Go Big Or Go Home

To lots of people, including some of my family and friends, this will be a painful blog. It's not as if some of them haven't dogged out my Jaguars or FSU. But this subject has finally reared it's ugly head and I'm hear to say: I TOLD YOU SO.

In 2011, there was a game called THE GAME OF THE CENTURY (TGOTC). It was between LSU and ALABAMA. It was a very important game, hence the name. Now keep in my mind, we are talking about the SEC. The SEC, that some say, MUST be included in any and all National Championship conversations, 1 loss or not. TGOTC was HYPED beyond all hyping. I watched it. It was OK. It was relatively low scoring, which is fine, but we all know that doesn't really cut it. The question to ask is why was the game so low in scoring? Let me share with you:

ALABAMA:
Cade Foster:
Field Goal 44 yd. attempt. Miss. Wide Right.
Field Goal  50 yd. attempt. Miss
Field Goal 52 yd. attempt. Miss
Field Goal 46 yd. attempt. Kick is good.
Jeremy Shelley:
Field Goal 49 yd. attempt. Miss/Blocked.
Field Goal 34 yd attempt. Kick is good.

LSU:
Drew Alleman:
Field Goal 19 yd. attempt. Kick is good.
Field Goal 30 yd. attempt. Kick is good.
Field Goal 25 yd. attempt. Kick is good.

So, Alabama tried 6 field goals and only scored twice.  LSU tried 3 field goals and scored all 3 times. LSU won the ball game in overtime. Keep in mind, this was 2 years ago. Foster showing a propensity for missing kicks in big games.

Fast forward to last weekend's Iron Bowl.

Alabama:
Touchdown X 4
Cade Foster:
Field Goal 44 yd. attempt. Miss. Wide left.
Field Goal 33 yd. attempt. Miss. Wide left.
Field Goal 44 yd. attempt. Miss/Blocked.
*of note: Saban didn't want to attempt a Field Goal on 4th and 1 on the 13 yd. line. No bueno. No score.*
Adam Griffith:
Field Goal 57 yd. attempt. Miss/Run back for a Touchdown.

Auburn:
Touchdown X 4
Missed Field Goal ran back for Touchdown: 6pts.


Auburn 34-Alabama 28


Please don't try that sympathy train for Cade Foster. He should've been benched after TGOTC. Yet, he still played on and had a 91.7% completion rate. Nick Saban. Nick. Nick. Nick.

What I want to know is how Nick Saban still has a job??!! How is that possible? He has a "lights out": Offensive Line, Quarterback, Running Backs, Wide Receivers and Defense, but a HORRIFIC kicking unit when under pressure. Keep in mind, that Roberto Aquayo, the FSU kicker, has scored more points himself than all the opponents FSU played against this year.

In the great words of Rich Eisen, Kickers (punters) are people too. You CANNOT discount the impact kickers have on the game. Frankly, that's what Nick Saban has done. He's discounted the difference a "lights out" kicking game and what it can do for you. And for that he should be fired.

*DISCLAIMER*
I absolutely positively do not agree with Cade Foster getting death threats. I don't think that is appropriate in any venue in College or Professional Football.

MDK In The House

We Must Protect this House

For the night after Auburn,
The Tide did not Roll.
The new boss in town,
Wears Garnet and Gold.