Sports in Paradise
by Dale Jones

What about Kansas State? And yes, even LSU won’t go away as they climb back up in the polls.

Week nine brings us some very interesting contests that might help us filter out some of the madness.

I enjoyed an almost perfect week of prognostications last Saturday, missing only one game and going 14-1. That takes my season record to 92-28 for a .766 winning percentage. Hopefully we can keep it going this week, but this week there are some biggies.

That being said, here is what will happen this coming Saturday:

UAB @ Tulane
The Blazers keep flirting with wins, but finding a way to lose. Even big games at home have given UAB no advantage. The Blazers have a better defense and a much better offense than the Green Wave, and should be able to get conference win number one on Saturday. UAB 24 – Tulane 17

Troy @ Florida Atlantic
Since opening the season with a win against Wagner, the Owls have dropped six straight, including last week’s close one against South Alabama. Even in their three losses, the Trojans have proven that they can put points on the board. Larry Blakeney’s squad will enjoy a successful trip to Florida on Saturday. Troy 33 – Florida Atlantic 21

Notre Dame @ Oklahoma
The Fighting Irish football team is for real. Ranked No. 5, they have a very balanced offense and a stingy defense. The win over BYU last week was not a pretty sight, but still, Notre Dame found a way to win. Oklahoma, ranked No. 8 in the BCS, will be no pushover. The Sooners have put up 69, 63, and 52 points in three of their five wins, and with this game being played in Norman, one would almost have to give the edge to the home team. Almost – but not this time. Notre Dame 35 – Oklahoma 31.

Nebraska vs. Michigan
Who would have thought, at the beginning of this season, that this Michigan team would struggle with the likes of Air Force or Michigan State? At the same time, Nebraska, with the 12th ranked offense in the country, is just trying to get back into the top 25. A win for the Cornhuskers will tie them up with Michigan in the Big Ten standings, and based on what we have seen this season, a 10-point win against the Wolverines at home would not be that surprising. Nebraska 30 – Michigan 20

Vandy vs. Massachusetts
Coming off of their win over Auburn last Saturday, the Commodores now have a better SEC record than Tennessee, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Auburn. When was the last time that happened? They could possibly run the table on the rest of their season and wind up 8-4 and in a pretty good bowl game. A winless Minutemen team will not stop their momentum. Vandy 41 – Massachusetts 14

Kentucky vs. Missouri
So here we are in week 9 of the season and both teams are still looking for their first SEC victory. Neither fan base has had much to cheer about this season, so somebody will be happy following the Saturday afternoon contest in Columbia. My guess is it will be the home team. Missouri 27 – Kentucky 10

Ole Miss @ Arkansas
On the ground, the advantage goes to the Rebels. In the air, advantage Arkansas. After getting off to a very rough start, the Razorbacks now have back-to-back SEC wins and hope to make it three in a row. Ole Miss has had a week off to regroup and hopes to get win number five. This game will come down to which defense plays best and which offense makes the fewest mistakes. I like the Rebels in this one. Ole Miss 24 – Arkansas 23

South Carolina vs. Tennessee
Both teams are still trying to recover from the beat down they each took last week. For Steve Spurrier, this game is about pride. For Derek Dooley, it’s about trying to keep his job. On both sides of the ball, South Carolina has a better football team, and the final score will confirm that. South Carolina 28 – Tennessee 24

Florida vs. Georgia
Although all of the anti-SEC football fans won’t acknowledge it, this game could be the best game of the week. The Gators and the Dawgs are battling it out to keep their SEC championship hopes alive. Most SEC fans have always recognized the strength of the Gators on the offensive side of the ball. This year, it is their 7th ranked defense that continues to get the job done, with 20 points being the most scored on them in any one game. Georgia, however, likes to put points up, having scored 41 or more in five of their seven games. Florida is ranked No. 2 in the BCS and the swamp will, no doubt, be rocking. Florida 31 – Georgia 28

Auburn vs. Texas A&M
So what that Auburn has been “in the game” until the fourth quarter of several of their contests. Auburn is bad and is giving no indication that they are improving. The Aggies are enjoying a reasonably good first year in the SEC with several more key games to go. Not sure Auburn will even win another game. Texas A&M 28 – Auburn 21

Other Games to Watch:
Louisiana-Monroe 38 – South Alabama 18
Oregon 45 – Colorado 20
Florida State 27 – Duke 21
USC 31 – Arizona 28

Upset of the Week:
Alabama vs. Mississippi State
Before you Tide fans start sending me hate mail, hear me out. I believe Alabama could very well win the National Championship. They obviously have a very good team. This matchup really is interesting. Both teams are undefeated on the season. They are No. 1 and No. 2 in the SEC West. Alabama has not scored less than 33 points in a game. State has not scored less than 27. The most interesting aspect of this game is the QB stats. McCarron has a completion percentage of 68%, 1,476 yards passing, 16 TDs and no INTs. Tyler Russell is at 60%, 1,573 yards, 15 TD’s, and only 1 INT. Bama has Amari Cooper to catch the ball and State has LaDarius Perkins to run the ball. The biggest red flag I have is that neither team has truly played a tough schedule. State has beaten teams like South Alabama, Middle Tennessee State and Jackson State. At the same time, the teams that Alabama has beaten collectively have a losing (24-25) record. Running the table in the SEC is virtually impossible. Doing it back-to-back is completely impossible. They say all good things must come to an end. Mississippi State 33 – Alabama 31.

—Dale Jones is a syndicated sports columnist, member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, the Football Writers Association of America, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Email Dale at sportsNparadise@gmail.com or follow on twitter @sportsNparadise.

Sports in Paradise
by Dale Jones

Week 8 of the 2012 football season features a few moreinteresting SEC matchups, including one of college football’s greatest rivalries, Alabama vs. Tennessee. No doubt Neyland Stadium will be rocking,
At this point in the season, I find myself 78 – 27 on the year, for a .743 winning percentage. Hopefully the football gods will smile on me this week.

Let’s take a quick look at what will happen:

UAB vs. East Carolina
Other than their one big win against Southeastern Louisiana, the Blazers are having a dismal season, still looking for their first conference win of the year. It likely won’t come against East Carolina, who is battling for the top spot in Conference USA East against Central Florida. Looks like another long day at Legion Field. East Carolina 27 – UAB 14

South Alabama vs. Florida Atlantic
This matchup features two bad teams with identical records trying to turn thing around. Both teams have “played up” as far as their non-conference schedule goes, but neither is looking impressive at this point in mid-season. Florida Atlantic is ranked 116th in overall offense and the Jags 35th in overall defense. That stat is enough for me to give the nod to South Alabama. South Alabama 28 – Florida Atlantic 21

Troy vs. Florida International
The Trojans have a pretty impressive offense. Even in the games they have lost this season, they have managed to score 24 or more points. The Golden Panthers are similar, in that in their six losses, they have scored at least 20 points. This game will likely come down to which defense makes the fewest mistakes, and for that reason, I have to give the edge to the Trojans. Troy 34 – Florida International 24

Florida State @ Miami
Losing to North Carolina State a couple of weeks ago was something that nobody expected the Seminoles to do. But that is why we love college football so much. Ranked at No. 12, Florida State is very strong and could still potentially be a factor at season’s end. Florida State 30 – Miami 21

Clemson vs. Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech has four wins and three losses. All four wins have come at home, and all three losses on the road. The No. 14 ranked Tigers have played well this season, and are explosive when they have the football. Look for Clemson to keep rolling as they “host” Virginia Tech. Clemson 34 – Virginia Tech 24

Mississippi State vs. Middle Tennessee
I have been saying, since week two of this football season, that Mississippi State would be undefeated when they rolled into Tuscaloosa on October 27th. The only team left to keep that from happening is the Blue Raiders from the Sun Belt Conference. There is NO WAY the Bulldogs will let this game slip away. Mississippi State 38 – Middle Tennessee 14

Georgia @ Kentucky
Georgia enjoyed a week off after getting the “dog” beat out of them by South Carolina. They have had a week to lick their wounds and are ready to jump back into SEC play against Kentucky. Kentucky may be the worst team in the SEC (although Auburn and Missouri are giving them a close race in that category). Ranked a No. 13, Mark Richt’s Dawgs will likely take some frustration out on these pussy cats. Georgia 42 – Kentucky 13

Texas A&M vs. LSU
There is only one team ranked in the top eight who has a loss – LSU. No doubt the Tigers need to keep winning and hoping that a few teams fall in order to get back into National Championship contention. The Aggies come into the game with momentum as well, ranked No. 22 and coming off of a shootout win over Louisiana Tech. The atmosphere in College Station will be as electric as it has ever been, and a win for Texas A&M would be huge. I just don’t think it is going to happen, but it will be close. LSU 33 – Texas A&M 30

Auburn @ Vandy
When was the last time Vandy was a nine point favorite over the Auburn Tigers? When was the last time Vanderbilt was a “must win” for Auburn. Keep in mind that I am not talking about a good Vandy team; I’m talking about a 2-4 Vandy team. If you are interested, there is a quilting class taking place on the south side of Nashville that will likely be more exciting than this football game. The Tigers fall again. Vandy 28 – Auburn 24

Alabama @ Tennessee
Top ranked Alabama continues to roll, and now is when it gets interesting. The Tide is favored by 18, but trips to Knoxville can sometimes get interesting. Alabama hits the meat of their schedule this week, followed by Mississippi State, LSU and Texas A&M. If they make it through unscathed, well, you know what Chris Berman says – “They…could…go…all…the…way!” Alabama 35 – Tennessee 14

Other games to watch:
Michigan 33 – Michigan State 28
Georgia Tech 27 – Boston College 10
Notre Dame17 – BYU 13
Oregon 28 – Arizona State 27

Upset of the Week:
Florida vs. South Carolina
This game is in the Swamp. Muschamp’s Gators are ranked No. 3 in the nation. Florida has the 13th best defense in the country. So why will they lose? Steve Spurrier! The Gamecocks have the 12th best defense in the country, so this game will come down to offense. In a head-to-head battle on offense, I’ll take Spurrier over Muschamp ANY day. (Besides, Spurrier still loves winning in the Swamp). South Carolina 27 – Florida 24

—Dale Jones is a syndicated sports columnist, member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, the Football Writers Association of America, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Email Dale atsportsNparadise@gmail.com or follow on twitter @sportsNparadise.

Sports in Paradise
by Dale Jones

There are some great SEC matchups this weekend that will be fun watch.

The No. 1 Tide takes a breather before hitting the road to Missouri and Tennessee, and Auburn is back in action against a pathetic Arkansas Razorback team.

Last week, I was 11 of 15, taking me to 55-20 on the season and keeping me at a .733 correct percentage.

As we saw this past week, and will continue to see throughout this month, surprises will happen, so expect the unexpected.

Here is what week six will look like:

UAB vs. Southeastern Louisiana
I am not sure which is worse – UAB’s 0-4 start, or the lack of support (in the form of attendance at home games) from the so-called UAB faithful. No offense, Blazer fans, but shutting down this bad football program and putting more money into the respectable hoops program still seems like a good idea to me. All of that being said, UAB will get win number one this Saturday, even if nobody shows up to watch. UAB 24 – Southeastern Louisiana 17

(15) Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets had a spurt of greatness in week 3 against Virginia, where they racked up 57 points and almost 600 yards of total offense. But after getting doubled up against Middle Tennessee last week, and the fact that Clemson’s offense is ranked 16th in the country, it looks like it could be a long afternoon for Tech. Clemson 44 – Georgia Tech 21

(3) Florida State @ N.C. State
So far, the Wolfpack has won the games they were supposed to win, and have lost the games they were expected to lose. Florida State, on the other hand, is playing like a well-oiled machine. The Seminoles are playing SEC-like football, putting up lots of points and holding teams to an average of just under 12 points per game. As long as E.J. Manuel and company don’t start looking ahead to their trip to Miami in a couple of weeks, the Seminoles should leave Raleigh Saturday night with win number six. Florida State 41 – North Carolina State 14

(17) Oklahoma @ Texas Tech
Tommy Tuberville’s Red Raiders have enjoyed a “friendly” schedule up to this point, to say the least. They did, however, hold their own against a very good Iowa State team, winning their Big 12 opener last Saturday. This week, however, the Sooners come calling, pitting Tech’s top ranked pass defense against Oklahoma’s, which is ranked No. 2. I think Texas Tech may keep it close through three quarters, but Oklahoma will pull away to win by 10. Oklahoma 27 – Texas Tech 17

Missouri vs. Vandy
Vandy’s “Jordan” duo (Jordan Rodgers to Jordan Matthews) could be an effective combination against a Tiger defense that gives up over 220 yards per game through the air. Missouri QB James Franklin and running back Kendial Lawrence will likely be a little too much for the Commodores to handle, helping Missouri grab their first conference win since joining the SEC. Missouri 30 – Vandy 24

Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M
The Rebels are still licking their wounds after a painful trip to Tuscaloosa last week. The Aggies, however, are hoping to make it 4 straight wins to improve their standing in the tough SEC west. Still, I am impressed with the Rebels toughness and I like their coach. I’m leaning toward Ole Miss in this close one. Ole Miss 24 – Texas A&M 21

(20) Mississippi State @ Kentucky
Honestly, this is one of the worst Kentucky teams we have seen in a while vs. one of the best Bulldog teams we have seen in a while. State seems focused and should be undefeated in three weeks when they visit Tuscaloosa. This game will be over quick, giving the Bulldogs an enjoyable ride back to Starkville. Mississippi State 38 – Kentucky 10

(10) Florida vs. (4) LSU
LSU was ranked No. 2 two weeks ago, and following a narrow win over Auburn, dropped to No. 3. After beating Towson last Saturday, they dropped another spot to No. 4. Neither game was impressive, yet in usual fashion, Leslie Edwin Miles has his team undefeated and highly ranked. Was this a plan? Did the “Mad Hatter” keep things toned down on purpose? We shall see this week as the Bengal Tigers travel to The Swamp to take on the No. 10 Gators. Wouldn’t this game be entertaining if LSU plays like they did against Auburn and Florida plays like they did in their opener against Bowling Green? I don’t see either happening, and LSU will likely come away still unscathed. LSU 34 – Florida 31

(6) South Carolina vs. (5) Georgia
You might want to record this game to watch on one of those cold, lonely afternoons in March when you are missing football season. This game should live up to the hype. Both teams are undefeated, both battling for the same recruits, both hoping to get into the driver’s seat for a trip to Atlanta at season’s end. Experience goes to South Carolina, talent goes to Georgia. Normally experience and a home field advantage means a check mark in the “W” column, but Georgia simply has too much talent for the Gamecocks to overcome. Georgia 31 – South Carolina 27

Auburn vs. Arkansas
Auburn is struggling this season, and Arkansas is just plain bad. The Tigers have a slight advantage in that this game is at Jordan-Hare and they have some momentum coming off of a close call with LSU. A week off to nurse some wounds is helpful to Auburn as well. But mark my word, if the Razorbacks find a way to win this game, it won’t just be the Toomer’s oak trees that will be in trouble at the Loveliest Village on the Plains. Auburn 24 – Arkansas 13

Other Games to Watch:
(13) USC 28 – Utah 21
(18) Stanford 24 – Arizona 23
(9) Notre Dame 18 – Miami 17
(2) Oregon 40 – (23) Washington 31

Upset of the Week
(12) Ohio State vs. (21) Nebraska
Every season is seems that there are teams not ranked that probably should be, and teams that are that probably shouldn’t. In this writer’s opinion, Ohio State is one of those teams that shouldn’t be, at least not as high as they are. Yes, they are 5-0, but they struggled until the fourth quarter against UAB, and honestly should have lost to both California and Michigan State. Other than a win over Wisconsin, the Cornhuskers really have not had a chance to show what they are truly made of, but they get that chance on Saturday. I suspect they will take full advantage of the opportunity. Nebraska 29 – Ohio State 17

—Dale Jones is a syndicated sports columnist, member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, The Football Writers Association of America, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Email Dale at sportsNparadise@gmail.com or follow on twitter @sportsNparadise.

Sports in Paradise
by Dale Jones

I went 11-4 with my picks last week, moving me to 44-16 on the season, and keeping me at .733.

The SEC continues to show dominance with five teams in the top 12 in the country. There are still a number of very good undefeated teams, so things are about to get exciting.

Several schools are taking this week off including Florida, Mississippi State, Auburn, USC, Notre Dame and Michigan. Still, there is some exciting football to be played, so let’s take a look at how things should pan out.

UAB vs. Tulsa
The Blazers proved last week that it is possible for them to play with the big boys. UAB gave Ohio State all that they could for 3 ½ quarters. Still, Garrick McGee’s squad came up short and they are looking for their first win of the season as they enter conference play against Tulsa. The Blazers are a 13-point underdog to the 3-1 Golden Hurricane. Although it’s not my upset of the week, I believe the Blazers will find a way to win at home on Saturday.
UAB 21 – Tulsa 18

South Alabama vs. Troy
Even after a 30-10 loss to Mississippi State, the Jags did some things well. This game could sway the consideration of some recruits in coming days. I believe Joey Jones has the program headed in the right direction, but this season, it looks like the Trojans will be a little too tough for the Jags. Troy 28 – South Alabama 21

Southern Miss vs. Louisville
The Cardinals find themselves 4-0 and ranked No. 20 in this young season. Ranked 17th in rushing defense, Louisville hopes to keep their win streak alive against a struggling Southern Miss team just looking for a “W.” Look for the Golden Eagles to still be searching after Saturday. Louisville 27 – Southern Miss 10

Texas vs. Oklahoma State
Even before the season started, I circled the Longhorns as a team that could make some noise and surprise some people. At 3-0 and ranked No. 12 in the A.P., Texas is averaging 49 points per game. That all sounds good until you see that Oklahoma State leads the nation in points, averaging 62 points per game (although 84 of their points were scored at the hands of Savannah State). At some point, one of these teams has to be stopped. The defense that plays the best on Saturday will win this one. I like Texas at home. Texas 35 – Oklahoma State 31

Florida State @ South Florida
Florida State has pitched two shutouts, held another team to just 3, but showed on Saturday, in a hard fought game against Clemson, that they can give up some points. Still, the No. 4 ranked Seminoles have yet to score less than 49 points in a contest, making Saturday’s game to in-state foe South Florida (2-2) look like it will be a walk through the park. Florida State 44 – South Florida 17

LSU vs. Towson
I’m not sure I would want to be a member of the Tiger football team this week. The Towson Tigers I mean. That would mean that I would have to jump on a plane and fly to Baton Rouge to play an LSU Tiger team that just squeaked by Auburn and lost a position in the rankings. The Bengal Tigers are going to want to score a gazillion points and there will be little that Towson can do about it. LSU 51 – Towson o

Missouri @ UCF
As many expected, the newcomers to the SEC find themselves tied for last place in the SEC east, along with Vandy and Kentucky. The Knights (2-1) would love to get one more win under their belt before they head into Conference USA play next week. Although it didn’t look like it on Saturday, Missouri has a good enough defense to hold UCF at bay and come away with the win. Missouri 30 – UCF 10

South Carolina @ Kentucky
Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks are exactly where they want to be right now. They are 4-0, ranked No. 6 in the country, and locked up with the Bulldogs and the Gators for the top spot in the SEC east. Kentucky is horrible, and I expect South Carolina to try to make a statement before their 3-game stint against Georgia, LSU and Florida. South Carolina 49 – Kentucky 9

Georgia vs. Tennessee
The No. 5 ranked Bulldogs enter the meat of their SEC schedule this weekend as they play host to the Vols. It is normally about this time in their schedule that the Dawgs find a way to blow it. Aaron Murray, Todd Gurley and the rest of the 13th ranked offense are all playing well, and while the Vols do have the ability to put points on the board, I don’t see Tennessee being able to come in and stir up any trouble. Georgia 31 – Tennessee 21

Alabama vs. Ole Miss
We thought the Alabama vs. Michigan game was going to show just how strong this Bama team is coming off of their 2011 Championship. As it turns out, Michigan is 2-2 and no longer a ranked team. Many circled the Arkansas game as “the game of the year,” yet the Razorbacks are now 1-3 and scraping the bottom of the SEC bucket. Things looked promising for Ole Miss until the Longhorns beat up on them two weeks ago, knocking them out of the rankings. Bama is still ranked at the top, and rightfully so. But just how good are they? It may be November before anyone knows for sure. Alabama 42 – Ole Miss 14

Other games to watch:
Miami (Fla) 27 – N.C. State 24
Nebraska 23 – Wisconsin 14
Stanford 24 – Washington 10
Michigan State 30 – Ohio State 27

Upset of the Week:
Arkansas @ Texas A&M
Yes, I know that the Razorbacks have looked terrible this season, and like most of you, I agree that they don’t have a coach. But on paper, Arkansas still has a very talented bunch. Things are set up perfectly for an upset. There is pressure on A&M to get their first SEC conference win, they are coming off a huge win over South Carolina State and they know what has happened to Arkansas the past three weeks. Despite the coaching, the Razorback players will head west to prove a point, and indeed they will. Arkansas 28 – Texas A&M 21

—Dale Jones is a syndicated sports columnist, member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, The Football Writers Association of America, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Email Dale at sportsNparadise@gmail.com or on twitter @sportsNparadise.

Sports in Paradise by Dale Jones

SEC play is about to heat up big time and things could get interesting.

I was 12 out of 15 last week, taking me to 33-12 on the season for a .733 winning percentage. I also had one perfect pick last week with Missouri beating Arizona State 24-20.

Here is what will happen this coming Saturday.

South Alabama at Mississippi State
The timing is obviously off for the Jags to venture into SEC play. They are about to run into a Bulldog team that has some high hopes for this season, and there is no way that State will allow South Alabama to get in their way. Mississippi State 49 – South Alabama 10

Troy at North Texas
Both Troy and North Texas enter this game with the same 1-2 record and both teams held their own last week against very respectable foes. I would feel more confident about this game if it were being played in Troy, but even on the road, I’m going to give the edge to the Trojans. Troy 28 – North Texas 24

UAB at Ohio State
The Blazers took a beating at No. 8 South Carolina last week, and things don’t get any easier this Saturday as the green and gold travels to tangle with the No. 12 Buckeyes. Ohio State is averaging 41 points per game and UAB is giving up 44 points per game. Ohio State 48 – UAB 21

Arkansas vs. Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights enter this game at 3-0 and an impressive win last week over South Florida. Nobody expected the Razorbacks to be 1-2 at this point, and it is not so much that they have a banged-up QB. Arkansas is giving up lots of points. Still, they are a much better team on paper and I expect them to bounce back this week after their embarrassing loss to Alabama. Arkansas 31 – Rutgers 24

Ole Miss vs. Tulane
It was painful to watch the Rebels get beat up by the Longhorns last Saturday, but Ole Miss should bounce back this week and get back in the win column before they head to Tuscaloosa next week. Ole Miss 38 – Tulane 9

Georgia vs. Vandy
Poor Vandy. They were supposed to be better this year. Instead they come out of the gate 1-2 with their only win against Presbyterian, and now they have to travel to Georgia to play a No. 7 Bulldog team with something to prove. This one might be close for a quarter. Georgia 28 – Vandy 10.

South Carolina vs. Missouri
I know that coaches and players don’t like to look ahead, but the Gamecocks need to be undefeated in two weeks when they play Georgia. Missouri is ranked 21st in defense, and that is the only way to beat Steve Spurrier. This game has the potential to be a good, old-fashioned “barnburner” but look for South Carolina to come out on top with the home crowd behind them. South Carolina 27 – Missouri 17

Kentucky at Florida
The Wildcats are just not a good football team. Although the Gators have looked a little soft at times this season, they looked great against the Vols, they are undefeated and they continue to move up in the rankings. This one will be no contest. Florida 42 – Kentucky 14

Auburn vs. LSU
The Tigers (the ones from Auburn, that is) finally got a victory last Saturday, although it wasn’t an easy task. It’s doubtful that the celebration lasted very long, since they have to play host to the Tigers of LSU this week. With Auburn’s struggling offense vs. LSU’s 4th ranked defense, one has to wonder, will Auburn even cross the 50-yardline? A win for Auburn could completely turn their season around. I just don’t think they have the firepower to do it. LSU 34 – Auburn 10

Alabama vs. Florida Atlantic
The Tide has yet to score less than 35 points in a game. The Owls, at 1-2, have yet to score 21 in a game. This will simply be a tune up game for Alabama before they host Ole Miss next week. It will be over before it starts. Alabama 50 – Florida Atlantic 3

Other Games to Watch
Florida State 27 – Clemson 25
Tennessee 38 – Akron 10
Georgia Tech 27 – Miami 24
Western Kentucky 24 – Southern Miss 13

Upset of the Week
Notre Dame vs. Michigan
This game will be fun to watch. Both teams are loaded on both sides of the football. I wasn’t very impressed by Michigan’s 63-13 win over Massachusetts last week, but I am impressed by this football team. The Irish are known to have early-season letdowns and I believe Michigan has the better athletes. Michigan 28 – Notre Dame 27

—Dale Jones is a syndicated sports columnist, member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, The Football Writers Association of America, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Email Dale at sportsNparadise@gmail.com or on twitter @sportsNparadise.

Sports in Paradise
by Dale Jones

Occasionally I get a score exactly right, and last week I missed the Ole Miss game by just 1 point. My prediction was Mississippi 27 – UTEP 10 and the actual score was 28-10.

Will the Tide continue to roll this weekend? Will Auburn finally find a check mark in the “W” column? Let’s take a look.

South Alabama @ North Carolina State
Things are really about to heat up for the Jags as they hit the road to play North Carolina State followed by a trip next week to take on Mississippi State. It will be interesting to see if this program is making the strides they’ve been hoping for. The Wolfpack handled the Jags easily last year, and I doubt this go round will to be much different. N.C. State 28 – South Alabama 13

UAB @ South Carolina
Blazer fans were expecting more in the season opener against Troy, but didn’t have much to brag about after the dust had settled. Will a week off make a difference for UAB as they head into Williams-Brice Stadium for the Saturday evening contest? Look for a big game from Lattimore, and another loss for the Blazers. South Carolina 35 – UAB 17

Vandy @ Presbyterian
Finally, the Commodores will enjoy the thrill of victory. They better enjoy the feeling, because Georgia, Missouri and Florida are lined up and waiting. Vandy 27 – Presbyterian 7

Missouri vs. Arizona State
The Sun Devils come into this contest with the 17th ranked offense and 24th ranked defense, scoring 108 points collectively in their first two contests while giving up only 20. Last Saturday, it looked as if the Tigers were going to give the Georgia Bulldogs a run for their money, but it was all Dawgs in the second half. Missouri is a slight favorite and I believe they will represent their new conference well on Saturday. Missouri 24 – Arizona State 20

Mississippi State @ Troy
Troy beat the Bulldogs back in ’01, but their track record against SEC teams since then has been dismal. This will be the first time the Trojans have hosted an SEC foe at Memorial Stadium, but there is no way that Dan Mullen is going to allow this team to slip. Mississippi State has a favorable chance of being 5-0 when they face Tennessee and possibly 7-0 when they travel to Tuscaloosa in late October. Mississippi State 34 – Troy 24

Georgia vs. Florida Atlantic
The Owls travel to Sanford Stadium this week, followed by a trip to Tuscaloosa next weekend. I hope they use the money they make off of these two games wisely, because they are headed for a serious beat down. Georgia 49 – Florida Atlantic 10

LSU vs. Idaho
Idaho is 0-2 and has only scored a total of 16 points against Eastern Washington and Bowling Green. They will likely not cross the 50-yard line on Saturday. You know the old cliché that on any given Saturday, anybody can beat anybody? Yeah, well not this week Idaho. LSU 53 – Idaho 0.

Ole Miss vs. Texas
I like Hugh Freeze as a football coach. I like the style of offense that Ole Miss is playing. I like the fact that the Rebels are 2-0 for the first time in four seasons. I like the fact that Ole Miss is hosting a quality, non-conference team on a nationally televised stage in prime time. A win for Mississippi would be huge for recruiting. I just don’t like their chances. Texas 28 – Ole Miss 17

Auburn vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Based on what we have seen the past two weeks, I almost find it funny that Auburn opened the week in Vegas as a 17-point favorite. Do the odds makers know something that we don’t? Have they seen Auburn play this season? Did they watch Louisiana-Monroe open their season last week with a huge win over the No. 8 Razorbacks? Ultimately, however, it is the Sun Belt vs. the SEC, it is the Tiger’s home opener, and yes, I believe that Auburn will finally get their act together. But no, it won’t be by 17 points. Auburn 24 – Louisiana Monroe 21

Alabama vs. Arkansas
An Arkansas Razorback team “with” QB Tyler Wilson would make this an interesting contest. Without him, this won’t be a game. Alabama showed Saturday that they can be susceptible to a sack here and there, but they still shutout an opponent 35-0. Many had this game circled as Alabama’s litmus test for this 2012 season, but after the Razorbacks loss to Louisiana-Monroe and the possible loss of their field general, that no longer seems to be the case. Alabama 31 – Arkansas 14

Other Games to Watch:
Kentucky 16 – Western Kentucky 9
Texas A&M 24 – SMU 12
Southern Miss 18 – East Carolina 12
USC 27 – Stanford 21

Upset of the Week:
Tennessee vs. Florida
Before anyone starts sending me nasty emails telling me that a Florida win over Tennessee would not be an upset, I beg to differ. Tennessee has looked great on both sides of the ball in their first two games. The Gators struggled against Bowling Green and just squeaked by last Saturday against Texas A&M. Florida is ranked 83rd in offense, while Tennessee is ranked 15th. On top of that, the game is being played at Neyland Stadium and Vegas has the Vols as a 2 ½ point favorite. So yes, it would be considered an upset if Florida wins, and that is what is going to happen. Florida 31 – Tennessee 28

Dale Jones is a syndicated sports columnist, member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, The Football Writers Association of America, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Email Dale at sportsNparadise@gmail.com or on twitter @sportsNparadise.

Sports in Paradise
by Dale Jones

There are a certain times of the season when it is tough to prognosticate college football. The first week of the season, the last week of the season, and a couple of weeks during October. I got off to a rough start this season, thanks to a better showing than expected by Tennessee, Auburn running out of gas in the fourth quarter, and a horrible “no-call” late in Vandy-South Carolina game.

Still I went 10-15 for a .667 percentage to get thing started.

It is going to be fun to watch this season play out. Most of the nation’s top ranked teams won big and showed their strengths, but you almost have to give the nod to the Tide, considering they manhandled another “Top Ten” program.

There are some interesting SEC match-ups in week two, so let’s take a look at this-week’s picks.

Arkansas vs. Louisiana-Monroe
I like this Razorback team. They threw up 49 points on Saturday against Jacksonville State, running on cruise control. They will not be tested when they host the Warhawks. Arkansas 48 – Louisiana-Monroe 14

Tennessee vs. Georgia State
Knoxville will be stop number two of the Bill Curry Farewell Tour. The Vols looked surprisingly good last Saturday against NC State, and I’m anxious to know if they are for real. Unfortunately, even after this weekend, we still won’t know for sure. Tennessee 45 – Georgia State 9

Kentucky vs. Kent State
Earlier in the year, Kentucky and Kent State played 21 innings of baseball before Kent State pulled out the win. Can you imagine that many overtimes in a football game? Although Kent State has a respectable defense, especially against the run, I expect the Wildcats to bounce back after getting “bounced” by Louisville last Saturday. Kentucky should win, but I’m not convinced it will be by much. Kentucky 17 – Kent State 13

South Carolina vs. East Carolina
East Carolina does have an effective passing attack and certainly Spurrier’s Gamecocks should. They just didn’t show it against Vandy. With first game jitters in the past, I expect a much better game from South Carolina. If you like points, I think you will enjoy this contest. South Carolina 33 – East Carolina 27

Ole Miss vs. Texas-El Paso
Last week, at the half, the Rebels were trailing Central Florida, while UTEP was locked up with No. 4 Oklahoma 7-7. As it turned out, Ole Miss won big and UTEP lost big. Still, those things make you wonder what could happen in a face-to-face matchup. I want to believe that the Rebs are better than what we saw in the first half last week. If they play well at home on Saturday, they should get their second “W” of the season. Ole Miss 27 – Texas-El Paso 10

Vandy @ Northwestern
Both teams scored in every quarter of Northwestern’s loss to Syracuse last Saturday, so we know they can score points and will give up points. If Vandy get’s the pass interference call in the fourth quarter against South Carolina, they pull of the upset. I like the fact that Vandy held a Spurrier team to only 67 yards passing. I still like this team and believe they will win some games this season. Vandy 27 – Northwestern 24

Georgia @ Missouri
Missouri scored lots and cruised to a win in their practice game against Southeastern Louisiana last week. This week, the “Dawgs” come for a visit to officially welcome the Tigers to the SEC. Georgia has enough talent on both sides of the ball to find their way to the SEC Championship this year. Barring anything crazy, Georgia should win this one in fairly easy fashion. Georgia 35 – Missouri 17

LSU vs. Washington
Washington will obviously be more of a challenge than was North Texas, but I’m not sure that the Huskies are prepared for a visit to the “friendly confines” of Baton Rouge. LSU was a little sluggish in their opener, but expect to see them running on all cylinders come Saturday. LSU 38 – Washington 21

Alabama vs. Western Kentucky
After watching the Tide destroy No. 8 Michigan, rumor has it that the Hilltoppers tried to cancel their trip to Tuscaloosa. Nothing doing guys. This will be a fun day for the fans, and don’t be surprised if Saban puts in some of the cheerleaders by the fourth quarter. This game is going to be U-G-L-Y. Alabama 52 – Western Kentucky 6

Auburn @ Mississippi State
Auburn lost a very close game to No. 14 Clemson, and showed they have trouble defending the run. Mississippi State won huge against Jackson State, but…it was Jackson State. I expect Auburn to make some much needed corrections, and no doubt, the Bulldogs will be chompin’ at the bit to finally get over the hump and beat the Tigers. From a talent standpoint, Auburn has a slight edge and will likely correct their mistakes, but like the past two seasons, this one could go down to the very last play. Auburn 24 – Mississippi State 21

Other games to watch:
South Alabama 21 – Nicholls State 17
Florida State 55 – Savannah State 7
Texas 34 – New Mexico 21
Southern Cal 41 – Syracuse 17

Upset of the Week:
Florida at Texas A&M
To put it bluntly, the Gators looked horrible in their season opener against Bowling Green. Add to that the fact that they will be on the road, playing a very hungry Aggie team who’s players, coaches and fans feel that they have something to prove. Either Florida will fix all of their issues that they displayed last Saturday (and there were many issues) and pull out the win, or the Aggies are going to open up their SEC schedule in memorable fashion. Based on what I saw, I like A&M’s chances.
Texas A&M 31 – Florida 28

—Dale Jones is a syndicated sports columnist, member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, The Football Writers Association of America, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Email Dale at sportsNparadise@gmail.com or on twitter @sportsNparadise.

Sports in Paradise
by Dale Jones

In the mornings there is a hint of fall in the air, in the afternoons one can hear the sounds of bass drums and coaches whistles, and out in the Gulf of Mexico, there is a hurricane churning. All of this can only mean one thing to those of us who live in Alabama – football season is here.

Football fans in this state have lots to be proud of over the past three years. Collectively, the last three national championships have gone to Alabama and Auburn. Two of the last three Heisman Trophies have gone to Alabama and Auburn players (Ingram and Newton). As we head into the 2012 season, the Tide holds the top spot is some polls and the Tigers hope to be much improved after a 2011 season where Auburn played a ton of true freshmen.

As usual, in my fall column, I will breakdown of some of the important SEC games, look at other in-state teams, and will take a glimpse at a few games of national interest. Also, each week, I will pick the “upset of the week.” It should be another fun season so let’s get started.

UAB vs Troy
One of the most positive things to happen to UAB football recently took place on December 4 of last year when the Blazers announced Garrick McGee would be their new head coach. On paper, I want to give the advantage to Troy, but I think UAB fans will turn out in huge fashion to help the new Blazers get the job done. UAB 28 – Troy 24

South Alabama vs. Texas-San Antonio
Coach Joey Jones, still in the process of building the Jags football program has a real schedule this season, featuring the likes of Mississippi State and North Carolina State. Kind of difficult to see how good this team is going to be, but I like their chances out of the gate. South Alabama 24 – Texas-San Antonio 17

Tennessee vs. NC State
As strange as it may seem, this game could come down to which teams’ secondary has the best game. Personally, I think it is going to be a long season for the Vols. NC State 24 – Tennessee 14

Georgia vs. Buffalo
The Bulldogs are going to be very good this year. This is just a warm-up game for Richt and company. Georgia 45 – Buffalo 14

Kentucky @ Louisville
Normally, during the first week of football season, most Kentucky fans are already looking forward to hoops season. This year will likely be no exception. The Wildcats are young with just a few returning starters from last season. Their SEC schedule is going to be tough. So is their opener.
Louisville 17 – Kentucky 14

Arkansas vs. Jacksonville State
There will be few times this season that I will be inclined to pick Arkansas to lose. They could be a surprise to all in the SEC West. Bama better keep this team circled on their schedule. Arkansas 38 – Jacksonville State 13

Missouri vs. Southeastern Louisiana
Missouri better enjoy their non-conference schedule because their “welcome” to the SEC could get ugly. Missouri 31 – Southeastern Louisiana 3

Auburn vs. Clemson
Provided Auburn has any players left by the weekend who have not been suspended, they might have a chance to win. With new coordinators and a little more experience on both sides of the ball, Auburn should be improved, but this game will not be a cakewalk. Auburn 27 – Clemson 24

Alabama vs. Michigan
While Bama is loaded on the offensive line, that is not where this game will be won. If the Alabama defense, who lost some key players from last year’s squad, can stop Denard Robinson, they will cruise to victory. If they can’t, this game could be closer than Tide fans want. Alabama will have to score a lot to win. Alabama 42 – Michigan 35

Other Games of Interest:
Texas A&M 28 – Louisiana Tech 21
Florida 42 – Bowling Green 14
LSU 48 – North Texas 7
USC 52 – Hawaii 10

Upset of the Week:
South Carolina at Vandy
Both teams have quality skill players coming back from a year ago. I like both coaches. I think both teams will be as good, if not better than last season. But I am very impressed with Coach James Franklin and the atmosphere he has brought to this Vandy team. Look for the Commodores to score a big win against the ole ball coach. Vandy 28 – South Carolina 27

I hope your team comes out on top, and I would love to hear from readers as to how you think these games will turn out. Are you ready for some football?
Hit ‘em straight

—Dale Jones is a syndicated sports columnist, member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, The Football Writers Association of America, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Email Dale at sportsNparadise@gmail.com or on twitter @sportsNparadise.

Do you agree or disagree? Share your picks for this week’s games.

Back when Michael Jordan was in his hey-day, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was indeed the greatest basketball player alive.

There were commercials airing aimed at kids who wanted to “be like Mike.”

Men were buying cologne at $45 a bottle so they could smell like Mike.

No matter where you went across these great United States, and really, no matter the time of year, you were likely to find a sports fan donning a Michael Jordan jersey.

Everywhere we went, there he was. Whether you were buying Nike shoes or a box of Wheaties, there was Michael with that million-dollar smile looking back at you.

As time went on, however, something strange happened. No – not to Michael, but to many sports fans across our land.

Although his game never wavered (even after he had hung up his high-tops for cleats to try his hand at baseball) his appeal to some fans did.

Let me stop right here and say that I have always been and will forever be a Michael Jordan fan. I doubt seriously that we will ever see the likes of him again on a basketball court.

Nevertheless, some sports fans decided they just didn’t like him anymore.

Why?

Not because of his athletic ability, not because of his attitude, not even because of any off-the-court indiscretion, but simply because he was winning too much.

Huh? He was winning TOO MUCH?

I thought that was the purpose of professional sports. Sure, at the community league and even high school level, there is much more to the game than winning. But in college, and especially in the pros, it is all about winning. And winning he did, much to the chagrin of some sports fans.

As I consider what happened to Michael, I wonder what the future holds for the SEC. Earlier this week, we watched the South Carolina Gamecocks won their second straight NCAA baseball championship. It made three in a row for the Southeastern Conference.

Now, we are about to enter into another exciting college football season, and I am curious what fans outside of the SEC are thinking?

Sure, there are some football fans, especially along the west coast, that have never liked the SEC. There are some prominent football broadcasters that feel the same way.

So add to that, the fact that you would have to go back to 2005 since a team outside of the Southeastern Conference has won the title.

Think about it. In 2005, “W” was just settling in for his second term in office, “Hitch” was on at the box office, you could still hear Shania Twain music on the radio, the Xbox 360 was released in North America, and ironically, the southeast was slammed by hurricane Katrina. That seems like ages ago.

Also, unlike Michael Jordan’s consistent success, the SEC has been represented by four different schools holding up that crystal football.

If I had to predict a winner today, I would likely go with the winner of the LSU – Alabama game, which would give the SEC their sixth straight national title.

Obviously, it is too early to tell, and there are lots of games to be played, but what happens if the SEC does it again? What if it IS the Tide or the Tigers who are left standing in early January? Will more and more football fans hate us just because we are winning?

Oh, and unlike MJ, we seem to be pretty good in baseball, too.

-Hit ‘em straight

—Dale Jones is a reporter / sports columnist for Gulf Coast Newspapers and a Member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. You can reach Dale at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com.

To all of my University of Alabama friends.

I have spent a lot of time in Tuscaloosa over the years and the sights and reports I am hearing regarding the tornado in Tuscaloosa are tragic.

I am calling on sports fans, no matter if you are a Vol, a Tiger, a Gator, a Gamecock, or a Blazer to come together and do whatever we can do to help out our friends in T-Town.

May God have mercy and may the loss of life be minimal.

Dale Jones

As I have stated in the column before, I believe the Auburn vs. Alabama rivalry is the best rivalry in all of college sports. There are a number of pro sports rivalries that probably garner more national attention, but people all across the country are aware of the major clash that happens every November in this state.

When Harvey Updyke Jr. decided to call a sports radio talk show to claim he had poisoned the trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn, he won the award for the top two bone-headed decisions of the century – one, for poisoning the trees with Spike 80DF, and two, for calling a radio show to admit it.

Auburn fans have been screaming ever since about the injustice to the very trees that they shower with toilet paper after winning football games.

Now it appears that some Aubies have taken justice into their own hands by attacking Updyke at an Opelika gas station on Thursday.

According to Updyke, his tires have been slashed in a Walmart parking lot, he and other family members have been threatened and his attorney, Glennon Threatt, Jr., says that he is concerned for his client’s safety.

Auburn fans, you might want to remember before you find yourselves in the slammer, that should the 62-year-old Updyke be found guilty of poisoning the trees, he could face as many as 10 years in jail.

Whatever the case may be, this madness has to stop.

This is the deep south, however, and this is Alabama and Auburn, so something tells me that the we have a better chance of seeing Democrats and Republicans sitting around the Washington Monument holding hands and singing Kumbaya then we do Tide and Tiger fans toning down the hatred.

According to Opelika Police, Updyke says he was attacked following his court appearance when he stopped to buy gas. He thinks it was a group of people, but he doesn’t remember because he says that he blacked out.

I don’t know what to believe.

Updyke obviously has some very serious issues. Based on the fact that the gas station has no security cameras and it appears that nobody saw the attack that happened at 1 in the afternoon, we are going to have to believe that the man was indeed attacked.

If that was the case, how pathetic!

Updyke poisoning the Toomer trees, equally pathetic!

Anyone planning to dismantle the newly christened Saban statue outside of Bryant-Denny, just stop right there.

Let’s all get back to tailgating, eating grilled chicken and burgers, telling a few Bama and Auburn jokes and enjoying the greatest game that there is.

Put down the poison, put down the crowbar, unclench your fist, and let’s act like we have just a LITTLE bit of class. Both of you!

Hit ‘em striaght
—Dale Jones is a reporter / sports columnist for Gulf Coast Newspapers and a Member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. You can reach Dale at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com.

You think coaching in the SEC is easy?

No, I am not talking football, I mean hoops. Going up against Kentucky and Florida on a regular basis is no easy task, but what if your future trips to post season play depend on how well you do against Mike Krzyzewski or Roy Williams?

Well, that is what Mark Gottfried will be up against as he takes the reigns at North Carolina State.

Gottfried has caught grief on more than one occasion by members of the media, commenting that he is not a very good basketball coach. (Keep in mind that many of those media members are short, white guys who have never dribbled a basketball in their life.)

I might agree that his last couple of seasons with the Tide were nothing to write home about, but Gottfried’s history as both a coach and a player are notable.

He may be exactly what the Wolfpack basketball nation needs.

Many were hoping that VCU’s Shaka Smart would take the job.

Seriously?

No disrespect to Coach Smart, but if you were to spin the clock back to mid February, and I was to ask you who Shaka Smart was, most of you would probably not have a clue.

If Shaka Smart, a guy who barely got his team into the NCAA tournament, would have taken the NC State job, some of these very same clueless media members would have been ranting and raving about what a great hire they made, yet those same people are discrediting Gottfried, a guy with multiple NCAA appearances.

While at Alabama, Gottfried successfully recruited and coached some big time basketball players, he racked up a 210-131 record, went dancing five consecutive times from 2002-2006, and was the 2002 SEC coach of the year.

Before his days in Tuscaloosa, Gottfried coached Murray State, leaving with a 69-23 record. You also cannot forget that he spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA, where he was part of the 1995 NCAA championship team.

Although NC State does have two National Championship banners hanging from the rafters, and have enjoyed numerous trips to the tournament, as of late, they haven’t had much success. You would have to go back to 2006 to find them in them in the brackets.

Gottfried is a good coach. He is a good recruiter, and after a couple of seasons away from the game, there is no doubt that his fire to get back on the sidelines is at an all-time high.

The losers in this scenario are the Gulf Shores Dolphins who have enjoyed two years of Gottfrieds dressed out in Dolphin football, basketball and volleyball uniforms. Gottfried’s kids have made a positive impact on the Baldwin County program and no doubt, they will be missed.

As for NC State, I think he can do it. I look for them to return to tournament play in the very near future. I refuse to be one of the media naysayers.

Good luck, coach!

Hit ‘em straight
—Dale Jones is a reporter / sports columnist for Gulf Coast Newspapers and a Member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. You can reach Dale at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com.

Sports in Paradise By Dale Jones
Several years ago, I took a weekend trip with some buddies of mine to watch the Atlanta Braves take on the Chicago Cubs. We managed to snag some tickets sitting on the bottom row, just above the wall in left field. Truly great homerun seats if you are a baseball fan.

I had been to many major league games in the past and had caught a foul ball before, but always dreamed about being “that guy” on Sports Center, catching a game-winning homer with my cap as it sails over the wall in the bottom of the ninth.

Around the sixth inning, the couple that was seated to my left decided to make a run to the concession stand for some goodies.

Not 2 minutes after they vacated their seats, catcher Brian McCann stepped to the plate.

What I didn’t know was that my chance at Sports Center fame was just a few seconds away.

This 6’3”, 230-pound Duluth, Georgia native, who has enjoyed numerous homeruns for the Braves over the years, stepped into the batters box at hit a rocket line drive…straight at the left field wall.

My excitement and dreams of signing autographs following my 5 seconds of fame quickly turned to terror as I realized I was in the direct line of fire of this kamikaze baseball.

For the next 48 hours, I watched in horror as Sports Center repeatedly showed the four grown men in the outfield stands at Turner Field DIVING OUT OF THE WAY of the homerun ball…in slow motion.

But here is the thing – that ball bounced off of the seat vacated by the couple that had left to go get a hot dog. I am convinced that had the lady in the seat next me decided to let her husband go get the refreshments, she might not be here with us today. That ball slammed off of the back of her seat and ricocheted back out onto the field. It was downright deadly.

Another friend of mine told me about a major league game he attended where a lady was hit by a foul ball. Medics were rushed to her attention, and as they were helping her to the first aid station, she was hit again by another foul ball.

If you have ever been to minor or major league game, you know that, unless you are sitting behind the netting of the backstop, you could be fair game to a stray ball.

When I heard the news on Wednesday that Atlanta Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar was hit in the face by a Brian McCann foul ball, my thoughts returned to that afternoon in left field. There I was, more than 400 feet away from home plate and at least had time to dive out of the way. Salazar didn’t’ even see it coming. The former player, now in his first season as a Braves manager, obviously didn’t know what hit him.

For 15 minutes, he laid on the dugout floor unconscious, while medics tended to him.

According to Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse, the ball hit Salazar directly in the face.

Who could imagine such a scenario?

How many times have we seen stray foul balls go screaming into the dugout at a baseball game? It happens almost daily in the major leagues. I find it interested that while the NFL continues to find ways to protect players from certain forms of physical contact, baseball players, and fans, remain exposed to possible injury from the baseball itself.

I wouldn’t want changes to be made, nor do I see how it would be possible, to keep foul balls from flying into the stands, but it seems that some sort of protection for those in the dugout could be possible.

My prayers are with Luis Salazar as he recovers from his injuries.

Oh, and ladies, if you and your man attend a game this summer, and he gets up to go grab some concessions, if I were you, I think I’d go with him.

Hit ‘em straight (just not at the fans)
—Dale Jones is a reporter / sports columnist for Gulf Coast Newspapers and a Member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. You can reach Dale at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

I love SEC football just as much as the next guy. Maybe more.

During the off-season, I am one of those that can be flipping channels, and if I run across one of those “classic” games from 1987, I will stop and watch. I love college football.

All that being said, I think it is time that we put this whole “tree killing” thing into perspective.

Rivalries are good. No, they are great. They are the games that make people go out and by million-dollar travel trailers, cause them to name their children after former coaches or school colors, or inspire them to paint their houses red and white or orange and blue.

Rivalries also spur hate amongst the fans.

No, seriously!

Ask a White Sox fan how he feels about the Cubs. How much love is there between Ole Miss and Mississippi State? Yankees and Red Sox? I could go on and on.

Now, I use the word “hate” in the above paragraph loosely. I mean, Alabama fans don’t REALLY “hate” Auburn fans, right? Auburn fans aren’t really out to get Bama fans, are they?

There are married couples, siblings and business partners all across this great state that disagree on which team is the best, but they don’t go out of their way to harm each other or destroy property.
Up until now, it has all just been “in fun” to rag the fans of the other school.

But 62-year-old Harvey Almorn Updyke has taken things to a whole new level.

Now, I am not a huge fan of the Paul Finebaum show, and I don’t mean that because of Paul Finebaum. I like Paul. He is a great journalist, is knowledgeable about sports and does a good job. It is the 10 guys and 2 gals who, like clockwork, call this syndicated sports talk show every afternoon. Do these people have no life?

I know that there are people who listen on a regular basis, probably thousands of listeners.

So when “Al from Dadeville” called to tell the entire state of Alabama that he had poisoned the Toomer’s oaks, you have to ask yourself, what was he thinking?

What was he thinking when he poisoned the trees, and what was he thinking when he decided to call and tell the whole world what he had done?

I don’t care who you are or what team you pull for, but when it gets to the point that you are going to do physical harm to another person’s property, you have gone too far.

If you wear orange and blue and you are even considering driving out to Elmwood to put something on Bear Bryant’s headstone, that makes you a head case.

Are there classless fans on both sides? YES!

Are there Bama fans laughing at what this idiot did to the tress? YES!

Are there Auburn fans that want some sort of retaliation? YES!

People, please. Can we stop right now?

The game, in and of itself is one thing. Destroying property and causing harm is another.

Let’s all put away our containers of Spike 80 DF, our cans of spray paint, our guns and our swords.

We are talking about football.

To the Alabama faithful, let me say that if you are having fun with what “Al” did and think it is okay, you have problems.

To the Auburn faithful, the trees in question, while they hold sentimental value, are still just trees. Nobody died, and these are the same trees that YOU cover in toilet paper every time you win a game.

Everybody just chill!

Hit ‘em straight!

—Dale Jones is a reporter / sports columnist for Gulf Coast Newspapers and a Member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. You can reach Dale at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

So what happens now?

The 2010 football season is officially over. The BCS Champion has been crowned and the teams, bands and cheerleaders have left the stadium.

Just like that, it starts all over again.

Recruiting!

Talking smack!

Spring practice!

Here in Alabama, football is not a seasonal sport. It is a year-round activity.

But 2011 will be interesting to say the least.

In 2009, Alabama goes undefeated, Mark Ingram wins the Heisman, and the Tide is crowned National Champs.

In 2010, Auburn returns the favor with both the Heisman winner in Cam Newton and their first National Championship in 53 years.

Will a Cam-less Tiger team be able to bounce back and find a way to repeat?

What about the Tide? There is no doubt, the team that comes out of the tunnel in Tuscaloosa this fall will have a new look.

No, not the uniforms, like at Oregon, where every week they have a new look.

(Speaking of which, what was with those SOCKS in the BCS Championship game? -Seriously?)

Gone will be one of Alabama’s most successful QBs in Greg McElroy.

Alabama’s first Heisman winner, Ingram – GONE!

MVP of the BCS Championship Marcell Dareus – GONE!

Bama’s 2010 MVP who set a school record of 78 receptions and 1,133 yards, Julio Jones – GONE!

For the next several months, one of the most asked questions, as it typically is year in and year out in the state of Alabama, will be – who is going to start at quarterback next season.
For the Tigers, things aren’t much better.

Cam will be playing on Sunday in the fall of 2011, but other Tigers that will no longer put on the blue jersey include the likes of Lee Ziemba, Wes Byrum, Kodi Burns, Antoine Carter, and Ryan Pugh.

Sure, both teams have good players to graduate or leave early each year, but this go ‘round the teams are losing their Heisman Trophy winners, as well as some key players in key positions.

For the past two seasons, both Tide and Tiger fans have felt confident with the personnel on both sides of the ball, but the fact is, there are question marks all over the depth chart for both teams as we move into the spring and summer.

Recruiting is huge, and both teams will likely finish in the top five in the country, but as we have seen before, you never know what can happen with great recruits.
Can anyone say Star Jackson?

I kind of like going into the off-season not knowing who will be next year’s quarterbacks. It makes things that much more exciting.

And after the last two seasons, maybe some unanswered questions in January and February will keep the off-season smack talk to a minimum.

….Nah!!!!

Hit ‘em straight
—Dale Jones is a reporter / sports columnist for Gulf Coast Newspapers and a Member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. You can reach Dale at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com