(AP photo/Butch Dill)
In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that Nick Saban knows its lonely at the top: “After hearing this, I was surprised Saban allowed the school to even schedule a national championship celebration last Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. With this attitude, he probably would have preferred his team to runs stadium steps. Of course, the party was only for an hour, which was perhaps why the attendance read 38,000 vs. 98,000, which might have been the number if the school had allowed something fun to happen like maybe a parade and day long party vs. a scripted made-for-DVD event.”
Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal on Renardo Sidney: “On Friday, Mississippi State filed a response to the NCAA’s statement of facts regarding its recently completed amateurism evaluation of Sidney, the 6-foot-10 Bulldog freshman. That has given head coach Rick Stansbury reason to believe that a resolution might finally come after eight-plus months of NCAA scrutiny.”
Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News previews tonight’s Alabama-Tennessee clash: “The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team didn’t need to look any stronger than it did in its just-concluded homestand – but the Alabama Crimson Tide will be facing a bolstered version of the Volunteers (14-2, 2-0 SEC) when it hosts No. 8 UT at Coleman Coliseum tonight. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. and will be nationally televised on ESPN.”
Tim Gayle of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Anthony Grant is looking for intensity: “Before the first-year Alabama head coach can worry too much about the Vols, he has to figure out what’s going on with his team’s sporadic play. The Crimson Tide took a step backward in its game at Arkansas on Saturday, displaying little intensity in the paint and less effectiveness on the perimeter in dropping a 71-59 decision to the Razorbacks.”
Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida is preparing for a cram session: “Call this week a cram session for the Florida men’s basketball team. To build off their first Southeastern Conference win, the Gators (12-5, 1-2 SEC) will travel to Arkansas for a 9 p.m. tipoff Thursday night against the Razorbacks. Then, less than 48 hours later, Florida will return home to face South Carolina on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the O’Connell Center.”
Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes on Gus Malzahn remaining at Auburn: “Auburn’s biggest commitment already had pledged himself to Gene Chizik and company, but after the rumor came up over the weekend that he might go elsewhere, the recruit in question renewed his commitment. Gus Malzahn said he’s not going anywhere.”
Mr. SEC’s John Pennington on why Tennessee kept being turned down: “One of the toughest sells for the Vols was their assistant coaching situation. Most coaches like to bring most – if not all – of their previous staffs with them when they take on a new job. But Lane Kiffin had talked UT into building a “super staff” last year. Several of his coaches were inked to big dollar, multi-year deals. If those assistants had been fired by Tennessee, the school would have been on
the hook for more than $2 million dollars had they not gotten new jobs.”
Kevin Melton of The State reports that Auburn has edge for top running back: “Byrnes running back Marcus Lattimore said Monday that he has narrowed his college choices to USC and Auburn – and Auburn holds a slight advantage. But contrary to several reports, he has not decided which SEC school he will attend.”
Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel talks to UT athletics boss Mike Hamilton about the coaching search: “He should be. Brown’s career has spanned 30 years and seven professional franchises. He’s worked with countless Pro Bowlers, mostly as a receivers coach, and garnered enough respect from NFL head coaches that he has been named assistant head coach and passing game coordinator. However, that resume wasn’t enough to convince UT athletic director Mike Hamilton that the Sweetwater native was the right man for the job. Instead, Hamilton had all but made the decision to hire Derek Dooley before interviewing Brown on Friday.”
Gary Laney of The Advocate writes on LSU’s Garrett Green: “Garrett Green didn’t shoot the ball well for LSU in its 72-58 loss Saturday at Florida, going just 2-for-9 from the field and missing both of his free throw attempts. But he did play more than he has all season, 22 minutes, for a reason.”
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