John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Tuesday:

• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum asks if its time for a historic hire at Alabama.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that talent is more than skin deep.
• Gary Laney of the Baton Rouge Advocate reports that LSU’s focus is on visiting Florida.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes on the ultimate Gator hangout, the barber shop.
• In the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen writes that Tennessee is struggling to keep focus on the court.
• Also in the Tennessean, Joe Biddle writes on a high-scoring high school star headed to Vandy.
• And Maurice Patton of the Tennessean reports that Vandy’s three-point shooting has not good.
• In the News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith reports that UT’s Scotty Hopson knows he must do more.
• In the Huntsville Times, Mark McCarter writes on Andre Smith’s problems.
• The AJC reports that Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno got passing grades at the NFL Combine.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss is still searching for a 12th football game.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes on former Arkansas assistant and UAB head coach Mike Anderson who has found his groove at Missouri.

SEC links for Wednesday:

• In the Orlando Sentinel, columnist Mike Bianchi predicts that Oklahoma will regain its big-game name.
• Also in the Sentinel, however, columnist David Whitley predicts a big Gator victory.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Robbie Andreu examines what makes the Gators go.
• Mark Rosner of the Austin American-Statesman reports on Arkansas’ win over No. 7 Texas.
• Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean reports that Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl tears up his team’s defense on eve of the Vols rematch with Gonzaga.
• Also in the Tennessean, Beth Rucker reports that Pat Summitt is not worried that TV caught her halftime pep talk.
• The AJC reports that its decision day for Georgia football stars Stafford and Moreno.
• In the Birmingham News, Charles Goldberg reports that Auburn has hired ex-Duke head coach Ted Roof to be defensive coordinator.
• In the Birmingham News, Ray Melick writes about new Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s high-octane ways.
• Even Paul Finebaum in the Mobile Press-Register admits new Auburn coach Gene Chizik is gaining steam.
• Kevin Scarbinsky in the Birmingham News writes that Charles Barkley gave Auburn a bad rap.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Drew Edwards reports that Tennessee recruits are getting first look at the full Monte Kiffin.
• In the Tennessean, Maurice Patton reports that Vandy sees quality in its football recruiting class.

SEC links for Wednesday:

• In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bob Holt previews Arkansas coach John Pelphrey’s return to South Alabama, where the Hogs play tonight. “At Gottfried’s suggestion, a clause was put in Pelphrey’s contract that if he left South Alabama to coach at a school in a major conference, he would schedule a home-and-home series with the Jaguars as a buyout clause rather than incur a financial penalty. ‘It’s tough for us to get SEC teams in our building, so this is much better for us than a buyout,’ Gottfried said. ‘But John easily could have bought his way out of this, and he kept his word.’”

• The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Bruce Pearl’s name has been mentioned in connection with the NBA opening for the Washington Wizards. Actually, the mention comes from the Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonell, who wrote, “I heard an interesting name Monday as a potential candidate for the Wizards job down the road: Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl. Grunfeld is a Tennessee alumnus and was also around Pearl when he coached Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Grunfeld was running the Milwaukee Bucks.”

• In the Gainesville Sun, Kevin Brockway reports on Florida’s win over Washington in the CBE consolation game. “With No. 17 Florida struggling to hold on late against Washington in the consolation game of the O’Reilly Auto Parts/CBE Classic, the Gators turned to an old standby to bail them out Tuesday. Senior guard Walter Hodge broke an 81-all tie with a 3-pointer with 1:01 left, allowing Florida (4-1) to hold on for an 86-84 win against the Huskies to salvage third place in the tournament.”

• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that the odds are stacked against Auburn on Saturday. “Others have wondered if it’s true that Nick Saban has considered resting his starters against Auburn so nobody would get hurt before the SEC title game.Or will he simply let the seniors play for a series or two so they can get a standing ovation from the adoring crowd? What chance does Auburn have of pulling the upset? Two shots: Slim and none.”

• Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that Auburn’s challenge is to go down with a fight. “You know times are tough for the Auburn football coach when the best public compliment he’s gotten in ages comes from the Alabama football coach. And it comes five days before the Iron Bowl. We’re a long way from Ray Perkins vs. Pat Dye.”

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Pelphrey returns to South Alabama’

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.