Tag: Paul Myerberg

Gators News: October 19, 2020

Football was out of action but the soccer team lost a double-OT thriller to Vandy while the women’s golf team heads to their next tourney.

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Welcome back from the weekend, one that felt a bit empty for Gators fans as their beloved football team had their game against the LSU Tigers postponed until Dec. 12. Even in the absence of gridiron competition, there are still a few stories to note as we start up another week.

While the Gators sat out, the show otherwise went on without them, resulting in a one-spot drop in USA TODAY Sports’ latest re-ranking. Among the biggest movers forward this week are Coastal Carolina, Florida State and South Carolina after each posted wins against ranked opponents.

Also at USA TODAY Sports, Paul Myerberg takes a look at college football’s winners and losers from Week 7. After a tough Saturday, the SEC has just four teams with fewer than two losses and a dwindling list of options for the national semifinals.

On Sunday, the soccer team hosted the Vanderbilt Commodores and lost a heartbreaker in double-overtime, 2-1. Florida took the lead early in the 41st minute in the first half and held it until Vandy scored in the 80th minute; the winning goal hit the net in the 103rd minute.

Today, the women’s golf team travels to West Point, Miss., to participate in The Ally at Old Waverly tournament, a three-day event that lasts until Wednesday. The squad will face the other 13 Southeastern Conference schools in the event.

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Expert proclaims Notre Dame one of the winners of Week 3

The Irish were among a group of winners during week 3’s action.

It’s easy to see the improvement from game one to game two for the Irish. Not only did the offense fire out of the gate, scoring on 5 of their 6 first half possessions, the only non-scoring drive was a missed field goal, the defense showed up as well. Posting a shutout against South Florida shouldn’t go overlooked, it was an impressive performance on both sides of the ball.

After the day concluded, Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY, graded out winners and losers from the week. The Irish were among his winners, as Myerberg singled out Ian Book for his performance in leading the offense saying “a much stronger game” came from the senior.

It wasn’t just the offense however, the defense as a whole was dominant. “While the shutout on defense and increased balance on offense comes against the Bulls, a program in a rebuild under new coach Jeff Scott, the Irish look prepared for an ACC slate that heats up in October,” said Myerberg of the win.

Two games against ranked opponents lie ahead of the Irish for next month, No. 24 Louisville and No. 21 Pittsburgh. Those games will be tough, but the Irish should be favored in both of them.

The real tests come later in the schedule during a three-game stretch in November. First up the Clemson Tigers come to South Bend, then road trips to visit former Irish quarterback Phil Jurkovic and Boston College before final road game in Chapel Hill against North Carolina. The foray into ACC play is starting to heat up, so strap in. It’s going to be a fun ride.

Gators News: September 17, 2020

Another Thursday has arrived and on the downslope towards a weekend filled with football action, we look forward to the schedule ahead.

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Another Thursday has arrived and on the downslope towards a weekend filled with football action, we begin looking forward to the gridiron schedule ahead. Week 2 of college football is now well in the rearview mirror, it is time to start thinking about Week 3.

The top story today comes out of Chapel Hill, N.C., where eleventh-ranked North Carolina has its game against Charlotte canceled due to COVID-19 quarantines. The decision to cancel was made as a result of a depleted roster due to quarantine following Charlotte’s COVID-19 contract tracing protocols.

In other news, Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg at USA TODAY Sports take a look at the winners and losers from the Big Ten’s decision start its football season this fall. The announcement by the Big Ten that the conference would start its football season Oct. 24 ended a contentious 36-day period where football coaches, fans, players and their parents and even President Trump pushed the league to play this fall.

Finally, the same duo tackles the five biggest questions to be answered in Week 3 of the college football season. Even with a few games of national impact, there are always questions that will be answered.

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Gators News: September 7, 2020

With the first week of college football nearly in the books, it is time to take a look at what fall football looks like despite COVID-19.

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Welcome to a Labor Day edition of Gators News! With the first week of college football nearly in the books — the BYU Cougars play the Navy Midshipmen tonight to finish off Week 1 — it is time to take a look at what fall football looks like here in 2020 despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In the top story today, Paul Myerberg at USA TODAY Sports takes a look at five things he learned from Week 1 of gridiron action. As a gauge of how the season will play out, Saturday’s slate provided the first real glimpse at football amid a pandemic but won’t help settle arguments over which teams will reach the College Football Playoff.

In other news, Oklahoma State football parents in the medical field are trusting the school to care for their sons. “I had faith that OSU was taking all the necessary safety precautions,” one mother said.

Finally, “College GameDay” commentator Kirk Herbstreit breaks down in tears during an emotional message on racial injustice on Saturday. Herbstreit, a former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback and father of two Clemson Tigers football players, broke down in tears during the show’s segment on the intersection of the country’s racial justice movement and college football.

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USA TODAY re-ranks Ohio State back at No. 1 after some reconsideration

USA TODAY has put Ohio State football back on the top of the college football world after LSU temporarily holding the spot for a week.

The Ohio State football team is now the best team in the country according to Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports. It’s not the first time the Buckeyes have been placed at the top of his weekly re-rank column. In fact, OSU had a multi-week run as the overall top program re-ranked each and every week.

But … like many analysts and media members, LSU’s win over Alabama just over a week ago changed Myerberg’s mind enough to put the Bayou Tigers into the top spot despite Ohio State scoring 73 points against Maryland. It was apparently resume over domination.

Well, apparently that has all now changed with LSU’s mediocre defensive performance against a rather dismal Ole Miss team this weekend. The Tiger offense looked fine enough, but the D gave up 614 total yards and 37 points. I’ve seen less numbers at an accountant convention.

Here’s what Myerberg said about Ohio State:

“Ohio State is back atop the heap after yet another breeze past a Big Ten opponent, this time Rutgers. With two weeks left in November, the Buckeyes lead the nation in scoring offense, scoring defense and yards allowed per play.”

You can get a look at the entire re-rank by visiting USA TODAY and giving it a gander yourself.