Give Me the Confidence…….

[RV]

Taking it a step further, according to Rivals, this is how the teams ranked in recruiting since Stoops got here. The ones bolded were top 20 nationally.

2013
1 'bama
2 Florida
3 LSU
4 Ol Miss
5 Auburn
6 A&M
7 Georgia
8 SC
9 Vandy
10 Tenn
11 Miss St
12 Arkansas
13 UK
14 Mizzou

2014
1 'bama
2 LSU
3 Tenn
4 A&M
5 Georgia
6 Florida
7 Auburn
8 SC
9 UK
10 Ol Miss
11 Arkansas
12 Mizzou
13 Miss St
14 Vandy

2015
1 'bama
2 Tenn
3 Georgia
4 Auburn
5 LSU
6 A&M
7 Miss St
8 SC
9 Ol Miss
10 Florida
11 Arkansas
12 Mizzou
13 UK
14 Vandy

2016
1 'bama
2 LSU
3 Ol Miss
4 Auburn
5 Georgia
6 Florida
7 Tenn
8 A&M
9 SC
10 UK
11 Arkansas
12 Miss St
13 Mizzou
14 Vandy

2017
1 'bama
2 Georgia
3 LSU
4 Florida
5 A&M
6 Auburn
7 Tenn
8 SC
9 Arkansas
10 UK
11 Miss St
12 Ol Miss
13 Mizzou
14 Vandy

We have gotten to a point where we are much deeper than we were just a couple of years ago but we still have a good ways to go to compete weekly with the upper echelon teams.

[Spiritof96]

Taking it a step further, according to Rivals, this is how the teams ranked in recruiting since Stoops got here. The ones bolded were top 20 nationally.

2013
1 'bama
2 Florida
3 LSU
4 Ol Miss
5 Auburn
6 A&M
7 Georgia
8 SC
9 Vandy
10 Tenn
11 Miss St
12 Arkansas
13 UK
14 Mizzou

2014
1 'bama
2 LSU
3 Tenn
4 A&M
5 Georgia
6 Florida
7 Auburn
8 SC
9 UK
10 Ol Miss
11 Arkansas
12 Mizzou
13 Miss St
14 Vandy

2015
1 'bama
2 Tenn
3 Georgia
4 Auburn
5 LSU
6 A&M
7 Miss St
8 SC
9 Ol Miss
10 Florida
11 Arkansas
12 Mizzou
13 UK
14 Vandy

2016
1 'bama
2 LSU
3 Ol Miss
4 Auburn
5 Georgia
6 Florida
7 Tenn
8 A&M
9 SC
10 UK
11 Arkansas
12 Miss St
13 Mizzou
14 Vandy

2017
1 'bama
2 Georgia
3 LSU
4 Florida
5 A&M
6 Auburn
7 Tenn
8 SC
9 Arkansas
10 UK
11 Miss St
12 Ol Miss
13 Mizzou
14 Vandy

We have gotten to a point where we are much deeper than we were just a couple of years ago but we still have a good ways to go to compete weekly with the upper echelon teams.

Seems like 6-8 ranked class (really 8th) is the attainable goal and next step in improving as a program. Unless you are getting the right players as MSU seems to do... They have had substantial success that seems to supersede recruiting class rank.

[catfaninin]

You're correct, it was not a hold. Therefore the call was bogus and we were hosed.

The Nick engaged with the D-linemen and attached to the breastplate of his front shoulder pads between his shoulders which is perfectly legal. The Florida play is beaten, off balance and goes down to his left knee. Benny went through the massive hole to Nick's right (UF left) and the lineman lunges to his left arm outstretched off his left knee. Now Nick is pulled off balance with his right hand still in the correct position and begins falling down with the UF kid and slides his left hand around the outside of the defender trying to break his own fall.

No hold.

Just curious how many times it took rewatching it in slow motion to try to piece together a way to justify it? Seeing it live and in real time it looked like a very blatant hold.

I even went back and looked at the game thread all but one agreed it was a hold. And the one who didn't later admitted it was.

[Spiritof96]

Just curious how many times it took rewatching it in slow motion to try to piece together a way to justify it? Seeing it live and in real time it looked like a very blatant hold.

I even went back and looked at the game thread all but one agreed it was a hold. And the one who didn't later admitted it was.

Even if it were a hold, given the other blatant holds that had been let go up to that point, and the time and score... swallow your whistle.

[catfaninin]

Even if it were a hold, given the other blatant holds that had been let go up to that point, and the time and score... swallow your whistle.

This I do agree with. And I think had it not been off the line, in such plain view that would have possibly been the case. But when the entire stadium can see it's going to get called.

[Spiritof96]

This I do agree with. And I think had it not been off the line, in such plain view that would have possibly been the case. But when the entire stadium can see it's going to get called.

I don't see it on video review and Tom Leach didn't see it on the call. I certainly didn't see it from my seat. I'm with RV on this one...

[Lighthouse]

I replayed it the night of the game before the next play, and agreed with the call, and I still do. The worst place to see holding is in any seat in any stadium, and certainly from the radio booth.

[KevinHall]

I replayed it the night of the game before the next play, and agreed with the call, and I still do. The worst place to see holding is in any seat in any stadium, and certainly from the radio booth.

I agree with you. That kind of hold gets called every single time. When a lineman takes down a player out in the middle of the field its just too obvious. Sure you can call a hold on nearly every play but when its full view like that you will always have it called.

[Joneslab]

I thought it was probably a hold just from what I see called during UK games. Don't think he took the guy down though. The guy either flopped or he was just falling. Don't believe he was pulled the ground.

Also don't believe it gave any advantage. Seems like the sort of hold that is sometimes called but often let go.

Hard to be too angry about that call however with some of the other awful things we did to let it get to that.

[Blue Heaven]

As most have said, the game management from Stoops is what baffles me. How many times have we had the ball with a minute or so left before half and a few timeouts. Use those puppies and go for some points. Be aggressive. PLAY TO WIN. This is my only beef with Stoops and Co. Other than that I love the guy.

[johnkyblue]

How many times have we used those puppies to punt and allowed a score after a stall?

[Matt Dillon]

This no call bothers me more than the call on Haynes.

[Spiritof96]

This no call bothers me more than the call on Haynes.

If that image doesn't motivate Elam to get in shape... I'm not sure what will.

[Lighthouse]

That image bothers me too. But, I think it's to late for Elam to get in shape.

[Old School]

I wonder if there was any effort to discusss a redshirt for him as a freshman.