John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Saturday:

• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that the example of Elizabethtown’s Chris Todd, named Auburn’s starting quarterback, makes it hard for others to quit.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the News asks if two offensive coordinators can be wrong about Chris Todd?
• Tony Barnhart of the AJC reports that Tony Franklin is happy that Todd won the quarterback job at Auburn.
• Joe Person of The State reports that South Carolina is holding down the hitting.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean reports that Vandy wants to see a freshman as its kicker.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Elizabethtown’s Todd is a comeback story’

The SEC issued a revised media policy today, rescinding a ban on posting video and audio from SEC-member news conferences and practices.

The league also will now allow TV stations to show game highlights for a week, and stations can use their own video for as long as they wish. The league is still banning on-line video from games.

As David Jones of Florida Today reports, the policy also eliminates the ban on non full-time employees with regards to receiving media credentials.

You’d think they might stop by now, but day three and the Rick-gate links continue:

• There’s the Herald-Leader report that records show Karen Sypher claims Pitino paid aid to marry her.
• Matt Jones at Kentucky Sports Radio is ecstatic that a news organization, well the New York Post, printed all of Karen Sypher’s allegations. (Matt continues to harp on the media, especially the Courier-Journal, for not reporting the rape allegation earlier. Wonder if he would have felt the same way had the same unsupported allegation been made about him? Just asking.)
• As Deadpsin says, when everyone thinks you’re crazy and no one will listen to your side, the New York Post will listen to your side and publish it.
• Here’s the Post story with Sypher’s ever-changing stories.
• FanHouse’s Clay Travis writes about Pitino’s PR team and the $3,000 lie.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes that Pitino should resign.
• Eric Crawford of the C-J writes that he would still let his son play for Pitino.
• Rick Bozich of the C-J blogs that we should remember that Sypher is one on trial.

Continue reading ‘Another day of Rick Pitino links’

Jerry Stackhouse

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• True Hoop’s Henry Abbott talks to Jerry Stackhouse about the John Wall dunk video.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader talks to Jodie Meeks about his super summer.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports on UK football’s Brandon Thurmond, back in action after three surgeries.
• Chip blogs that Rich Brooks showered praise on freshmen Larry Warford and Mertavious Neloms.
• Mike Decourcy of the Sporting News reports that John Calipari wants UK fans to show Rick Pitino respect.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that UK is in the mix for 2011 top hoops recruit Quincy Miller.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports on safety Winston Guy’s curvy road to Kentucky.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Jerry Stackhouse talks about that John Wall dunk’

SEC links for Friday:

• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News reports that ex-Elizabethtown (KY) star Chris Todd has been named starting quarterback at Auburn.
• The Montgomery Advertiser has more about Todd winning starting job at Auburn.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports on the injury to Georgia tailback Caleb King.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes on Tennessee center Josh McNeil.
• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that McNeil has come around to Lane Kiffin’s competitive concept.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Auburn names E-town’s Chris Todd as QB’

Update: Click the jump for video of ESPN’s Pat Forde and Skip Bayless debating the Pitino apology.

Did Rick Pitino’s well-timed apology on Thursday ring hollow?

Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News thinks so, and I am inclined to degree agree. Before he took to the cameras at 6:30, just at the start of the national TV news, I had told my wife that if the Louisville coach was smart he would throw himself on the mercy of the fan-base, admit his mistake, apologize profusely to the university and his fans, and vow to work harder to make Louisville a winner.

And while Pitino’s apology wasn’t as ridiculous or head-scratching as the bizarro one delieved by South Carolina Governor Mark “Appalachian Trail” Sanford, Rick still couldn’t quite pull an “I’m sorry” off with enough sincerity to make you feel truly sorry for him.

For one thing, he had to bring up 9/11, and in such a convulted and confusing way as to make you wonder if he was asking for sympathy, trying to play off his loss of his best friend and brother-in-law, Billy Minardi, in that attack, or if somehow he was blaming the city of Louisville for not helping him get through it.

What was that all about?

He also had to bring up the “great” season Louisville had last year, making it to the Elite Eight, as if to make sure and remind the fans that, “Hey, I am a good coach, you know.”

We know. That’s not the point.

Continue reading ‘Did Rick Pitino’s apology ring hollow?’

More links dealing with the Rick Pitino sex scandal:

MUST-READ: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports writes, “Who wants Pitino? Not the NBA.”

• NEW: Writing for NBC Bay Area, Josh Alper admonishes Pitino for using 9/11 as crutch.
• NEW: Paul Daugherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer says stop the moralizing.
• NEW: Gregg Doyel of CBS Sportsline writes that Pitino doesn’t deserve hate or firing squad.
• NEW: Jeff Pearlman of SI.com writes that Pitino case proves that winning comes before morality for coaches.
• Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News, who once wrote a book with Pitino, writes that the coach may never recover from scandal.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that Louisville defines itself by choosing to accept Rick Pitino’s apology.
• Tom Arenberg of the Birmingham News writes that Pitino’s actions has done irreparable harm.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes that Pitino’s apology was a necessary first big step.
• The C-J’s editorial on Pitino’s admission.
• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean writes that Louisville did not even give Pitino a slap on the wrist.
• The Baltimore Sun has a cross-section of opinion on the Pitino scandal.
• Yael T. Abouhalkah of the Kansas City Star calls it “Pitino’s pitiful affair.”
• Christine Brennan of USA Today wonders how Pitino can continue as coach.
• Will Graves of the AP writes that the Pitino damage will be hard to repair.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Paul Warford is happy to be back.
• The Indianapolis Star believes that Indiana, Duke and Kentucky are basketball target Kyrie Irving’s top choices.
• Tom Leach has some UK football practice notes.
• Leach also has a video interview with DeQuin Evans.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that freshmen Qua Huzzie and Ridge Wilson have been impressive early.
• Tyler Young of the Jessamine Journal reports that former UK walk-on Adam Delph will play at Asbury.

Continue reading ‘BBL: IU, Duke and UK top choices for Kyrie Irving?’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Alexis Stevens of the AJC reports that one Florida player has called Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin “a bozo.”
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Adams is a straight-shooter.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss lineman Rishaw Johnson has found Houston Nutt’s doghouse.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that tailback Richard Samuel made the most of a Georgia scrimmage.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore is staying grounded.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Florida player calls Kiffin “a bozo”’

Update: Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman writes that Pitino scandal is bound to affect recruiting.

Here’s my column saying that the scandal will affect Rick Pitino’s ability to his job.

But my friend Mike DeCourcy doesn’t quite agree. The Sporting News’ college basketball expert thinks Pitino will have some difficulty, but will still be able to pull in top-notch recruits.

Excerpt:

Second, there is bound to be some player out there – or, more likely, a family member of a player – who views this development as a reason to eliminate Louisville from consideration. Even if it’s only one player – and there’ll never be a way to tally them – losing somebody the program might otherwise have landed would be a negative consequence.

Generally, the impact will not be debilitating. Pitino’s contacts, particularly in New York and Seattle, are firmly established. The Cardinals will still land players capable of competing in the Big East.

Meanwhile, over at CBS Sportsline, Garry Parrish says coaches have been fired for less.

Continue reading ‘DeCourcy says Pitino won’t be badly hurt by scandal’