...and in terms of its national importance, it is. But it is NOT meaningless for this staff, this team, this recruiting class and momentum headed into the off season. An inability to close out this 2021 with a win just turns up the chatter in and outside of the program about the immediate future of the Tigers. My biggest concern is holding on to the remaining good players we have and a cloud of negativity and doubt doesn't help that effort. So yeah, winning this bowl game, and now losing it, is meaningful for the program.
I know my comment about Smoke's *play* was not popular. I hope he has a great career in the NFL where the targeting penalty is not an issue. However, he is veteran player that failed to recognize (or be coached to recognize) that THIS team at THIS moment needed it's veterans to step up and play their best to help THIS team win a bowl game. How many times during his career was Smoke tagged and or tossed for a targeting penalty? Many. Hell, the penalty should be named after him.
Do you think his coaches and teammates were celebrating the targeting call or wishing like hell that they had Smoke at the end of the 4th quarter to help win a game? Knowing the rule and choosing to ignore it to get that ESPN big hit highlight is selfish play. It is also thuggish, irrespective of the color of his skin. I''ll always hate Mike Evans because he played as a thuggish, cheap-shot artist. I have no idea his race and don't care. **** him and **** that kind of play. Smiling and laughing after getting tossed was a terrible look, too. And yes, Freddy Smith and later, Junior Rosegreen were headhunters. But they played at a different time under different rules. All that being said, would we have won if Smoke stayed in? Who knows. We need significant (obviously) help at QB, OL and WR. But I bet his teammates and coaches would have rather he played the whole game than not.
If you don't like my posts, don't read 'em. I don't give a shit. I've been on this board longer than many of you have been alive.
Onward and upward. Happy New Year.
I know my comment about Smoke's *play* was not popular. I hope he has a great career in the NFL where the targeting penalty is not an issue. However, he is veteran player that failed to recognize (or be coached to recognize) that THIS team at THIS moment needed it's veterans to step up and play their best to help THIS team win a bowl game. How many times during his career was Smoke tagged and or tossed for a targeting penalty? Many. Hell, the penalty should be named after him.
Do you think his coaches and teammates were celebrating the targeting call or wishing like hell that they had Smoke at the end of the 4th quarter to help win a game? Knowing the rule and choosing to ignore it to get that ESPN big hit highlight is selfish play. It is also thuggish, irrespective of the color of his skin. I''ll always hate Mike Evans because he played as a thuggish, cheap-shot artist. I have no idea his race and don't care. **** him and **** that kind of play. Smiling and laughing after getting tossed was a terrible look, too. And yes, Freddy Smith and later, Junior Rosegreen were headhunters. But they played at a different time under different rules. All that being said, would we have won if Smoke stayed in? Who knows. We need significant (obviously) help at QB, OL and WR. But I bet his teammates and coaches would have rather he played the whole game than not.
If you don't like my posts, don't read 'em. I don't give a shit. I've been on this board longer than many of you have been alive.
Onward and upward. Happy New Year.
