Sunshine Seven Week 3: Winston in Spotlight Again

Weekly Observation(s)

Sunshine Seven Starting to Sink

Is it a shakeup in the ranks? Based on the first three weeks the Sunshine Seven are looking.. putrid. The only two teams really playing up to their level are Florida State and to an extent, Miami. Florida is grinding to score points on offense which may be an homage to last year that their fans want to forget. The teams below the Gators are struggling just as badly too. This could be a long year for the Programs in the state of Florida.

Jameis is a Moron (like we didn’t already know)

As many of you have heard or read, Jameis Winston has been suspended for the first half of the Clemson game this weekend for yelling a popular vulgar phrase multiple times while standing on a table on the Florida State Campus. This is not his first or second run in with authorities and we as sports fans have to wonder.. Does he get it? Does he get that he represents a whole University and its student/fan base? I applaud that Jimbo suspended Winston but some are starting to question if it really matters.

The question I ask.. Is one man, even a Heisman winner.. bigger than the school itself? Some are starting to wonder.

Kevin Olsen has Five Separate Identities

Miami also lost a QB due to multiple events that involved the justice system but he wasn’t a starter. Kevin Olsen was the backup QB behind Brad Kaaya, Jake Heaps and also Ryan Williams. In the early hours of Sunday morning he was pulled over for DUI. What compounded the situation and made it worse was that he had multiple fake IDs on him. A few days after all the information was gathered by Golden and his staff Olsen was suspended indefinitely from the team and later he left the University. Here’s hoping he can get his personal life in order and come back stronger in the future!

Florida State

LAST WEEKS RANK: 1

THIS WEEKS RANK: 1

SCORE: BYE WEEK

THOUGHTS:

Not much to say on the FSU front except for the whole Winston controversy that’s transpired over the last 48-72 hours. They’ll be hosting the Clemson Tigers at home this week in what has now become a more interesting game. Stay tuned.

University of Miami

LAST WEEKS RANK: 3

THIS WEEKS RANK: 2

SCORE: Miami 40 – Arkansas State 21

THOUGHTS:

Even though the first half play calling on offense was debatable, the Canes played a solid game and smothered the Red Wolves on both sides of the ball. Now that their two easy out of conference games are behind them Miami now has to focus and set their sights on the Cornhuskers. This will be a big "growing up" game for Brad Kaaya and the offense as an entire unit.

Florida

LAST WEEKS RANK: 2

THIS WEEKS RANK: 3

SCORE: Florida 36 – Kentucky 30

THOUGHTS:

I watched this game and I have to tell you.. Even though at times the pace was much quicker than last season, the Gators still struggled to find a rhythm on offense and often times reverted to their tried and proven (kind of?) scheme of ground and pound football. What is more disconcerting was the fact that the Gators had to fight tooth and nail against the Kentucky Wildcats who are usually the bottom feeders of the conference. Hopefully the offense and defense can pick each other up or it’s going to be a long Saturday afternoon against Alabama.. in Tuscaloosa next weekend.

Central Florida

LAST WEEKS RANK: 4

THIS WEEKS RANK: 4

SCORE: Central Florida 10 – Missouri 38

THOUGHTS:

All the things that "are" UCF football: running the ball, not turning the ball over and a smothering defense simply didn’t show up last Saturday against Mizzou. The Knights ran the ball 39 times for 90 yards and had 2 interceptions. This led to easy scores for Matty Mauch and his cohort of 6’5" wideouts. Not a recipe for success but hopefully they can turn it around against their next opponent, FCS Bethune Cookman.

Florida Atlantic

LAST WEEKS RANK: 6

THIS WEEKS RANK: 5

SCORE: FAU 50 – Tulsa 21

THOUGHTS:

Everything went about right for the Owls in this contest and they routed the Hurricanes. The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes, had to add that in there.. Jaquez Johnson threw for 318 yards on just 20 attempts and FAU racked up 177 yards on the ground. They also forced two interceptions so their defense is starting to pick up the pace too. They look to go for two in a row against the Wyoming Cowboys.

Florida International

LAST WEEKS RANK: 7

THIS WEEKS RANK: 6

SCORE: FIU 25 – Pittsburgh 42

THOUGHTS:

Guys, they almost pulled out the upset. They almost beat a team.. AN FBS TEAM!! WOAHH.. FIU was actually tied as late as the third quarter but the Pittsburgh Panther running game got on track and cruised in the fourth quarter to a win. The downfall for FIU was their rush defense that allowed over 300 yards. In the end they couldn’t stand up to the onslaught and allowed 16 straight points to close out the contest.

South Florida

LAST WEEKS RANK: 5

THIS WEEKS RANK: 7

SCORE: USF 17 – NC State 49

THOUGHTS:

How desperate are the Bulls right now? Desperate enough to start a QB who has a fractured non-throwing arm. In this contest it didn’t matter as USF sputtered to yet another beat down to an ACC cellar dweller in NC State.

POWER RANKS