John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes that Cats seek mojo after no-show on Saturday.
• Mark Story of H-L says UK fans didn’t pile on after Tim Tebow injury.
• Zagsblog says Tobias Harris will visit UK for Midnight Madness.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J writes that UK plans to be ready for third-ranked Alabama.
• Jody Demling of the C-J blogs that Dakotah Euton will pick between EKU and Akron.
• Chris Hine of the New York Times talks to former Georgia basketball star Tim Bassett, who has less than flattering things to say about UK and Adolph Rupp. (Hat tip Spam’s Wildcat Page.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Report says Tobias Harris to attend Madness’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Mike Griffin of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on collapse of UT basketball player Emmanuel Negedu.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun gives a Tim Tebow update.
• Edward Ashcoff writes for the Gainesville Sun that Florida’s offensive coordinator takes responsibility for Tebow hit.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports there is a good chance Tebow will play in two weeks.
• Don Kausler of the Birmingham News reports that Crimson Tide hurts for teammate, but moves on.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press Register writes that Dont’a Hightower’s spot will be tough to fill.
• Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News writes about filling the Hightower gap.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Defibrillator used to revive UT’s Negedu’

(AP Photo/James Crisp)

Three points from Rich Brooks press conference:

• 1. The Kentucky head coach won’t forget Friday’s 31-0 first-quarter deficit in quite awhile. He got upset again just talking about it. The problem is that it happened on the heels of the 28-0 first-quarter fiasco last year at Florida. So over two years, Kentucky has trailed the Gators 59-0 after one quarter. Brooks said he thought his program had moved past such embarrassments. It has not. Of course, Florida is the defending national champ and the top-ranked team in the country. But it was the stupid penalties and tentative play that stuck in Brooks’ craw, and for good reason. Having 48 hours to cool down did not appear to make the head coach any cooler.

• 2. Florida is very good. This week’s foe, Alabama, is very good. But Alabama presents a bit of a different problem. Florida was phyiscal. Alabama is even more physical. Nick Saban wants his teams to be tough, hard-nosed clubs that will smash you in the mouth. Yes, the Tide hit three big plays on Saturday. But it loves to grind it out on both sides of the ball. The one good thing about that is, as Brooks said, it’s a bit easier to prepare for a more conventional-style offense. And Kentucky did hang around with Bama last year. Still, the Crimson Tide has superior athletes.

• 3. Trevard Lindley vs. Julio Jones figures to be Saturday’s marquee matchup. Lindley is an All-American corner. Jones is an All-American receiver. Florida didn’t throw at Lindley the way Louisville challenged UK’s senior corner. But then Florida didn’t have to challenge anyone through the air. The Gators ran the ball so well, they didn’t need to go to the air all that much.