Duke

 In 1954, Bear Bryant took over a moribund Texas A&M program. The players were soft, entitled and had won nothing of significance in years. Bear took stock of the situation and decided that these boys needed some tough love. He took a little over 90 guys on busses out to Hill Junction, Texas in the middle of a heat wave and a drought to set up camp. There was no gatorade or salt tablets and drinking water during these three-a-day 100 degree workouts was considered weakness, and a ticket home. Weeks later, Bear left Hill Junction with 30 "survivors" who returned to College Station to play their season. The Junction Boys went a spectacular 1-9 that year - Bear's only losing record in his history. Two seasons later, these rattlesnake tough kids went undefeated and won the Southwest conference for the first time in decades. 

Our boys are not practicing three times a day in a windswept drought, but clearly 2020 is not Camp Taggart - which seemed to be more Dirty Dancing than Junction Boys. We were down to 46 "survivors" this weekend, and we see your 1-9 and give you a three and six. But, the message has been sent, and the love that these Seminoles left in Tallahassee have for each other and their coaches was palpable Saturday evening. Whether it was Hamseh getting his hands on a football or a walkon scoring a TD or making an amazing special teams tackle...the entire bench exploded every time. That is a culture statement that means infinitely more than a turnover chain or a me me touchdown dance.  Teams around the country are quitting on the season. Coaches are talking of fatigue and self imposed Bowl opt-outs. Interviewed after the game, our 6 remaining defensive backs all excitedly spoke of having a game left to improve. A culture is starting to take hold and watching this ascent might be fun (and painful), but mostly fun.

Jordan Travis is an enigma, isn't he? When he breaks into the secondary, you almost feel sorry for the safeties, because they have a better chance of leaving the stadium with a golden girl than putting a finger on Jordan's jersey. Remember when Deion had only the punter left in front of him...that is what this is like every game. When he is healthy, he is magic with his legs. Is he an A plus passer? No, but he is improving there as well. The throw to Pokey down the middle and even the two sideline throws to Poitier were dimes. But, he does not see the field like he should and his parents might have Bovinophobia, because that boys bones need some serious milk. Counting on him to go 12 games unscathed is just not realistic. So, maybe we need to resurrect a Wally and Jimmy scenario with he and Chubba next season to afford him some relief. Nice quandary after three seasons of no quality play behind center. 

Two scholarship running backs left on the roster, and they both were terrific this weekend. Toafili is a star, and his burst is special. Jashaun is the opposite. He just plows forward, and his lean allows the pile to always go in the right direction, but his wildcat is more of a mildcat without the potential for a splash play. There is no question that the line is better, and if there is any staff member that deserves a raise, it is Atkins, but don't think we have the second coming of the Hogs here. Travis covers up a bunch of ole blocks. The first play of the game would have been an 8 yard sack with a total jailbreak, yet JT escaped and turned it into a 25 yard gain. Duke rushed 3 late in the second on third and 10 and 2 of the 3 played tag with Jordan's hips before our receivers even came out of their break. But, they are better than any unit post 2014, and feature four underclassman when Smith comes back. A real offseason of weight training and chemical enhancement should do wonders. This offense desperately needs more TE's and help is coming with the grad transfer from UCLA and two freshman. Watch how different Coach's offense operates when he has the right amount of players. 

Defense is less hopeful. Were there busts all over the field? Nope. Could we stop Duke - yes Duke - on two third down sweeps? Negative Captain. This front seven is like asking Steven King to work on a Hallmark Christmas movie. You watch, and you love the characters. But then instead of a dramatic kiss over cocoa; in the end the mistletoe comes alive and swallows the town. The very title we employ to fix this is defensive coordinator. We are the opposite of coordinated. Hamseh was lipstick on a pig this week, and he and Gant covered up a lot of problems in front of them, but it was a mess. Josh Griffiths is so small at DE, that the Blue Devil tackle stopped blocking him and simply held him upright so the embarrassment was minimized. Josh Kaindoh went so hard in the wrong direction a half dozen times that I considered the possibility that he had metal underwear and the Duke brainiacs had a sideline magnet. With Emmitt Rice and Fabian Lovett injured, I have no idea how we hold Wake under 50. Strap it on Jordan, this one is gonna be fun! 

I will say that we may have found a new young star at corner in Jarvis Brownlee. Physical, and great hips in coverage. He might be a kid we can build around. And Travis Jay with a Jordan logo impression on that pick was crazy fun to watch. Let's get him healthy and see if he can grab Hamseh's torch.

Special teams was not, but it looks like our kicking room was not wearing masks this week. So, tough to judge much there. With the way teams are dropping out, we may be in a New Years Six game if we beat Wake. 2021 is coming loyal readers and the Noles junction kids are starting to form up. Let's enjoy the ride and see if in two years, we can replicate the Bear's conference goal. Crap, that would mean that Alabama would take Norvell away...