The most depressing time of the year rolls on this week. Sure some of you can celebrate with family and friends. Be joyous in giving thanks and awaiting the time for the next holiday season. But in the Gulf South Conference this time of the year blows monkeys...hard.

Last week we said good bye to a worthy playoff team in West Alabama. They ran into a North Alabama team that came to play and put it all together, especially offensively.

Will Hall proved to be the up and comer we all expected as head coach. This is just the beginning of a long string of playoff trips for the Tigers under their new leader.

Now as the Super Region 2 playoffs continue, we must watch as two GSC teams do battle. While on the other side of the bracket, two teams who are rarely in the post season get to play each other. Awesome.

After this week just one team from the GSC will remain. Welcome to Black Saturday.

What is even better about these match ups is the giant flaw it once again shows in the system we use. Not only have Delta State and North Alabama already played each other. But so have North Greenville and Mars Hill. This is ridiculous.

I will say it again. Make a change. The only reason people at the Division II level don't complain about this is because they like to say their level plays it out unlike the BCS in Division I.

Horse feces.

Put your inferiority complex aside and realize we need more. This week is the playoffs and this is 100 percent unacceptable. There are 150 schools playing Division II football. This week in this region we have two match ups that have already happened. I will say it again. Fix it.

The way it shook out region rankings wise should be irrelevant. What is most important is that we already saw these games play out once. It is not right to do it again. If they were split up and either DSU and UNA advanced or North Greenville and Mars Hill advanced; at least they all went through teams that hadn't seen before for the rematch. At least it would happen at the last possibly time for them to meet in the current system. The way it is now is a joke. And killing my normally positive holiday spirit.

So now for our overtime rematch.

Saturday 1 pm North Alabama at Delta State

Look its experience verse experience this week. For the fifth time in six years these two teams meet in the post season. To make matters more confusing historically, UNA leads the overall series but DSU has won the last two meetings.

The biggest thing about these teams is that both are led on offense by senior quarterbacks. Lee Chapple and Micah Davis are two of the best Division II quarterbacks you are going to find. Which one of the can win this battle and keep their career going?

Both have monumental tasks in front of them this week.

Chapple is dealing with a DSU defense that gets to the quarterback and creates turnovers. The Statesmen lead the GSC in sacks and interceptions. So obviously that gives them a huge advantage right?

No. UNA's offensive line has made their quarterback the least sacked signal caller in the conference this year. And that signal caller just happen to lead the GSC in touchdown passes, passing yards and had a conference best 66.2 completion percentage.

I don't understand the flack this guy gets. He is legit.

Delta State has had some time to cool off after their season ending loss to West Georgia. Could you imagine if DSU goes on to win a National Championship and the only team they lost to all year was the West Georgia Wolves?

I don't know what happened two weeks ago. Was it a lack of motivation? Care? UWG showing more life than expected? I don't know. But I do like that it happened for DSU's mentality moving forward.

This team was pulling off wins in the last second for over a year. Most times in games it looked like they had no business winning. But they won. They are winners. I have to give them that.

If I'm a Statesmen fan I do have some concerns this week because of this team's history.

The first round playoff bye is nice. But UNA now comes into this match up on a roll and firing on all cylinders after two must win scenarios in a row.

DSU enters this week two weeks removed from a huge loss to a historically terrible program before spending last week waiting for their next opponent.

That is a terrible combination for a team that has been known for dramatic contests.

North Alabama was my pick as National Champions to start the year. Last week they showed what they are capable of.

Player for player this is the most talent assembled on a Division II field. That doesn't always get you a ring. But last week they proved just how talented they are.

Janoris Jenkins should provide another spark for the Lions on special teams or defense. Their receivers can make plays. The running game is good enough if they want to go to them more.

DSU's defense has nice statistics (take aways and sacks) but I don't trust them. They will give up yardage and big plays. Their running game isn't anything special and they are basically a one dimensional team.

UNA has more ways to beat you on offense. They are more balanced with a deeper stable of weapons at every level.

They are the best scoring defense in the GSC giving up less than 20 points a game with more talent on that side of the ball.


This week Kim Kardashian gets her groove back.

The Death Star is rebuilt.

The Evil Empire advances.

Terry Bowden eats.

Prediction: UNA over DSU 34-28