🏈 Tony Barnhart Spoke the Shelby County Alumni Association Tonight

[bama alum]

Among other things, Mr. Barnhart gave a breakdown of how he felt the SEC would shape out this year. In the SEC West:

- Bama, clear leader. He said what I've been saying for at least three years: The only team that will beat Alabama is Alabama. No complacency going on here.

- tamu, He feels Manziel will play v. Rice. They also have no real defense to speak of.

- LSU, He said to watch out for them because no one is talking about them. Spoke very highly of both Chavis and Cameron, whom he says will make a QB out of Mettenberger

- Arkansas, Bielma is a "home run hire." But they will probably bottom out this year and maybe next because they do not have the athletes to compete. "And because Bobby Petrino isn't there this year, WHEW!! They're not going to throw the ball 40 - 45 times a game."

- Ole Miss, said that they could've beaten any of the three close losses they had last year and will probably take one of those back this year. He didn't say tamu, but kind of took a hint there.

- barn, Malzahn will be the most successful of the new coaches because it won't take long for his athletes to learn his system. He still thinks a six or seven-win season is most realistic this season.

- MSU, "They have Tyler Russell who's in his...ninth season of eligibility." That drew a laugh...because isn't that true. He, like most of us, thinks they'll finish last. They're 7 - 0 start last year was "the most deceiving 7 - 0 start" of any team based on the sucky teams they played last year.

In the East (quick version):

He feels UGA will win the East. They have the most talent, but then again USCe has the best schedule. Did a pretty good imitation of SOS. Thinks UF will struggle because they have no receivers (he didn't mention them losing Debose today) and no real offense to speak of anyway. Out of 125 D1 teams, they finished 103 in offense last year. Their team this year will probably resemble last year when the defense was there to save the day.

He likes Vandy a lot, but still thinks they'll finish 4th in the East. Mizzou...They're screwed. UK, no hope for anything this year. A six or seven win season will be a great season for Butch Jones. He said UThug "has a new QB, wide receivers, average running backs, and a great offensive line." Give them a couple of years and they'll be back. He likes Jones.

 

[bamafan4ever]

Good stuff. I want to see Chief make a QB out of Mettenberger though! LOL!

 

[bama alum]

I guess I should have practiced some basic journalism beforehand if I was going to post this late last night...

The whole thing with the autographs is just another reason to think that eventually the five superconferences are going to merge together, which will allow some more creativity with the rules in this regard. This was in response to a question posed by another regarding stipends. Mr. Barnhart further elaborated by saying as it is, Title IX is dictating more of this stipend issue than we can recall. He reminded us that all a volleyball player, who, no matter how good she is, will never bring the university revenue like a football star, just has to show the judge the Title IX law. Some universities can handle that; clearly others cannot.

He also called Bama v. OSU in the title game. His reason for the latter is the same as so many other people have said, OSU plays nobody. If they go 13 - 0, they're in. And even though he said Louisville will be this year's Boise St (question posed by someone else), if Louisville loses to UGA, Stanford, whom he says will win the Pac - 12 (completely agree) loses to someone, and OSU loses to Michigan...when those 12 - 1 teams are matched up, it'll still be OSU in the title.

He said Spurrier's biggest worry about Clowney is that he's going to take something from someone. He reported that Spurrier told him that he told Clowney after January 3rd, he can open both arms and take it all.

Back to Vandy, he says there's more excitement in Nashville about this team than has been in a long time. Okay, no surprise there. He also said that when he went there in the spring to watch, he was shocked how much those guys were chomping at the bit for Ole Miss. Personally, I'd like to see Vandy whip Ole Miss.