The final votes are in. Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma and Michigan State will be playing for the National Championship, and they are four darn good football teams. There are some interesting matchups in the “close, but no banana group,” and the Ole Miss vs Oklahoma State game is a great example.
There are 40 NCAA sanctioned bowl games, but there are not 80 teams with the required six wins. The NCAA will violate the minimum win requirement, and allow teams with five wins to play. There is no greater example of money driving policy than the NCAA.
Now that the season is done, with the exception of the Army-Navy game, it is time to reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly.
Biggest Disappointments The collapse of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Auburn Tigers. Auburn was projected at #6 in the initial preseason AP poll, and Tech was #16. Auburn ended the season 6–6, and it appears that the one bright spot in the season, Will Muschamp and the defense, will be moving on to that grave yard of coaching, South Carolina.
Tech finished 3–9 in what can only be described as a total melt down. Every cloud has a silver lining. Tech is not bowl eligible, and can’t possibly be matched up with Mississippi State in a bowl game. My dogs cannot begin to figure out the Tech offense, and I hope we never play them again.
Biggest Surprise Ole Miss losing to University of Memphis. As everyone knows, I picked the Rebels to win the whole enchilada, and they managed to come up with three sub-par performances to end up on the high end of mediocre. I’ll admit that they got it all together against MSU, and kept the Golden Egg in Oxford.
Biggest Relief Mississippi State ending up 8–4 and not in the SEC cellar as predicted, thanks to Dak Prescott. I continue to say that Dan Mullen manages to recruit under the radar and coach up what he signs. Dan has moved MSU into the mid ranks of the SEC, and for this, we Bulldogs are forever grateful.
Biggest Dumb Assed Move The University of Georgia’s “mutual agreement” regarding Mark Ricth’s tenure as head coach. The agreement was so mutual that Richt accepted the head coaching job at Miami before the ink had dried. Mark Richt is a gentleman, and represented the University in a positive manner, while winning a ton of football games. I suspect he will be missed.
Last Prediction of 2015 When the dust clears, I believe Oklahoma will be the 2015 National Champion, and Alabama will be the runner up. This probably puts the kiss of death on any chance the Sooner’s ever had, and Frankie, I’m sorry to jinx your guys.
It’s been a fun season, and I’ve enjoyed nearly 100 hours of tube time. We’ll stick it out for the bowl games and the attendant fru-ha-ha, but it won’t be long before we start talking about next August, when it all starts again. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to checking out some new places to eat and new sights to see.
Categories: Football, Uncategorized
Tom Lawrence's Blog 
Well, I did give it the old college try in being optimistic about MSU’s last three games. We did beat Arkansas (barely). We are not going to be able to compete with OM unless we do a better job of recruiting. They are putting superior athletes on the field. As to the NC, I agree that the Sooners are in the catbird seat. Bama may not make it to the championship game – great defense, very average offense. Enjoyed your comments throughout the season.
Bill Harvey
Bill, 8-4 is a good season at MSU and we will never be able to compete with the trial lawyers who support Ole Miss.
I have enjoyed your football blog all year. Is there a comment from the Sage of the Plains on this matter? I would not be asking about our season record, but I did see it close with a little encouragement for the future (at least on the defensive side of the line…the head coach’s true talent…maybe.)
Although it remains a mystery how we recruit, and we all know the lack of a detectable pulse in Vandy fan-land. Does the Sage have thoughts on football academics, or is that generally an oxymoron?…emphasis on the last two syllables of that word.
December 8, 2015
VU gets AFCA Academic Achievement Award
Vanderbilt Media Services
Talk about it in Commodore War Room
The Vanderbilt football program will share the 2015 Academic Achievement Award with a perfect graduation success rate, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced today.
This marks the fourth time that Vanderbilt has captured or shared the Academic Achievement Award, having previously been recognized in 1996, 2001 and 2008 by the coaches association. Only three other programs nationally – Notre Dame, Northwestern and Duke – have been honored more than the Commodores.
Vanderbilt Head Coach Derek Mason is expected to accept the Academic Achievement Award trophy Jan. 11 at the President’s Kickoff Luncheon held in conjunction with the AFCA annual convention in San Antonio. The Memphis Touchdown Club and AFCA are co-sponsors of the award.
“This is a tremendous honor for our team, the athletics department and Vanderbilt University,” Mason said. “I look forward to accepting the Academic Achievement Award on behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, academic support staff and administration. It speaks directly to the classroom success of our student-athletes, and Vanderbilt’s commitment that earning a degree is vital to the players’ campus experience.”
Vanderbilt and co-recipient Duke were the only programs nationally to register a 100 percent graduation rate for members of its freshman football student-athlete class of 2008. The AFCA award is based on the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR), which measures student-athlete graduation rates over a six-year window.
For the full story: http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120815aaa.html
E.N.(Chip)Burson
Chip, The great mystery in all of college football is the success on the field for high academic standard institutions such as Stanford. Northwestern, Duke, North Carolina and , yes, Vanderbilt. The only explanation that I have is that evolution will produce a limited number of highly intelligent young men with athletic ability. These youngsters do not view a five year career in the NFL as the end point in life, but think it would be cool to be CEO of Microsoft. These players put an education above a shot at the NFL and migrate to the high academic institutions. Not every intelligent prospect goes to such a school, but most do. Glad you enjoyed the blog, we’ll take another run next August.
Tom
Wisdom, as always. I see the dynamic. That makes sense and answers questions like, “How does a 300 lb tackle all SEC not go pro?” Medical School. You’re right. There are just enough of them for Stanford, Duke, Vandy, ND, etc…