Bulldogs won, but call it uninspired

It was another wild weekend of college football, with lots of games decided during the final ticks of the clock and upsets by the perennial homecoming guest teams, right W.D.?

The Dawgs took on Vanderbilt Saturday night and played just like a homecoming guest should in the first half! The Dawgs played the first half the same as they’ve played most first halves this season — uninspired, just sort of going through the motions and giving up a few big plays. The Dawgs go in to the locker room at the half down by 10 points. Dawgs 7, Vandy 17.

Once again, we have the tale of two halves. The Dawgs answered the bell for the third and the offense took their opening drive in for a touchdown, cutting Vandy’s lead to only 3. The Dawgs’ defense also came out inspired in the second half, pitching Vandy a shutout.

The Dawgs then tied the game with a Brandon Coutu field goal. This is where the game got interesting. With time winding down in the fourth, Vandy mounted a long drive and was poised to take the ball in for the go-ahead score with little time left. But the Dawgs defense stiffened and forced and recovered a fumble on the 8 yard line. Stafford then drove the Dawgs the length of the field into field goal range. With only 3 seconds left on the clock, Coutu hits the game-winner: Dawgs 20, Vandy 17.

This is exactly how Vandy beat us at our homecoming last year. So I guess, this was sweet revenge, but I would have like to seen the Dawgs come out and take command of the game in the first quarter. Vandy played a tough game and are a pretty good football team and just might be the next David to slay a Goliath, since we have had a season full of that.

The Dawgs are off next week and it couldn’t come at a better time. We are beat up and tired, and I think the young guys need a mental break and an extra week to get strong before coming to Jacksonville for arguably the biggest game in college football. Daisy said she also needed a week off to rest before her big week of miniature gator chasing (lizards) between the hedges and Highland Drive.

Eric, I hope you enjoyed your week off. I think Florida might need it more against Kentucky this year than in the past when your off week was before our game.

Well it was great to be a Bull Dawg on Saturday night (in the second half).

Go Dawgs. Sic 'em Woof. Woof. Woof.