Mallett real deal? Or UGA defense bad?

Arkansas' Ryan Mallett leads the nation in passing efficiency. Not a huge surprise, but it sure helps when you get a home game with Georgia. Seems all of that SEC speed is reserved for offense.

Mallett, who has a passing efficiency of 193.5, lit up the Bulldogs last weekend for 408 passing yards and five touchdowns. Winning, however, lessens the sting. Mark Richt quipped at a recent presser about his defense (Hat Tip: MrSEC.com), “Well, they’re not playing the best pass defense in the country, that’s for sure.” He did note that the Bulldogs have faced some solid passing teams. “I haven’t lost faith in this bunch at all.”

SEC fans have to love what Tony Barnhart said on his blog Mr. College Football.

"Well, Mallett may have played his first SEC game last week but his real SEC debut comes Saturday when the Hogs go to Alabama."

Mallett will see a speedier defensive unit this week when he faces No. 3 Alabama. Something tells me he won't be able to sit in the pocket against the Tide and pick apart the secondary.

Expectations are high for Vols

Expectations are definitely high for the Volunteers and Our Boy Lane Kiffin. I almost feel bad for him because Urban Meyer is going to enjoy putting it to UT this year when the Vols travel to Gainesville on Sept. 19. Does anyone remember how Meyer repaid Mark Richt last year?

Meyer leaving UF after 2009

Gotta love the SEC. Wait until you hear this one.

It seems University of Florida commit Matt Elam, a stud linebacker from West Palm Beach, Fla., is ready to look around after a coach at another school told him Urban Meyer is leaving the Gators after Tim Tebow's final season in 2009.

Elam, who committed to UF in October, told Rivals.com that he will now take visits to other schools—most likely Alabama, Georgia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Since Elam is a five-star recruit I'm sure rival coaches would do almost anything to get him on their campus instead of Gainesville.

According to the Miami Herald, Elam claims he never told Rivals.com about the Meyer rumor.

But let's say it's true. Which coach has the most to gain? And where does Meyer go after 2009? It sounds like something Our Boy at Tennessee would do. However, I'm leaning toward Mark Richt. He hates Meyer and figures he has nothing to lose in this relationship. Meyer's most likely destination is a no-brainer ... Notre Dame.

So the recruiting of Matt Elam continues. Sorry Gator fans, but this is simply old-fashioned SEC recruiting.

A loss is loss even in Atlanta

I guess when you win only 33.3 percent of the games you may want to change things up a bit. That seems to be the mantra of Georgia coach Mark Richt, who is supporting the idea that the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" use the Georgia Dome as an alternate site every four years. The idea originated with the Atlanta Sports Council.

Currently the Dawgs face the mentally stronger Florida Gators each season in Jacksonville. Richt is 2-6 since becoming the head coach. Urban Meyer and his team have a much shorter trip, but the crowd is usually about a 50-50 split. Playing in Atlanta would make an easier trip for the Bulldogs from Athens, but not sure it can help their mental game.

The only time I can remember in recent history that UGA had any swagger was when Richt allowed his players to get freaky after scoring an early TD.

And UGA blogger T Kyle King at Dawg Sports makes a great point on why keeping the game in Jacksonville may be a smarter idea.

Look, Florida has dominated this rivalry lately, winning 16 of the last 19 meetings. But this is one of college football's greatest traditions and there's no reason to mess with it. Besides, at least Richt and the Dawgs have an excuse for their miserable record against the Gators.

What's the excuse when you lose in Atlanta?

Not so fast Notre Dame

It's amazing how one (impressive) victory can alter everyone's opinion so fast.

Just 72 hours ago, we were talking about how Notre Dame didn't have a chance against Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. How if the Fighting Irish lost Charlie Weis could still be in trouble of losing his gig as the BIG man in South Bend.

But ND didn't lose. The Irish looked every bit as good as a team stacked with blue chippers and five-star talents should. I watched the game on Christmas Eve and was flabbergasted with how ND looked like an elite team. The Irish were faster, bigger and played with more emotion than the Rainbow Warriors.

And did you see the way Jimmy Clausen played? He set Irish bowl records with 401 passing yards and five TDs as Notre Dame rolled to a 49-21 victory--ND's first postseason win in 15 years.

Now that I've had time to think about it, this performance shouldn't be such a surprise.

Notre Dame should destroy Hawaii. The Irish recruit elite players, who should be able to play at any of the best schools in the nation. Hawaii takes cast-offs like Colt Brennan and hope they develop into stars. What made ND's victory so interesting was that the Irish played with the emotion of a team needing to make a statement--even if it was in a bowl way below ND standards.

Now I'm hearing and reading about how this is the tipping point for ND football. That with all the Irish's returning players next year that they could be a big-time player in college football in 2009.

Bogus.

Remember less than 12 months ago when Georgia entered the Sugar Bowl with all kinds of hype and a chip on the shoulder for not being considered for the BCS Championship? The Bulldogs dominated the miscast Warriors 41-10, and the hype began for the Bulldogs. Mark Richt's team was anointed the favorite for 2008. We all know how well that went for UGA.

Now Hawaii has kick started the Notre Dame hype machine for 2009.

Over at the Bleacher Report, one writer is claiming that ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick's decision to stick with Weis was rewarded with Wednesday's victory. How low have the standards fallen among the Irish faithful that a road win over Hawaii saves a season? Here's how low. Notre Dame used to turn down bowl games like this, especially after a 6-6 regular season. Now they take the game to end bowl losing streaks.

What I think most will remember is that Notre Dame had lost five of its last seven, including an embarrassing 24-23 loss to Syracuse before the bowl win.

There's also talk that Clausen has resurrected his career with this performance. Clausen has a great arm, but he's overrated. Just like his brothers at Tennessee. He'll be the same Jimmy the next two years. Stop the Heisman hype now. He's not that good.

It was a good win. Notre Dame can go into the offseason on a positive note and the coaches can hit the recruiting trail with tales of playing in Hawaii. This isn't anti-ND. This is a reality check. Folks, it was just a win over Hawaii.

ND should have a good record next year. Look at this cakewalk of a schedule (the only tough game is Southern Cal at home). The Irish should be underdogs against Michigan State, Boston College and Pitt.

Notre Dame 2009
Sept. 5: Nevada
Sept. 12: at Michigan
Sept. 19: Michigan State
Sept. 26: at Purdue
Oct. 3: Washington
Oct. 17: USC
Oct. 24: Boston College
Oct. 31: vs. Washington State (at San Antonio, Texas)
Nov. 7: Navy
Nov. 14: at Pittsburgh
Nov. 21: Connecticut
Nov. 28: at Stanford

Even the schedules at Notre Dame have dropped well below Irish standards. So save the resurrection talk until Weis and the Irish win a meaningful game. Looks like the first shot at that is Oct. 17, 2009.

Really Coach? This is old news?

As Florida and Georgia get ready to square off in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, both Coach Urban Meyer and Coach Mark Richt claim the Bulldogs' touchdown celebration in last year's game is "old news."

"In terms of the celebration question, no matter how you phrase it, you can just refer to the SEC Media Days. I think that's really old news and I'm not going to comment on it," Richt has said this week.

Meyer added, "It's old news and it has no bearing on this year's game. Two teams battling for the SEC East. It has no bearing on it whatsoever."

Sure, the SEC East is on the line and a game against Alabama in the conference championship in December. But really? Georgia's mosh pit last year has no ramifications?

Nice try guys. It has everything to do with this week. Meyer probably has the video playing over and over during practice, in the locker room. Anywhere and everywhere.

What I want to know is will the Gators try to one up them this year or is Georgia planning another secret. Let's hope so.