John Clay’s Sidelines

SEC links for Friday:

• Memphis Commercial-Appeal columnist Ron Higgins argues that Lane Kiffin is a bad fit for Tennessee. “If Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton hires unemployed 33-year-old Lane Kiffin as the Vols’ next football coach, he’s basically sending the following message to Tennessee fans: ‘I’m cheap and I’m easy.’ Cheap because Kiffin, fired by the NFL’s Raiders earlier this season as their head coach, has no buyout. Easy because Hamilton doesn’t have to sweat during the Christmas holidays about making a hire to replace the departing Phillip Fulmer.”

• In the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen writes of how Tennessee star Eric Berry is standing by his coach and his team. “Amid a room full of angry and emotional teammates, Tennessee’s Eric Berry sat at a table three weeks ago and took questions from reporters. The team had just learned Coach Phillip Fulmer had been forced out, and the sophomore safety was asked whether he would consider transferring. ‘Next question,’ Berry said.”

• Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes that Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis plans a quiet exit. “John Chavis’ game plan for Saturday night includes a new wrinkle: an exit strategy. When the final horn sounds at Neyland Stadium, the man known as Chief will walk to the Tennessee locker room one last time, get dressed and reach for his car keys.”

• At Mr. SEC, Jimmy Hyams takes a look at which juniors might jump to the NFL. “Quarterback Tim Tebow has won a Heisman Trophy, run up gaudy numbers, set an NCAA record for touchdowns and elevated Florida to a top five team this season. The left-hander is 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, ranked second in the nation in passing efficiency last year, and became the first player in NCAA Division 1-A history to run for 20 touchdowns and pass for 20 touchdowns in the same season. He is a marketing dream. But he doesn’t project to be a first-round pick and probably won’t turn pro after this season, according to NFL draft analyst Mike DeTillier.”

• In the AJC, columnist Jeff Schultz predicts that Georgia Tech will beat Georgia. “The Dogs are the better team — when they care. But they struggled against Kentucky and Auburn, not long after Florida stole their polarhood. The line has dropped to eight points. I’m not sure Tech has enough offense. But I’m pretty sure which team still has a pulse. Give me the eight points. In fact, give me an upset. And make me a sandwich.”

• Birmingham News columnist Ray Melick writes that Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville is confident, but wonders if that is enough. “If this is a coach whose job is on the line, whose future depends on the outcome of what happens Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, you’d never know it to look at him.”

• In the Tennessean, Maurice Patton writes that Vandy mirrors Wake Forest. “After Vanderbilt won a 24-20 decision at Winston-Salem, N.C., in the 2005 opener for both teams, the Demon Deacons have raised their game to a level rarely seen at that school. Wake put together an 11-win season and won the ACC Championship in 2006, then came back with nine victories — including a bowl triumph — last year. Meanwhile, the Commodores have hinted at similar strides, claiming some big wins over the past four seasons amid some inexplicable stumbles.”

• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida-Florida State has been a streaky series. “Florida and FSU began their series in 1958 and since then the rivalry has had it all — blowouts, nail-biters, pre-game fights, national title implications. But more than anything, the series has been about streaks.”

• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that pride is on the line for LSU. “Stripped down to its foundation, today’s game is basically all about pride for LSU (7-4, 3-4 SEC) and Arkansas (4-7, 1-6) in the 14th annual Battle for the Golden Boot. Who thought the 4-foot, 175-pound, 24-karat gold monster of a trophy would mean so much all of a sudden?”

• In the Clarion-Ledger, David Brandt writes that Ole Miss has not forgotten its collapse. “In the year that’s passed since the infamous failed fourth-and-1 running play led to Ole Miss blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter of last season’s Egg Bowl, the mood toward that moment - and the game in general - has changed significantly from a Rebel perspective.”