John Clay's Sidelines

We should be getting underway around 12:15 p.m. today.

• That’s the end of press conference.

• Says need to get John Conner on the field more, not just in two-back sets.

• Asked if Tebow is a pro quarterback, Brooks says, “I’m not in the business of evaluating other team’s players for the pros.” Says he thought some of his own talent would have been drafted higher.

• Said Tennessee didn’t give him a lot of time to throw.

• On Tebow, “I wondered if he could throw the football, and then I found out that he could.”

• On teams going after Trevard Lindley. “I hope they keep going after him,” he said.

• DeQuin Evans “took a major step forward, though he is still a work in progress. I think he’s going to be an outstanding player, if we can keep him healthy.”

• ON running game Saturday, “I thought we ran it pretty well. I was disappointed in our last possession, when we got the ball back and were unable to run the clock out. I thought we ran it pretty well given our limited amount of reps with the football.”

• On running game, “To win the football game, you have to be able to run the football, particularly in this league. . . . It keeps the defense a little honest.”

• Says UK’s safeties had problems on run-pass reads against Louisville, which ‘is a major concern.”

• On Florida offense, “Speed. And they spread you. They’re so dangerous . . . You’re assignment part of football is critical, and you’re tackling is imperative.” Tennessee didn’t miss tackles.

• Brooks says he played with a guy like Tebow, Terry Baker, but he didn’t weigh 230 pounds.

Continue reading ‘Liveblog: Rich Brooks press luncheon’

Note: I’ll be liveblogging the Rich Brooks weekly press conference today, which starts around 12:15 p.m., if not a bit before.

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes that high-powered Florida is trying to contain the flu.
• My column saying that both Florida and Kentucky will have plenty to prove on Saturday.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that Stacey Poole is down to UK and South Carolina after his visit to Lexington.
• Zagsblog reports that Tobias Harris plans to cut list to five after Wednesday.’
• Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal has some fun stats after a fun UK-U of L game.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J writes that Rich Brooks wants no blue flu.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that UK can’t make same mistakes against Gators.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Stacey Poole down to UK and South Carolina’

(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

SEC links for Monday:

• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss quickly turns attention to South Carolina for Thursday night game.
• Joe Person of The State writes that injuries have hit South Carolina, with highly-ranked Ole Miss on deck.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun reports that the flu has Florida’s attention.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Auburn is taking its big win in stride.
• Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald writes that Georgia-Arkansas had a hoops feel.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Tennessee’s performance in Gainesville boosted the Vols’ confidence.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Ole Miss, USC gear up for Thursday game’

(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Chip Cosby’s game story on Kentucky’s 31-27 win over Louisville.
• My column saying UK fans should be happy with the win.
• Mark Story’s column on Randall Cobb.
• Mark Maloney reports on Justin Burke’s homecoming.
• Jennifer Smith writes that prepping for Florida is easier after a win.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes that Kentucky finally won a game of misfires.
• Eric Crawford of the C-J writes that Steve Kragthorpe was fired-up, and so were the Cards.
• Brett Dawson has the C-J game story on the Louisville win.
• Video of Rich Brooks’ post-game press conference.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that there are still no bad wins for Kentucky.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes that Mike Hartline won the quarterback duel.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Kentucky-Louisville recap links’

(AP Photo/John Raoux)

SEC links for Sunday:

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Florida won, but Lane Kiffin’s still laughing.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that a Vol loss has rarely felt so good.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Tennessee was left in a Florida funk.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Lane Kiffin was proud of Vols’ performance.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida is unbeaten, top-ranked and frustrated.
• Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Tribune writes that Tennessee lost, but there was still Monte (Kiffin) Magic.
• Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that Lane Kiffin was exonerated.
• Peter Kerasotis of Florida Today writes that Florida had to settle for the win.
• Clay Travis of FanHouse writes that Urban Meyer missed his chance to dismiss Papa Smirk.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports on Georgia’s shootout win at Arkansas.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Florida wins, but Kiffin smiles’

(Photo Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer)

North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson broke Andre Woodson’s NCAA record for consecutive passes without an interception.

This from Ken Tysiac of the Charlotte Observer:

N.C.State quarterback Russell Wilson broke a national record in the third quarter on Saturday night.

Wilson’s 13-yard pass to James Washington late in the third quarter gave him 326 consecutive passes without an interception dating back to a game against Clemson on Sept 13 of last year.

The crowd gave a hearty cheer as the video boards at Carter-Finley Stadium announced that Wilson had set the record.

Andre Woodson of Kentucky set the previous Division I-A/Football Bowl Subdivision record of 325 passes without an interception in 2006-07.

N.C. State defeated Gardner-Webb 45-14.