John Clay's Sidelines

After being in the mix for several other head coaching jobs, including Vanderbilt, Auburn’s creative offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is hired by Arkansas State. So the Tigers are replacing both their OC and DC after Ted Roof left for Central Florida.

In other news, Mississippi State won another basketball game. So did South Carolina as the Gamecocks rallied to beat Presbyterian.

• Malzahn new coach at Arkansas State, reports Birmingham News’ Charles Goldberg.
• Malzahn to be introduced this afternoon, says Joel Erickson of Ledger-Enquirer.
• Bost rescues Mississippi State, reports Brandon Marcello of C-L.
• South Carolina beats Presbyterian, reports Andrew Shain of The State.

(AP photo)

SEC links for Friday:

• Dee Bost and Renardo Sidney combine for 49 points as Mississippi State wins at Ole Miss 69-64, reports Brandon Marcell of the Clarion-Ledger.
• After winning the BCS title, Cameron Newton decides to enter the NFL draft, reports Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser. No surprise there. Now we will know when the receives the money.
• NCAA president calls for closing of the Newton loophole at convention, reports Paul Weber of the AP.
• Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee could be next head coach at Tulsa, reports the Arkansas News.
• LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton leaves for Maryland, reports Randy Rosetta of The Advocate.
• Vanderbilt center Festus Ezeli has been delivering in a key role, writes David Climer of the Tennessean.
• Trey Thompkins is leading Georgia’s resurgence, writes Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Mississippi State gets Sidney to come through’

Rick Stansbury (AP photo)

An interesting sidelight to this John Calipari-Rick Stansbury debate over the Enes Kanter-Dee Bost comparison comes in the statement Calipari put on CoachCal.com.

“I love what the NCAA did with Dee Bost. Dee Bost decided to put his name in the NBA draft; stayed in the Draft – meaning he was then a professional and could not come back and be an amateur. Yet, they looked at it, and said, wait a minute, common sense says, we’re going to let him play, sit him out some games and let him play.”

So is Calipari admitting that Kanter was a professional when he played on his club team in Turkey?

You almost have to wonder if Kentucky knows something here, that the NCAA is not going to just rule Kanter eligible. Given Cal’s comments about how the NCAA is not working against UK, but with UK, it’s almost as if the coach is employing a be-nice strategy in hopes that the NCAA takes a sympathetic look at Kanter’s situation. And Kentucky’s.

On the one hand, Stansbury’s implication that Kentucky gets special treatment – “Everybody is probably waiting to see (if) Kentucky gets something, is it because, with Kentucky, something’s maybe different than another school.” – is consistent with the Mississippi State coach’s whiny, and tired, persona.

On the other hand, not sure I see the Bost/Kanter comparison. Bost never played a game for a professional team. He put his name in the draft, waited past the deadline, didn’t get drafted, then wanted to come back. It’s similar to what former UK center Randolph Morris did a few years back. In that case, the NCAA allowed Morris to return to the Cats, but only after a 14-game suspension. And only after UK appealed the original one-year suspension. (At the time, Dick Vitale wrote, “Santa Claus came early to Lexington . . .”)

Cal is absolutely correct on one thing. The NCAA has a tough decision to make, one that will have long-range affects on young Europeans who want to come to the United States to play college basketball.

Auburn

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News thinks Florida would be much better with Cameron Newton.
• Florida’s Fun N’ Gun more run, run, run, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.
• Despite defenses knowing what’s coming, Bama’s wildcat has been very effective, writes Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Florida’s Trey Burton is a triple threat, writes Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that John Brantley faces a huge test in the Alabama defense.
• Mississippi State’s Dee Bost is still waiting on an answer from the NCAA, reports Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Georgia’s A.J. Green explains his jersey sale, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• With Tennessee up next, LSU’s John Chavis has no time for nostalgia, writes Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Matt Simms is surviving the SEC school of hard knocks, writes David Climer of the Tennessean.
• Gus Malzahn’s Auburn offense is more than just finesse, writes David Morrison of the Opelika News.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• South Carolina just one win one away from NCAA baseball title, reports Neil White of The State.

• Top Tennessee basketball prospect cuts list to Florida, Alabama, Vandy and Memphis, reports Chip Cirillo of the Tennessean.

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that MSU guard Dee Bost is looking for slack from the NCAA.

• Ole Miss has released a list of new mascot ideas.

• Carolina pitcher Blake Cooper finds way to ruin the Bruins, writes Ron Morris of The State.

• UCLA digs itself a hole in CWS final, reports Shandel Richardson of the Los Angeles Times.

• Cooper strikes out 10 in eight innings, reports Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.

• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger thinks its puzzling how Phil Turner and Rick Stansbury failed to connect.

• SEC basketball coaches pondering early scholarship offers, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.

• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News reports that Anthony Grant is comfortable with current Bama basketball roster.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: South Carolina one win away from NCAA title’

SEC links for Friday:

• Dee Bost could be returning to Mississippi State after all, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Expansion rumors won’t force SEC’s hand, writes Ron Higgins in the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
• Even with a possible Pac-16, SEC not ready yet to change its plans, reports Jeremy Fowler in the Orlando Sentinel.
• St. John’s spent its trip to Charlottesville watching video of Ole Miss ace, reports Parrish Alford of the NE Missisippi Daily Journal.
• Vanderbilt slugger Aaron Westlake regains his groove just in time for the NCAAs, writes Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Out in Los Angeles, everyone needs to contribute for LSU, reports Randy Rosetta of The Advocate.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Dee Bost could be back at Miss State’

(The State photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Joe Person of The State reports on top running back Marcus Lattimore choosing South Carolina at his church.
• Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier on Lattimore’s commitment.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Florida expects to sign nation’s top class.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that coaches must look under that pile of blue chips.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Mississippi State wants more poise from Dee Bost.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that Auburn’s Gene Chizik didn’t blink in face of Nick Saban’s machine.
• Ray Melick of the News writes that the party is just getting started.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press on the emotions of 18-year-olds.
• AP reports that new coaches have a case of signing day worries.
• Scott Hotard of the Baton Rouge Advocate reports that LSU is expected to sign another strong class.
• AJC reports that changes may be in store for Georgia facilities.

SEC links for Thursday:

• Clarion-Ledger columnist Rick Cleveland writes that Mississippi State is trying for some Oregon backing for its NCAA game with Washington.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes on Bulldogs’ point guard Dee Bost.
• In the Baton Rouge Advocate, Gary Laney reports on LSU’s preparations for NCAA opener with Butler.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith writes that Tennessee is tournament-tested.
• Also in the News-Sentinel, Mike Strange’s bracket has Vols playing twice.
• CBS Sportsline’s Dennis Dodd writes that there is a method to Lane Kiffin’s madness.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: League trio ready to kick off NCAA play’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• In the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen writes that Tennessee’s hopes of beating Kentucky lie with Wayne Chism.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith writes that there are plenty of storylines for UK-UT.
• Also in the News-Sentinel, John Adams writes on how UT walk-on Travis Wild tried to recruit Patrick Patterson to UT.
• In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Wally Hall writes that young Razorbacks were warned, but fell into a trap.
• In the Clarion-Ledger, Kyle Veazey writes on Mississippi State freshman Dee Bost.
• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News reports that ex-Auburn star Tracy Rocker is coming back as defensive line coach.
• Also in the News, Ray Melick writes that college football is the biggest winner in Tim Tebow’s return.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Robbie Andreu reports on Tebow’s shoulder surgery.
• In the Tennessean, Jessica Bliss writes that Phil Fulmer is accepting life without Tennessee.
• In the AJC, Tim Tucker writes on three off-season keys for Georgia football.