Chris Elrod

Superbowl Review

As if the world needs another review of this year's Superbowl, I will offer my two cents nevertheless.

The Game - A complete snore-fest!  While I'm glad the Colts won the game, it was one of the most uneventful and boring Superbowl's I've seen in a long time.  The rain factor really sent the whole affair into the crapper!

The MVP - You have got to be kidding me, Peyton Manning?  What exactly did he do?  The press says he didn't make any mistakes and held onto the ball.  Isn't that what he gets paid millions of dollars to do?  He's a great quarterback, but his non-stellar play last night did not warrant him the MVP.  Dominic Rhodes or Joseph Addai were much more deserving of the MVP!  Actually Rex Grossman was the best player for the Colts last night.

Prince - While I truly missed a good "wardrobe malfunction", I thought Prince rocked the house!  To me, it was one of the better "modern-day" halftime shows in recent Superbowl history.  You gotta give Prince and his band props for playing in the downpour.  They didn't fall, they didn't quit, they gave it their all and I know that had to be getting shocked at some point in the performance.

The Commercials - They all just sucked.  Some sucked worse than others (all of the car commercials were bad, including that stupidity with the guys in their underwear).  Others we not as bad (E*Trade and Career Builder were okay - the K Fed commercial would have been hilarious if it hadn't been pimped so much before last night).  All in all, quite a few companies wasted alot of money last night.

The African American "Thing" - I'm not a racist and I'm not trying to start any crap.  However, the whole African American focus was really overblown...and not needed...last night.  It was the first Superbowl to have rain.  The Colts were the first indoor stadium team that won a Superbowl.  It was the first Superbowl to feature an opening kick-off touchdown.  Smith and Dungy are two really great coaches and men of integrity...not to mention they are solid Christians.   Yet, all the press wanted to focus on was that it was the first Superbowl that an African American coach made it to (Smith) and won (Dungy).  C'mon people, this is 2007.  Isn't it time to just let people be people and not label them by color?   It may just be me, but I think it's pretty racist to focus on people's race...instead of their accomplishments!!!

Congrats To Tony Dungy...It's Been A Long Time Coming!!!

Dungy's Going To The Dance

As a Buc's fan, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Tony Dungy.  Obviously, Gruden and the Bucs rode to their Superbowl win on the shoulders and former leadership of Dungy.  I am thrilled that he finally has a shot at going to "the big dance" and winning the Superbowl.  I'll be rooting for him and the Colts on February 4th.

Been Waiting Ten Years For This

THE GATORS WIN!!!

My prayer life rocks...the Gators win the National Championship!!!  Florida also made history as the only NCAA school to win national championships in football AND basketball in the same year.

I hope this finally puts to bed the disrespect the SEC gets every year from the press and coaches.  The Gators didn't just beat Ohio, we handed them their ass!!!  I mean, when guys are making tackles with no helmet on, it shows my boys came to play hard-hitting football!  Other than the first, lucky opening play, Ohio wasn't even a factor.  The Gator defense just totally dominated and Chris Leak played a perfect game.

On behalf of Gator Nation and myself, a HUGE "thank you" goes to UCLA.  Without them beating USC we would have never made it to the Big Dance!!!

Needless to say, there will be very little sleep in the Elrod house tonight!

Ready For The Game!

The Gators And My Prayer Life

In little less than an hour we will all get to see what kind of prayer life I have.  If my prayer life is good, Ohio will stink as bad as New York did today.  If my prayer life sucks, well...

Goliath Falls In Arizona!

Holy crap, I just witnessed one of the greatest games in college football - the Fiesta Bowl!!!  A HUGE congrats to the Boise State Broncos for beating the Oklahoma Sooners to go 13-0 this season.  It totally blows the BCS out of the water!  I love it when the underdogs become a Cinderella!!!

Boise State's gutsy play calling was thrilling...and refreshing!  Those boys came to win and never quit.   I can't decide which of their amazing plays should be "NCAA Play Of The Year" - their "Hook & Ladder" lateral for a touchdown or the "Statue Of Liberty" play for two points to win the game!!!

While I will be pulling for my beloved Gators next Monday to win the BCS Championship, the Bronco's win tonight gives so much ammunition for having a playoff system for college football.  The BCS and their politics completely blows!  Rutgers and Boise State proved that the "little guys" need a fair chance for the National Championship!

It's The Gators!!!

Oh baby, the Gators are going to the BCS championship game!!!  I couldn't be happier if I was twins!

Obviously, the Michigan fans are probably ticked . . . and rightfully so.  They lost one game to the #1 ranked team.  Our one loss came with a #18 team.  However, one national sports talk radio shows has been talking in the last few minutes to some college coaches.  As much as the Fox Sports commentators would have the world believe that the "human element" didn't want a Ohio vs. Michigan rematch, the coaches on this show are saying that they voted for Florida because of their SEC championship win.  These guys realize that the SEC is THE toughest in NCAA. 

Obviously, Florida is going to be the "Rodney Dangerfield" of college football for the next few weeks - no respect.  There is a great argument for Michigan being in the title game and even more argument for a playoff scenario in NCAA football.  However, for the 2006 year, the history is written.  Florida will play Ohio for the National Championship.  Gator Nation is pumped!!!

Maybe, Just Maybe!

Yesterday at this time, it wasn't even in the picture.  Now it looks like that Florida may actually play for the National Championship.  This report just made the wire and I'm hearing alot of talk on the sports shows.  I don't want to jinx it, so I'm just holding my breath!

Gators Baby!!!

The Gators beat Arkansas tonight to win the SEC!!!  Man, I am pumped!!!

Now comes the "great debate" on whether they should play Ohio for the national championship.  Until USC tanked tonight, it was a non-issue.  Now, it's the talk of ESPN and sports radio stations nationwide.

Obviously, I'm biased.  However, I think there are some strong arguments why Florida should play for the national title over Michigan:

1.  Florida won the SEC.  Every coach in the NCAA recognizes that the SEC is toughest conference.

2.  Florida won in the conference with the most Top 25 teams.

3.  Florida beat almost all of those Top 25 teams.

4.  USC lost to an unranked team.

5.  Michigan didn't win their conference - they were second place.

6.  Michigan had a shot at Ohio already and blew it.  They were close, but still blew it.

7.  Michigan plays in one of the weakest conferences in the NCAA.

8.   Michigan played very few Top 25 teams at all this year.

I'm holding my breath for the new BCS poll.   Four hours ago Gator Nation was basking in the SEC championship game.  Now we have a shot at the title.  I won't be able to get much sleep tonight.

Not Pretty

It wasn't pretty, but it was a win for the Florida Gators today.  They still have some MAJOR HOLES, but I'm pumped about their BCS ranking.  I have no illusions that we'll be playing for a National Championship, but we should make a pretty kickin' bowl if this keeps up.  Needless to say, I think we'll take the SEC.

Oh yeah, a little moment of smack talking.  If Ohio or Michigan was in the SEC they wouldn't have the records they have now.  The SEC is hands down the toughest conference in the NCAA!!!  I appreciate what Ohio and Michigan have accomplished this season, but they are not playng real teams week after week.  There are no slouch teams in the SEC!!!

62 Freakin' Yards!!!

What an incredible win that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pulled out today!  Rhonde Barber ran two interceptions back for touchdowns, the defense was cranked up and Matt Bryant kicked a 62 yard field goal to win the game in the last few seconds!  It was the second longest field goal in NFL history.  It wasn't a pretty win, but it was a win!

Needless to say, I got a little loud watching it on television today.  I should have been at the game, but my sorry friend David Covey used his four free tickets to take his wife and parents o see the Bucs.  I guess I'll let him off the hook since he helped me move a bunch of water last weekend for Compass Point's servant outreach.  :-)

Football Meltdowns

Two meltdowns in a three-day period.  Between the Miami Hurricane's brawl and the Arizona Cardinals press conference it was quite a weekend of football.  Coach Coker and Coach Green should hang onto their paychecks because I don't think they'll be getting anymore after this season is over!  At least not in Florida or Arizona!

Chris Simms Is The Man

The Bucs lost and Chris Simms didn't really have a stellar game . . . but he didn't quit.  Wide receiver Micahel Clayton said that Simms was slurring his words, acting dazed and was obviously suffering from dehydration during the game.  When they asked him in the huddle if he needed to leave the game he said, "I'm fine, let's keep going".  He led them to several touchdowns after only stepping out for two plays when he almost collasped because of the heat.  When the game was done, they rushed him to the hospital to have his spleen removed.  He is the man!!!  There's more to being a champion that actually winning and Chris Simms proved that today!  What a display of leadership!!!

Mark Richt

While demons would wear jackets in hell quicker that I'd ever become a Georgia Bulldog fan, I have to admit . . . I'm incredibly impressed with their football coach, Mark Richt.

I was sitting here watching ABC's presentation of the Liberty Mutual Coach Of The Year, in which they are profiling Coach Richt.  The man is a class act!  His team builds homes for Habitat For Humanity, they are encouraged to be winners off the field and academics is the top thing for his players.  Beyond all of that, he just gave one of the most clear and uncompromising presentations of the Gospel that I've ever heard ON NATIONAL TELEVISION!

Coach Richt's entire interview was basically about his relationship with Christ, his relationship with his wife, relationship with his kids and his relationship with "his boys" on the team.  I honestly got a sense, that while winning is important, it was not the main thing.  He never gave some arrogant, "this-is-how-you-win" speech (a la Steve Spurrier), it was always how his relationship with Christ affects his relationship with others.  Talk about a true testimony.

I know Gary is going to have a field day with this posting.  However, it is good - in today's win-at-all-costs climate - to see a coach in college football with a greater passion for other less-worldly things!

The Smell Of Victory

It wasn't pretty, but the Gators beat the Volunteers.  This is an especially sweet victory since the Hurricanes and Seminoles lost today.  Coker's needs to brush up his resume and Bowden (Bobby) needs to turn the lights out - the party's over!  I do believe that the Meyer dynasty has just begun!  I'm heading to bed a happy man!!!