Posts Tagged ‘SEC Power Poll’

Check out the Full Poll Results at:

Team Speed Kills!

Week 1

Through 7 September 2009

Here’s my ballot for this week in the SEC Power Poll, along with an feeble attempt at explaining why I’m such a moron. Not a whole lot of ways to separate between some of the teams this early on, but at least I thought up some excuses for my decisions.

Here they are, my darlins:

What, you were expecting more?

The Rest of the Power Poll

Now that you have wasted your time looking at my ballot, go check out what everybody else is saying over at Team Speed Kills, where the round-up will appear later this week.

Onward and upward …

– So it goes…

Lovin’ ‘da Law

In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been a bit scarce lately.  Such is the nature of a lucrative, overly time consuming, and somewhat sketchy litigation practice.  For the record, if taking 14 depositions in 16 days is on your list of things to do, take it from me: skip it.

There have been a lot of things going on lately, but, in light of my near-perpetual absence over the last fortnight, I’ve had little to no opportunity to say one thing about any of them.  Thus, here are a few items of interest I felt like passing along:

Clay Travis’ “On Rocky Top” is Released:

You’re going to be hearing a lot about this book, including my own review which I hope to post later this week.  In short, Travis’ new offering is outstanding.  I have read a lot of sports books over the years, and this one is one of the best.  What’s more, you do not have to be a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers to enjoy this wonderful look at SEC football and—more importantly—SEC fandom.

You may remember Clay Travis from his days at DeadSpin and as a contributor on CBS Sports.com.  He is also the author of “Dixeland Delight” and “Man! The Book” as well as a contributor to the “Rocky Top 2009” annual published by Maple Street Press (to which I also contributed).

Seriously, if you are a fan of SEC football, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Travis’ new book.  Trust me, you will be glad you did.  “On Rocky Top” is now available at bookstores or through web retailers such as Amazon.com.

I’ll be offering up a little more on this one in the near future…

The 2009 CBS Sports College Football BlogPoll

Yes, yes, friends and neighbors, once again the powers that be have elected to allow yours truly to participate in the CBS Sports College Football BlogPoll.  All I can say is that I am truly honored to get the chance to cast my weekly vote for the Top 25 college football programs and to be counted among some of the best of the best in the blogosphere, and, yes, there are a bunch of great blogs involved, including my brethren at Rocky Top Talk and 3SIB.

The format for the 2009 BlogPoll will be the same as in the past.  Each week, I will post a Draft or Preliminary Ballot after the conclusion of the week’s football frivolity (usually on Sunday night or Monday morning) for those of you out there to attack and destroy with all your gusto and might via your comments.  Please, feel free to try and convince me that I am wrong or flame me for being an idiot.  Interaction with the fan community is a core component of the BlogPoll philosophy.  I promise that I will consider all comments.  Thereafter (around Wednesday-ish) I will—at least in theory—post a revised ballot noting any changes made as a result of your insults input and epithets suggestions or based upon other developments around the world of college football.  From there, the collective will of blogosphere will be posted for all to see at CBS Sports.com, along with an analysis of the week’s balloting by the BlogPoll Illustrious Potentate, Brian Cook of the venerable MGOBlog.

In any event, the BlogPoll is a really wonderful partnership between the traditional media and the world of sports-bloggers (dare I say, “the Fifth Estate”?) and is a lot of fun for voters and readers alike.  Look for the first ballot next week.

SEC Power Poll

In much the same vein, as above, Gate 21 will be kicking off it’s participation in the 2009 SEC Power Poll, which brings SEC sports-bloggers together to rank each of the SEC schools on a weekly basis.  Last year this was a ton of fun.  Just like with the BlogPoll, I promise to consider any and all comments from the peanut gallery regarding my weekly ballots.

Once submitted, each week Power Poll is analyzed and sensationalized by the CockNFire of Garnet and Black Attack and Team Speed Kills.  For me, this is one of the best opportunities in blogging.  As a dyed-in-the-wool SEC fan, there is nothing closer to my heart than all things “ESS-EEE-SEE!”  I have also been known to … err … take a bit of creative license with my analyses of the various team, but I figure, what the hell?

RTT College Football Pick ‘em Pool

Though I had given some thought to creating my own weekly college football pick’em contest, I decided that the best option was simply to ride the coattails of the competent collaborate with others.  Furthermore, I just enjoy it more when there are more folks involved, thus, I will be participating in Rocky Top Talk’s College Pick’em Pool which is hosted at Fun Office Pools.com.  The interface and function is easy to use, and it is just a lot of fun to show the entire world just how brilliant or how stupid you are.  Oh, and did I mention that it’s free?  All you have to do is sign up and you’re good to go.  Be sure to jump in before the season starts.

Oh, and I assure you that the College Pick’em Pool does not violate the SEC’s new Media Policy (which is as laughable as it is draconian).

Yeah, I know, not much in the way of substance, but this lawyerin’ is getting to be like having a job…

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:     TresSugar •   Clay Travis.net ||  Statement on Fair Use

Check out the Complete All-SEC Team at Team Speed Kills!

SEC Power Poll

All-SEC Selections: Safeties

Well, due to a complete lack of judgment on the part of the SEC Power Poll brain-trust, Gate 21 has been selected to announce the Power Poll All-SEC Team selections at safety.  The rest of the defensive positions are being announced today across the blogosphere as well.  Be sure to check them out:

• The Red Solo Cup: Defensive Line
• Garnet and Black Attack: Linebackers
• Save the Shield: Cornerbacks

And in case you didn’t get a chance to catch the offensive selections, they are already available at Team Speed Kills.

The envelope, please…

The 2008 Power Poll All-SEC Selections at Safety are: Eric Berry (Tennessee) and Rashad Johnson (Alabama).  The reasons behind these should be obvious, but in case they aren’t here’s why these two fine athletes are in a class of their own:

Eric Berry • 14

Tennessee Volunteers

5’11” • 195 • Sophomore • Safety

What can you really say about Eric Berry that hasn’t already been said?

This deep-ball predator is the sound of pain to backs and receivers in the open field, and a quarterback’s worst nightmare.  This defensive terror has amassed nearly every accolade possible in his two seasons at Tennessee.  He has broken almost every record for interceptions, some of which had stood for a very long time.  Berry holds records for most interceptions at UT in a single season (which previously stood for 37 years), most career interceptions at UT (39 years), SEC record for most interceptions in a season (52 years) and SEC most career interceptions (59 years).  He was named freshman defensive player of the year in 2007, as well as Freshman All-American.  As of the end of the 2008 season, he is 14 yards shy of breaking the NCAA all-time record for career interception return yardage of 501 yards (which has stood since 1989-91).  Most recently, he also garnered unanimous All-American honors.  On top of all of this he can now add one more prize to his trophy case:

Unanimous Selection: 2008 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team

Oh, and, yes, he is just a sophomore…

Thus, it is understandable why some are already viewing Berry as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate for 2009 and 2010.  In my Sports Blog Heisman Ballot, I quoted an article which I believe describes Berry’s style of play about as well as any I’ve ever read:

The Vols’ athletic outlier plays the game like it’s on a sheet of ice and he’s the only one that brought skates. … Berry is the flower that’s sprouted in a compost heap of a year.

As a result, of Berry’s punishing style of play, the Vols’ defense finished 4th in the country in total defense, despite having a less than stellar record.

Even more impressive, however, is Berry’s never quit attitude on the field (even when down by 20-plus points) and his ability to dish out some mammoth hits.  But don’t take my word for it just give these a look (or ask Knowshon Moreno)…

Eric Berry vs. Knowshon Moreno

Eric Berry vs. the World

Berry’s statistics through the end of the 2008 regular season are:

I can only imagine what the SEC will see from Berry next season.  Either way, I’d be scared.

Rashad Johnson • 49

Alabama Crimson Tide

6’0” • 186 • Senior • Safety

Rashad Johnson started out as a walk on in Tuscaloosa, played under 2 different coaches, and singlehandedly willed himself into becoming one of the top safeties in the country.  This Alabama native ended with 5 interceptions on the season including the game-winning grab against the LSU Tigers in overtime.  His stats pretty much speak for themselves, and paint a picture of a young man in a hurry … to get to the ball that is.

Johnson capped off his senior season by being named 1st team All-American by the AFCA and 2nd team by the Walter Camp, Sporting News, and Associated Press voters as a safety.  This “converted” running back can now add SEC Power Poll All-SEC to his resume as well.

Now, Johnson has the pleasure of looking forward to an NFL career, as numerous teams have shown an interest.  As one of the senior leaders for Alabama this season, he will be sorely missed in 2009.  For now, however, he’s one of the Pride of the Tide.

Here’s a few highlights from Johnson’s senior campaign:

How the West was Won: Alabama vs. LSU

Johnson’s statistics through the end of the 2008 regular season are:

The Rest of All-SEC Team

You can check out the rest of the Power Poll All-SEC Team by visiting Team Speed Kills, where the complete team rundown will be posted Friday-ish.

– Go Figure …

Images Courtesy of: UT Sports • RollTide.com