John Clay’s Sidelines

SEC links for Friday:

• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Bruce Pearl is happy to welcome Tobias Harris to Tennessee.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Harris puts the Vols in real paradise.
• Chip Towers of the AJC reports on the sudden death of Georgia’s beloved mascot, UGA VII.
• Tim Gayle of the Montgomery Advertiser reports that Alabama players are critiquing Nick Saban’s action abilities.
• Edward Aschoff of the Gainesville Sun writes on Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, who could be in demand for head coaching spots.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Nabbing Tobias Harris puts Vols in paradise’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Update: Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports reports that sources say Wall is likely to be cleared before the Sept. 13 opener.

Update: Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal adds a thought about the Wall situation.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• The ESPN story on John Wall’s eligibility issue.
• Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline reports that UK is confident that Wall will be eligible, but may miss 3-4 games.
• My two cents on the Wall story.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that Patrick Patterson embraces the leading-man role.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader gives the UK football team mid-season grades.
• Chip also reports that Derrick Locke has been upgraded to probable for Saturday.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on the SEC Media Day back-and-forth between John Calipari and Bruce Pearl.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Is John Wall issue no big deal?’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Bruce Pearl thinks Tennessee’s seniors have the talent for a great ending.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Tyler Smith has Vols excited.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Billy Donovan is looking forward to Florida’s season.
• Joe Person of The State writes on South Carolina’s now-star receiver Alshon Jeffery.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that change will be tough for Mark Richt, but not for Paul Johnson.
• Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reports that some Bulldogs are in off-the-field trouble.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports on a Florida gymnast arrested for storing nine guns.
• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that Georgia’s Richard Samuel is having trouble meeting expectations.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News thinks the NCAA should leave its trash talk on the field.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee, Florida excited for hoops start’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News reports that the Gator Bowl is in and the Independence Bowl is out of the SEC lineup.
• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean argues that Florida should not let Tim Tebow take the field against LSU.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Tebow decision will likely be a gametime decision.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that the Florida defense remembers the 2007 LSU game.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that LSU’s Charles Scott has his swagger back.
• The AJC reports that there are preliminary talks about moving Georgia-Georgia Tech to a September game at the Georgia Dome.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Gator Bowl to join SEC lineup’

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl has apologized for the off-the-cuff remark he made while speaking to a boosters group.

Here’s the remark that landed the Tennessee hoops coach in hot water:

“I’ve got a tough job. I’ve got to put these guys from different worlds together, right?’ Pearl said. “I’ve got guys from Chicago, Detroit … I’m talking about the ‘hood! And I’ve got guys from Grainger County, where they wear the hood.”

SEC links for Wednesday:

• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss freshman was asked to re-take the ACT, and passed.
• Writing for the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum says Alabama is now expected to dominate.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that UT coach Bruce Pearl let his private side show.
• Wes Rucker of the Times Free Press reports that now Lane Kiffin will meet his mentor.
• Chris Low of ESPN writes that now the real fun begins for State’s Dan Mullen and Auburn’s Gene Chizik.
• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register reports that Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzhan didn’t like the pace of his offense.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Ole Miss freshman re-takes ACT’

SEC links for Friday:

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that NCAA has delayed interviews in case of Mississippi State basketball recruit Renardo Sidney.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that LSU coach Paul Mainieri shares CWS title with family and friends.
• Gainesville Sun reports Timberwolves could pay $500,000 buyout to get Nick Calathes out of his Greek contract.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that a massive clean-up project awaits ex-Tennessee coach Kevin O’Neill at Southern Cal.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News on whether Nick Saban deserves a new deal.
• Joe Person of The State writes that a new conditioning coach has brought a different approach to South Carolina.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Interviews delayed in case of MSU’s Sidney’

SEC links for Thursday:

• In the Mobile Press-Register, Tommy Hicks reports that Mike Slive laid down the law to SEC coaches.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun reports that Slive wants tougher basketball schedules.
• Andreu also reports that UT basketball coach Bruce Pearl is taking up for new football coach Lane Kiffin.
• Tony Barnhart of the AJC says don’t expect more apologies from Kiffin.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Billy Donovan is about to take a dip in shark-filled waters, for real.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Mike Slive sets tone at conference meetings’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Tennessee media is reporting on Bruce Pearl’s engagement. Report: “Telling fans he wants to remain at Tennessee, Pearl introduced his fiancee Brandy Miller during a stop in her hometown of Sevierville by saying, “If you think I’m leaving that for Memphis, you’re crazy.”
• Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Pearl and Lane Kiffin are on a working road trip. Edwards: Kiffin and Pearl, who teased each other during appearances along the way Monday, have gotten to know one another during the last three weeks on the road speaking to various alumni groups around the state and the southeast. “It’s like being with a rock star. Some interesting stories I can’t tell on TV,” Kiffin said of traveling with Pearl. “Being around our people, that’s been unbelievable.”
• Paul Finebaum writes in the Mobile Press-Register that Auburn is on the prowl for attention. Finebaum: “And the most peculiar thing was seeing Nick Saban desperately searching for a way to explain a recruiting trick that he didn’t think of first. Before an alumni function in Birmingham Thursday night, the first question from the media was about Tiger Prowl. Two days earlier in Memphis, Saban was asked the same question. Both times, Saban looked and sounded as if he had just been waterboarded.”
• In The Advocate, Kyle Whitfield writes on LSU coach Les Miles and the Twitter craze. Whitfield: Les Miles congratulated top-three NFL draft pick Tyson Jackson, wished former LSU wide receiver Demetrius Byrd a speedy recovery after his car accident and bragged about the Tigers’ performance in the annual spring football game. The LSU football coach did all that not at a news conference or radio interview, but during a five-day span using his new Twitter account.”

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Bruce Pearl’s rules of engagement’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Ron Higgins of the Commercial-Appeal reports that UT basketball coach Bruce Pearl thanked John Calipari for getting the Vols’ staff a nice raise.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports on Alex Tyus pulling a Billy Donovan and returning to Florida.
• The Athens Banner-Herald reports that new Georgia basketball coach Mark Fox has added his first oral commitment.
• The AJC reports that the NCAA has denied Georgia coach Mark Richt a waiver to attend ceremony.
• In the Birmingham News, Ian Rapoport writes that Bama coach Nick Saban is ready to battle for Memphis recruits.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum asks if Saban is on thin ice with fans?

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Pearl thanks Calipari; Tyus back at Florida’