John Clay's Sidelines

Video of Joker Phillips talking to the media today after practice. Phillips said that starting offensive guard Stuart Hines will not make the trip, that Billy Joe Murphy will start in his place, and that Moncel Allen will travel to Gainesville. Hines has an ankle injury. Allen has been bothered by a hamstring problem.

Phillips also said he was encouraged by the team’s practice on Thursday, and is looking forward to the trip. The Cats carry a 23-game losing streak to Florida into Saturday’s game (7 p.m., ESPNU).

Good piece on the strength of the SEC by ESPN’s Ivan Maisel, who gets his best quotes from retired UK coach Rich Brooks.

Excerpt:

Above all, however, is the simple fact that the SEC has more big, fast players than the other leagues. Before he arrived at Kentucky, Brooks spent 18 seasons as head coach at Oregon.

“The biggest difference is how good the defensive personnel is throughout the league,” said Brooks, who retired after last season. “Other leagues have just as good offensive personnel. The SEC has the best on defense I’ve ever seen. Speed is one thing. Physical is one thing. SEC defenses are both.”

This is Joker Phillips after Wednesday’s practice, when he was asked what it would mean to beat Florida.

Florida's Jeffery Demps. (AP photo/Danny Johnson)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

Commonwealth Stadium ranks 10th out of the 12 SEC football stadiums, writes Ron Morris of The State. (He has Georgia way too low, at No. 6)

Urban Meyer says Florida is focused only on Kentucky, reports David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

But Kentucky is last chance for Gators to tune up before Bama, writes Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post.

Kentucky expects Florida to play bomb’s away, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.

Florida offers a chance for a program-defining win, says my Thursday column.

Fast-improving Kentucky has turned the corner, writes Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun.

Dick Vitale lists Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones among his Diaper Dandies. (Hat tip to All Kentucky Hoops.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Gators claim they are serious about Kentucky’

(AP photo)

SEC links for Thursday:

Top basketball prospect chooses Vanderbilt over Florida and Louisville, reports Chip Cirillo of the Tennessean.

Alabama is getting serious about Arkansas, reports Don Kausler of the Birmingham News.

Bama’s defense hasn’t lost any steam, writes Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.

Hidden student fees are often diverted to athletics, reports Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News. (Via USA Today story.)

To beat South Carolina, Auburn must be more physical, reports Charles Bennett of the Anniston Star.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Top hoops prospect picks Vandy over U of L’

I was interested in this blog post from John Fay, Reds’ beat man for the Cincinnati Enquirer, on being frozen out by Brandon Phillips, and now a possible thaw.

Excerpt:

So today on my way to the ballpark, I stopped at the Cuban place around the corner from the hotel and had a bowl of soup. When I went to pay, the waiter said it had been taken care of. Phillips was the only other person in the place.

Be sure and read the rest of the story. It happens, on most every beat.

Daily Randoms for Wednesday:

Don’t forget second season premiere of Modern Family tonight.

At right is the Philadelphia Daily News cover today. You be the judge.

The Reds are step closer to the post-season, but the best news in Redsland was the way Edinson Volquez pitched last night. Volquez threw eight innings of three-hit baseball. To win in the playoffs, the Reds have to get good pitching, good starting pitching. Arroyo is solid. Cueto is capable. An effective Volquez would give Cincinnati three good starting pitchers going into a short series. I love Travis Wood, but he is a rookie. Need Volquez to keep it going.

Also need to avoid the Phillies. There are some of us who would like to see the so-called Frauds, who are supposedly not built for the post-season, win at least one series.

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel on the death of Leonard Skinner, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Truth be told, I own just one Lynyrd Skynard album, that given to me by an old girlfriend. But I must admit that when “Sweet Home Alabama” pops up on the radio, and Ronnie says, “Turn it up,” I turn it up. Every time.

Saw where one UK blog (no, not that UK blog) encouraged its readers to stop following Tony Wroten on twitter because Wroten was taking a home visit from Rick Pitino. Come on, now.

If I was going to do weekly SEC football power rankings, I should have started after the first week. There are already three weeks in the books. Still, if I did them today, they’d go: 1. Alabama, 2. Florida, 3. Arkansas (big SEC road win), 4. South Carolina (big SEC home win), 5. Auburn, 6. LSU, 7. Kentucky, 8. Georgia, 9. Tennessee, 10. Vanderbilt, 11. Mississippi State, 12. Ole Miss.

Continue reading ‘Reds, Skynyrd, Vick, TV and more Daily Randoms’

After tweeting this week that he had a less than pleasurable experience at Red Lobster – an patron employee was dissing the Kentucky football team — Randall Cobb said after practice this morning he will return to the Lexington restaurant.

Maybe even tonight.

He just has to have some of those cheesy biscuits.

(Hat tip KSR.)