"The race has really just begun..."

These were CMR's words after the game referring to the SEC East race and he's absolutely right. However with JT3 we will be left in the dust. I realize I have already posted something like this before but this is different. I'm not knocking Joe any more. I think he played a hell of a game and did the best HE could. He's not the reason (although the INT's certainly didn't help matters any) we lost the game. I'm not sure if it was JT3 or just the atmosphere in general that made our receivers play like Jerry Rice but let's be honest; if they put forth that knd of effort the past couple of games, JT3 doesn't even play against Tennessee because Stafford would have the starting job locked up for the next 3 1/2 years. Does JT3 deserve to lose his starting job after Saturday's performance? Hell no. But if we are to stay in the race and beat Florida, Auburn, and hell even Vanderbilt to make it to the Dome we need a quarterback whose going to do more than simply keep us in the game. We need a quarterback that's going to go out there and win the game and that my friends is not JT3- it's the Magnificent #7. Yes he's been less than spectacular. Even I'll admit that but he's still at the very least no worse than JT3. What he lacks in playbook knowledge he more than makes up for in physical ability. If the WR's play like they did Saturday with Stafford at the helm we can win shootouts and high scoring games even if CWM refuses to make adjustments and pretty much lets the other team score. This way we are really killing two birds with one stone. We are giving ourselves the best chance to win now, in the 2006 season, as well as getting ourselves ready for the next couple of years. We won't have to go into 2007 wondering what to expect and the team chemistry will already be there. We also won't have to worry about another QB controversy with Stafford and Cox and then waste the first couple of games in 2007 screwing around with that. You can say what you want but Houston Nutt took a gamble (even though his job was on the line and he really had nothing to lose) and it seems to be working out pretty well for him with Mitch Mustain. They just beat previously undefeated and #2 ranked Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium which is a lot more than I can say for us at this point if JT3 is still starting the first week in November. Plus with MS at QB we can put JT3 where we really need him. No, not on the bench. 3 blocked punts in the 2 games tells me we need Joe back on punt team so he can protect fellow bash brother Ely-Kelso. The season is not at all lost but it is all up-hill from here. We do probably need to win out which is going to be extremely difficult if not damn near impossible. Tennessee hosts Alabama and LSU and still must go to South Carolina, Arkansas (seems like a tougher game now), and Vanderbilt (not a pushover anymore). The chances of them losing one of these games is good. It can be done but CMR needs to step up and be a leader himself. That includes growing some balls and doing what is right for the team. Don't worry about hurt feelings, worry about winning. If CMR doesn't get his priorities straight we could be spending late December in the cold and snowy climates of Shreveport (Independence Bowl) or Memphis (Liberty Bowl- which is where CollegeFootballNews.com has projected us to go to play Conference USA champion Tulsa as the SEC's #6 seed and this is definitely a step in the wrong direction). Now we get to find out what kind of coach CMR really is, seeing as how every other big decision he's had to make pretty much made itself to a certain extent. I hope he chooses wisely and quickly because even though Vandy is going to be a very tough game (a game that we could easily lose and I wouldn't even be that shocked given the circumstances), we have 2 weeks and 2 games to get ready for the Mighty Gators who seem to be hitting their stride just in time for the meat of their schedule. And judging by the recent history in that series, we are going to need the best QB we have under center that late October afternoon on the banks of the St. John's River in Alltel Stadium and if you didn't already figure it out by now, that QB is the one and only Matthew Stafford or "Mag' 7" as he's commonly referred to by some of his fans.



P.S. On an unrelated side note, if Cutcliffe can go back to Tennessee, I don't see any reason why BVG can't come back to Georgia, no matter what the cost. FIRE CWM!