John Clay's Sidelines

(AP photo)

SEC links for Friday:

• Jeremiah Masoli-Cameron Newton showdown looming, writes Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Auburn’s offensive line clearing the way for big numbers, reports Charles Bennett of the Anniston Star.
• It has been awhile since Bo Jackson was this excited, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• Chris Rainey will play for Florida against Georgia, reports Tyler Jett of Florida Today.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun says Florida offense won’t drastically change this week.
• What if Mark Richt doesn’t beat Florida? asks Mark Bradley of the AJC.
• Florida-Georgia will still have big affect on East, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Alshon Jeffery now among best receivers in nation, writes Travis Haney of Charleston Post and Courier.
• LSU’s defense is looking to get better, writes Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Alabama basketball trying to get its Swedish-born freshman adjusted, writes Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Urban Meyer should have sent a loud message about domestic violence.
• If Chris Rainey is cleared to play, he could be a focal point, writes Mike McCall of the Miami Herald.
• The Rainey situation reveals priorities, writes David Ching of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Florida tinkering with its struggling offense, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• This is the week Georgia’s defense needs to step up, writes Jeff Schultz of the AJC.
• Derek Dooley was in one foul mood after Tuesday’s practice, reports Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Steve Spurrier has backed off his play-calling duties, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Alabama’s Julio Jones is not letting pain affect the way he plays, reports Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Ole Miss gets the next shot at slowing Cameron Newton, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.
• But that will be a tough task for the Rebels, reports Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily News.

SEC links for Thursday:

• Bruce Pearl aware he’s the “elephant in the room,” reports Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Urban Meyer defends bringing Chris Rainey back to Florida, reports Chris Low of espn.com.
• In a Q & A with Mike Herndon of the Huntsville Times, SEC commissioner Mike Slive says the NCAA needs a national strategy on dealing with agents.
• College football games taking too long, argues Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.
• High drama in the SEC West, writes John Zenor of the AP.
• LSU has gone from the ridiculed to the recognized, writes Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Despite broken hand, Alabama’s Julio Jones could still play against Ole Miss, reports Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Close wins building confidence at Auburn, writes Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Vanderbilt basketball will have two scoring threats, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• At Florida, Steve Addazio says he tunes out the boos, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Caleb King suspension causes tailback problems at Georgia, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.

Florida's Chris Rainey has returned to practice. (AP photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• SEC games on CBS draw best TV ratings since 1999, reports the AP.
• After two-game losing streak, Chris Rainey returns to practice at Florida, reports Edward Aschoff of the Gainesville Sun.
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel has one question for Urban Meyer about Chris Rainey.
• Georgia suspends running back Caleb King for two games, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Tennessee hopes to build off Elite Eight appearance, if Bruce Pearl can keep his job, writes Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that it’s time Auburn stops going belly-up against Arkansas.
• Sting of defeat lingering with Crimson Tide, writes A. Stacy Long of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• D.T. Shackelford has turned into a leader at Ole Miss, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Leon Berry’s injury has created a major void at Mississippi State, writes Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily News.
• Vanderbilt freshman receiver Jonathan Krause is catching on fast, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.

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’

Chris Rainey (AP photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Chris Rainey has to be dismissed from Florida football team, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Rainey is the 30th player arrested in Urban Meyer’s tenure, reports Rachel George of the Sentinel.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Derek Dooley has work cut out for him at Tennessee.
• Mark Ingram looks good in return to Alabama practice, reports Don Kausler, Jr. of the Birmingham News.
• Jeremiah Masoli is starting to settle in at Ole Miss, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Georgia’s goals should start with knocking somebody down, writes Jeff Schultz of the AJC.
• It’s win or else for Mark Richt and the Bulldogs, blogs Chris Low of espn.com.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Auburn coaches want a repeat performance from Nick Fairley.
• Expect more of Mississippi State’s two-quarterback system against LSU, reports Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Da’Rick Rogers cleared of charges at Tennessee, reports Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Luke Stocker

SEC links for Monday:

• Ex-Madison Southern star Luke Stocker is a man of many roles at Tennessee, writes Patrick Brown for the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that fans need a list for loathing.

• All eyes are on the quarterbacks at South Carolina, writes Joe Person of The State.

• Freshman Trey Burton may take over Tebow role at Florida, reports Anthony Chiang of the Orlando Sentinel.

• Chris Rainey adjusting to a new role for Gators, writes Ray FitzGerald of the Gainesville Sun.

• Tommy Hicks of the Mobile Press-Register offers some things to think about as SEC season approaches.

• A Vanderbilt linebacker learned life lessons in Africa, writes Mike Organ of the Tennessean.

• The AJC has a photo gallery from Georgia fans’ picture day.

• Josh Jasper is old reliable when it comes to kicking field goals at LSU, writes Gary Laney of The Advocate.

• Alfred Davis ready to anchor Arkansas’ defensive line, writes Robbie Nieswanger of the Arkansas News.

SEC links for Thursday:

• Alexis Stevens of the AJC reports that one Florida player has called Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin “a bozo.”
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Adams is a straight-shooter.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss lineman Rishaw Johnson has found Houston Nutt’s doghouse.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that tailback Richard Samuel made the most of a Georgia scrimmage.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore is staying grounded.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Florida player calls Kiffin “a bozo”’

Chris Rainey

I’ve caught some grief for picking Florida to whip up on UK 35-7 Saturday. Skeptics say I should have more faith in the UK defense. And I do, to a point. Kentucky’s defense is much-improved over most any other recent year you could mention. Kentucky’s pass defense is terrific, statistically among the top five in the nation. But the run defense, less so.

Alabama rushed for 282 yards in the Tide’s 17-14 win over Kentucky in Tuscaloosa back on Oct. 4. The Tide averaged 5.8 yards per tote. Arkansas rushed for 236 yards last Saturday on the way to building, then blowing a 17-0 lead. The Razorbacks averaged 4.6 yards per carry.

As sage CBS analyst Gary Danielson mentioned during the Florida-LSU telecast, Florida appeared to stumble onto something in the fourth quarter of the Gators’ 38-7 win at Arkansas. Offensive boss Dan Mullen started giving the ball to his dynamic duo of Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey. Each player rushed for 103 yards against the Razorbacks. That’s each player. Demps followed that with a 129-yard effort in UF’s 51-21 thumping of LSU. It was the first time since Neal Anderson in 1982 that a Florida freshman had rushed for back-to-back 100-yard games.

Continue reading ‘Why Florida isn’t a good matchup for Cats’