Fun With Colors: Georgia calls for 'Red Out' vs. LSU

University of Georgia Coach Mark Richt plans to have fun with colors Saturday night when LSU comes to between the hedges. He wants fans to wear red.

"We are wearing red jerseys Saturday. To show the unity of the DawgNation I'm asking everyone to wear Red!" was the message delivered from @MarkRicht," per the AJC.

Richt has done thing before, if we all remember the famous 'blackout' game against Florida and Tim Tebow.

"I think it’s a good thing," he said. "We are wearing our red, our players are, and our fans traditionally wear red most of the time. I’d like to have it 100 percent. I think it’d be a great sign of unity for our Bulldog Nation. If everybody buys in and gets to the stadium and see that everybody’s bought in before we even kickoff, I think that just adds a little energy to the day. I’d really like to see that.”

Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia

Saturday, September 28, 3:30 PM (ET)

It's Bayou Classic Weekend (video)!

You've heard of Mecca in the Middle East?
Well, this weekend is the football equivalent in Louisiana.
In Baton Rouge every year, the Friday after Thanksgiving,, we'll kick it off with LSU beating up on the Razorbacks. It's extra special this year because LSU is No. 1 in the nation, and the Razorbacks have two diesel running backs, especially the Heisman-hyped Darren McFadden. But the other guy, Felix Jones, is just as good and will run for 180 yards on your tail if you're not careful. Then on Saturday we'll enjoy the Southern Jaguars against the Grambling State Tigers in the Bayou Classic in New Orleans. It's the biggest tradition in Louisiana from two of the biggest black schools in the country, as far as brand recognition is concerned. Grambling was coached by the late, great Eddie Robinson for more than half a century. He never had a losing season until the 1990s, when the AD took most of his power, and clout with it. When I think about the Bayou Classic, I think about him, mostly, even though I root for the Jaguars, who have never had a quarterback and offensive line in the same season. Their coach, Pete Richardson, is probably the best coach in black college football, and he's wrapping up his 13th season in Baton Rouge.
The Bayou Classic has been broadcast live on NBC for over 15 years now and is the only black college football game to get that type of exposure.
NBC has had to talk to its advertisers about it though because a black college football game is a lot longer than any other kind of college football game: It's a lot more sloppy, with penalties, a fair share of bad calls by the referees, not to mention that the halftime bands will not be rushed off the field, but will use all 15 minutes of their time. As a matter of fact, the longest broadcast in the history of network television? You guessed it, a Bayou Classic broadcast from the early 1990s (I forget which year). NBC didn't like that too well, and they kind of got on the game's organizers. If you watch the game closely, you can see in the fourth quarter, the refs will let a lot of stuff go just to keep the clock moving. A player could probably slap somebody and they'd let it go, because NBC wants the game to conform to the length of its other college broadcasts. But the problem is, the Bayou Classic is not like any other broadcast. It's a unique institution in Americana.
After the game, people "hit Bourbon Street" It's a tradition. You could "hit Canal" as well, but it's not as fun. Actually you'll have to "hit Canal" before you "hit Bourbon" because Bourbon is off of Canal Street. But, then again, if your hotel is on Bourbon or just off Bourbon then you don't necessarily have to hit Canal, but ... you understand.

Fulmer, Vols Do What's Expected And No More, Can You Blame Him?

You've got to give it to Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer.
He did exactly what he was supposed to do this year: The Volunteers beat the teams they were supposed to beat.
They also lost to the teams they were supposed to lose to.
All three of the losses were pretty much blowouts that could have been much worse and that could have been a little closer.
In the first game of the season, they got ran all over by California 31-45.
Two games later they got pasted by Florida 59-20 (didn't most teams, they had Superman?).
And the Alabama game got out of hand 41-17, but hey, they hung on against South Carolina. They hit on all cylinders againstGeorgia . And they took care of business against Arkansas. As a result of handling their workmanlike business, the Vols could be playing for the SEC Championship with a win vs. Kentucky on Saturday.
And to think, some people counted on Phil out after the team was 1-2 after the Gators thumping.
But you know? If college football teams could simply beat the teams they're supposed to beat then the average tenure of a college coach would be a lot longer and more enjoyable. Don't get me wrong now, the Vols stunk at times against the Gamecocks (especially the second half) and the Gators, and even against Vanderbilt. But you gotta love a team that gives you exactly what you expect. Tennessee didn't figure to finish better than 8-2 this year and they didn't. They beat the cupcakes of their schedule (SMU, Louisiana-Lafayette) and lost to the powerhouses. Big deal? It could have been much worse, they could have schedule Appalachian State (like Michigan did). They could have scheduled South Florida (like Auburn did). They didn't. They scheduled Cal as the first team, Florida as the third. You've got to give to coaches like that (LSU scheduled Virginia Tech second, and actually opened the season in SEC play with a game AT Mississippi State.) So, while half the southeastern United States is going against ya Phil, I got yer back. And no, I'm not encouraging low expectations from the Vols. You didn't shock the world, Phil, but you weren't playing the world either; you simply managed to keep your job. In these days in times, it's enough.

What Happened To Kentucky?

They boasted a Heisman-hyped quarterback in Andre Woodson, a dues-paying coach in Rich Brooks and alot of feel good.
The way their blue jerseys electrified the field was a cool contrast to every other team they played. They looked good on TV.
They even teased the Bluegrass fan base with a 46-points-a-game average and thoughts of running away with the SEC East.
In September they were a perfect 5-0 and nationally ranked in the top 10.
Then it happened.
The worse thing that could happen to them, happened to them.
They beat the No. 1 team in the nation.
Game over.
Is it me, or has KU just not been the same team since that fateful October 13th?
They've won all of 1 game since then (against Vandy and they had 13 penalties) and lost 3.
What happened?
If they would have lost to LSU in triple or quadruple overtime maybe they would have saw their flaws a little earlier and fixed them against Florida or Georgia.
As it stands, the LSU win, while it was a great win, became the beginning of a subtle-but-all-too-familiar slide to mediocrity. And what stands out the most? They're so good! Kentucky, if it didn't make the mistakes, could play with anybody in the SEC (the LSU game proves that). The Florida game could have turned out different with just a few plays going the other way.
But as it stands, KU is left to play the role of spoiler to Tennessee, who only beat the teams they were supposed to beat, and lost to the ones they were supposed to lose to.