John Clay’s Sidelines

SEC links for Monday:

• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate reports that LSU has lost Charles Scott for remainder of regular season.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida is what it is — unbeaten.
• Evan Woodbery of the Huntsville Times writes that Georgia and Auburn are close foes.
• Bill Bryant of the Huntsville Times writes that Julio Jones quickly made a bad Alabama game good.
• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Alabama used passing game to beat LSU.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that SEC officials can’t escape the shadow of doubt.
• David Climer of Tennessean says criticizing SEC officials is easy for some.
• Orange and Blue Hue says it will take Florida’s 27-3 win over Vandy.
• Rocky Top Talk hands out awards for Tennessee’s romp over Memphis.
• DawgSports says yes Georgia beat Tennessee Tech 38-0, but . . .

(AP photo/Phil Sandlin)

SEC links for Friday:

• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida is searching for balance on offense.
• In Florida Today, Phil Kegler reports that Tim Tebow’s status is still unknown.
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel thinks that John Brantley will start and Tebow will finish.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News reports on SEC commissoner Mike Slive urging no public hangings for officials.
• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News previews the Auburn-Arkansas quarterback matchup.
• Jay Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser reports that Auburn’s focus on a fast offense has paid off.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Could Brantley start and Tebow finish?’

(AP Photo/James Crisp)

Three points from Rich Brooks press conference:

• 1. The Kentucky head coach won’t forget Friday’s 31-0 first-quarter deficit in quite awhile. He got upset again just talking about it. The problem is that it happened on the heels of the 28-0 first-quarter fiasco last year at Florida. So over two years, Kentucky has trailed the Gators 59-0 after one quarter. Brooks said he thought his program had moved past such embarrassments. It has not. Of course, Florida is the defending national champ and the top-ranked team in the country. But it was the stupid penalties and tentative play that stuck in Brooks’ craw, and for good reason. Having 48 hours to cool down did not appear to make the head coach any cooler.

• 2. Florida is very good. This week’s foe, Alabama, is very good. But Alabama presents a bit of a different problem. Florida was phyiscal. Alabama is even more physical. Nick Saban wants his teams to be tough, hard-nosed clubs that will smash you in the mouth. Yes, the Tide hit three big plays on Saturday. But it loves to grind it out on both sides of the ball. The one good thing about that is, as Brooks said, it’s a bit easier to prepare for a more conventional-style offense. And Kentucky did hang around with Bama last year. Still, the Crimson Tide has superior athletes.

• 3. Trevard Lindley vs. Julio Jones figures to be Saturday’s marquee matchup. Lindley is an All-American corner. Jones is an All-American receiver. Florida didn’t throw at Lindley the way Louisville challenged UK’s senior corner. But then Florida didn’t have to challenge anyone through the air. The Gators ran the ball so well, they didn’t need to go to the air all that much.

Jonathan Crompton

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Jonathan Crompton has been named Tennessee’s starting quarterback, but he may lose his starting center.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports on Crompton’s return to No. 1 at UT.
• John Adams of the News-Sentinel writes that handicapping Vols start with their foes.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC gives five reasons Georgia fans should be worried about new starting quarterback Joe Cox.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun lists what was learned at Florida’s fall camp.
• Joe Person of The State reports that South Carolina defensive end Clifton Geathers has been suspended while officials look into weekend fight.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Auburn receivers expect to play a big role.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Crompton named Tennessee’s quarterback’

(Photo by Alabama media relations)

SEC links for Thursday:

• Adam Jones of the Tuscaloosa News reports that Julio Jones won’t be a school senator after winning write-in campaign.
• AP reports that media associations are protesting new SEC media policy.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes that Georgia defensive coordinator Willy Martinez isn’t running from criticism.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun reports that Curtis Dunlap is Florida’s latest freak.
• Joe Person of The State reports that offense cruises through South Carolina scrimmage.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Julio Jones turns down school senate seat’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that APR is expected to cost Ole Miss football three scholarships.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, John Adams argues that signing troubled star is not good for Tennessee’s image.
• In The State, Seth Emerson reports on Steve Spurrier telling South Carolina fans to hold the praise.
• Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writes that John Pelphrey is no stranger to new SEC basketball coaches.
• Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register reports that Alabama receiver Julio Jones is on road to recovery after surgery.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: APR to cost Ole Miss football 3 scholarships’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Tennessee media is reporting on Bruce Pearl’s engagement. Report: “Telling fans he wants to remain at Tennessee, Pearl introduced his fiancee Brandy Miller during a stop in her hometown of Sevierville by saying, “If you think I’m leaving that for Memphis, you’re crazy.”
• Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Pearl and Lane Kiffin are on a working road trip. Edwards: Kiffin and Pearl, who teased each other during appearances along the way Monday, have gotten to know one another during the last three weeks on the road speaking to various alumni groups around the state and the southeast. “It’s like being with a rock star. Some interesting stories I can’t tell on TV,” Kiffin said of traveling with Pearl. “Being around our people, that’s been unbelievable.”
• Paul Finebaum writes in the Mobile Press-Register that Auburn is on the prowl for attention. Finebaum: “And the most peculiar thing was seeing Nick Saban desperately searching for a way to explain a recruiting trick that he didn’t think of first. Before an alumni function in Birmingham Thursday night, the first question from the media was about Tiger Prowl. Two days earlier in Memphis, Saban was asked the same question. Both times, Saban looked and sounded as if he had just been waterboarded.”
• In The Advocate, Kyle Whitfield writes on LSU coach Les Miles and the Twitter craze. Whitfield: Les Miles congratulated top-three NFL draft pick Tyson Jackson, wished former LSU wide receiver Demetrius Byrd a speedy recovery after his car accident and bragged about the Tigers’ performance in the annual spring football game. The LSU football coach did all that not at a news conference or radio interview, but during a five-day span using his new Twitter account.”

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Bruce Pearl’s rules of engagement’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger answers the question of who is Dan Mullen, the new football coach at Mississippi State.

• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger gauges the national reaction to Mullen’s hiring.

• Jim Mashek of the Biloxi Sun-Herald writes that Mullen will try and change MSU’s fortunes.

• In the Gainesville Sun, Robbie Andreu writes about the Mullen hiring from Florida’s perspective.

• In the Birmingham News, Charles Goldberg writes that Auburn has interviewed at least six candidates for its head coach opening.

• In his Scarblog, News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that the biggest task for the next Auburn coach will be to stand up to Nick Saban.

• In the Montgomery Advertiser, Jay G. Tates writes on long-time Auburn assistant Hugh Nall, who is ready for a new chapter in his career.

• Mike Organ of the Tennessean reports on Vandy basketball’s win over Alabama A&M.

• In the NW Arkansas Times, Nate Allen reports that 25-year-old Arkansas tight end Andrew Davie is leaving the Razorbacks to take a shot at the pros.

• In the AJC, Chip Towers writes about his fun, funky fall covering Georgia.

• Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal writes on Ole Miss tackle Michael Oher, who is glad he remained a Rebel.

• Chris Low on his espn.com SEC blog explains why Alabama’s Julio Jones beat out Georgia’s A.J. Green for Freshman of the Year honors.