Barnes and Flo: Debate Series

Hello peeps. So my friend Luke Florence and I have decided to debate a sports topic every week or so. Luke and I have a history of debating sports going back to freshman year and though we are more than 600 miles from each other, still finds way to do it now. But to make the debated more regular and maybe a bit more structured, we will e-mail each other about a certain topic and respond. The e-mails will go into the blog for your enjoyment.

My goal for this is for it to become a weekly thing where we debate over 2-3 days and then allow the public to vote on the comments section. You can vote anonymously though that's gutless. This will be posted on my blog and his blog which you can find HERE. Vote on either blog and I hope to keep a tally of who you think wins each debate.

You will know when a debate is over when we say so. That's when the voting can begin so don't vote before then but feel free to leave opinions as we go.

With that in mind, the first topic of debate:

WHO IS THE BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM RIGHT NOW?

BARNES: Call me a homer or whatever you want but I think Georgia is the best team in the nation right now. In the first two weeks, all this team has done is take care of business. The offense is strong, led by two Heisman Trophy candidates in QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshown Moreno. Plus, when Moreno went down with a slight hamstring injury in the first game against Georgia Southern, his backup Caleb King ran for 93 yards.

Against Central Michigan, the Georgia defense showed off their stuff, giving Dan LeFevour fits all game, including forcing him to throw an INT that was returned for 78 yards by DeMarcus Dobbs (who took what seemed like two weeks to run into the endzone). And that bodes well for the Bulldogs, since LeFevour is the closest thing to Tim Tebow the Dawgs will see before that fateful game. Plus, their head coach is unflappable. Mark Richt is the man to keep this team focused on each and every game. And they'll have to with 5 of their next 6 games against ranked foes.

The speed, strength, and swagger of this team is by far the best in the nation. Now, it's just time to see if they have enough stamina to survive the schedule.

FLO: Well since you gave me permission, nice pick, Homer. Georgia is a nice team, and make no mistake they should be considered, but the answer to this question is the Oklahoma Sooners. Let it be stated that what we are doing is not picking who we think is going to win the National Championship (although my answer is the same), but who we think is the BEST TEAM RIGHT NOW. How can it not be OU?

First, they played a cupcake against Chattanooga in week one and did what powerhouses are supposed to do, dominate. The Sooners raced out to a 50-0 halftime lead and ended up winning 57-2. Their defense held Chattanooga to ONE first down. Then, the following week against Cincinnati (a team from a major BCS conference, something UGA hasn't faced yet), the Sooners rolled again. Mr. Homer down there in Georgia is on record saying that he thought Cincy could pull off the upset, which tells me he thinks Cincy is a good team. They very well could be, but the Sooners wiped the floor with them 52-26.

QB Sam Bradford is an absolute machine, completing more than 75% of his passes, and racking up almost 600 yards through the air already. Instead of one dominant running-back, Oklahoma has two solid ones in DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown. Throw in a plethora of wide receivers (four receivers with more than 100 yards), and OU is stacked on offense.

Who cares about schedules down the road, if you had to pick the best team right now, it would be Oklahoma. No brainer.

BARNES: Alright, let's not throw stats in. We both know (or at least I do) Georgia Southern is better than Chattanooga so whatever numbers Bradford put up against them should just be erased. At least GSU put up a fight.

In my mind, Bradford and Stafford are equal. Also, you're right, Georgia has one dominant running back and then a solid running back behind him in Caleb King. Think that trumps 2 solid running backs. I'm not saying Oklahoma is not good but they aren't on Georgia's level yet. They just don't have the speed to even compete with Georgia.

And you'll notice the "King Of Arguments" doesn't mention the OU defense. And that's a smart thing. When you only return 6 starters and some of them were the same players that gave up 48 points to WVU in the Fiesta Bowl, can't exactly say your defense is strong. Those 26 points Cincy scored...against the first team defense. Only 14 points have been scored against the 1st team defense of the Bulldogs. 'Nuff said. (Oh, and sorry if my schedule talk took away from my point of how good they are. When I talk about the best team in the nation, I like to look ahead and not back)

FLO: You are making this too easy for me Homer. So let me get this straight, when you talk about the best team in the nation you like to look AHEAD?? How does that make any sense whatsoever? In order to see who the best team is, all you have to go with is what they have accomplished, meaning you have to look BEHIND.

The fact is, Oklahoma, by thumping Cincinnati (a BCS team) has done more than Georgia has thus far. Yes, the Bulldogs, if they keep winning, will prove to be the best team in the nation, but that is not what we are discussing right now. So far, UGA has defeated teams in the Southern Conference and the MAC. Wow, impressive.

As far as me not giving any credit to Oklahoma's defense, you do have a point, they only return six starters from a squad that give up nearly 50 against WVU. However, I see that as being a good thing. Obviously those defensive players from last year were not up to par, so Bob Stoops has the opportunity to get some new players a chance. So far, they are holding their own. It also helps that they have an offense that could put up 60 each time out.

Speaking of Stoops, and this has NOTHING to do with our conversation but worth mentioning all together, he is by FAR the better coaches of the two. He has a National Championship (2003) under his belt and has the Sooners in the mix for the title every single year. As for your boy Mark Richt, well I have a feeling that this season will turn out like 2004 did. Lofty ranking, high expectations, and then a surprising loss. In 2004 it was Tennessee, I wonder who it will be against this time around? Oh, and that decision to have a team celebration in the end-zone against Florida last year with the score 7-0? Yeah, that won't come back to bite him at all.

To give you credit Barnes, Georgia does deserve to be mentioned, they are in the top three right now. But the order goes, Oklahoma, USC and then Georgia. So don't feel bad, you almost picked the correct choice. But with you being a Buckeye fan and all, I guess you are used to ALMOST getting it right.

BARNES: You can flip my words all you want but you know Georgia is the best. Why do I look ahead? Because when you've watched both games live and seen the team play amazing football, there's no need to look back. The impression and statement has been made.

And before you pat yourself on the back for your "thumping Cincinnati" line, let's remember Cincy's QB Grutza went out during that game. I wouldn't expect you to credit the Chiefs for their great defensive performance against a Brady-less Patriot team. So let's not say words like "thump" without realizing they were playing a short-handed team. With Grutza in that game late, it may not have been the blowout you talk about over and over.

Oh, and Central Michigan could easily compete in the Big East. Just because they are in the MAC does not make them inferior to a BCS team. Unless you really think a BCS team like Duke or Syracuse is better than the Chippewas. And I noticed you stayed away from the Chattanooga-Georgia Southern comparison. Why? Becasue you know BOTH play in the Southern Conference. But you also know while Chattanooga has had only one winning season (6-5 in '05) in the past 7 years, GSU has had 6. So I think we know why Oklahoma won 57-2.

The defense is holding their own? Yea, 26 points to a subpar BCS team is not holding their own. It's called being thankful for having an offense that knows how to score points. This Oklahoma D has already shown they aren't up for a big game offense.

Oklahoma can score, but so far, they;ve played some subpar defenses. And though Georgia has played subpar defenses as well, they at least have a defense that returns 9 players, has experience playing in the much-tougher SEC over the past 3 years, and in their bowl game against a Hawaii team that boasted Colt Brennan and a high-octane offense, gave up just 10 points. And I think I've already mentioned the inept performance the Oklahoma D had against WVU.

Stop trying to rationalize the wrong. Georgia is a battle-tested team returning 17 starters. They have a killer instinct and know how to put away a team early, unlike Oklahoma (only up 26-20 in the 3rd qtr against UC). And they have not one, but two Heisman trophy candidates in Moreno and Stafford that continue to prove that the Bulldogs are the best. Don't "stoop" down to Oklahoma's level. Get on my level and you'll realize that while Oklahoma shows promise (which I know about), they're nowhere near as good as the Bulldogs right I think all that time spent out in the Georgia sun has caused you some mental fatigue. Of course, your arguments were always borderline inept, so maybe it has nothing to do with the change of locale.

FLO: Let me start off with a quote from my fellow debater, which dates back one week ago about the Cincinnati-Oklahoma game. "I am not sold at all on Oklahoma and I think this is the type of game they will overlook. Brian Kelly is a bright coaching mind. He led Central Michigan to a MAC championship in his time. He is trying to do the same at UC in the Big East. I'm picking CINCINNATI in a huge early upset."

Yep, that's right, he picked Cincinnati. It's a good thing this is the last e-mail, because this debate is over after that quote. You picked Cincinnati to win, and then you give no credit to the Sooners for winning by almost four touchdowns. Incredible.

As with your nonsense about the Southern Conference teams, that has absolutely nothing to do with what we are talking about. Georgia and Oklahoma both played cupcakes in week one. Maybe Georgia's cupcake tasted a tad better than Oklahoma's, but the fact is they are both cupcakes. In typical Barnes fashion, he tries to strengthen his argument by talking about things that have no relevance to the subject at hand. Central Michigan could easily compete in the Big East? Who cares? The fact is when Georgia made that schedule four years ago, they were figuring on playing an easy MAC contest, which they did.

Oh, and good move by The Promise by not debating anything about Mark Richt. He is a clown, an idiot, and will ultimately be the demise to this talented Bulldogs team. Let's be honest here. Both teams are talented. Oklahoma has a better QB and overall offense. Georgia has a better RB and overall defense. So, all things considered equal, I'll take my chances with the better head coach, which in this instance is undoubtedly Bob Stoops.

In the end, it's a good thing we did this particular argument this week, because after USC spanks Ohio State on Saturday night, there will be no debate as to who the best team in the country will be.

DEBATE OVER! VOTE IN THE COMMENTS!