John Clay’s Sidelines

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Ron Morris of The State doesn’t think that Steve Spurrier is washed up.
• Mr. College Football, Tony Barnhart, thinks it will be Alabama and Texas in the BCS title game.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports on Florida basketball winning its season tune-up.
• Don Kausler of the Birmingham News reports that Nick Saban thinks we should give the refs a break.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that criticizing refs is an easy call for some.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the News writes on Bama quarterback Greg McElroy.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes on Ed Orgeron’s return to Oxford.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Ole Miss is a tough Nutt to crack.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate reports that LSU looks to regroup after loss to Alabama.
• Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald writes on Georgia running back Washaun Ealey.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Robbie Andreu of Gainesville Sun reports on the Brandon Spikes eye-gouge slap suspension.
• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Tennessee may auction off those black jerseys.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that Alabama coach Nick Saban wants quarterback Greg McElroy to throw caution to the wind.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that Georgia is sticking with Joe Cox at quarterback.
• Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama and LSU are putting it all on the line.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee may auction black jerseys’

If you watched Alabama’s 35-7 win over Arkansas last Saturday, you may have heard CBS color man Gary Danielson make an interesting comment about the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback, Greg McElroy.

Halfway through the third quarter, here was the interplay between Danielson and play-by-play man Verne Lundquist:

Danielson: “You know who McElroy reminds me of? Kyle Macy, the old point guard.

Lundquist: “For Kentucky.”

Danielson: “He never looked like he was in a hurry. Just distribute the ball to all his good players. Nothing looks fancy. You kind of never got wowed by the guy. Nothing stoods out. He never did anything fancy with the ball, just passed it to the open guy and just make the play. That’s how McElroy gets you, just distributes the ball all around the field and makes the play. He never wows you with any one throw.”

When Alabama scored on a 14-yard pass from McElroy to Mark Ingram, Danielson returned to the comparison:

Danielson: “Kyle Macy. You gotta hit the open shot. You give him the free throw and he hits the open shot. There it is.”

As it happens, Danielson was a star quarterback at Purdue, graduating in 1973. A year later, Macy enrolled at Purdue and played his sophomore season there, 1975-76. He came to UK in 1976, sitting out the 1976-77 season, then was the starting point guard on UK’s national title team of 1978.

And McElroy will lead the third-ranked Crimson Tide into Commonwealth to play Kentucky on Saturday.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Kryie Irving says on his Twitter account that he is coming to Midnight Madness.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK is trying to jump-start its offense.
• My column saying that college football this year has shown you can’t put your eggs in the one-game basket.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that Taylor Wyndham’s hit came in at No. 1.
• Dawson also writes on the ones-versus-ones change at UK practice.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama is gaining attention after fast start.
• Don Kausler of the Birmingham News writes on Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Kyrie Irving tweets that he’s coming to Madness’

Alabama fans react at the end of a 34-24 win over Virginia Tech in their NCAA college football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

SEC links for Tuesday:

• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Georgia and South Carolina are seeking offensive sparks.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that Georgia back Caleb King is expected to play Saturday against South Carolina.
• Joe Person of The State writes on Carolina defensive end Devin Taylor.
• Chris Low of ESPN reports that Arkansas’ London Crawford has a broken collarbone.
• Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Alabama’s new wrinkle is here to stay.
• Tim Gayle of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy overcame early struggles.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun says that Florida has gone Banzai.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Georgia and Carolina looking for sparks’

Josh McNeil

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy could become a trivia answer.
• Paul Finebaum writes for the Mobile Press-Register that there is no question Alabama’s expectations.
• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that the career of Tennessee center Josh McNeil hangs in the balance.
• Josh Ward of the News-Sentinel reports that Nick Stephens is not takingn the shortsighted view after losing Tennessee quarterback battle.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser reports that Auburn’s Kodi Burns is showing drive in new role.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes on LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: High expectations at Alabama’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Ex-Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer tells AP he wants to be back on “the big stage.”
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that prize Mississippi State hoops signee Renardo Sidney has cleared first obstacle.
• Veazey also reports that State running back Anthony Dixon may still be in Dan Mullen’s doghouse.
• ESPN’s Chris Low reports that Arkansas has lost starting cornerback Isaac Madison for the season.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that Auburn coach Gene Chizik made a tough quarterback call look easy.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy has not been happy with his play.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Fulmer wants to return to “big stage”’

SEC links for Monday:

• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy is expected to plead guilty today in a Cincinnati court.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that the hard part starts now for Florida football.
• Mark Schlabach of espn.com writes that Florida is focused on a repeat.
• Gentry Estes of the Huntsville Times reviews Alabama’s spring game.
• News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that first start is a good start for Bama’s new quarterback.
• Aaron Suttles of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Greg McElroy made a convincing case.
• Tuscaloosa News columnist Cecil Hurt writes there were no big surprises in Bama’s spring game.
• Birmingham News columnist Ray Melick writes that Auburn coach Gene Chizik gives them something to talk about.
• Montgomery Advertiser’s Josh Moon writes that Auburn made big plays in its spring game.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that eager Tennessee fans got a grip on Lane Kiffin.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Kennedy to plead guilty; Spring wrap-ups’