The Big 3 Report
by Jason “Gator” Pigott
(Gator's Take Record 2004: 1-1)
Last weekend, Ole Miss opened their 2004 season with a disappointing 20-13 loss to the Memphis Tigers. The Rebels came out
flat in front of the record breaking crowd in Oxford and never led in the contest. In fairness, Memphis is a good football team that
should be a factor in the C-USA race. So instead of dwelling on the loss, let's focus on the positives that came out of Saturday's
game. For one, the defense played well by only allowing 20 points to one of the nation's most explosive offenses. Other than that,
the only other positive that comes to mind is that my buddy Clay Sweet was right about something. (He picked Memphis to pull
the upset during the halftime show Friday night)
This week will be a difficult coaching week for head coach David Cutcliffe and his staff. They must figure out a way to restore
the psyche of QB Michael Spurlock and the offense in time for Saturday's SEC opener in Tuscaloosa against the Alabama
Crimson Tide.
Alabama rolled in their opener 48-17 over Utah State . Utah State is not the same caliber team as Memphis , but the Tide
looked very solid on both sides of the ball. Led by junior QB Brodie Croyle, the Tide scored on all five attempts in the
red-zone and had two RB's eclipse the 100-yard mark in rushing yards. The defense converted both Aggie turnovers into
touchdowns, but looked very average in the first half.
Gator's Take: It is believed by many that “well coached” football teams improve the most between the first and second weeks
of the season. That said, the Rebel offensive line looked terrible against Memphis and must improve immediately if Spurlock is to
survive in the SEC . Herein lies the key to this game. If Alabama can get pressure on the QB without having to blitz, the Tide will
roll. The Rebel offensive line will play better this week, but this is Spurlock's first road game in the SEC and after last week, his
confidence is shaky at best. It will take a defensive or special team's touchdown for the Rebels to score enough points to pull the
upset in this one. Add in the fact that Ole Miss is 1-20 all-time in Tuscaloosa suggests that a 0-2 start is almost a certainty.
Crimson Tide 24 Rebels 16
Head Coach Sylvester Croom and the MSU Bulldogs made history on Saturday with a 28-7 win over Tulane. Now that the
media blitz is over, it's time to see if the Dogs can compete in the SEC .
The first half was ugly (almost as bad as State's new helmets) as each team went scoreless. However, the Bulldogs came to life
early in the third quarter scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions to pull away from the Green Wave. QB Omarr
Conner was solid and RB Jerious Norwood rushed for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown in the win. Defensively, the Dogs
looked much improved from a year ago in holding the Green Wave to a mere 204 total yards.
The Auburn Tigers come into Starkville this weekend with depth and experience on their side. Last week, the Tigers shut out an
overmatched UL-Monroe team 31-0. The defense, which returns 6 starters from a year ago, was dominant, but the offensive
output was less than spectacular. The Tigers adopted the West Coast offense in the off-season and are using a two-quarterback
system to run it. This new system puts the Tigers two best scoring threats, RB Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and RB Ronnie Brown,
on the field for every play. This could be trouble for MSU this Saturday.
Gator's Take: Last season the Dogs were “run over by a Cadillac” as Carnell Williams scored 6 touchdowns in a 45-13 rout
at Auburn . This year, I think State will start strong defensively, but because of a lack of depth wear down in the second half.
Offensively, the Dogs just aren't at the level of the Auburn defense…yet. My pick to win the SEC West, the Auburn Tigers,
will win going away in this one. But take heart Bulldog nation, Maine is next on the schedule!
TIGERS 33 Bulldogs 13
The USM Golden Eagles will finally get their season started on Saturday as they travel to Lincoln , Nebraska to take on the once
almighty Cornhuskers. I mentioned in the report last week that the Eagles were in prayer meetings trying to prepare for this game.
If that indeed were true, the subtitle for this week's game should be “Baptism by fire.”
The defending C-USA Champion Eagles return only four starters on defense meaning the new faces on the unit must grow up in
a hurry. Pre-season All-American Linebacker Michael Boley leads the defense. The offense returns nine starters from a year ago
and should be more explosive. Led by QB Dustin Almond, and an experienced offensive line, the Eagles have the pieces in place
to score a lot of points this season.
Nebraska has a new coach and a new offensive philosophy. Bill Callahan is the new man in town and from the time he took the
podium to be introduced as head coach, things have been changing in Lincoln . Gone is the power running game that the Husker
Nation has prided itself on since the Tom Osborne era. Instead, the Huskers will feature the West Coast offense that utilizes a
short passing game. Last week, Nebraska destroyed its Division II foe, Western Illinois 56-17.
RANT: As a USM alum, I have to ask: Who makes these schedules? Whatever happened to playing a “cupcake” in week one?
(It gets better, five days after Nebraska , #12 California comes to Hattiesburg for a Thursday night battle on ESPN. Maine anyone?)
Gator's Take: As crazy as it sounds, I think the Eagles match up okay in this one. Stop laughing please…let me explain. In the
blowout win last week, Nebraska QB Joe Dailey passed for 4 TDs, but also threw 4 INTs. (Remember, this was against W. Illinois )
The Eagles have some lettermen returning in the defensive secondary that can flat out play. Remember the name Trevis Coley. The
USM offense will not be intimidated, however I will stop short of saying they will move the ball at will against a stiff Husker defense.
Nebraska will win the game, but it will be much closer than the boys in Vegas think.
HUSKERS 20 Eagles 16