Southern Football Report: Week 4 Superlatives

Now that we’ve had a few days to digest everything that happened over the college football weekend, it’s time to hand out some awards. Remember next week, we will have a the normal weekly Superlatives as well as the Southern Football Report Monthly superlatives. Man, that is going to be fun!

MVP – Blake Sims – QB – Alabama – We can officially stop talking about the alleged quarterback battle in Tuscaloosa. The competition that lasted until the fourth week of the season is over after Sims turned in a career performance against the Gators on Saturday. Sims heaved an 87-yard bomb to Kenyan Drake on the Tide’s first play from scrimmage on his way to a 445 yard, four touchdown performance. The offense did turn the ball over four times leading to 14 Gator points but Sims and company cleaned that up in the second half to romp the Gators 42-21. Sims looked very poised in the game and now the Tide has a bye week before heading to Oxford on October 4th. His poise will definitely be tested in that one.

Coach of the Week – Kevin Wilson – Indiana – The Hoosiers hadn’t won a game against an FBS opponent before Saturday afternoon and were fresh off of a 45-42 loss to Bowling Green out of the MAC. But at halftime on Saturday, Coach Wilson’s team found itself tied with the 20th ranked team in the country on the road after a 13-play, 69-yard touchdown drive to make the game 17-17 at the break. The Hoosiers won the 3rd quarter 7-0 and when Missouri kicked a field goal to take the lead with less than two minutes remaining, the Hoosiers didn’t panic, which is very un-Indiana-like. Indiana went 75 yards in 6 plays and scored with 22 seconds remaining to get a huge win over a ranked SEC team on the road, which is also very un-Indiana-like, and lately, very un-Big Ten-like.

Game of the Week – Arizona over California 49-45 – This game had it all: a home team trying to crack the Top 25 in Arizona, a visiting team learning how to win again in California, the underdog (Cal) taking a huge lead into halftime (28-6), a thrilling comeback from the home team, a desperate fight from the visiting team and the game ending in an unbelievable Hail Mary from Arizona for the win at home. So far, this is the game of the season in my own personal opinion. Arizona is still a huge question mark because of the unique combination of talent and youth while California is one of the best surprise stories of the season after winning only one game last season. It’s obvious that California is still figuring things out but definitely on the right track under 2nd year coach Sonny Dykes. I would be shocked if the Bears don’t make it to a bowl game this season.

Coach That Needs To Pick Up His Check At The Back Door – Larry Fedora – North Carolina – Prior to the season, photos surfaced of North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora on the beach with one of his daughters and much of the attention was on the fact that Fedora is in great shape and rocking a six-pack of abs. Fedora should have been in the film room figuring out how to get his defense in position against a high octane passing attack like they just saw in Chapel Hill from East Carolina and quarterback Shane Carden after they pillaged what Chapel Hill had to offer. Not much. Fedora’s squad allowed almost 800 yards of offense and 70 points. Seventy. North Carolina joined this prestigious group of schools who have had 70 or more points scored on them this season: Eastern Michigan, Lamar, Northwestern State, Nicholls State, Savannah State and South Carolina State. Let’s throw them all a fruit cake party.

Uniform of the Week – Oklahoma Sooners – When I first laid eyes on the new alternate uniforms for Oklahoma during the offseason, I wasn’t too impressed simply because Oklahoma’s regular uniforms are so great. But when I saw these bad boys in an actual game, my tune changed quickly. That white stripe on the helmet with the ‘OU’ logo a little bigger than usual is a good look and the wood grain trim on the helmet and cuffs doesn’t hurt it. Good alternate look all around.

Dud Uniform of the Week – Mississippi State Bulldogs – Maroon and white is one of those color combinations that if not done correctly can end up looking a little on on the phony side. Saturday night, the Bulldogs fell into that category. Were those sleeve stripes, shoulder stripes or something in between? And the cattywhompus Mississippi State logo on the hip definitely didn’t help matters.

Tune in to the Southern Football Report this and every Saturday morning from 10 am to Noon on Live 101.9, Rockin 106.3 & Q 92.3 to hear high school scores from Friday night as well as college football discussion, debate and previews of the games to come!