators seemingly care about prestige and bidding for a national title, rather than the most-lovable player in college athletics.

Believe it or not, we don’t want to sadly witness another devastating scene, like watching him vomit as he’s carted off the field and later seen in an ambulance. The worst-case scenario is a foolish decision might backfire on Meyer, but, of course, the best-case scenario is Tebow might throw a game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds. You never know.

Even though, Meyer has mentioned earlier in the week that Florida’s medical personal will decide if Tebow plays in game with bowl implications. The problem is, Meyer is allowing such a thing, knowing it was a severe and frighten injury.

So, why is he putting his respectful leader in such a predicament, where matters can become worst? Is it because he’s desperate to defend a title? Is it because his reign and legacy is significant, and Tebow brings most glory before departing to the NFL?

As most of us fathomed that Meyer’s mind is greatly on amassing victories, and not an ailing quarterback, the NFL is paying close attention. Last week, a statement was released of studies, and unmasked that NFL retirees are likely to suffer memory lost. Between the ages of 30 and 49, retirees are likely diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

But coaches don’t realize it until it’s too late, selfishly ignoring medical advice and following their instincts. As it seems, Meyer has a self-centered psyche and protects optimistic season, jaded of injury excuses and selfish as well.

In reality, Tebow is severely injured. And to risk health is being negligent.

The best advice to offer Tebow is protecting his health, not a season of feasibility.

Gators, Meyer Chomps a Bitter Kiffin in Intense Rivalry

He has been very talkative, uttering bitter remarks while threatening, disrespecting, and boldly accusing Florida’s coach Urban Meyer of illegal recruiting.

Common sense, though, informed us that Tennessee’s first-year coach Lane Kiffin was facing a rigid challenge, particularly after upsetting, downgrading, and claiming the defending champs were not on his radar.

Kiffin spoke too lowly of the Gators, forgetting they’re a team with tremendous experience and prominent players who are worthy of advancing to the pro level. For years now, Florida and Tennessee has clashed in bloody wars, but none of them have been quite this fierce or hostile.

The difference in this intriguing matchup is that the Gators were seeking to fiercely bite the Volunteers for revenge in Kiffin’s meeting with the archrivals. In previous seasons, they’ve brutally humiliated, pulverized, and Gator Chomped the kids from Rocky Top, making them long suffer agony and painful failures.

Long-term suffering has reduced spirit in Tennessee, as titles have exhilarated devoted fans at the Swamp, where they embrace the vigorous and energetic powerhouse of the Southern Eastern Conference. But Kiffin, apparently, didn’t think before he made regrettable remarks, inspiring a successful coach and hard-fighting champs.

Remember early in the year at his introduction speech, when he impetuously pronounced the coming end to a four-game losing streak against Florida? Remember when he boldly spoke without reflecting back on their noteworthy season, and saying he honestly sensed he could guide the Vols to a stunning and memorable win for the ages?

Remember when he failed to react in a classy manner, and said he was “looking forward to...singing ‘Rocky Top’ all night after we beat Florida next year. It will be a blast”? He never got enough from being judgmental and outspoken about an athletic team with much experience.

And he added to the silly comments when he informed fans Meyer violated rules by phoning prospect Nukes Richardson, while he was officially visiting Tennessee. That was a huge blunder that Kiffin regrets now, changing his words in a press conference a few days ago, but it was much too late for cleaning up insulting statements.

At Gainesville, fans were motivated for a Saturday matinee and a bitter rivalry that continues developing bad blood. After all, the Gators have fangs and smack talk just propels a powerful team to attack an undefined team.

But in the near future, the Vols might have enough talent for contending against Florida. One thing Kiffin does well is recruit talented classes, but has yet to prove that he can recruit and guide a skillful team within a power conference, or even defeat his archenemy Meyer.

In the biggest game of Kiffin’s coaching career, he paid the consequence, he suffered a loss and he walked off helpless after the Florida’s stingy defense and efficient offense silenced and thwarted the Vols.

There were no joyful celebrations, nor were there any upsets in a hostile environment after a resentful Tim Tebow exposed abnormal characteristics in his personality earlier this week. Can you believe Tebow harshly criticized the Vols? Well, believe it.

Since we are accustomed to Tebow’s generous and religious beliefs, it was a rarity hearing trash talk from the humble senior quarterback. But on a shaky afternoon, he backed up his dirty talk, and as usual, played with tremendous sportsmanship while respecting his archrivals.

Even though, there’s some animosity between two unsettled coaches, Meyer and Kiffin exchanged brief handshakes after Florida coasted to a 23-13 victory.

As a result, the Gators are favorites to win another national title, returning the Heisman quarterback and practically an entire defense. Still, a multitude of the populace is convinced winning glorious titles are over, and that an unknown team will claim possession of the crystal ball. Teams are finally making it clear by challenging the Gators that they're no longer intimidated or invincible.

As most anticipated a Gator Chomping demolition, the Gators beat the Vols by 10. With plenty of games remaining, the Gators are anything but flawless. Instead they’re looking vulnerable and have plenty of deficiencies worth rectifying if they’re expecting to win another national title.

Give Tennessee’s defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin credit for throwing unknown schemes at Tebow, which forced him to commit two critical turnovers as the Vols took advantage, scoring 10 points.

A rare fourth-quarter fumble by Tennessee’s explosive tailback, Montario Hardesty, led to a touchdown. The Vols threw an interception to Dennis Rogan, paying for rushing the pass to avoid a sack.

But it’s enough to make us wonder, if the Gators will defend its title or if some unexpected school upset them later in the season.

Most of all, the Gators are benefiting from Brandon James, who’s arguably the fastest kick-returner in the conference. He returned three kickoffs for a staggering 97 yards.

But more so, their strong and experienced defensive corps presented misery for the third straight year.

Their potent defense harassed Tennessee's quarterback, Jonathan Crompton, who can probably use a few hours in a warm spa. Being pressured, he was limited and forced a devastating pass in the fourth quarter for an interception caught by Florida’s Ahmad Black, smearing an improbable miracle.

After a lackluster performance, Meyers might prefer retooling the offense and making vital adjustments for upcoming games. Receiver Deonte Thompson missed the game with a hamstring injury and running back Jeff Demps played with a 101-degree fever.

Additionally, the Gators are attempting a repeat without Percy Harvin, and his absence has changed Florida’s offensive complexion and chances of retaining a title.

But now the top-ranked Gators have thrown out the hype, ousted their rivals and bitterly extended its streak to 13 consecutive wins over the Vols. In a case of "the lesser of two evils", the stronger stumbling offense survived a bloody afternoon. And it appeared Florida’s talent was too much to handle in the final quarter.

Meanwhile, the Gators don’t chomp as well as they used to, and they don’t attack as well either. One year makes a difference, as they aren’t nearly as powerful. As for the Kiff, next time he might think before he speaks. And if he has nothing nice to say, then he might not say anything.