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They booed him in the opening home game against FAU and booed him again in Tampa against South Florida. Emory Jones heard from angry Gator fans about his performance while Anthony Richardson was making big plays. Heading into the Alabama game, Emory Jones heard the noise again that if Richardson was starting Florida might have a chance. All the while Dan Mullen kept saying Emory Jones would be fine. And yes, if Richardson didn't get hurt no one knows what would have happened. But here's what did happen: Emory Jones almost led his team to a win over top-ranked Alabama and then Jones was the best and most exciting player in Gainesville on Saturday when Florida blew out Tennessee. And now Florida fans are standing and cheering their quarterback, the one that has gotten better and better and now is a bonafide threat every play. In his last two games, Jones is completing 71% of his passes and has rushed for 220 yards. But while Jones has played well the last two, Dan Mullen has done something that should not go unnoticed. Mullen has transformed Florida's offense into a rushing machine. After using Kyle Trask to lead a pass-heavy attack the last two seasons, Mullen has turned this year's Gators into one of the top rushing teams in the nation. Florida is 3rd in the country in rushing averaging 322.5 yards on the ground per game. Florida's offensive line has been a wrecking ball. But back to Jones for a moment, whose season has some similarities to Dak Prescott's first year as a starter at Mississippi State- coached by Dan Mullen. In 2013, Prescott completed 58% of his passes for 1,940 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing for 829 yards and 13 TDs. Jones is on pace to rush for 1,125 yards and pass for 12 touchdowns. I'm not saying Emory Jones is about to become Dak Prescott but maybe Dan Mullen actually knows what is best for his quarterback...
On the radio show last week I asked why FSU AD David Coburn and Miami AD Blake James have not publicly defended their football coaches. Well, Coburn stepped up and said "we have the right guy, we will improve and we will win." Good for Coburn to come out and say that but it won't be his decision if things continue to spiral. FSU announced a crowd of over 50,000 for their game against Louisville, but no one believes that was the actual crowd. Mike Norvell's future will come to whether he is bad for business and if tickets stop selling and donors stop giving, Coburn will have to decide what to do and that will be an expensive decision. It will be hard to sell tickets in 2022 unless FSU makes a big run to finish out this year. Aside from the Florida game, FSU plays LSU in New Orleans)the two play in Orlando in 2023) and then home games with Duquesne and Louisiana and their ACC schedule. As for the loss to Louisville, the Seminoles rallied but fell short when McKenzie Milton threw a late pick. He once again was under pressure and the FSU defense struggled to contain Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham- who beat UCF the week before. The Seminoles get Syracuse this week and suddenly that game looks more challenging. The Orange are now 3-1 after beating Liberty on a last second field goal...
Miami fans did what all college football fans do, when you have someone else at quarterback play well you forget who your starter was and think the next guy is the next greatest thing. While D'Eriq King sat out of Miami's 69-0 win over Central Connecticut State. Tyler Van Dyke went 10-11 for 270 yards and three touchdowns and Jake Garcia was 11-14 for 147 and 2 scores. STOP IT!! It was Central Connecticut State. But......Manny Diaz needs wins and D'Eriq King is his best and most experienced quarterback when healthy...for now. If Diaz was secure for 2022 and beyond, it is in his best interest to think about the future of the position because King is gone after this year. Playing Van Dyke and Garcia gives him an idea of what he has for the future. The future is what is in doubt for Diaz since so many want him out. But like I said last week on the radio show, if you want Diaz fired then you want Miami to do it now because otherwise, he may just win too many games to get rid of him. The Canes are very much a contender in the ACC Coastal division. North Carolina already has two conference losses and while Miami has to go to Chapel Hill and still play NC State, Virginia Tech and others, there is not a game that they can't win left. Miami could go 7-5, but they can also finish 10-2 and make the conference title game. If that happens, Manny Diaz is going anywhere and might get an extension...
UCF was off last week and prepares to play at Navy this week. The Midshipmen looked awful their first two games but led at Houston before falling 28-20. Mikey Keane takes over for the injured Dillon Gabriel at quarterback and his first start comes on the road. But another concern for UCF fans is Isaiah Bowser's injury. Bowser wasn't 100% going into the Louisville loss.and then left after taking a hit to his knee. He tried to start the second half, but was not able to be effective. Without Bowser, UCF relies on Trillion Coles and Johnny Richardson. Both played well at Louisville at times but are not as physical as Bowser and don't pass block like Bowser. The offense changes, not just in the run game but the passing game as well, without Bowser. Keane will need help from his line and a balanced attack to win his debut. And UCF's defense faces Navy's triple option offense. It's hard to practice and tough to defend and the blocking schemes wear you down and the cut blocks make it even more challenging. Navy has struggled and lost eight straight going back to last year. The Knights need an early lead and force Navy to do things they don't like to do...pass...
Reason 1,058 conference officials are ridiculous in college football. Ask Georgia State what they thought about the replay in their game with Auburn that clearly shows an Auburn pass hit the ground and be ruled a catch on the game-winning drive for the Tigers. The game was played in Auburn with SEC officials. Why didn't Georgia State get to bring from the Sun Belt Conference? Because if they wanted the money to play the game, Auburn got to bring SEC refs. Just stupid...
Final thought: A pumpkin is a fruit not a vegetable because it's a seed bearing structure.