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The entire college football world was in a state of shock yesterday when UFlorida head coach Urban Meyer announced he was stepping down for health reasons.

First reaction:&#160 Yeah, well – I’d be sick over losing my cash-cow quarterback, too.

We later found out that Meyer spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital after the SEC championship game, suffering from chest pains.

(Side note:&#160 There’s been a lot of pressure on Meyer and the Gators to repeat as national champs this year, which may lead one to believe the chest pains are a result of excessive stress.&#160 His doctors, however, may want to look for a blockage somewhere.&#160 I’ve got a stepbrother who was suffering from those types of pains, and that’s what they found.)

Well, hold the phone – looks like ol’ Urban’s not gonna resign, after all.

Florida coach Urban Meyer, who announced Saturday night that he would step down after coaching the Gators in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, will instead take an indefinite leave of absence following the bowl game, he said on Sunday.

“I was offered and encouraged to take a leave of absence,” Meyer said in a news conference on Sunday afternoon.

Can’t say as I blame him.&#160 Man’s got a helluva scene going for him down there.

Let’s go to the Perfect Football Weekend&#153.&#160 Four of my six teams are still in action (Dallas, more than once) this week.

Tonight, the Cowboys are in Warshington to take on the Deadskins.

OZY MCCOOL:&#160 You mean…

MERLIN:&#160 Nah, this time he’s got a point.&#160 Did you see what they did against the Douchebags?

OZY MCCOOL:&#160 Yeah, but that doesn’t mean they’ll do that against the Cowgirls.

VENOMOUS:&#160 Point, McCool.&#160 Incidentally, how d’ya like your new Realm&#153 Intelligence gig?

OZY MCCOOL:&#160 Thank you, m’liege.&#160 I shall not let you down like my predecessor did.&#160 I prefer to keep my&#160 head.

VENOMOUS:&#160 Good man.

Memo to Coach Stay-Puf:&#160 The win over N’awlins means exactly dick&#160 unless you beat the ‘Skins tonight.

Tuesday, Bucky travels to Orlando to take on the University of Miami Windbags Hurricanes in the Champs Sports Bowl.&#160 This game will hinge on how well Bucky can stop UMiami quarterback Jacory Harris.&#160 Vegas has more confidence in them than I do at this point – the ‘Canes are only a 3&#189-point favorite in what’s essentially a home game for them.&#160 Question for HSS:&#160 can Bucky keep up with all that speed?

Wednesday, Bo Pelini’s 20th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers will be in San Diego to take on 22nd-ranked Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.&#160 (Both rankings USA Today poll)&#160 Vegas considers it a tossup, but I think it’ll come down to whether or not Arizona’s line can hold Ndomukong Suh long enough to let their quarterback throw.

Thursday, Bob Stoopes will take his Oklahoma Sooners to El Paso to play in the Brut Sun Bowl* against the 19th-ranked (USA) Stanford Cardinal.&#160 (And So Help Me Cthulu&#153, they’re only ranked because they took apart USC in the Trojans’ backyard about six weeks ago.)&#160 The over under is 400 male spectators attacked by over-40 football groupies.&#160

Next Sunday, Dallas will finish the regular season at JerryWorld against the Philthydelphia Beagles and TWGQBEITHOE,E&#153, Donna McCrabbs.&#160 Memo to Coach Stay-Puf:&#160 If history repeats itself here…it’s been nice knowing you.

Next Monday, the 3rd-ranked Texas Christian Horned Frogs will have the rubber match of the series against 6th-ranked Smurf Turf State in the Fiesta Bowl.&#160 (Reports that Bronco coach Chris Peterson was still trying to get the University of Phoenix Stadium crew to paint the field blue were unsubstantiated at press time.)&#160 The Frogs are favored by seven, which means that Ross Evans will have to win it for them with a field goal.&#160 Set the over/under on fingernails I have left at game’s end at two.

We’re here January 5th or so with the recap and the benediction.&#160 And my mood for that will depend on how well TCU did the night before.

*And those of you who know me know I never but never use the names of title sponsors when discussing bowl games, but this one’s too good to pass up.

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One response to “PFW:&#160 Not so fast there, bub”

1. HDD says:

   December 28, 2009 at 6:17 pm

   You know, I’ve been hearing the “Can the Badgers keep up with the speed of (X Bowl Opponent, usually from the SEC)?” question for…oh…about 17 years now. Coach (now AD) Alvarez addressed that particular question about 6 years ago, when Bucky was going to the Outback Bowl to play Georgia. Coach Alvarez said “You know, if you go back and watch the game film of our losses to SEC teams, the one thing you won’t see is them running away from us. They lined up and beat us up front, on the line.” Big Ten teams are NOT slow. They’re physical. The two are not mutually exclusive.

   Years ago, when the Longhorns manned up and played Ohio State in a home-and-home series, Vince Young was asked what it was like playing against the physical defense of Ohio State. He said “Every time they hit me, it was the hardest I had ever been hit. By the 4th quarter, I could barely get back to the huddle.” Remember, Vince had been playing against the (supposedly) physical, bruising defenses of the Dainty Dozen for the past 3 years. And Ohio State hit him harder than he had ever been hit before!

   The reason Big Ten teams aren’t considered ‘fast’ is because it’s hard to run fast when you feel like you’re getting hit by a car every time you touch the ball. Purdue tried to run past Big Ten defenses. They succeeded for the first two or three games of the year. After those games, their receivers looked as slow as all the other Big Ten receivers. Jacory Harris is going to get hit like he’s never been hit before. Miami’s receivers are going to feel like they’re getting jammed at the line by semis. Their running backs are going to feel like they’re being tackled by dump trucks.

   So, really, the question isn’t “How can the Badgers keep up with the speed of Miami?” (few teams are outright faster than the Badgers), it’s “How is Miami going to handle getting hit like they’ve never been hit before?”. If Miami can take Bucky’s best shot for all four quarters, and not fold like wet cardboard, I give them a puncher’s chance to pull out the win. Gimme Bucky, and I’ll take the points, since you’re handing them out. Bucky wins outright. By 10. At least.

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