PRESS PICKS: Memory lane takes a bit of a detour this weekend
STAFF REPORT
A special weekend awaits. But not just for the reasons usually associated with a football Saturday.
This one is different for a couple of reasons.
It’s a rarity that the two biggest games of the week involve both Alabama and Auburn…. in non-conference tilts.
There was a time when both teams played major conference foes at the same time. But lately, it’s been hit or miss.
Sure, there’s been a few opening weekends when the two have solid opponents, but so does everybody else.
This one has a special feel with the Tigers going someplace they’ve never been and Bama to a place it rarely goes.
The other irony is the history is reversed. Bama has one with Penn State. Auburn has one with Florida, at least in the regular season. But neither has been viable for many years.
They can talk about the old days of Nebraska and Oklahoma this weekend and that is surely special. But for those of us who watched the classic battles between the Tigers and Gators and the Tide and Nittany Lions, this weekend is all about that past.
We have a right to celebrate what we want, even if it is a little off center.
There is a three-way tie for first with Tim Gayle and Graham Dunn joining Mike Peacock at the top.
2021 Standings (Week)
1. Mike Peacock 36-14 (8-7) .720
Tim Gayle 36-14 (10-5) .720
Graham Dunn 36-14 (10-5) .720
4. Barry McKnight 34-16 (10-5) .680
8. Dylan Hurst 33-17 (10-5) .660
5. Michael Butler 32-18 (8-7) .640
Doug Amos 32-18 (8-7) .640
8. Rick Hendrick 31-19 (5-10) .743
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
36-14 (8-7) .720
Opelika at G.W. Carver (Thur) – Carver
Prattville at Dothan - Prattville
Benjamin Russell at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Elmore County at Tallassee – Tallassee
Alabama at Florida – Alabama
Auburn at Penn St – Auburn
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Cincinnati at Indiana – Cincinnati
Nebraska at Oklahoma – Oklahoma
Michigan St at Miami, Fla. – Michigan St
Oklahoma St at Boise St – Oklahoma St
Miss St at Memphis – Miss St
Fresno St at UCLA – Fresno St
South Carolina at Georgia – Georgia
Virginia Tech at West Virginia – Virginia Tech
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
36-14 (10-5) .720
Opelika at G.W. Carver (Thur) – Opelika
Prattville at Dothan - Prattville
Benjamin Russell at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Elmore County at Tallassee – Tallassee
Alabama at Florida – Alabama
Auburn at Penn St – Penn St
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Cincinnati at Indiana – Cincinnati
Nebraska at Oklahoma – Oklahoma
Michigan St at Miami, Fla. – Miami
Oklahoma St at Boise St – Oklahoma St
Miss St at Memphis – Miss St
Fresno St at UCLA – UCLA
South Carolina at Georgia – Georgia
Virginia Tech at West Virginia – Virginia Tech
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
36-14 (10-5) .720
Opelika at G.W. Carver (Thur) – Opelika
Prattville at Dothan - Prattville
Benjamin Russell at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Elmore County at Tallassee – Tallassee
Alabama at Florida – Alabama
Auburn at Penn St – Penn St
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Cincinnati at Indiana – Indiana
Nebraska at Oklahoma – Oklahoma
Michigan St at Miami, Fla. – Miami
Oklahoma St at Boise St – Boise St
Miss St at Memphis – Miss St
Fresno St at UCLA – UCLA
South Carolina at Georgia – Georgia
Virginia Tech at West Virginia – West Virginia
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
34-16 (10-5) .680
Opelika at G.W. Carver (Thur) – Opelika
Prattville at Dothan - Dothan
Benjamin Russell at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Elmore County at Tallassee – Tallassee
Alabama at Florida – Florida
Auburn at Penn St – Auburn
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Cincinnati at Indiana – Cincinnati
Nebraska at Oklahoma – Oklahoma
Michigan St at Miami, Fla. – Miami
Oklahoma St at Boise St – Oklahoma St
Miss St at Memphis – Memphis
Fresno St at UCLA – UCLA
South Carolina at Georgia – Georgia
Virginia Tech at West Virginia – West Virginia
Dylan Hurst (River Region Sports)
33-17 (10-5) .660
Opelika at G.W. Carver (Thur) – Opelika
Prattville at Dothan - Prattville
Benjamin Russell at Wetumpka – Benjamin Russell
Elmore County at Tallassee – Tallassee
Alabama at Florida – Alabama
Auburn at Penn St – Penn St
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Cincinnati at Indiana – Cincinnati
Nebraska at Oklahoma – Oklahoma
Michigan St at Miami, Fla. – Michigan St
Oklahoma St at Boise St – Oklahoma St
Miss St at Memphis – Miss St
Fresno St at UCLA – Fresno St
South Carolina at Georgia – Georgia
Virginia Tech at West Virginia – Virginia Tech
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
32-18 (8-7) .640
Opelika at G.W. Carver (Thur) – Opelika
Prattville at Dothan - Prattville
Benjamin Russell at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Elmore County at Tallassee – Tallassee
Alabama at Florida – Alabama
Auburn at Penn St – Auburn
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Cincinnati at Indiana – Cincinnati
Nebraska at Oklahoma – Oklahoma
Michigan St at Miami, Fla. – Miami
Oklahoma St at Boise St – Boise St
Miss St at Memphis – Miss St
Fresno St at UCLA – UCLA
South Carolina at Georgia – Georgia
Virginia Tech at West Virginia – Virginia Tech
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
32-18 (8-7) .640
Opelika at G.W. Carver (Thur) – Opelika
Prattville at Dothan - Prattville
Benjamin Russell at Wetumpka – Benjamin Russell
Elmore County at Tallassee – Tallassee
Alabama at Florida – Alabama
Auburn at Penn St – Auburn
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Cincinnati at Indiana – Indiana
Nebraska at Oklahoma – Oklahoma
Michigan St at Miami, Fla. – Miami
Oklahoma St at Boise St – Oklahoma St
Miss St at Memphis – Memphis
Fresno St at UCLA – UCLA
South Carolina at Georgia – Georgia
Virginia Tech at West Virginia – West Virginia
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
31-19 (5-10) .743
Opelika at G.W. Carver (Thur) – Opelika
Prattville at Dothan - Prattville
Benjamin Russell at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Elmore County at Tallassee – Tallassee
Alabama at Florida – Alabama
Auburn at Penn St – Penn St
Troy at Southern Miss - Troy
Cincinnati at Indiana – Indiana
Nebraska at Oklahoma – Oklahoma
Michigan St at Miami, Fla. – Miami
Oklahoma St at Boise St – Oklahoma St
Miss St at Memphis – Miss St
Fresno St at UCLA – UCLA
South Carolina at Georgia – Georgia
Virginia Tech at West Virginia – West Virginia