Ole Miss, Georgia, A&M and More: Rock Lyrics Capture SEC Week 3 Drama

OXFORD, Miss. — Friday, Spinal Tap II, The End Continues debuted in theaters. It is the sequel to the cult hit, This is Spinal Tap.

I remember going to see the original 40 years ago with a friend who can confidently be described as a metal head.

After the satirical movie, my friend mentioned that the fictional band was really good. I thought he had missed the point of the movie until I listened to the soundtrack. Spinal Tap did have some good songs and clever lyrics.

They will never be classified as classic rock, but it got me wondering what classic rock lyrics could be applied to this week’s SEC games?

 

Here is a look:

No. 13 OKLAHOMA 42, TEMPLE 3

“Ain’t got no gun,
Ain’t got no knife,
Don’t you start no fight.

‘Cause I’m T.N.T., I’m dynamite,
T.N.T., and I’ll win the fight,
T.N.T., I’m a power load,
T.N.T., watch me explode.”

TNT, AC/DC, 1975

Oklahoma is ranked relatively low to some other teams (looking at you Clemson), but the Sooners will soon start getting the respect they deserve.

Granted, it was against Temple, but OU was explosive.

The Sooners’ defense might be better than we thought. Oklahoma held the Owls to 104 total yards, seven first downs and Temple only converted 3-of-15 of its third downs.

Next Up: No. 24 Auburn

No. 19 ALABAMA 38, WISCONSIN 14

“They got a name for the winners in the world,
I want a name when I lose,
They call Alabama the Crimson Tide,
Call me Deacon Blues.”

Steely Dan, “Deacon Blues,” 1977

First, how cool is it when a classic band sings about your name?

Alabama seems like it has put that Florida State loss in the rearview mirror. Ty Simpson was not exactly Tom Brady, but he was very close to it because when he needed to make a great throw, he did it. He finished with 382 yards passing and four touchdowns.

Wisconsin is ah, not good. They were 2-0 coming into this one, with wins over Miami (Ohio) and Middle Tennessee State. How bad are those two teams?

In Madison, the team is known as the Badgers. In the SEC, they are just the Deacon Blues.

Next Up: at No. 6 Georgia, Sept. 27

No. 24 AUBURN 31, SOUTH ALABAMA 15

“They say I’m crazy, but I have a good time,
I’m just looking for clues at the scene of the crime,
Life’s been good to me so far.”

Joe Walsh, Life’s Been Good, 1978

With wins over Baylor, Ball State and now South Alabama, Auburn’s life has been good so far.

The fun for the Tigers has been orchestrated by quarterback Jackson Arnold who accounted for three touchdowns Saturday. He also runs a balanced offense as he threw for 142 yards and ran for 50 more.

If there was a damper for Auburn in the game, Jaguars’ quarterback Bishop Davenport threw for a game-high 170 yards.

Next Up: at No. 13 Oklahoma

No. 6 GEORGIA 44, No. 15 TENNESSEE 41 OT

“I’m gonna buy a ticket, now,
As far as I can.

Ain’t a-never comin’ back,
Ride me a southbound,
All the way to Georgia, now.
Till the train, it run out of track.”

Marshall Tucker Band, Can’t You See, 1973

After surviving in Knoxville, chances are Kirby Smart’s team wants to get back to Georgia.

Tennessee came out hot with both teams combining for 309 yards and 28 points in the first quarter. Once the rivals settled in, it became a heavyweight boxing match.

It took the Dawgs an extra period to pull off the win as Josh McCray scored from the 1-yard line after Tennessee kicked a field goal in its possession in overtime.

What was expected to be a great game lived up to expectations.

The Vols have nothing to be ashamed of in this one. In fact, here is a bonus lyric for UT:

“And if it’s bad, don’t let it get you down you can take it,
And if it hurts, don’t let them see you cry you can make it,
Hold your head up.”

Argent, Hold Your Head Up, 1976

Next Up for Georgia: No. 19 Alabama, Sept. 27

Next Up for Tennessee: UAB

No. 25 MISSOURI 52, LOUISIANA 10

“Sound of the drums,
Beatin’ in my heart,
The thunder of guns, yeah,
Tore me apart,
You’ve been thunderstruck.”

AC/DC, Thunderstruck, 1990

That is an apt explanation for what Louisiana felt in Columbia Saturday. Missing starting quarterback Walker Howard, the Ragin’ Cajuns completed just two passes for four yards. To put that into context, Mizzou’s backup quarterback, Matt Zollers, completed two passes for five yards.

Ahmad Hardy was the workhorse for the Tigers running 22 times for 250 yards and a couple of touchdowns.

Missouri had 606 total yards and 427 of them came on the ground.

Next Up: No. 11 South Carolina

No. 7 TEXAS 27, UTEP 10

“Summer has come and passed,
The innocent can never last,
Wake me up when September ends.”

Green Day, Wake Me Up When September Ends, 1995

That must be how Arch Manning is feeling after a not-so-great first month as the Texas starting quarterback.

He was just 11-of-25 for 114 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The surprising thing is Manning was booed by the home fans.

Although the outcome was never in doubt, the Horns certainly underachieved against an inferior opponent.

To live up to the preseason hype, Texas must get better. Fast.

Next Up: Sam Houston

MISSISSIPPI STATE 63, ALCORN STATE 0

“I’m winning,
I’m winning,
I’m winning,
And I don’t intend on losing again.”

Santana, Winning, 1981

Off to a 3-0 start, that sentiment is being floated around Starkvegas.

If might be a tad premature, but Jeff Lebby is giving Bulldog fans what they needed early in his second season – signs of improvement.

Most importantly, against an FCS opponent, State did not play down to their competition, racking up 514 yards and only turning the ball over once.

Could a 4-0 start be in the cards for the Bulldogs? It is probable.

Next Up: Northern Illinois

No. 17 OLE MISS 41, ARKANSAS 35

“I’m tired of playin’ foolish games,
I’m tired of all your lies makin’ me insane,
I don’t ask for much, the truth will do just fine,
Won’t you lay it on the line.”

Triumph, Lay It On The Line, 1979

Both teams laid it on the line as this one turned into a boxing match with plenty of blood, sweat and tears. But at the end, Ole Miss was the one left standing.

Trinidad Chambliss started at quarterback for the Rebels in place of an injured Austin Simmons.

All the former Division II player did was go 21-of-29 for 353 yards and a touchdown. When he had to briefly exit the game with a thumb injury, Simmons came on and on one good leg completed his only pass for a 4-yard touchdown to Trey Wallace.

For Arkansas, Taylen Green was a heavyweight. He threw for 305 yards and ran for 115 more.

Next Up for Arkansas: at Memphis

Next Up for Ole Miss: Tulane

No. 3 LSU 20, FLORIDA 10

“I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me,
Or am I even in its mind at all?”

Styx, Crystal Ball, 1976

That must be the feeling Florida coach Billy Napier had after the game. With the start the Gators are off to and the schedule ahead, his future is certainly in doubt.

The bad news for Florida was D.J. Lagway threw five interceptions. The good news was the Gators only lost by ten points.

LSU’s defense was the story in this one. They held the Gators to just 79 yards rushing and scored, themselves, on a Dashawn Spears interception return.

Garrett Nussmeier did throw for 220 yards and a touchdown.

Next up for LSU: Southeastern Louisiana

Next up for Florida: at No. 5 Miami

No. 16 TEXAS A&M 41, No. 8 NOTRE DAME 40

“No, I’ll stand my ground
Won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground
And I won’t back down.”

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Won’t Back Down, 1989

Yes, the Aggies get to steal a Florida song after this win in South Bend.

And this game brings up an important question. How important is the holder to a football team?

In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame scored a touchdown, but on the point after, the holder botched the snap and the Irish only led 40-34 to leave the door open for A&M’s final drive.

After driving down field, the Aggies faced a fourth-and-goal from the 11 when Marcel Reed found Nate Boerkircher for the tying score. Randy Bond drilled the conversion to give Texas A&M the one-point win.

Reed finished with 360 yards passing.

Next Up: No. 24 Auburn

KENTUCKY 48, EASTERN MICHIGAN 23

“Moonrise, thoughtful eyes,
Staring back at me from the window beside,
No fright or hindsight,
Leaving behind that empty feeling inside.”

Rush, Fly By Night, 1975

Kentucky put a disappointing loss to Ole Miss last week in the past and got back on track with a win over Eastern Michigan.

The Wildcats also put Zach Calzada in their memory as Cutter Boley made his starting debut and did exactly what Mark Stoops wanted him to do – take care of the football.

The freshman did not throw an interception while passing for 240 yards and a pair of scores.

But the Wildcats won this one by running the football. Seth McGowan ran for 104 yards and three touchdowns.

NEXT UP: No. 11 South Carolina, Sept. 27

VANDERBILT 31, No. 11 SOUTH CAROLINA 7

“We keep getting hotter,
Movin’ way too fast,
If we don’t slow this fire down,
We’re not gonna last.”

Boston, Cool The Engines, 1986

How hot are the Commodores? In three games this season, with back to back wins at Virginia Tech and South Carolina, Vandy has outscored its opponents 120-30.

This one, however, was not about who was on the field, but who was off it. The Gamecocks’ LaNorris Sellers was hit in the second quarter and did not play another snap.

Luke Doty came on in relief and was not bad, but the Commodores’ defense was solid all night.

Carolina actually outgained Vandy, but could only convert four third downs and one fourth down.

The Commodores are in the AP poll at No. 20.

Next Up for South Carolina: at No. 25 Missouri

Next up for Vanderbilt: Georgia State

(Feature image credit: Karis Chambliss, The Rebel Walk)