Per collegefootballnews.com SEC: Georgia and LSU Why isn’t Georgia the mentally mighty one down South? Three words: no David Greene. Some Dawg fans who, like other college football fans of a similar mindset, instinctively bristle at any outside criticism will view the following comment as a criticism. Other Dawg fans who give college football fans a good name by looking at the bigger picture will see the following comment as the wise and accurate statement it is meant to be: D.J. Shockley, you’re no David Greene… yet. That statement is not a criticism of Shockley; it’s meant as a statement of praise for Greene, the winningest D-I college football quarterback EVER, and a leader with the biggest heart a quarterback has ever possessed. Greene often struggled with his accuracy, and didn’t always light up the scoreboard, but he led a team as well as a college quarterback possibly can. The emotional uplift and psychological stability Greene gave his mates in the fourth quarter of a rain-soaked battle against Georgia Tech was a final, fitting and lasting testament to the leadership possessed by the lefty. D.J. Shockley, no longer having to platoon with Greene, might possibly be able to become a big-time leader. But right now, he has a long way to go. It’s not because of anything Shockley has or hasn’t done, but because Greene set such a stratospherically high standard of leadership. Unless or until Shockley becomes a Greene-like leader, one cannot say that UGA will have a psychological edge greater than Tennessee or any other SEC team. With LSU, let’s be blunt: I’m just not sold on Les Miles. Yes, Nick Saban might have been a carpetbagger who bolted LSU after insisting that Baton Rouge was a good place to be for the long haul, but any justified resentment among the locals toward Saban should not create a sudden case of hero-worship in Cajun Country for the new LSU coach. Simply put, he will have to prove himself, and fast. Saban might have been a taskmaster, but he sure did motivate, so it remains to be seen whether or not this Tiger team will have a winning mental edge in 2005. Full Article
Yeah, just one guys opinion and I wouldn't say he's completely wrong. We do have something to prove. The one I have a problem with is the "mentally toughest" one, with Auburn and Alabama the "mentally toughest" teams. Please, Auburn lost their 4 year? QB, 2 stud RB's and their star CB. And Alabama's mentally tough because Croyle's coming back? Please. . .
Alot of folks were saying that '05 we were going to make a run for the NC. With the talent Les has on this football team, sad for him if he can't prove himself, and fast. Anything less than a trip to Atlanta this year would be a bigger disappointment than others.
Auburn has to prove that their undefeated season wasn't a fluke. Alabama has to prove that they are back from probation and mediocrity. LSU has to prove that a new coach can take Nick's talent and win with it Georgia has to prove they can win without some big name players. Florida has to prove that Leak can take them to a higher level with a new coach. Tennessee has to prove they can still win championships with Fulmer. Ole Miss, State, Arkansas, and Carolina have to prove they can compete in this league. Kentucky and Vanderbilt have nothing to prove.
I think many started pointing to 2005 after we lost Clayton, Hill and Mauck for 2004. 2004 was always the year I heard mentioned before 2003 when people were looking into the future as being our best shot at a title. And if Hill, Mauck and Clayton would have come back I think they would have been right.
Fox Sport and the College Football News web-sites are glued to Urban's and Phat Phil's zippers. They love Tennessee and the Gators. But a close look really puts their judgement in question. Springtime in Knoxville finds the Orange defense stopping their offense cold on a regular basis. This is the same defense that Kentucky and Vanderbilt found their best offensive days against. Florida showed their explosiveness in the Peach Bowl. Fool's gold! Unsold on Miles? Stillwater has never been a threat to anyone, unless they were cheating, until Les Miles showed up. Unfortunately, when Miles does win, the comments will be Saban's talent...
no doubt. If Coker can't get any slack by his detractors after playing for 2 straight NC's even though his predecessor didn't win one then you know Miles isn't going to get any love either.
