Predictably Irrational

When do the dominoes start to fall for undefeated teams in college football? Just check around when the initial BCS rankings are released.


Those pesky rankings, all they ever do is confuse everything and everyone. Yet, ratings show we don’t mind it a bit. We enjoy talking heads giving their take and stirring the pot to promote viewership for a system that has not existed one year without some sort of controversy. It’s opinion and chaos that sells, remember. But before we open that can of worms, lets not wax poetic on why we need a playoff system, but profile the teams that have had their bubbles busted—and one that came mighty close-- since the BCS rankings came out.

Stanford- Almost blew their chance at the big one with a three overtime thriller against USC on Saturday. I personally was all-in for this one once I saw that Georgia Tech was doomed against Clemson. The Cardinals still have a long road ahead as they still play Oregon before finishing the regular season with Notre Dame.

Clemson- Look, it was unfortunate running back Andre Ellington could not play against Tech and then have the bye week to regain his health back. Clemson was reduced to a pass-only offense when they could not establish any type of run game. And four turnovers have never helped a team win a big game on the road. Or so I’ve been told.

Wisconsin- You could say the hailmary pass that connected in the Michigan State game was a fluke. A fluke that cost the Badgers a shot at the BCS title game. But the same thing against Ohio State? For a team that looked to be the most complete in the nation, its funny that the same gimmicky type play would cost them two weeks in a row. No matter how small, a chink in the armor is still a chink in the armor.

Oklahoma- The injury-riddled Sooners were the shoe in for the title game against the LSU-Alabama winner, so all they had to do was win out the rest of their games. Not even convincingly, just win, baby. How horrifying that the dream came to a crashing halt against an also injury-plagued 4-2 Red Raider bunch who on their best day, sadly, were enough to beat my pick of this years BCS champion. Crap.



“A Dream Come True”

That’s exactly how Scott Elledge, Executive Producer of Chevy Game Night Live on WJBF’s digital channel 6.2, explains the thrill of bringing live football on Thursday nights into the homes of everyone in the CSRA.

“As an ex jock myself (Elledge played football at Middle Tennessee State University) I know how big a deal it is to have the local outlets covering your game, much less a full production with six cameras, incredible graphics, sideline reporters, etc.”

For the eleven game schedule that concluded last Thursday, it has been an exciting first year not only for football fans but for the administration of those schools as well.

“Outside of the usual player spotlight segments we have each week, we were also able to donate $500 back to each home team with the help of our sponsor, the CSRA Chevy dealers.”

And it’s that exclusive time slot on Thursday that seems to be the key for all those involved.

“You are able to watch a bunch of local teams that otherwise you might not have the opportunity to see,” said Grovetown’s Rodney Holder. “We have to coach every Friday night, so it’s nice to be able to sit back and watch a live game each week of the season.”

And the games have been great theatre for those able to watch them live or replayed Sunday on WJBF Channel 6. Holder can attest to the excitement around the games as his Warriors defeated the Greenbrier Wolfpack in the first game of the season 28-24 in a thrilling finish. And for his post game report on how the entire production played out?

“If you can’t get behind this you’re just crazy. The excitement and exposure for the kids playing on Thursday night is incredible.”


Games to Watch


Burke County @ Thomson-Friday 7:30pm

The CSRA’s version of LSU-Alabama. Seriously. No hyperbole here.


South Carolina @ Arkansas- Saturday 7:15- ESPN

Must win for the Gamecocks in order to stay atop the SEC East division.


LSU @ Alabama- Saturday 8:00pm-CBS

Even causal fans are talking about this game and how important it is.


Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburg Steelers-Sunday 8:20- NBC

Don’t miss this one. Always one of the best played games of the year in the NFL.

Metro Spirit 9-29

Somebody had to pull out of the parking lot of Grovetown High School with a loss, and to give you a hint, it sure wasn’t that raucous bus full of Bulldogs heading back across town. Butler took their talents on the road in a great contest not only between two good teams, but a couple of the area’s more outstanding coaches as well. In setting the table for the game, both teams knew they each wanted to run the ball effectively, manage the clock, and leave it up to their unyielding defenses to slam the door shut and leave with a W. As both teams did an impressive job in executing their defensive game plans, quality runs came about as often as they do in a fiber-less diet. Painfully not often enough. I know, I know, real cute, jackass. But after Grovetown took a 7-6 lead into halftime, Butler made the appropriate adjustments and took to the air to get their yards and open up running lanes for their running backs. More importantly in the second half, the Bulldogs found an extra defensive gear and held the Warriors to an astounding 11 yards of total offense and only one first down in the 20-7 victory.

Lincoln County (LC) knew they were in for a handful when South Carolina’s reigning Class A State Champion, Abbeville, hosted the Red Devils in a rivalry game on August 26th. The battle ended with LC prevailing 24-13. Abbeville had blemished LC’s record the previous three years. The date had been circled, enough was enough. It was thought, upon first glance at the schedule, the next opponent to have a punchers chance against the Red Devils would be Aquinas on Oct 21st. Insert an undefeated Warren County bunch led by fiery first-year head coach David Daniel. Daniel took over the program just days before the Screaming Devils’ first game against Glascock County- a game they won 51-7. How tall an order is it for Warren County to get a win against LC? The current Screaming Devils players could have lived two lifetimes until that point and still not have a memory of a victory against a Larry Campbell coached team. This year was destined to be different, right? Well, almost. It took a defensive stand from LC on the final possession to make it 37 in a row for Coach Campbell. The gritty 10-7 victory was obviously highlighted by solid defensive play, but none more so than LC’s containment of Warren County’s stud running back Jabari Wilson, who was held to 63 rushing yards total. Silver lining? Lincoln County gets a midseason wake up call, and Warren County continues their inspired, confidence building play into the second half of the season. A win for both sides, even though it wasn’t.

Give Statesboro respect, they always seem to find a way. We’ve sent two local teams (Washington County and Lakeside) against the Blue Devils, put them on the ropes, and watched them dance out of two defeats and win by an average of 6 points. For Lakeside, it was another game they were in, and just like that, they let it get away from them. It also marked their 4th loss in a row—albeit in a death row slate of games already chronicled many times over in this space- and a sluggish lead-in to region play. The question facing Lakeside is can they finish a game? Can they find a way?


High School Games to Watch

ARC @ Thomson- Thursday- 7:05- TV: Comcast 380, Atlantic Broadband/Knology 246

The area’s best gameday experience just got better as the Bulldog community honors the late Luther Welsh with a heartfelt ceremony.

Lakeside @ Greenbrier-Friday-7:30

The Panthers desperately need a win to restore the confidence they brought with them into the season.

Josey @ Westside-Friday-7:30

Can the Eagles make it two in a row?!?!


College/NFL Games to Watch

No.13 Clemson @ No.11 Virginia Tech-Saturday-6pm-ESPN2

Last test in the Schedule of Champions that Dabo keeps yapping about.


No.3 Alabama @ No.12 Florida-Saturday-8pm-CBS

Sorry, No Rules of Engagement reruns tonight. Instead, you get the pleasure of watching 71 yr old CBS play-by-play announcer, Verne Lundquist stay up way past his bedtime!

Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys-Sunday-1pm-FOX

Let’s see if former Georgia Bulldog QB Matthew Stafford can keep the unbeaten streak alive for the Lions against DeMarcus Ware and the Cowboys.

Metro Spirit 8-18

Well it’s here, can you feel it?

It makes perfect sense that football in its purest form is the first to begin action out on the gridiron. Our hometown heroes burst through their oversized banners each week not for the chance to renegotiate some multi-million dollar contract, but for the pride of the school on the front of the jersey. Or maybe it’s to garner the attention of a certain girl who sits two rows behind them in 4th period history. That was always my motivation anyway.


What we’re going to do in this space over the next several months is to give appropriate exposure to these local athletes. There will be a roundup of major highlights each week, Metro’s 3 games to watch and the Metro Top 6. We’ll get you a full roundup after this week’s abbreviated slate of games. So for now, onto the three to watch.



Harlem at Lincoln County- Fri 7:30pm

So far, not so good at Harlem. In a season that already found the Bulldogs replacing their entire offensive and defensive lines, they’ve also had to scratch their starting quarterback, Trey Price, who tore his ACL in the first practice. But Harlem is not the only team in this matchup dealing with attrition, Lincoln County lost a good chunk of players off of last years talented team as well. Both teams are looking for answers to major questions in this one.

Williston-Elko at Strom Thurmond- Fri 7:30pm

An excellent matchup of two very potent offenses. South Carolina commitment Kendric Salley and big time wide receiver Rokeem Williams take their 1-2 punch to Johnston to face Raleigh Yeldell, Darius Hammond and the Rebels.

Grovetown at Greenbrier- Thurs 7pm, TV: Comcast 380, Knology/Atlantic Broadband 246

The Warriors lost a close one against the Wolfpack last year (16-20), and look to get their 1st win for Coach Rodney Holder against his former school. The Warriors lose talented playmakers Xavier Crain and D.J.Tyson, but return Jamal Cummings, who had 10 TD’s last year as a sophomore.



The Metro 6

1. Washington County
2. Thomson
3. Burke County
4. North Augusta
5. Butler
6. Lakeside

Metro Spirit 7-28

I have some exciting football news for the CSRA. Now, I know you don’t live underneath a rock or anything, so me telling you that the NFL ended their lockout this week, is, well, stale news at this point. Hooray! Somehow they figured out a way for an $8 billion dollar business model to work for both sides!

I digress.

Finally relieved of the hysteria that commandeered my Twitter feed for the past five months, I am grateful they reached an agreement.

And while we all hope that the Falcons soar on Sundays, we’ve been blessed with some appointment watching on Thursday nights, thanks to WJBF-TV.

They have come up with not only the idea of airing a live broadcast of an area high school football game each week, they also got the game moved to an exclusive Thursday night time slot at 7:00 PM on their digital channel 6.2 (Knology/Atlantic Broadband 248 or Comcast 380), so you wont miss any Football Friday night action. It’s called Chevy Game Night Live, and I, alongside my esteemed colleague Ashley Brown of WGAC, will provide play-by-play and color commentary for the broadcast, and there will also be a sideline reporter for the game as well.

I think I speak for everyone involved in being overwhelmingly grateful for this groundbreaking opportunity. The goal for all involved is to get exposure to the abundance of talent we have in the CSRA and WJBF (Channel 6) is raising that bar to heights unseen. Without further ado, here is the 11-week schedule.

Chevy Game Night Live schedule

Aug. 18: Grovetown at Greenbrier

Coach Holder takes on his old school in a great match-up to begin the season.

Aug. 25: Strom Thurmond at Laney

A quarterback battle with stat-stuffers Leo Myers of Laney hosting Raleigh Yeldell and the Fighting Rebels.

Sept. 1: McCormick at Lincoln County

Larry Campbell has 8 straight 10+ win seasons in a row. McCormick would love nothing more than to cross the river and steal one from the winningest high school football coach in Georgia history.

Sept. 8: North Augusta at Lakeside

Mark Weidenaar, Lakeside quarterback, who is an outstanding athlete, is coming off a season-ending knee injury suffered a year ago to takeover for the graduated Ben Wilson and lead the Panthers this year.

Sept. 15: Harlem at Butler

Jimmie Lewis and Co. head to Butler to take on Ashley Harden and his group of rejuvenated Bulldogs.

Sept. 22: Glenn Hills at Josey

Last year this was a hard fought battle for the victorious Josey Eagles, who won 18-14.

Sept. 29: ARC at Thomson

ARC went on to win five straight after last years loss to Thomson, will they walk out of the Brickyard with a win this year?

Oct. 6: Greenbrier at Evans

Big game for Thomas Brown and the Wolfpack as they play Lakeside the previous Friday, and travel to Evans on the short week of rest.

Oct. 13: Orangeburg Prep at Augusta Christian

Augusta Christian is anxious to show that their talent is a force to be reckoned with in the CSRA, but will Orangeburg Prep step up to the plate and agree on the scheduling?

Oct. 20: Fox Creek at Williston Elko

Williston-Elko’s Kendric Salley vs. Fox Creek’s Marty Williams. The scoreboard might explode if those two are on.

Oct. 27: Wash-Wilkes at Aquinas

Revenge game for Aquinas as this is the one they let slip through their fingers, and with the loss to Warren County the following week, propelled the Tigers to the playoffs last year instead of the Irish.