John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Christian Laettner coming to Lexington to coach in Villains game.
• Kentucky staff visits No. 1 prospect Shabazz Muhammad.
• Kentucky recruiting could experience a slight letdown, says SI’s Luke Winn.
• Kentucky officially off Mitch McGary’s final list.
• South Carolina’s point guard Bruce Ellington is now returning footballs.
• Matt Roark follows his early drops with his first touchdown catch.
• Wide receiver LaRod King wants everybody on the same page.
• South Carolina’s offense is behind new starting quarterback Connor Shaw.
• Don’t count Stephen Garcia out just yet, says Brad Senkiw.
• Raymond Sanders: Dap King.
• Previewing Saturday’s Kentucky-South Carolina football game.
• Doron Lamb returns for his sophomore season with a purpose.
• Kentucky’s point guard transfers are working to improve.
• John Calipari has a bad case of Rick Pitino envy, writes Rick Bozich.
• The hilarious whine from many quarters over Calipari’s comments.
• John Calipari’s subtle geography lesson.
• After knee surgery, Jon Hood wants to use recovery time to improve.
• UK freshman Anthony Davis grew into a big man overnight.
• More details on those Big Blue All-Stars games.
• UK women’s soccer reaches highest ranking in school history.
• It’s tough to hate the most hated man in Kentucky.

(AP photo)

As expected, Steve Spurrier has grabbed his under-performing offense and given it a good shake in anticipation of Saturday’s game against visiting Kentucky. USC managed just 13 points last week against an Auburn team that was last in the SEC in average yards allowed per game.

So to the bench goes erratic starting quarterback Stephen Garcia. To the field goes former backup Connor Shaw.

Here are 10 things to know about Gamecocks’ new starter:

• He’s a 6-foot-1, 204-pound sophomore from Flowery Branch, Georgia.
• Started season-opener against ECU, breaking streak of 28 straight starts by Garcia.
• Shaw was benched when the Gamecocks fell behind East Carolina 17-0.
• In two games, Shaw has completed four of 11 passes for 29 yards.
• Known as a good runner, he has gained 40 yards on nine carries so far this season.
• Played in nine games as a true freshman, completing 23 of 33 passes for 223 yards.
• Was team’s fourth-leading rusher last year, gaining 165 yards on 32 carries.
• Graduated from high school early and participated in team’s 2010 spring practice.
• His brother Jaybo Shaw is a quarterback at Georgia Southern.
• Spurrier on Saturday: “It’s Connor’s game. Unless he gets hurt, this is his game.”

SEC links for Saturday:

• NCAA interviews Bryce Brown for two hours about Lane Kiffin’s recruiting methods, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Freshman receiver Justin Hunter is held out of workouts by NCAA Eligibility Center, reports Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Arthur Jefferey ready to play again for Vols, writes Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Former Alabama basketball player Mikhail Torrance collapses after workout, reports Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
• John Pennington of Mr. SEC compares Les Miles to Barry Switzer, and hears about it.
• Alabama defense looks to improve in game-like scrimmage, reports Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald reports that opinions differ on mobility of Florida quarterback John Brantley.
• Connor Shaw off to a strong start at South Carolina, reports Neil White of The State.
• Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier reports that Marcus Lattimore is continuing his progress at USC.
• Zac Etheridge can’t wait to hit again at Auburn, reports Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Arkansas News does a Q&A with Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett.

(The State photo)

SEC links for Monday:

• South Carolina wants to take the next step, reports Joe Person of The State.
• Connor Shaw has the “it” to play right away as a Gamecock, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Jeremiah Masoli shows flashes of confusion and brilliance in first workout at Ole Miss, reports David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida men’s basketball could be ranked in top 10 to start season.
• Kirby Smart happy with decision to stay at Alabama, reports Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Coordinators prove stability for the Crimson Tide, writes A. Stacy Long of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Emmitt Smith is sorry for snubbing Gator Nation, blogs Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Tennessean columnist David Climer thinks Vanderbilt and Robbie Caldwell can’t afford to play it safe.
• Tommy Hicks of the Mobile Press-Register asks if the pre-season polls mean something?
• An Alabama-Michigan football game in Dallas is possible, but not imminent, reports Gentry Estes of the Press-Register.

Continue reading ‘SEC: South Carolina wants to take the next step’