John Clay's Sidelines

Florida

SEC links for Wednesday:

• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Austin Ward reports that Janzen Jackson’s return will tighten defense.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports on Florida basketball’s win over Florida State.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida turned up the defense to beat the ‘Noles.
• Gary Laney of The Advocate previews tonight’s LSU-Connecticut matchup in the pre-season NIT.
• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register previews tonight’s Auburn-High Point basketball game.
• Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Auburn-Alabama rivalry more heated for fans than players.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that MSU coach Dan Mullen refers to Ole Miss as “the team up north.”

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Jackson’s return helps UT; Florida beats FSU’

Earlier today, I posted a pic I took with my cell phone on Monday, through the rain, of a car in front of me with a “Beat Tennessee” sticker on the back.

Got an e-mail this afternoon from UK assistant athletic director Rodney Stiles.

Had people stopping me during lunch, telling me that my car was on your blog site. Didn’t know you were tracking me! We made some of those stickers up yesterday for fun. The attached photo shows one of our FATHEAD style stickers!!!! Maybe the fever is catching on! BEAT TENNESSEE!

And he sent along this picture. (I’m also using it as the banner above.)

Here are the UK team stats through five games, both in Excel files using Google Docs:

• Click here for the game-by-game team stats in Excel.

• Click here for the game-by-game individual stats in Excel.

Pete Thamel of the New York Times fell for a tweet from a fake John Wall twitter account. Honest mistake. I did the same with a fake Steve Kragthorpe twitter account before football season.

Janzen Jackson

Word out of Knoxville is that Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin announced today at his weekly press conference that he has re-instated defensive back Janzen Jackson, and the freshman will start Saturday at Kentucky.

Excerpt from Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel:

Tennessee freshman safety Janzen Jackson, who had charges against him in an attempted armed robbery case dropped Monday, was reinstated to the football team today.

“Janzen will join team activities today.” head coach Lane Kiffin said at a 12:30 p.m. media event at Neyland Stadium.

Kiffin said Jackson will start Tennessee’s last regular-season game at 7 p.m. Saturday against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky.

The Lake Charles, La. native is considered a future star at Tennessee, and had played well as a freshman before his run-in with police.

After this morning’s practice, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks gives the injury report, compliments Tennessee quarterback Jonathon Crompton and gives the team’s Thanksgiving plans.

Update: Pat Forde gives a shout-out to Brooks but picks Tennessee to beat the Cats.

ESPN’s SEC blogger Chris Low gives Kentucky coach Rich Brooks another endorsement this morning.

An excerpt:

Regardless of what happens this weekend in the Bluegrass, Brooks has accomplished something that hasn’t been done at Kentucky in nearly 100 years — win at least seven games for four consecutive years — and he’s turned in some of his best work in the twilight of what’s been a long and illustrious coaching career.

Was on-line with Steve Moss and Greg Gorham on WKYT and Kentucky Sports Network’s SportsFirst Live this morning. Greg was nice enough to send along the embed code.

Taken from my car yesterday:

(Photo by John Clay)