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This week’s rant is more of a praise.
We witnessed a couple teams have their playoff hopes dashed the last few weeks. We’ve also seen teams continue to win and inch their way closer into the final four.
I had the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows while playing at South Carolina. We beat the No. 1-ranked team and then lost the following week. It really is a roller coaster and you have to tip your hats to the teams that always seem to come out of a difficult game with a win.
I can’t stand Florida State, but I have to credit what they have done, winning 25+ games in a row in pretty legit. The same goes for Alabama. They’ve been a dynasty the last few years and it is very hard to play with a target on your back week in and week out. Those guys always get the opposing team’s best shot because everyone wants to knock off the top dogs.
But I’d like to credit some teams that have had some pretty devastating loses and come back the following week with their heads up high and crush their opponent.
Georgia and Ole Miss this past weekend come to mind immediately. Those guys had their playoff dreams pretty much scratched after their losses to Florida and Auburn, respectively. I’ve been in the locker room after a devastating loss and I can tell you, you can hear a pin drop in there. Everyone’s shocked and you really have to have solid leadership the following week in practice to get the guys fired up and ready to go the next game.
Georgia surprised me. Those guys got whipped by the Gators the prior week, then came out and pummeled Kentucky in Lexington. I thought they were going to have their heads hanging low and didn’t think they’d play that well. That’s really a testament to the leadership in that locker room. I was very impressed with that win and the effort from the players.
With the Ole Miss Rebels, it’s a little different scenario. They had just lost two in a row and lost their best offensive player for the season in sickening fashion. Their playoff hopes are finished after starting the season off so great. I can only imagine that locker room after that game vs. Auburn.
I know that they got a break in the schedule and played a lesser team last weekend in Presbyterian, but the Rebels dominated and looked like they were having a blast out there. That’s another testament to that leadership in the locker room and the coaching staff. You see time and time again that teams with devastating losses sort of come out sluggish the next weekend and with their heads kind of hanging. I was very happy to see Ole Miss have some bounce in its step and get back on track.
Losing in the SEC can really affect a team’s morale. Those guys came out and showed a lot of pride and for that, as fans of the Bulldogs or Rebels, y’all should be proud.
The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
