Hugh Freeze has a knack for keepin' it real.
A lot of coaches hem and haw and skirt between PR responses and saying a little while saying nothing, but for the most part Freeze stands at the podium and answers the questions thrown at him. He might choose not to answer occasionally, but he's not one to give a long-winded response just to fill time.
He's been constant with his message that this is about a program as much as a team, and it's a building process. Neal and I hit this on the podcast Tuesday, but I thought it bears repeating: Freeze inherited a train wreck on the field, in the classroom and in other areas off the field. 0-8. 2-10. Unmitigated disaster.
Freeze hit the main objectives quickly by changing the mindset, getting the team to buy in, winning enough games and talking recruits into jumping in the boat. Those things were probably more difficult than any of us realize and were almost certainly more of a chore than we've conveyed at times. It was Everest, and he did a pretty dang good job of scaling it. Between all that and the 3-0 early record, expectations erupted amid the excitement. Then Alabama and Auburn happened, and Freeze was asked Monday if he had to win one of the next two games against Texas A&M and LSU.
His response: "I don't feel that way. That's the way people feel. Unfortunately our players have to hear that. We've had one full recruiting class and I think our kids have come miles. We're playing in a difficult league with a difficult schedule and unfortunately, people create expectations in a short amount of time in our society. That's not just in football. They want return. They want it now."
It was an honest reminder. He wasn't trying to deflect blame or take pressure off himself. It was a quote of perspective, and it was accurate. However, and this is my point I'm trying to make, though I did an incredible job of burying the lede: As a fan base embrace the expectations but also understand the expectations.
Expectations are a good thing, a great thing, and the current ones are something that can be enjoyed. Less than two years ago, there were expectations, but they weren't positive ones. The expectation was complete failure on the football field. The expectation was to get tired of being in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium when the score got out of hand. I get it. I saw it with my own eyes. But that's over. I don't know what will happen Saturday or next Saturday or by the end of November, but I know the expectation can be for Ole Miss to be competitive and have a shot in every game the rest of the way.
Is it perfect? No. Is it what Freeze is hoping for in a few years? No. But it's a hell of a long way from where you were, and it's something to be excited and enthusiastic about. And I'm not trying to be a polyanna. I'm not trying to be a cheerleader. I just think the great start has shifted expectations off their axis. Freeze always mentions the journey and process. For now, it's probably safe to cling to that and enjoy the moments along the way.
The score is most important for Ole Miss on Saturday night against Texas A&M, but the atmosphere, environment and energy the recruits see isn't a terribly distant second. I was told yesterday that tons of prospects have requested passes for this game, and they are expecting a big crew of unofficial visitors to go along with the official visitors, which include CJ Hampton, Nyles Morgan, DJ Pettway, Dallis Todd and Tyler Luatua. Jamal Adams was thought to have been added on Tuesday, also, but Texas is expecting him in Dallas this weekend, so that will be one to confirm when he gets to campus. The unofficial visit from Bo Scarborough is interesting. The Rivals100 athlete has been committed to Alabama for more than a year, but as you read from Andrew Bone below, it doesn't seem to be 100 percent solid. Scarborough has an official visit lined up for Notre Dame next weekend.
It's Ole Miss' first major chance to showcase its game day to recruits, and you don't know how many will come back a week later for LSU, so this is an important one -- maybe the most important one. As for those in Oxford we'll get you as many names that showed as possible before kickoff and reactions on Sunday best we can.
SEC Power Poll
1. Alabama- Until they lose
2. LSU - The Tigers will kick themselves for that UGA loss at the end of the year
3. Texas A&M - I think they lose somewhere else along the way
4. Georgia - Hell of an effort and beat to hell
5. South Carolina - I don't like it, but for now the Gamecocks stay here
6. Florida - Better without Jeff Driskell. I think I like them fifth, actually
7. Auburn - There's talent, but Nick Marshall isn't much of a thrower
8. Missouri - The Tigers can prove they should be higher starting now
9. Ole Miss - The next two weeks could dictate what kind of season this will be
10. Tennessee - Impressed with the fight and bonus points for the grey suits
11. Mississippi State - Just too much firepower for LSU
12. Arkansas - Meh. Nothing be be excited about. Nothing to be overly disgusted at either.
13. Kentucky - Mark Stoops is a good coach. The hill is just too tall right now
14. Vanderbilt - James Franklin may have waited a year too long
If I had a vote…
1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. Clemson
4. Stanford
5. Baylor
6. LSU
7. FSU
8. Texas A&M
9. Ohio State
10. Georgia
I mentioned my Braves-Falcons issue a few weeks ago, and I promise I'll stop writing about it soon. However, an update: My Braves day-to-day fandom may have passed away Monday night. Time of death: Approximately 10:15 p.m.
I tried to give Choptober a chance. I watched games one and two, and I'll admit some adrenaline and excitement when Jason Heyward got the big hit late in game two for the Atlanta win. But game three didn't do much to interest me. I turned it off at 4-0 Dodgers, and then on Monday the watershed moment came and collapsed the Braves part of me.
The Braves were in a must-win, close game in Los Angeles, while the Falcons were playing the Jets on Monday Night Football. The Falcons were already three games and a tiebreaker back of my Saints, but that was the game I was locked in on, obnoxiously texting J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS! to several people every time New York did something well.
Sometime around halftime and in the early innings of the two games, my brother text me, "Basically, would you rather have a Falcons loss or Braves win? Obviously the loss. All you need to know."
There was a lot of truth to that. I watched the Falcons lose and went to bed, waking up in the morning to see that the Braves blew it with a questionable managerial decision in the later innings. We'll see what spring training brings, but I'm not optimistic. I do believe you can have two diehard teams in separate sports. I'm just not sure my enemy can be my friend for months out of the year.
As I wrote on Tuesday, the NCAA will likely switch to a flat-seam baseball in 2014. It's a great thing, and I think it will help the sport become more watchable for the average fan. The ball goes farther, pitchers will throw it faster, and there's no increased chance of injury. What's not to love?
College baseball had it about right through 2010, when the bats weren't rocket launchers but weren't these BBCOR duds, either. Currently, considering the raised-seam ball isn't as lively as the proposed ball or the Minor League ball, wood bats and professional baseballs have more pop than the current college combination. It's made for awfully boring games if you're not in that small percentage that loves bunts and 2-1 score tests.
The flat-seam ball being voted on should level things out and make it about the whole game of baseball -- not just the home run ridiculousness of the late 90s or the snoozers that are currently happening now.
That the SEC coaches voted 13-1 should tell you everything. Different kind of systems, but they all -- except one that I can't name -- agree this is the way to go. I just hate it can't go into effect now.
We're 16 days out from the Drive for 75 - Park Stevens Memorial Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament. I'll give my thanks 1,000 times over following the event, but just let me say I appreciate everyone who has assisted or offered help for this event. It's been an eye-opening experience of the hospitality that is out there.
We could still use some more teams, so feel free to sign up if you can or even email me (chase.parham@gmail.com) if you'd like to play but money is a little tight right now. I can help work something out. This started as a crazy idea because you guys wanted to meet each other and play golf, and we're on our way to helping a great cause. It's been a wonderful experience for me, as I've gotten a chance to talk to Park Stevens' parents, Dean and Gail. I never met Park, but I've been incredibly moved by the love people have for the Stevens family.
Last time I checked the scholarship plan wasn't decided on, but the opening thought was that it will benefit the most improved offensive lineman during spring practice. Whatever it is, it will be a positive in Park's memory, it will be of assist to Ole Miss and the football program, and it has already given me a deeper appreciation of the love that exists with the Ole Miss family. I've asked for many things, and I haven't been told no. That means the world to me and I'm sure it does to Dean and Gail, as well.
If you can't make the tournament but are in town that day, come out to Buffalo Wild Wings at 1 p.m. Appetizers will be provided, you can meet some fellow Ole Miss supporters, and a portion of any food purchased will also be given to the scholarship fund.
I survived the first Sunday without Breaking Bad. The week following the series finale allowed me to see some of the flaws in the writing of the last couple episodes, so I get the criticism, but there's no doubt it's in the canon of great television series. Each season topped the previous one, and the writing and acting separated it from almost everything else. Unfortunately, it ending has left me with a meth-lab size hole in my TV watching.
Homeland has gone down hill. Mad Men isn't back for a while and is splitting the final season into two parts, and I'm watching How I Met Your Mother, but it's not exactly impacting my day. So I'll take suggestions on where to go from here. Currently, I'm in the pick-the-best-out-of-what-the-wife-watches state of mind. Here's a three-show rundown of watchable wife shows for those of you in my situation.
Blacklist - One of the better new shows this season. Criminal turns himself in and helps the FBI catch other criminals, but there's a catch… Three episodes into the first season, and I can get behind it so far. Give it a shot. It's at the top of my list.
Revenge - The circuitous plot enters season three, and for some reason it's highly watchable. I wouldn't admit it to anyone, so keep it a secret, will you? Seriously, though, if the wife or girlfriend sits down and is glued in, you could do much worse.
Scandal - Wright Thompson tweeted this in July: "Scandal is like the west wing written by sixth graders and i cant stop watching" There's a ton of truth to this. I love the West Wing. That's the White House standard everything else has to live up to, and Scandal is a dramatized, plot-hole mess. Don't overthink it. The only way to watch it is to turn your mind off for an hour. Otherwise, you'll give yourself a headache because of the stupidity. However, it's pretty dang watchable if you'll turn half your intelligence off.
Links I like
Here's a collection of interesting links from the past few days.
As a nod to you Cardinals fans out there, this is how a baseball gamer should be written.
Texas A&M writer Olin Buchanan gives a great tribute to his father who recently passed away.
Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was caught on TV talking to his bullpen coach during the ninth inning of game four. Deadspin found a lipreader to see what he was saying. Warning: Written cuss word inside
Bill Barnwell does a great job of explaining how the Saints "turned a band of unwanted castoffs into an NFL success story."
GQ with a look into the competitive world of Pop Warner football
This post was edited on 10/9 8:03 AM by Chase Parham
A lot of coaches hem and haw and skirt between PR responses and saying a little while saying nothing, but for the most part Freeze stands at the podium and answers the questions thrown at him. He might choose not to answer occasionally, but he's not one to give a long-winded response just to fill time.
He's been constant with his message that this is about a program as much as a team, and it's a building process. Neal and I hit this on the podcast Tuesday, but I thought it bears repeating: Freeze inherited a train wreck on the field, in the classroom and in other areas off the field. 0-8. 2-10. Unmitigated disaster.
Freeze hit the main objectives quickly by changing the mindset, getting the team to buy in, winning enough games and talking recruits into jumping in the boat. Those things were probably more difficult than any of us realize and were almost certainly more of a chore than we've conveyed at times. It was Everest, and he did a pretty dang good job of scaling it. Between all that and the 3-0 early record, expectations erupted amid the excitement. Then Alabama and Auburn happened, and Freeze was asked Monday if he had to win one of the next two games against Texas A&M and LSU.
His response: "I don't feel that way. That's the way people feel. Unfortunately our players have to hear that. We've had one full recruiting class and I think our kids have come miles. We're playing in a difficult league with a difficult schedule and unfortunately, people create expectations in a short amount of time in our society. That's not just in football. They want return. They want it now."
It was an honest reminder. He wasn't trying to deflect blame or take pressure off himself. It was a quote of perspective, and it was accurate. However, and this is my point I'm trying to make, though I did an incredible job of burying the lede: As a fan base embrace the expectations but also understand the expectations.
Expectations are a good thing, a great thing, and the current ones are something that can be enjoyed. Less than two years ago, there were expectations, but they weren't positive ones. The expectation was complete failure on the football field. The expectation was to get tired of being in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium when the score got out of hand. I get it. I saw it with my own eyes. But that's over. I don't know what will happen Saturday or next Saturday or by the end of November, but I know the expectation can be for Ole Miss to be competitive and have a shot in every game the rest of the way.
Is it perfect? No. Is it what Freeze is hoping for in a few years? No. But it's a hell of a long way from where you were, and it's something to be excited and enthusiastic about. And I'm not trying to be a polyanna. I'm not trying to be a cheerleader. I just think the great start has shifted expectations off their axis. Freeze always mentions the journey and process. For now, it's probably safe to cling to that and enjoy the moments along the way.
The score is most important for Ole Miss on Saturday night against Texas A&M, but the atmosphere, environment and energy the recruits see isn't a terribly distant second. I was told yesterday that tons of prospects have requested passes for this game, and they are expecting a big crew of unofficial visitors to go along with the official visitors, which include CJ Hampton, Nyles Morgan, DJ Pettway, Dallis Todd and Tyler Luatua. Jamal Adams was thought to have been added on Tuesday, also, but Texas is expecting him in Dallas this weekend, so that will be one to confirm when he gets to campus. The unofficial visit from Bo Scarborough is interesting. The Rivals100 athlete has been committed to Alabama for more than a year, but as you read from Andrew Bone below, it doesn't seem to be 100 percent solid. Scarborough has an official visit lined up for Notre Dame next weekend.
It's Ole Miss' first major chance to showcase its game day to recruits, and you don't know how many will come back a week later for LSU, so this is an important one -- maybe the most important one. As for those in Oxford we'll get you as many names that showed as possible before kickoff and reactions on Sunday best we can.
SEC Power Poll
1. Alabama- Until they lose
2. LSU - The Tigers will kick themselves for that UGA loss at the end of the year
3. Texas A&M - I think they lose somewhere else along the way
4. Georgia - Hell of an effort and beat to hell
5. South Carolina - I don't like it, but for now the Gamecocks stay here
6. Florida - Better without Jeff Driskell. I think I like them fifth, actually
7. Auburn - There's talent, but Nick Marshall isn't much of a thrower
8. Missouri - The Tigers can prove they should be higher starting now
9. Ole Miss - The next two weeks could dictate what kind of season this will be
10. Tennessee - Impressed with the fight and bonus points for the grey suits
11. Mississippi State - Just too much firepower for LSU
12. Arkansas - Meh. Nothing be be excited about. Nothing to be overly disgusted at either.
13. Kentucky - Mark Stoops is a good coach. The hill is just too tall right now
14. Vanderbilt - James Franklin may have waited a year too long
If I had a vote…
1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. Clemson
4. Stanford
5. Baylor
6. LSU
7. FSU
8. Texas A&M
9. Ohio State
10. Georgia
I mentioned my Braves-Falcons issue a few weeks ago, and I promise I'll stop writing about it soon. However, an update: My Braves day-to-day fandom may have passed away Monday night. Time of death: Approximately 10:15 p.m.
I tried to give Choptober a chance. I watched games one and two, and I'll admit some adrenaline and excitement when Jason Heyward got the big hit late in game two for the Atlanta win. But game three didn't do much to interest me. I turned it off at 4-0 Dodgers, and then on Monday the watershed moment came and collapsed the Braves part of me.
The Braves were in a must-win, close game in Los Angeles, while the Falcons were playing the Jets on Monday Night Football. The Falcons were already three games and a tiebreaker back of my Saints, but that was the game I was locked in on, obnoxiously texting J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS! to several people every time New York did something well.
Sometime around halftime and in the early innings of the two games, my brother text me, "Basically, would you rather have a Falcons loss or Braves win? Obviously the loss. All you need to know."
There was a lot of truth to that. I watched the Falcons lose and went to bed, waking up in the morning to see that the Braves blew it with a questionable managerial decision in the later innings. We'll see what spring training brings, but I'm not optimistic. I do believe you can have two diehard teams in separate sports. I'm just not sure my enemy can be my friend for months out of the year.
As I wrote on Tuesday, the NCAA will likely switch to a flat-seam baseball in 2014. It's a great thing, and I think it will help the sport become more watchable for the average fan. The ball goes farther, pitchers will throw it faster, and there's no increased chance of injury. What's not to love?
College baseball had it about right through 2010, when the bats weren't rocket launchers but weren't these BBCOR duds, either. Currently, considering the raised-seam ball isn't as lively as the proposed ball or the Minor League ball, wood bats and professional baseballs have more pop than the current college combination. It's made for awfully boring games if you're not in that small percentage that loves bunts and 2-1 score tests.
The flat-seam ball being voted on should level things out and make it about the whole game of baseball -- not just the home run ridiculousness of the late 90s or the snoozers that are currently happening now.
That the SEC coaches voted 13-1 should tell you everything. Different kind of systems, but they all -- except one that I can't name -- agree this is the way to go. I just hate it can't go into effect now.
We're 16 days out from the Drive for 75 - Park Stevens Memorial Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament. I'll give my thanks 1,000 times over following the event, but just let me say I appreciate everyone who has assisted or offered help for this event. It's been an eye-opening experience of the hospitality that is out there.
We could still use some more teams, so feel free to sign up if you can or even email me (chase.parham@gmail.com) if you'd like to play but money is a little tight right now. I can help work something out. This started as a crazy idea because you guys wanted to meet each other and play golf, and we're on our way to helping a great cause. It's been a wonderful experience for me, as I've gotten a chance to talk to Park Stevens' parents, Dean and Gail. I never met Park, but I've been incredibly moved by the love people have for the Stevens family.
Last time I checked the scholarship plan wasn't decided on, but the opening thought was that it will benefit the most improved offensive lineman during spring practice. Whatever it is, it will be a positive in Park's memory, it will be of assist to Ole Miss and the football program, and it has already given me a deeper appreciation of the love that exists with the Ole Miss family. I've asked for many things, and I haven't been told no. That means the world to me and I'm sure it does to Dean and Gail, as well.
If you can't make the tournament but are in town that day, come out to Buffalo Wild Wings at 1 p.m. Appetizers will be provided, you can meet some fellow Ole Miss supporters, and a portion of any food purchased will also be given to the scholarship fund.
I survived the first Sunday without Breaking Bad. The week following the series finale allowed me to see some of the flaws in the writing of the last couple episodes, so I get the criticism, but there's no doubt it's in the canon of great television series. Each season topped the previous one, and the writing and acting separated it from almost everything else. Unfortunately, it ending has left me with a meth-lab size hole in my TV watching.
Homeland has gone down hill. Mad Men isn't back for a while and is splitting the final season into two parts, and I'm watching How I Met Your Mother, but it's not exactly impacting my day. So I'll take suggestions on where to go from here. Currently, I'm in the pick-the-best-out-of-what-the-wife-watches state of mind. Here's a three-show rundown of watchable wife shows for those of you in my situation.
Blacklist - One of the better new shows this season. Criminal turns himself in and helps the FBI catch other criminals, but there's a catch… Three episodes into the first season, and I can get behind it so far. Give it a shot. It's at the top of my list.
Revenge - The circuitous plot enters season three, and for some reason it's highly watchable. I wouldn't admit it to anyone, so keep it a secret, will you? Seriously, though, if the wife or girlfriend sits down and is glued in, you could do much worse.
Scandal - Wright Thompson tweeted this in July: "Scandal is like the west wing written by sixth graders and i cant stop watching" There's a ton of truth to this. I love the West Wing. That's the White House standard everything else has to live up to, and Scandal is a dramatized, plot-hole mess. Don't overthink it. The only way to watch it is to turn your mind off for an hour. Otherwise, you'll give yourself a headache because of the stupidity. However, it's pretty dang watchable if you'll turn half your intelligence off.
Links I like
Here's a collection of interesting links from the past few days.
As a nod to you Cardinals fans out there, this is how a baseball gamer should be written.
Texas A&M writer Olin Buchanan gives a great tribute to his father who recently passed away.
Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was caught on TV talking to his bullpen coach during the ninth inning of game four. Deadspin found a lipreader to see what he was saying. Warning: Written cuss word inside
Bill Barnwell does a great job of explaining how the Saints "turned a band of unwanted castoffs into an NFL success story."
GQ with a look into the competitive world of Pop Warner football
This post was edited on 10/9 8:03 AM by Chase Parham
