John Clay's Sidelines

Florida's Patric Young fouls Georgia's Trey Thompkins in last night's game.(AP photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

Paul Newberry of the AP: “Chandler Parsons took control in the second overtime after the teams traded tying last-second shots, leading No. 24 Florida to a 104-91 victory over Georgia on Tuesday night. Trey Thompkins put back a missed shot just ahead of the buzzer at the end of regulation, capping the Bulldogs’ rally from an eight-point deficit in the final 3 minutes. Florida (16-4, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) forced a second overtime when Erving Walker raced down the court and hit a long 3-pointer with 1 second remaining.”

Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun: “Since Florida junior point guard Erving Walker was a kid, he’s been used to taking a step or two back when shooting 3-pointers. That advice came from his dad, who used to coach the 5-foot-8 Walker in youth basketball leagues. On Tuesday night against Georgia, Walker hit the biggest of his deep 3-pointers to date. With Florida on its way to a potential heartbreaking overtime loss at Georgia, Walker drained a miracle 30-footer with one second left to tie the game at 85 and send it to a second overtime. From there, Florida dominated the next five minutes to beat Georgia 104-91 before a stunned sellout crowd of 10,523 at Stegeman Coliseum.”

Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register: “Auburn set a breathtaking new standard for futility in a miserable start to the second half before nearly pulling off an equally incredible comeback. Auburn’s 73-64 loss to Arkansas Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena was another chapter in what might be a historically bad season that has produced its share of games that are both bizarre and riveting. The Tigers (7-13, 0-6 SEC) missed 22 consecutive field goals and failed to score a basket for almost the first 12 minutes of the second half.”

John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel: “When Tyler Summitt joined the Tennessee men’s basketball team as a walk-on this season, I wondered, “What’s the point?” Having grown up in the same house with Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, he already had an advanced degree in the sport. When other children were cutting out paper dolls, he was cutting down nets. He learned more about the game in dinner conversation than most kids did in a childhood full of pricey basketball camps. No wonder, he wants to be a basketball coach. He has a lifetime head-start on his contemporaries.”

Continue reading ‘SEC: Florida now 5-1 after double-OT win at Georgia’

(AP photo/Mark Humphrey)

SEC links for Thursday:

• Vanderbilt could not have worked a better late-game play, getting an Andre Walker bucket with 4.1 seconds left to beat visiting Marquette 77-76 last night at Memorial Gym, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean. It was also fun watching the bald Kevin Stallings match wits with the bald Buzz Williams.
• Tennessee men’s basketball team held off UT-Martin 68-62 last night, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The Vols needed to hit nine of 10 free throws down the stretch to win it. Scotty Hopson led the way with 17 points.
• Meanwhile, LP Field has become Knoxville West for tonight’s Music City Bowl game between Tennessee and North Carolina, reports Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean. It’s a 6:40 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. Remember the bowl days when it was Lexington South?
• Back to basketball, where Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel writes that close scares are the norm for Tennessee hoops. Bruce Pearl said afterward, “”I was hoping all the media was in Nashville with the football team. “Unfortunately I’m disappointed to see you guys.”
• Mississippi State’s long nightmare of a road trip finally ended with a 94-72 loss at St. Mary’s, reports the AP. Rick Stansbury may be ruing the day he laid eyes on Renardo Sidney.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Vandy gets big win, but Tennessee takes Nashville’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Cramps put a damper on Renardo Sidney’s debut at Mississippi State, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Arkansas hands Mississippi Valley State another loss, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• South Florida knocks off Auburn 61-49 at the Sun Dome, reports Adam Adkins of the Tampa Tribune.
• Alabama whips SE Louisiana 59-38, reports Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Maryland supporters wonder what James Franklin is thinking with regards to Vandy job, writes Jeff Barker of the Baltimore Sun.
• Georgia tight end chosen as lone student commencement speaker, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Derek Dooley tweaks Luke Stocker’s bowl prep plan, writes Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Auburn OC Gus Malzahn waiting for right time, right place to be a head coach, reports John Zenor of the AP.
• LSU looks to rebound from its loss to Coastal Carolina, reports Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Lady Vols to undergo some lineup changes after loss, reports Dan Fleser of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Cramps hamper Sidney’s debut at Miss St’

SEC links for Sunday:

• Phil Simms wary of giving his son, Matt, advice at Tennessee, writes Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Ron Morris of The State thinks that Stephen Garcia should be starting quarterback at South Carolina.
• Ellis Johnson’s defense fuels South Carolina’s success, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Armand Williams has blossomed at LSU since Katrina, writes Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times.
• LSU got the opener it wanted, writes Scott Hotard of The Baton Rouge Advocate.
• Ryan Mallett is the no-doubt leader at Arkansas, writes Robbie Nieswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Auburn football has a window of opportunity, writes Evan Woodbery of the Huntsville Times.
• More players and a familiar system has Auburn optimistic, writes Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News.
• “Repeat” and “Defending” are two words Nick Saban does not want to hear, writes Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Phil Simms wary of giving advice to son’

(AP photo/Butch Dill)

SEC links for Thursday:

• As expected, Agent-gate consumes SEC Media Days, writes Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Maurkice Pouncey says he didn’t take money, reports Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Now Georgia is on the NCAA investigation list, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC writes that NCAA is calling its trip to Georgia an “inquiry.”
• Saban’s pimp-slap won’t change unjust system, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Saban shot from the hip, and drained his ammo clip, writes Joe Biddle of the Tennessean.
• Complaints over agents sound rich to John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Unscrupulous players, not agents, is the problem, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• David Ching of the Athens Banner-Herald believes that money is ruining the college game.
• SEC media overload at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, writes Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Forget blocking and tackling, it’s all about agents’

Derek Dooley (AP photo)

SEC links for Sunday:

• Tennessee officials looking into bar’s VIP status afforded Vols athletes, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

• A series of summer pluses are set back by Big Orange brawl, writes Ward in the News-Sentinel.

• News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes that Derek Dooley can rip from the headlines.

• Georgia gets duo in trouble, adding to the SEC distractions, writes David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

• Dontavius Jackson and Tavarres King were booked on alcohol charges, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

• Georgia players didn’t learn after what happened to Georgia AD, writes Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel.

• DaRick Rogers’ status with Tennessee remains undetermined, reports Chip Towers of the AJC.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Tennessee, Georgia having summer trouble’

Back from furlough with SEC links for Monday:

• Mississippi State’s Phil Turner and Rick Stansbury have conflicting stories about Turner’s scholarship being cut, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Turner claimed he was stunned by dismissal, reports Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Veazey also reports that Ole Miss is looking into whether an assistant football coach committed a violation by commenting on a prospect’s Facebook page.
• South Carolina and UCLA mirror images heading into NCAA Baseball title series, writes Neil White of The State.
• South Carolina in the national spotlight, writes Ron Morris of The State.
• Gamecocks ready for historic finale, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Turner, Stansbury tell conflicting stories’

Greg Byrne

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Greg Byrne leaving AD post at Mississippi State for Arizona, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.

• Byrne left his mark in Starkville, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.

• Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal writes that State is disappointed with Byrne’s decision.

• Auburn will interview North Texas coach Johnny Jones, reports Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News.

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel thinks a Florida receiver should repent after dissing Tim Tebow.

• AP reports that father of Alabama’s Mark Ingram will serve more prison time.

• The State reports that ex-Carolina coach Dave Odom may be a candidate at Charlotte.

• Dan Fleser of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on Lady Vols’ drubbing of Dayton to reach Sweet 16.

• Georgia’s Lady Bulldogs reach the Sweet 16, reports Jack Magrudger of the Athens Banner-Herald.

• Duke women surge past LSU, reports Scott Hotard of The Advocate.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Byrne leaving Mississippi State for Arizona’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Seth Emerson of The State reports that South Carolina’s Dominique Archie is out for the season.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida wants to bounce back after loss to Richmond.
• Gary Laney of The Advocate previews LSU’s road game at Washington State.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Mississippi State wants to keep its win streak alive.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Brandon James will miss the Sugar Bowl.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes about the friendship between Alabama’s Nick Saban and Texas’ Will Muschamp.
• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that Georgia faces Joe Kines again.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennesssean reports that Vanderbilt has signed a junior college quarterback.
• Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News writes on Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy.
• Dan Fleser of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Tennessee women trying to learn from loss to Stanford.

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.