SEC links for Tuesday:
Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger writes that player defections are troublesome new trend: “In all the stories about all these players, one quote jumped out at me like Michael Jordan soaring up for a jump shot. It was this from Romero Osby, who played behind Kodi Augustus and Ravern Johnson at State. Said Osby: ‘It’s just a lot of stuff that was in the way of me being able to showcase what I really can do. It’s no knock on Ravern or Kodi.’”
Seth Emerson of The State on Murphy Holloway’s transfer: “Murphy Holloway was watching ESPN on Monday when he saw an item on the scroll stating he was transferring from Mississippi to Clemson. That caught the Irmo native by surprise.
Tim Tucker of the AJC reports on Georgia quarterback pleading guilty to sexual battery: “Former University of Georgia quarterback Zach Mettenberger pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery stemming from a March 7 incident in a bar in Remerton, Ga., near Valdosta. Mettenberger entered the plea in Lowndes County Superior Court and was sentenced under the Georgia First Offender Act to 12 months probation and 80 hours of community service. He also was fined $2,000 and banished from Valdosta for a year.
Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Dan Mullen is the future of college football: “I met him last week in Birmingham while he was schlepping from one end of nowhere to the other, spreading the gospel for Mississippi State. While Auburn coaches were rolling in stretch limousines and luxury buses and Nick Saban was flying in helicopters and lear jets around Dixie, Mullen began the annual “Road Dogs Tour” in a motor home, taking the message to 12 different places.”
Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Bruce Pearl carries Tennessee’s banner high: “Then a football spokesman took the microphone. He praised the direction a new coach would guide the program, but warned there might be rough waters ahead. Finally, the men’s basketball coach took the podium – to a standing ovation.
Austin Ward of the News-Sentinel reports that Bryce Brown’s return to UT is unlikely: “The former No. 1 running back recruit in the country has had some contact with Tennessee coach Derek Dooley since Brown decided to leave the program before spring practice started in March. The conversations clearly don’t seem to be leading Brown back to the Vols, though.”
Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that Derek Dooley is happy with Vols’ progress: “‘We accomplished a lot this spring, and I was real proud of how it ended. I think it really started, given the nature of the change, with both sides learning each other. It was about us learning about our personnel – our personnel strengths, our personnel concerns – and I feel like we have a real good handle on that. And it was about the players learning about the coaches, too – learning what our expectations are on them, what we’re doing schematically, how we coach them, how we support them. Of all the things, I feel like those are the most important, and I feel real good about both sides of that equation.’”
Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida baseball’s surge is powered by freshmen: “Oh, they have been consistent. Take Nolan Fontana. The shortstop has committed one error in 190 chances while hitting .280 and leading the team in walks. Or take catcher Mike Zunino, who has raised his batting average 62 points in the last few weeks and has committed two errors this season.”
Sheldon Mickles of The Advocate reports LSU baseball wants a serious attitude: “Not even LSU coach Paul Mainieri could deny that when his team went back to work Monday after being swept in a three-game Southeastern Conference weekend series with Florida, extending the program’s longest losing streak in 28 years. It’s a perception 17th-ranked LSU (32-13) will try to avoid when Southeastern Louisiana (33-13) comes to Alex Box Stadium today for a 6:30 p.m. game.
Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser reports on Auburn football searching for another edge: “The coach was in town Monday to participate in the Montgomery Auburn Club’s annual barbecue banquet. He spent plenty of time answering questions about the NCAA’s latest rule, and Auburn should consider it a badge of honor. Assistant coach Trooper Taylor indicated as much last week, saying “we must be doing something right” when the NCAA begins restructuring its policies to undermine Auburn enterprises.
