Hunting- Fishing- Farmng since I'm retired and Just enjoying life....
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The only time I love bama is when they loose.. LOL!
Surely you jest!! JK jester..
Just scroll down Lacy and take your pick. We dont have record class deer in Alabama but if you get one over 200 lbs and 130 class antlers then that is considered a trophy and I have 4 in that class.
Thank ya Larry.. I feel fortunate to be blessed with the rights we have now but if we the American people dont pay close attention to some of these czars that Obummer is hiring we will loose all of our rights and be left with no freedom to hunt, fish, own/lease properties for these purposes.
There was a time when the government was scared of We the People but now We the People are scared of the government and thats a shame.
Thanks stormy..
Sorry I forgot to resize that picture.
Ever since I was a little fellar I have always been an Auburn fan. My kids graduated from there and have become successful in the great State of Texas, my daughter in the oil and gas industry in Ft. Worth, and my son is an Engineer at a hospital expansion in Glen Rose, Tx. I spent all of last week with them in Tx. and had to go to the Stock Yard.
I live in Alabama, a state that has a overly abundant deer herd. The game department has put a 3 buck limit for hunters, which I like but they also have a 2 does per day bag limit for the entire season and thats 108 days of deer hunting. For those that wonder, any picture I post comes from my cameras on my property..
Not only is it turkey heaven but I also have a lot of these big boys on the property.
Thanks EZ.. I have so many on my property its not hard to take one plus there was another good hatching this year and if nothing happens to them they should really thrive because I feed them well. Notice the hen with the beard in one of the picks.
I have always used a gun to turkey hunt but this past season I decided to use my bow and the first picture is of a tom I decided to go after and the 2nd picture is the end result. I hunted from an Ameristep blind with black interior and had on black clothing and it seemed to make me invisible to the perfect vision of the turkeys.Pay no attention to the date on the camera because I never set it after I bought it in 2004.
Hello Ron, just got back from my week in Ft. Worth and Granbury Tx. Had a great time hanging with my son and daughter..
5 18 29 48 for tonights race please.. GLTA!!
Its MM's playing games!! They're trying to shake out the weak hands in order to have plenty of shares for the next leg up!!
Charts are setting up nice-not much spread in the bid/ask-looks thin all the way to .015- look out the BKMP train is leaving the station- back up the dump truck-put on them moon a!# pants because this rocket ship is about to blast off. GO BKMP!!
Whew, I glad I'm taking a vacation next week to visit my son and daughter in Ft. Worth because I must be getting delusional!!
See yall when I get back!
Hello everyone,
I will be gone next week to visit my son and daughter in Ft.Worth. I will take a laptop with me just to check in every so often but if noone sees me on the boards nothings happened, just taking a little Jackie time.
Another pic at a different feed station. Lot of them little biddies running around.
Had some good hatchings this year with the turkey on my property. Notice the hen with the beard, there has always been bearded hens on the property.
Come on down to Alabama and I will let you shoot at this old timer if he will come out in the open. I have tried for 3 years to get him to make an appearance during the hunting season when it was daylight but he will only come out after season is over. He's a smart old fella!!
Another area where I have a camera that I did'nt turn off. Thats my oldest son standing by the 4-wheeler after filling my feeder, my nephew with his foot propped on my bucket and lazy me sitting on my tractor watching them.
Hello Ron.. 14 18 88 99 at Bristol, fixing to head down to work at deer camp some more. I forgot to turn off this camera a couple weeks ago when I was plowing.
I'm kinda like Ted Nuggent.. I love animals, they taste so gooooooood!!! LOL!!
What if I send you some jerky from this big fella after I take him with my bow this season? Will that be good for hmmmm lets say 400 points. LOL!
Good morning Briboy!! Sorry for all the negative replies from our friendly group here on the BKMP board. It would take a miracle from God for this thing to ever move again, but miracles happens.. As you said with the other stock symbol you were using for an example sometimes things will lay dormant and then out of the blue something makes it get some life, but not very likely with BKMP. JMHO!!
You had the 5 14 24 83 and according to Nascars scoring system based on the finishing order of the cars below is how your totals for Sunday will add up.
5- 75 pts.
14-117 pts
24-175 pts
83-190 pts
For a total of 557 pts. this week for you
I may pass you by 16 points. LOL!
5 18 42 47 At the Glen.
Heres the schedule for the whole season that shows the pole sitters and winners up to the Pocono race and then it shows last years winners and pole sitters for the races that have'nt been run yet just in case you want to do a stickie note.
Schedule & Results
Sprint Cup Nationwide Camping World Truck
2009 Season 2008 Season 2007 Season 2006 Season 2005 Season 2004 Season 2003 Season 2002 Season
Time (ET) TV Race/Track Winner/Pole Purse Results
Feb 7
8:30 pm FOX Budweiser Shootout *
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL Kevin Harvick
Paul Menard $1,217,154 Full Results
Feb 12
2:19 pm SPD Gatorade Duel 1 *
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL Jeff Gordon
Martin Truex Jr. $675,000 Full Results
Feb 12
4:00 pm SPD Gatorade Duel 2 *
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL Kyle Busch
Mark Martin $675,000 Full Results
Feb 15
3:40 pm FOX Daytona 500
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL Matt Kenseth
Martin Truex Jr. $18,865,586 Full Results
Feb 22
6:15 pm FOX Auto Club 500
Auto Club Speedway
Fontana, CA Matt Kenseth
Brian Vickers $6,192,388 Full Results
Mar 1
4:46 pm FOX Shelby 427
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, NV Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch $6,577,562 Full Results
Mar 8
2:16 pm FOX Kobalt Tools 500
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Hampton, GA Kurt Busch
Mark Martin $5,099,491 Full Results
Mar 22
2:13 pm FOX Food City 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, TN Kyle Busch
Mark Martin $5,700,744 Full Results
Mar 29
2:13 pm FOX Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, VA Jimmie Johnson
Jeff Gordon $5,066,999 Full Results
Apr 5
2:16 pm FOX Samsung 500
Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, TX Jeff Gordon
David Reutimann $7,384,649 Full Results
Apr 18
8:44 pm FOX Subway Fresh Fit 500
Phoenix International Raceway
Avondale, AZ Mark Martin
Mark Martin $5,103,912 Full Results
Apr 26
2:19 pm FOX Aaron's 499
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega, AL Brad Keselowski
Juan Pablo Montoya $6,149,092 Full Results
May 2
7:43 pm FOX Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond, VA Kyle Busch
Brian Vickers $5,176,906 Full Results
May 9
7:35 pm FOX Southern 500
Darlington Raceway
Darlington, SC Mark Martin
Matt Kenseth $5,666,384 Full Results
May 16
7:30 pm SPD Sprint Showdown *
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Concord, NC Sam Hornish Jr.
Kirk Shelmerdine $1,010,000 Full Results
May 16
9:00 pm SPD NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race *
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Concord, NC Tony Stewart
Jimmie Johnson $3,308,251 Full Results
May 25
12:00 pm FOX Coca-Cola 600
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Concord, NC David Reutimann
Ryan Newman $6,696,340 Full Results
May 31
2:15 pm FOX Autism Speaks 400
Dover International Speedway
Dover, DE Jimmie Johnson
David Reutimann $5,912,707 Full Results
Jun 7
2:18 pm TNT Pocono 500
Pocono Raceway
Long Pond, PA Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart $5,077,262 Full Results
Jun 14
2:16 pm TNT LifeLock 400
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, MI Mark Martin
Brian Vickers $5,282,675 Full Results
Jun 21
5:19 pm TNT Toyota/Save Mart 350
Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, CA Kasey Kahne
Brian Vickers $5,635,918 Full Results
Jun 28
2:15 pm TNT Lenox Industrial Tools 301
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, NH Joey Logano
Tony Stewart $5,423,189 Full Results
Jul 4
8:19 pm TNT Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart $6,332,752 Full Results
Jul 11
8:16 pm TNT LifeLock.com 400
Chicagoland Speedway
Joliet, IL Mark Martin
Brian Vickers $6,182,706 Full Results
Jul 26
2:19 pm Allstate 400 at The Brickyard
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis, IN Jimmie Johnson
Mark Martin $9,603,268 Full Results
Aug 3
12:15 pm Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500
Pocono Raceway
Long Pond, PA Denny Hamlin
Tony Stewart $5,077,262 Full Results
Upcoming Events
Time (ET) TV Race/Track Last Year Winner Purse Preview
Aug 9
2:18 pm Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen, NY Kyle Busch - Preview
Aug 16
2:16 pm Carfax 400
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, MI Carl Edwards - Preview
Aug 22
7:43 pm Sharpie 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, TN Carl Edwards - Preview
Sep 6
7:46 pm Pep Boys Auto 500
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Hampton, GA Carl Edwards - Preview
Sep 12
7:43 pm Chevy Rock & Roll 400
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond, VA Jimmie Johnson - Preview
Chase for the Sprint Cup
Sep 20
2:15 pm Sylvania 300
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, NH Greg Biffle - Preview
Sep 27
2:15 pm Dover 400
Dover International Speedway
Dover, DE Greg Biffle - Preview
Oct 4
2:15 pm Price Chopper 400
Kansas Speedway
Kansas City, KS Jimmie Johnson - Preview
Oct 11
3:45 pm Pepsi 500
Auto Club Speedway
Fontana, CA Jimmie Johnson - Preview
Oct 17
7:40 pm NASCAR Banking 500
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Concord, NC Jeff Burton - Preview
Oct 25
1:45 pm TUMS Fast Relief 500
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, VA Jimmie Johnson - Preview
Nov 1
1:15 pm AMP Energy 500
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega, AL Tony Stewart - Preview
Nov 8
3:45 pm Dickies 500
Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, TX Carl Edwards - Preview
Nov 15
3:45 pm Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
Phoenix International Raceway
Avondale, AZ Jimmie Johnson - Preview
Nov 22
4:00 pm Ford 400
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, FL Carl Edwards - Preview
*Note: This race does not contribute to Sprint Cup point standings.
Sprint Cup Series
Upcoming Race Aug 9
Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen
Check during the race for Leaderboard & Live Standings
Sports HomeNASCARSchedule & Results
There are 6 more races till the 12 car chase begins and 10 races in the chase for a total of 16 races.( I thunk )
Naw, I go to my hunting camp every weekend just to get away from all the stupidity at work or else I would be firing people all the time.
14 16 17 48 for Pocono.
On the other hand... Iraq had a decent rate back around 1980, they at that time had a money supply of about 30 BILLION.
It is now 28 years later. The Iraq-Iran war destroyed the value of the Iraqi dinar, the first gulf war then destroyed it further, sanctions then added to the decline. All the while this was happening Saddam was running the printing presses and increasing the money supply into the TRILLIONS and it now stands at close to 40 TRILLION. Saddam dictated that the official rate remain 3:1 but nobody got that rate.
The Iraqi dinar started plunging in value in the early eighties.
So... to sum it up...
Kuwait, starts with 400 million and eight months later still has 400 million and that explains why they had the same rate.
Iraq starts with 30 billion and 28 years later has 40 TRILLION. That's over 1000 times more currency and explains perfectly why their exchange rate is now over 1000:1.
So yes, you have fallen for a scam to believe that Iraq is somehow like Kuwait.
All the Iraq currency under Saddam was destroyed and a new currency was printed, yes its in the trillions as well but the new Iraqi dinar has nothing to do with Saddam and his printing press
Democrats, acknowledging the increasing unruliness of the town-hall-style events, say the hot-button issues they are taking on have a lot to do with it.
They just dont get it, people have enough sense to realize the issues the libs are trying to push through will bankrupt the US( or at least the majority do ) but they still try. Come on midterm elections.
Poor, poor Democrats!! They cant even hold town hall meetings anymore without the crowds giving them ell
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090731/pl_politico/25646
Town halls gone wild
Buzz up!127 votes Send
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Delicious Digg Facebook Fark Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Yahoo! Bookmarks Print Featured Topics: Barack Obama News – Rep. Tim Bishop, D-NY. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds) Alex Isenstadt Alex Isenstadt – Fri Jul 31, 5:30 am ET
Screaming constituents, protesters dragged out by the cops, congressmen fearful for their safety — welcome to the new town-hall-style meeting, the once-staid forum that is rapidly turning into a house of horrors for members of Congress.
On the eve of the August recess, members are reporting meetings that have gone terribly awry, marked by angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior. In at least one case, a congressman has stopped holding town hall events because the situation has spiraled so far out of control.
“I had felt they would be pointless,” Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) told POLITICO, referring to his recent decision to suspend the events in his Long Island district. “There is no point in meeting with my constituents and [to] listen to them and have them listen to you if what is basically an unruly mob prevents you from having an intelligent conversation.”
In Bishop’s case, his decision came on the heels of a June 22 event he held in Setauket, N.Y., in which protesters dominated the meeting by shouting criticisms at the congressman for his positions on energy policy, health care and the bailout of the auto industry.
Within an hour of the disruption, police were called in to escort the 59-year-old Democrat — who has held more than 100 town hall meetings since he was elected in 2002 — to his car safely.
“I have no problem with someone disagreeing with positions I hold,” Bishop said, noting that, for the time being, he was using other platforms to communicate with his constituents. “But I also believe no one is served if you can’t talk through differences.”
Bishop isn’t the only one confronted by boiling anger and rising incivility. At a health care town hall event in Syracuse, N.Y., earlier this month, police were called in to restore order, and at least one heckler was taken away by local police. Close to 100 sign-carrying protesters greeted Rep. Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) at a late June community college small-business development forum in Panama City, Fla. Last week, Danville, Va., anti-tax tea party activists claimed they were “refused an opportunity” to ask Rep. Thomas Perriello (D-Va.) a question at a town hall event and instructed by a plainclothes police officer to leave the property after they attempted to hold up protest signs.
The targets in most cases are House Democrats, who over the past few months have tackled controversial legislation including a $787 billion economic stimulus package, a landmark energy proposal and an overhaul of the nation’s health care system.
Democrats, acknowledging the increasing unruliness of the town-hall-style events, say the hot-button issues they are taking on have a lot to do with it.
“I think it’s just the fact that we are dealing with some of the most important public policy issues in a generation,” said Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), who was confronted by a protester angry about his position on health care reform at a town hall event several weeks ago.
“I think in general what is going on is we are tackling issues that have been ignored for a long time, and I think that is disruptive to a lot of people,” said Bishop, a four-term congressman. “We are trying, one by one, to deal with a set of issues that can’t be ignored, and I think that’s unsettling to a lot of people.”
Freshman Rep. Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.), whose event at a Syracuse middle school was disrupted, said that he still planned to hold additional town halls but that he was also thinking about other options.
“I think you’ve got to communicate through a variety of different ways. You should do the telephone town hall meetings. You should do the town hall meetings. You should do the smaller group meetings,” said Maffei. “It’s important to do things in a variety of ways, so you don’t have one mode of communication.”
“You’re going to have people of varying views, and in this case, you’ve got the two extremes who were the most vocal,” Maffei said of the flare-up at his July 12 event.
On Tuesday, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who handles incumbent retention duties for House Democrats in addition to chairing the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, met with freshman members to discuss their plans for the monthlong August recess. While the specific issue of town hall protesters never came up, according to sources familiar with the meeting, he urged them not to back away from opponents.
“He said, ‘Go on offense. Stay on the offense. It’s really important that your constituents hear directly from you. You shouldn’t let a day go by [that] your constituents don’t hear from you,’” said one House Democratic leadership aide familiar with the meeting.
Some members profess to enjoy the give-and-take of the town halls, even if lately it’s become more take than give.
“Town halls are a favorite part of my job,” said Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.), a third-term congressman from St. Louis who noted that a “handful” of disruptions had taken place at his meetings. “It’s what I do. It’s what I will continue to do.”
“People have gotten fired up and all that, but I think that’s what makes town halls fun,” said Perriello, a freshman who is among the most vulnerable Democrats in 2010. “I think that most of the time when we get out there, it’s a good chance for people to vent and offer their thoughts. It’s been good.”
“I enjoy it, and people have a chance to speak their mind,” he said.
Both Carnahan and Perriello said they were plunging forward with plans to hold more town hall meetings.
Republicans, with an eye toward 2010, are keeping close track of the climate at Democratic events.
“We’ve seen Russ Carnahan, we’ve seen Tim Bishop, we’ve seen some other people face some very different crowds back home,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas). “The days of you having a town hall meeting where maybe 15 or 20 of your friends show up — they’re over. You’ve now got real people who are showing up — and that’s going to be a factor.”
Asked later how or whether the GOP would use the confrontations against Democrats, Sessions responded: “Wait till next year.”
But Democrats are quick to point out they’re not the only ones facing hostile audiences. They single out Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), who found himself in a confrontation earlier this month with a “birther” protester, and insist that Republicans face a backlash of their own if it appears the party is too closely aligned with tea party activists or other conservative-oriented protesters.
“It’s a risk that they align themselves with such a small minority in the party,” said Brian Smoot, who served as political director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the past election cycle. “They risk alienating moderates.”
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The first paragragh looks like a child typed it or an adult tried to reword some of it after a copy and paste while under the influence.
Sorry you had a rough day Ron... I noticed you had me down for the 1 car, please see post below for confirmation I had the 14 instead of the 1.
Posted by: AUdad Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009 8:34:30 AM
In reply to: Charger1968 who wrote msg# 3646 Post # of 3830
Hello Ron, let me have the 5 14 17 48 @ the Brickyard. GLTA!
I did'nt mess up this time and put the 18 instead of the 48 like I did for the last race. Heading out to deer camp for the weekend just to get away.
Hello Ron, let me have the 5 14 17 48 @ the Brickyard. GLTA!
I did'nt mess up this time and put the 18 instead of the 48 like I did for the last race. Heading out to deer camp for the weekend just to get away.
This is in no way a racist post, just a study conducted.
>"I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry," Obama said. "Number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home. And number three - what I think we know separate and apart from this incident - is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately, and that's just a fact."
-------------------------------------------
Race, Crime and Justice in America
The Color of Crime
New Century Foundation
Oakton, VA 22124
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/jacksonville-fl/TPFET4HPQU714S37C
Posted in the Jacksonville Forum
Major Findings
• Police and the justice system are not biased against minorities.
Crime Rates
• Blacks are seven times more likely than people of other races to commit murder, and eight times more likely to commit robbery.
• When blacks commit crimes of violence, they are nearly three times more likely than non-blacks to use a gun, and more than twice as likely to use a knife.
• Hispanics commit violent crimes at roughly three times the white rate, and Asians commit violent crimes at about one quarter the white rate.
• The single best indicator of violent crime levels in an area is the percentage of the population that is black and Hispanic.
Interracial Crime
• Of the nearly 770,000 violent interracial crimes committed every year involving blacks and whites, blacks commit 85 percent and whites commit 15 percent.
• Blacks commit more violent crime against whites than against blacks. Fortyfive percent of their victims are white, 43 percent are black, and 10 percent are Hispanic. When whites commit violent crime, only three percent of their victims are black.
• Blacks are an estimated 39 times more likely to commit a violent crime against a white than vice versa, and 136 times more likely to commit robbery.
• Blacks are 2.25 times more likely to commit officially-designated hate crimes against whites than vice versa.
Gangs
• Only 10 percent of youth gang members are white.
• Hispanics are 19 times more likely than whites to be members of youth gangs. Blacks are 15 times more likely, and Asians are nine times more likely.
Incarceration
• Between 1980 and 2003 the US incarceration rate more than tripled, from 139 to 482 per 100,000, and the number of prisoners increased from 320,000 to 1.39 million.
• Blacks are seven times more likely to be in prison than whites. Hispanics are three times more likely.
The DOW closed 188.03 pts up today but it did'nt seem to affect the pps of BKMP stock. "O" well, maybe tomorrow or next week, year, millenium, who knows..
Naw, Alabama pretty much just got a slap on the wrist, may of took a few wins from them but thats about all.
Alabama will win the wild, wild SEC West
8:47 am July 14, 2009, by Tony Barnhart
This has a chance to be one of the wildest SEC West races in a long, long time. Below is how my five research magazines broke it down followed by my own picks. Give me your projected finish and tell me where I’m wrong.
SEC WEST
Athlon: Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State
Lindy’s: LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State
Phil Steele: Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State
Sporting News: Ole Miss, LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Mississippi State
The Kickoff: LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State
What we learned: The three-way battle among Alabama, LSU, and Ole Miss is going to be “Must-See” football this season. Two of the magazines picked Ole Miss to win the division and make its first-ever appearance in the SEC championship game. Two others picked LSU to bounce back from an 8-5 season and make a run to Atlanta. Alabama, the defending division champion, was picked by only one magazine to repeat. Mark your calendars: Alabama is at Ole Miss on Oct. 10. LSU is at Alabama on Nov. 7. Ole Miss hosts LSU on Nov. 21.
TONY’S PICKS
Alabama: A lot of assumptions are being made about Alabama. Because the Crimson Tide must replace veteran quarterback John Parker Wilson and three starters on the offensive line, it logically follows that they cannot repeat as SEC West champs. I respectfully disagree. Alabama will be a different team, especially on offense, but will still find a way to get to Atlanta on Dec. 5. Let’s start with the offense. Last season Alabama could pretty much wear opponents down by steamrolling them with that huge offensive line. This season, behind new QB Greg McElroy, Alabama will have to show a little more finesse on offense. There is plenty of talent on that side of the ball if the offensive line comes together. The reason I like Alabama in this division is that that Tide is not going to need that many points to win. The defense is that good. Nine starters return and, yes, Alabama will miss the exceptional leadership of safety Rashad Johnson. But the linebackers (Rolando McClain, Dont’a Hightower) are great and NG Terrence Cody is now in shape and ready to play his best football.
LSU: LSU went 8-5 last season for two reasons. No. 1, the Tigers could never settle on a quarterback. It took most of the season for freshman Jordan Jefferson to grow into the job and now it appears LSU is set at the position. No. 2, head coach Les Miles made a major mistake by not hiring a proven defensive coordinator to replace the departed (to Nebraska) Bo Pelini. The Tigers finished ninth in the SEC in total defense (325.5 ypg). Miles has corrected that mistake by hiring veteran DC John Chavis. Over the years Chavis has proven that when he has good athletes, particularly up front, his defense is pretty good. LSU has a bunch of really good athletes in its program. The only thing that kept me from picking the Tigers to win the division was the schedule: They have to go to Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss while getting No. 1 Florida at home (on Oct. 10).
OLE MISS: The Rebels are getting a lot of love and they should. They have the second best quarterback (Jevan Snead) in the SEC and a bunch of guys who can make plays. They also have the best schedule among the SEC West contenders as Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and LSU all come to Oxford. Florida rotated off the schedule and Tennessee came on. But there are a couple of issues that keep me from jumping on the Ole Miss bandwagon. One is physical. Ole Miss has to replace a first-round draft choice (tackle Michael Oher) on the offensive line and first-round draft choice (tackle Peria Jerry) on the defensive line. Bobbie Massie, a big-time recruit, could wind up at that offensive tackle position. If Jerrell Powe, who has been waiting in the wings for a long time, can come through at the defensive tackle spot, the Rebels may be okay. The other concern I have for Ole Miss is psychological. Ever since the Rebels upset Florida (31-30) last year in Gainesville they have been billed as the “next big thing” in this league. Ole Miss is pretty much a consensus Top 10 pick in the preseason. This is a different mindset for the Ole Miss football program. How it handles the hype remains to be seen.
ARKANSAS: Despite having the worst defense in the SEC last season (375.2 yards per game), Arkansas finally started looking like an SEC football team in the second half of 2008. Three of the final four losses in a 5-7 season were by a total of six points to Kentucky (21-20), Ole Miss (23-21) and Mississippi State (31-28). Then the Hogs upset LSU 31-30 to finish the season. There are a couple of reasons I believe Arkansas will make a significant step forward in Bobby Petrino’s second year. The defense will be better because it has to be. Nine starters return and some new talent is coming in to help. The offense will be better because Petrino now has a quarterback (Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett) who knows how to run it. Petrino also went out and got some help for running back Michael Smith, who rushed for 1,072 yards last season but took a considerable pounding to his small frame (5-7, 173 pounds). Arkansas is still waiting to see if Southern Cal transfer Broderick Green (6-1, 242) will be eligible for the fall. The schedule, however, is a bear with trips to Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, and LSU.
AUBURN: New coach Gene Chizik insists that the program will be built methodically with no short cuts. That is an admirable goal, but it means that Auburn is probably going to take its lumps in the short term. No question that Chizik is trying to shake things up with the hiring of Gus Malzhan as his offensive coordinator. Malzhan’s offense put up huge numbers at Tulsa but I’m not convinced that any of the quarterbacks he had in camp this spring can run the offense as it is drawn up. Will Auburn get frustrated and turn to a true freshman like Tyrik Rollison? The offensive line looks a little thin to me and I don’t see a whole of big plays from the wide receiver position. It doesn’t help that WR Tim Hawthorne broke his foot and will be out for at least four weeks. The defense is still a work in progress but there are some hopeful signs for new DC Ted Roof. Auburn is going to need to play good, consistent defense while the offense tries to figure out what it is doing. Auburn gets a break in scheduling because first four games (Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, West Virginia, Ball State) are at home.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: Like Auburn, Mississippi State is trying to install and entirely new offensive system without the proven talent to run it. Dan Mullen, the former OC at Florida, takes over as head coach but there are no Tim Tebows to be found in Starkville. Senior Tyson Lee is the guy until true freshman Tyler Russell arrives in August. Russell was Mr. Football in the state of Mississippi last season and looks like the perfect athlete to run Mullen’s system. But will Mullen entrust the team to a true freshman out of the gate? There also seems to be a dearth of guys who can catch the ball. The defense will be run by veteran Carl Torbush, who will take five returning starters and try to make something of it. Four of Mississippi State’s first five games are against Auburn, Vanderbilt, LSU, and Georgia Tech. It looks like a pretty bumpy first year for Mullen.
Programming note: Today I am in Florence, Ala., where Terry Bowden is now the new head coach at Northern Alabama. Later today I’ll be sitting down for a roundtable with all of the Bowden coaches: Terry, Bobby, Tommy, and Jeff. I’ll have a report for you on Wednesday.
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