--Alabama. In the season of the spread offense, coach Nick Saban's throwback attack of between-the-tackle runs mixed with ultra-safe passes against Clemson moved the Crimson Tide into the same breath with Auburn and LSU in debates over SEC West contenders. Your league number of the day is 41:13, the time that 'Bama monopolized the ball. The line created holes large enough to drive an Escalade through. Yeah, that's the vehicle, joked(?) Clemson defensive coordinator Vic Koenning last week, driven by a pair of Crimson Tide freshmen. Looks like he and Tommy Bowden are at the wheel of a clunker in Clemson.
--The people of New Orleans: Folks wisely conducted, by all accounts, an orderly evacuation as their beloved LSU Tigers were having Appalachian State for brunch. May Gustav spare the Crescent City and others along the Gulf Coast.
One Thump Up:
--LSU: In front of nearly 30,000 empty seats and a tame crowd that tailgated on Bloody Marys instead of the usual libations, the Tigers took care o' business 41-13 before buckling down to the serious matter of coping with a hurricane. App State could not repeat its 2007 opening upset of Michigan.
--Florida: Scores can mislead. The 56-20 ravaging of Hawaii was a product of defense (six turnovers) and special teams. Thrre Gators' TDs came on runbacks. (The Rainbows' new rallying cry -- no mo' SEC, this game coming on the heels of Georgia's 41-10 blitzkrieg in the Sugar Bowl.) Better yet, three Gator starters (notably receiver Percy Harvin) held out with injury will be freshened up for Miami next weekend.
--Georgia: The Bulldogs' 45-21 dismantling of Georgia Southern was so lacking in suspense that Uga VII, unveiled as the latest four-legged edition of a long canine line of mascots, slept for an entire quarter. Georgia surpassed 500 yards of offense against a team depleted by the suspension of eight players.
--Kentucky: Only 210 yards of offense, but the Wildcats snuffed out Louisville 27-2 Sunday in Derby City. Wha' happened to the teams that rang up 87 points two seasons ago against each other and 74 last? All of the thoroughbreds in town this year were stabled a few blocks away at Churchill Downs.
One Thumb Up, One Thumb Down
--Auburn: The Tigers managed only two TDs on offense, both in the second half, in a 34-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe as offensive coordinator Tony Franklin's new spread offense was a bust. He pled to poor coaching. Guilty as charged, Tony. His approach of alternating quarterbacks each possession should, and will, change.
--Ole Miss: The new spread offense under debuting coach Houston Nutt rang up 41 points, but the Rebels were outgained in a 17-point split deicision over Memphis.
--Tim Tebow's Heisman chances: Statistics are important in the race, and the Gators' QB generated little to write home (or anywhere else) about: 9-of-14 passing for one TD, 37 yards rushing for no TDs. Tebow preferred to harp on the number one: He emerged with one bruise, a record low, and the Gators emerged 1-0.
--Georgia's national title aspirations: Tackle Jeff Owens, the least dispensable defensive lineman, is toast for the season after getting hurt Saturday. He joins rehabbing offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant, also out for good. Injuries are bringing the Dawgs back to the pack.
--The SEC-ACC opener at the Georgia Dome: Atlanta, which hopes to make the clash of southern conferences an annual tradition, had to be delighted when Crimson Tiders and Tigers overran the city (blending nicely with the DragonCon and Gay Black Pride conventions). But the tepid start by the ACC (2-4 against Division 1 teams) suggests the two leagues may be operating on different levels, thus dashing any sort of rivalry.
One Thumb Down:
--Arkansas: Sure, the Razorbacks won 28-24, but trailing Western Illinois by 10 points halfway through the fourth quarter? Good riddance, now say Atlanta Falcons fans after new Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino abandoned their team in the midst of last season.
--Mississippi State: Losing to Louisiana Tech 22-14 normally would warrant double digits down. But the Spartans were on the road. Please, enough talk about Sylvester Croom being a coach on the rise. Don't see it.
Anybody else wanna show some thumbs? (No middle fingers allowed.)
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