John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Monday:

• Auburn tailback Michael Dyer has been suspended for the Tigers’ bowl game, reports Jay Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Will Michael Dyer let himself hear how his 2011 will be remembered? asks Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News.
• Les Miles’ treatment of quarterback Jarrett Lee is a sore spot for some LSU fans, writes Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times.
• Alabama basketball bounces back to beat Detroit, reports Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel says the Lady Vols make their point with versatile play.
• Small-town upbringing helped new Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze along the way, reports Kyle Veazey of Memphis Commercial-Appeal.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Rumble at Rupp to attract big-name targets, says H-L staff report.
• UK dodgeball has turned into a hit, writes Paul Jones of the Kernel.
• Key stats of UK-LSU, from Herald-Leader.
• Woodson has LSU memories, writes Scott Hotard of The Advocate.
• Miles says Lee and Jefferson can handle it, reports Les East of The Advocate.
• Jefferson addition is lethal, reports Glenn Guilbeau of Shreveport Times.
• LSU wants to avoid 2007 repeat, reports Luke Johnson of Times-Picayune.
• UK still searching for offensive breakout, says my H-L story.
• Phillips has a fond memory of Tiger Stadium, writes H-L’s Mark Story.
• UK coach trying mind games to help team, reports C-J’s Kyle Tucker.
• Matt May of Cats Pause gives a UK-LSU scouting report.
• Cats ready for Death Valley encounter, writes Kernel’s Cody Porter.
• Billy Joe Murphy won’t back down, writes Keith Taylor of Winchester Sun.
• UK fall sports off to a great start, reports Guy Ramsey of Cat Scratches.

(AP photo)

Though LSU’s expected starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson has been reinstated and could take a few snaps on Saturday, head coach Les Miles says Jarrett Lee will remain as starter.

One reason why: Former Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe.

Kragthorpe was hired as LSU’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, Kragthorpe gave up play-calling duties and the coordinator title. But the man who lost three straight to UK as head coach is heavily involved in developing the game plan and coaching Lee.

He has done a terrific job so far. As the LSU starter in 2008, Lee through six interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. This year, when Lee became the starter after Jefferson was suspended for being involved in a bar fight, the senior has thrown for six touchdowns compare to just one interception. Lee ranks sixth in the SEC with a pass efficiency rating of 145.1.

“(Lee) keeps developing,” Miles told Luke Johnson of the Times-Picayune. “I think the quarterback coaching change helped him. Not to bemoan the coaching, it’s just getting another voice and input, reconciled some of his views on the throwing game.”

Said Lee: “Coach Kragthorpe has been great. In the film room and on the field, he helps us be a smarter quarterback — not to make many mistakes and to keep the ball in our hands.”

SEC links for Monday:

• Maurice Patton reports in The Tennessean that Music City Bowl ticket sales are down 25 percent from last year.
• The State columnist Ron Morris writes that South Carolina is watching its budget, even at the Outback Bowl.
• Also in The State, Chris Dearing reports on No. 1 UConn’s win over South Carolina in women’s hoops.
• In the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen writes on UT’s Dennis Hopson and the quest to match effort with talent.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, John Adams reports that Tennessee gets its Prince back tonight.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports on Florida’s win over Winthrop in men’s basketball.
• Brockway also writes about the sophomore surge from Gator center Alex Tyus.
• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News reports on Auburn’s hiring of Gus Malzahn to be offensive coordinator.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser also writes on the Malzahn hire.
• Mobile Press-Register Columnist Randy Kennedy writes that the SEC’s reputation is at stake in bowl games.
• Jim Mashek of the Biloxi Sun-Herald reports that Ole Miss is trying to shake off the rust in Dallas.
• In the Baton Rouge Advocate, Randy Rosetta writes on the future of LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee.

SEC links for Monday:

Chip Towers of the AJC reports that Georgia coach Mark Richt is defending his defense and coordinator Willie Martinez.

Towers also reports that the Bulldogs will have to contain another mobile quarterback this week.

Maurice Patton of the Tennessean writes that penalties cost Vandy in its blowout loss to Florida.

John Patton of the Gainesville Sun writes that Tim Tebow got into Florida’s act on Saturday.

Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that Nick Saban put his friends, team first in Bama’s win over LSU.

Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register reports that Saban didn’t think the Tide played well Saturday.

Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean writes that downtrodden Vols will use bye week to heal.

Same thing at Arkansas, where Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the Razorbacks are ready for a break.

John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that as far as the Tennessee coaching search goes, getting it right is alll that counts.

Joseph Schiefelbein of The Advocate reports that Jarrett Lee is still LSU’s starting quarterback, but that freshman Jordan Jefferson will play.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Superagent Jimmy Sexton tells the Birmingham News’ Kevin Scarbinsky that some coaches want no part of the SEC.

• Also in the Birmingham News, Ray Melick writes he doesn’t want a happy Nick Saban.

• Tony Barnhart of the AJC writes that this is Georgia’s biggest Florida game in 20 years.

• Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley writes that this may be the biggest Georgia-Florida game ever.

• In the AJC, Chip Towers reports that Florida has Moreno on its mind.

• Bryan Mullen writes in the Tennessean that Phil Fulmer is baffled by Tennessee’s problems on offense.

• In a huge surprise, The State reports that South Carolina is holding its quarterback options open.

• Nate Allen reports in the NW Arkansas Times that the injuries are piling up for the Razorbacks.

• In the Clarion-Ledger, Kyle Veazey writes that the key stat for Mississippi State quarterback Tyson Lee is zero interceptions.

• Jarrett Lee is still the starting quarterback, LSU coach Les Miles tells Scott Hotard of The Advocate.