John Clay’s Sidelines

(AP photo/Wade Payne)

SEC links for Sunday:

Florida 41, Georgia 17

• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that Tim Tebow and Gators found themselves again.
• Dooley also writes that Florida clinched the SEC East.
• David Jones of Florida Today writes that Gators tell message boards to keep right on bashing.
• Peter Kerasotis of Florida Today writes that it was a special win for Tebow.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC writes that black helmets didn’t help the Georgia cause.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that Georgia was revealed as second-rate.
• Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald writes new uniforms, same results.
• Ron Higgins of the Commercial Appeal writes that Florida must now maintain its focus.
• Mark Schlabach of espn.com has the story on the Gators victory.

Tennessee 31, South Carolina 13

• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that UT’s win wasn’t just a fashion statement.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that were plenty of Tennessee treats.
• Dave Link of the News-Sentinel reports that black jerseys were requested by Tennessee players.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that black was grim for South Carolina.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that treat do the trick for Tennessee.
• Joe Person of The State writes that it was a Halloween horror show for South Carolina.
• Ron Morris of The State says a season’s worth of breaks caught up to the Gamecocks.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Black works for Tennessee, not for Georgia’

The man who casts this state’s vote in this year’s AP college basketball poll has placed Kentucky fourth on his pre-season ballot.

OK, the voter is my friend Rick Bozich, over at the Courier-Journal.

Rick has put his ballot on his blog, and has the Cats ranked fourth, with Louisville at No. 13. (That’s too high, by the way.)

You can see his entire Top 25 here.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Zagsblog reports that Doron Lamb enjoyed UK visit, but the prospect says he still has tough choice to make.
• Shira Springer of the Boston Globe reports on Antoine Walker’s financial troubles.
• Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Michal Gilchrist has taken a second unofficial visit to Villanova. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that UK is banged up heading into Mississippi State game.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes about the injury list.
• T.J. Walker of the Kentucky Kernel reports on UK volleyball’s five-set win over No. 20 LSU.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Doron Lamb likes UK, but says he has tough choice’

You can also follow updates via Twitter using the badge to the right of this post.

I’ll be liveblogging from the Rich Brooks press luncheon today. He usually hits the podium around 12:10. Because the wireless signal is a little iffy in Wildcat Den, I’ll stick to the old-school liveblog today.

• That’s the end of the press conference.

• “I think if you saw the discipline what we played on Saturday, the coaches did a really good job on that. . . . The lack of penalties, the lack of major breakdowns of coverage . . . thought they did an outstanding job. . . . ON offense, we didn’t have the procedure penalties, the block in the back, and the personal fouls to overcome which would have been difficult for us because we weren’t throwing the ball well.”

• Said the defense did a good job of reading its keys against Auburn’s misdirection on Saturday. “That’s probably our most complete defensive game against a difficult offense.”

• Says Trevard Lindley has “a legitimate chance” to return against Mississippi State.

• Says Corey Peters has “been outstanding all year,” and Ricky Lumpkin may have played his best game Saturday.

• Brooks says that yes, you have to be concerned about keeping Cobb and Locke healthy. “We need to have the balls in their hands,” but can’t just give them practice off.

• Says Russell would be the third back behind Smith and Allen if Locke can’t go on Saturday.

• Says of Locke’s knee has had some tearing, significant enough that it should settle down in “three or four days.” says don’t want to put “him out there if he’s dragging that leg because it makes him an easy target.”

• If Locke can’t play, says that Smith’s thumb is still not healed, “but it should be better this coming Saturday. He’ll have to be a bigger factor, as well as Moncel, and possibly our other backs.”

• Says Monroe plays a three-man front on defense, and does a “whole bunch of stunting and twisting. . . . This will be a major challenge for our offensive line.”

Continue reading ‘Liveblog: Rich Brooks press luncheon’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Rich Brooks saw progress, but not perfection in UK’s 21-14 win at Auburn.
• My column saying we should recognize the offensive line.
• Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader reports on UK women hoops landing a top recruit.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that win breates life into UK football.
• Dana O’Neil of espn.com writes about Big Blue Madness.
• Zagsblog writes on Tobias Harris and Kyrie Irving’s visit to Madness.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes on the quarterback rotation.
• B.W. Jones of the Kernel has the game story on Kentucky’s victory at Auburn.
• Tom Leach gives his take on the Kentucky win.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Could Harris and Irving both end up at UK?’

If you have a Twitter account and want to be included in the Liveblog, please send me an e-mail at jclay@herald-leader.com.

I won’t be at tonight’s Big Blue Madness. Instead, I’ll be on my way to Sweet “Not-My-Home” Alabama for Saturday’s night historic Morgan Newton debut, or so we think. (Who knows, maybe Rich Brooks will pull a fake field goal on us. The fake field goal punt against Clemson in the 2006 Music City Bowl, not the fake field goal last week at South Carolina.) I will be in transit when Madness is commencing, so you’ll have to fill me in with a full report.

Anyway, for those of you who will be attending/watching BBM tonight, what are you looking forward to the most?

Some Auburn links the day before UK visits the loveliest village on the plains:

• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News writes that the Auburn defense wants to step up.
• Evan Woodbery of the Huntsville Times reports on the Auburn receiver rotation.
• Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register writes on UK’s Derrick Locke.
• The Montgomery Advertiser writes on the Auburn offense.
• Jay G. Tate’s blog in the Montgomery Advertiser catches you up on Auburn news.
• Andy Bitter of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer writes that Auburn’s cornerbacks are trying to forget Arkansas.
• Andrew Gribble of the Opelika News writes on the Auburn defense.