IF YOU AREN'T THE LEAD DAWG,
THE VIEW NEVER CHANGES

A few thoughts going into the first week of practice...

Pre-Season Ranking: So we are Number 1 in the Coaches Poll and on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Bullseye, jinx, big head, blah blah blah. While I think pre-season polls are as close to useless as a one-legged man at an ass kicking contest, it is better to be number one than any of the other integers. I embrace it and hope that the coaches and players can keep it in proper perspective as they prepare for the first couple of games of the season. Let's be honest, we all have the highest expectations for our team this season and whether we are currently ranked 1, 2, 3 , 4 or 5 is mostly inconsequential at this point. We know that out of the top 6 teams, no more than two of them can be undefeated by the end of the SECCG. Still, it is best that we are in a position that we can completely control our own destiny from day one. Embrace it. Own it. Prove it.

Off The Field Issues: I am done with them. As Rafiki says in The Lion King, "It's in the past." Practices have started. These kids now have no more idle time to find trouble. As Matthew Stafford admonished the team Sunday... it is time to focus on football.


Pre-Season All SEC Team: Even more so than pre-season polls, this is a total exercise in futility. However, it will be interesting to go back after the season and see who the surprises were. I firmly believe that Rennie Curran will finish higher than the third team. I can't wait to watch this missile play defense this season.


Rennie improved dramatically throughout his freshman season to the point where he was making more plays than any other defender by the end of the year. He could average double digits in tackles this season and many of those will be tackles for losses. He has the nose for the football and is our next great one like Hoage, Champ, Boss, Pollack, etc.