Panel continues strong performance with another big week
Published: 9:35 AM, 10/29/2009
Last updated: 9:40 AM, 10/29/2009
As a whole, the Pigskin Panel isn't a brash and cocky group of guys. Sure, there's Bryan "The Brain" Burchfield, the guy that loves trash talking almost as much as he loves calculus.
And it's true that "Hollywood" Corbitt Hollingsworth always has something to say, whether it's for better or for worse. But this group typically is able to ride the ups and downs that comprise the weekly competition of picking skills.
But the panel is finding it harder and harder these days to keep quiet. Following another successful week, the panel gathered for another press conference to answer questions about their performance last week and this week's games.
But there were two big surprises when the panel came together. Hollingsworth strolled to the microphones and was set to introduce Burchfield, who is leading the panel by six games and accurately picking 76 percent of the time. Just as Hollywood finished his remarks about another incredible week for The Brain, one in which he went 12-1 for the second time this season, Hollingsworth unzipped his jacket and revealed he was wearing a Burchfield jersey.
"I just wanted to feel like a winner," Hollingsworth would later say. But an even stranger event took place following Hollingsworth's unusual choice of clothing. Burchfield pulled his best Tim Tebow impression, skipping out on the press conference despite compiling the top record this week.
A certain Florida football coach would later say that Burchfield was just frustrated by having to pick mediocre games and not being able to fully show off his picking skills. But not all on the panel were impressed with Burchfield's display of humility. "Touchdown" Tommy Millsaps, who was moved back to his rightful spot at the rear this week, thinks the pressure is getting to Burchfield.
"He's cracking under pressure. He can't handle the heat of being in first. But then again, he's never been in this position before so it's understandable. Mainly though, it is what it is," said Millsaps.
Steve "He Hate Me" Wall, who is trying to do the unthinkable by winning the picks contest in his rookie season, said Burchfield still has a lot of work to do to beat him.
"I've set him up perfectly. I'm six games back, who cares? All I've got to do is be one game better than him from here on out and this championship is mine. I'm already thinking of where I'm going to put that trophy for winning this silly little competition," said Wall. For Wall to accomplish his goal, he's going to need Auburn to end their three-game losing streak as that's the only game in which he differed from Burchfield.
Of course, "Mailman" John Taylor might also have a say in who claims the hardware when the season comes to a close.
"These punks need to remember who has won the title the past two years. I know only one counted, but everyone knows I'm the two-time defending champ. When this season is finished, I'm changing my nickname from Mailman to Three-peat," said Taylor.
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