John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links and news for Friday:

GRUDEN TO BE A GATOR? – Adam West of the Gainesville Sun reports that Jon Gruden met with Florida officials on Thursday. But David Jones of Florida Today seems to think that Gruden is out of the race. The ex-Bucs coach says he likes what he’s doing on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. I like it, too.

MULLEN THE MAN? – Dan Mullen reiterates he’s happy at Mississippi State, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger. In fact, Mullen said all the attention regarding the Florida and Miami jobs is a little annoying. And Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel says Florida should bypass the Mississippi State coach, writing, “He looks like he should be. He talks like he should be. He has the Urbanator bloodlines. And, yes, he has what Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin calls the “it factor.” But there’s one thing he doesn’t have: A track record of success that should be a prerequisite for the Florida job.”

MORE MEYER FALLOUT – An old competitor, Phil Fulmer, says he admires Meyer’s courage to step down, reports Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. “”His family is important, his health is important,” said Fulmer, who was presented with The Knoxville Award by the Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service at the Convention Center on Thursday. “I think it’s just a huge statement that the pressure coaches nowadays are under. Good for him to have the courage to step down and do the things that are important to him.”

Meanwhile, Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post reports that Meyer will still be around to help at Florida.

The AJC’s Tony Barhart says that even if you are a Gator-hater, there’s no joy in Meyer’s departure. Plus, Matt Hinton of Yahoo Sports on the Gators that time will forget.

Continue reading ‘Gruden and Gators; Mullen’s plans; Newton news’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Arkansas preparing for its trip to Freedom Hall, writes Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Tennessee basketball ranked No. 2 in RPI, reports Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• If Georgia Tech wants to alter perceptions, it must beat Georgia tonight, writes Jeff Schultz of AJC.
• Jackets-Bulldogs eye bragging rights tonight, writes Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Playing in BCS is anti-climatic after winning SEC, writes Mickey Griffin of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Tennessee sells out its Music City Bowl allotment, reports Andrew Gribble of the News-Sentinel.
• Vanderbilt closes in on its list of football coaching finalists, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Urban Meyer not changing offensive coordinators at Florida, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Meyer explains why he voted Oregon No. 1 in coaches’ poll, reports David Jones of Florida Today.
• Former Georgia quarterback is transferring to LSU, reports David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Arkansas prepping for Freedom Hall trip’

Tennessee

SEC links for Thursday:

• Scotty Hopson scores 18 to send Tennessee to NIT final, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• LSU basketball whips Centenary 78-36, reports Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• John Pelphrey must overcome attedance apathy at Arkansas, says John Pennington of Mr. SEC.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC takes his annual look at Georgia and Georgia Tech fans.
• Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal gives thanks for a plate of SEC treats.
• Auburn is undefeated, and the underdog, writes Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Mississippi State leader has a vocal critic in his wife, writes Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Gus Malzahn’s main focus is perfecting the Auburn offense, reports Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Florida quarterback visits his namesake baby in hospital, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Vols play big in Big Apple; Pelphrey problems’

Roy Skinner and Adolph Rupp (Photo Vanderbilt athletics)

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Roy Skinner, a Paducah native and the winningest basketball coach in Vanderbilt history, has died, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Derek Dooley compares Tennessee to Germans awaiting American invasion, reports Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Auburn not ready to say its defensive problems are fixed, writes Charles Bennett of the Anniston Star.
• Gus Malzahn making most of his shot at Auburn, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• Alabama-Auburn could be a historic Iron Bowl, writes Paul Finebaum for the Mobile Press-Register.
• Better practice, better performance in games, says Urban Meyer, reports Edward Aschoff of the Gainesville Sun.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC has an early Georgia-Florida primer.
• Ole Miss looking for a stretch run just like 2008, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Vanderbilt changing offensive coordinators, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• LSU turns focus to Alabama, writes Randy Rosetta of The Advocate.

Randall Cobb scores last year at Auburn. (AP photo)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• A Sea of Blue has a couple of interesting posts on the Enes Kanter matter.
  • One deals with the actual NCAA rules that may apply to the case.
  • The other deals with the particular interests in the case.
• Kentucky’s Tee Martin goes from hero to coach for Randall Cobb, writes Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Views on the Kanter matter; Cats and Tigers’

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 Sunday:

• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel on Tennessee charging $50 to watch a football scrimmage.

• Florida feels much better about its quarterbacks now, writes Pat Dooley in the Gainesville Sun.

• Mark Bradley of the AJC says Georgia can’t say the same about its quarterbacks.

• Joseph Person of The State writes that South Carolina has plenty of questions to answer about its quarterbacks.

• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register reports that interceptions upset Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.

• Neither Matt Simms or his Tennessee coaches were happy with his performance, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Quarterback races and UT’s $50 scrimmage’

(AP photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

SEC links for Friday:

• The AJC reports that Rajaan Bennett’s community mourns the death of the Vanderbilt signee.
• With loss to Vanderbilt, Ole Miss continues its late-season fade writes David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports on Florida’s must-win win over Auburn.
• The State has video of the wives of South Carolina coaches, who dressed up for a cause.
• It was a weird night for the Gators writes the Sun’s Pat Dooley.
• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Rebels are now in a tough spot.
• Chris Talbott of the AP covers the Vandy win in Oxford.
• Dan Fleser of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Pat Summitt thought team “disrespected the game of basketball” in Lady Vols win at Alabama.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Community mourns death of Vandy signee’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Tennessee football has gone Lil Wayne.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes about Tennessee and Lil Wayne.
• Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel reports that Vols’ basketball player Josh Tabb has withdrawn from school.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that Mike Slive needs to step up control of the SEC family.
• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register reports on the Gus Malzahn-Houston Nutt reunion.
• Joe Person of The State revisits David Reaves’ switch from South Carolina to Tennessee.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee goes Lil Wayne’

SEC links for Monday:

• Tim Tucker of the AJC reports that Georgia has lost a second starter to a season-ending injury.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean writes that Vandy’s injuries are beginning to take a toll.
• Joe Person of The State reports that South Carolina defensive tackle Nathan Pepper could be out 2-3 weeks.
• The Advocate reports that LSU running back Richard Murphy has a serious knee injury.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Florida’s Urban Meyer has plenty of respect for Kiffin — Monte Kiffin.
• Dwight Collins of the Gainesville Sun reports that ex-Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer says Lane Kiffin needs to back up off-season talk.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Injuries starting to take their toll’