John Clay's Sidelines

The Lane Kiffin Era is the gift that just keeps on giving in Knoxville. The brat-boy coach spent one year leading Tennessee football before bolting for Southern Cal. He left behind an NCAA investigation that ended with some self-imposed penalties.

But just when UT fans thought the worst was over, more allegations keep popping out of the orange woodwork. First came news that a former Kiffin assistant allegedly paid for a recruit’s visit. Now come allegations UT was in on the Willie Lyles recruiting service scam.

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Weis will throw kitchen sink at Tide, says Robbie Andreu of Gainesville Sun.
• Five keys for Florida vs. Bama, from Rachel George of Orlando Sentinel.
• Florida is ready to run, writes Matt Watts of the Miami Herald.
• Tennessee paid recruiting service, reports KNS’ Andrew Gribble.
• Kiffin capers won’t go away, writes Mark Weidmer of Times Free Press.
• Rivalries a thing of the past? asks Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Alabama backing up its talk, writes Don Kaulser of the Birmingham News.
• Auburn may use Frazier more, reports Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Auburn WR Reed to miss USC game, reports Andy Bitter of Ledger-Enquirer.
• Gamecocks ready to face Dyer, reports Andrew Miller of Post and Courier.
• Lattimore fine with workload, writes Edward Aschoff of espn.
• Georgia may lose another player to transfer, reports Chip Towers of AJC.
• Last year’s loss still hurts Dogs, says Seth Emerson of Macon Telegraph.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Alabama has its own version of oversigning, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Joe Medley of the Anniston Star on OVC coaches telling Mike Slive and reformers that it’s not that easy.
• Bruce Pearl’s attorney says Tennessee delayed information on photo in NCAA investigation, reports Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Lane Kiffin was charged with failure to monitor by Tennessee, reports Patrick Brown of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Mark Richt plans on having “a helluva year,” reports Mark Bradley of the AJC.
• It’s the last shot for a pair of Florida’s fifth-year seniors, writes Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun.
• Houston Nutt is breaking in more transfer quarterbacks at Ole Miss, reports Ivan Maisel of espn.com.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Bama’s oversigning; OVC differs with SEC on reform’

SEC links for Friday:

• Johnny O’Bryant, power forward ranked No. 13 by ESPNU, commits to LSU basketball, reports Scott Hotard of The Advocate.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Auburn fans should thank Lane Kiffin.
• Urban Meyer deserves to be booed, not Steve Addazio, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Cameron Newton and Ryan Mallett square off in Auburn-Arkansas matchup, reports Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News.
• Chris Low of espn.com centers on the league’s five best offensive linemen.
• Having A.J. Green on the field has given Georgia a boost, writes David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Vanderbilt getting some of its stars back, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Jeremiah Masoli has brought an Oregon style to Oxford, writes Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Mark Fox has Georgia basketball concentrating on defense, writes Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald.

SEC links for Saturday:

• NCAA interviews Bryce Brown for two hours about Lane Kiffin’s recruiting methods, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Freshman receiver Justin Hunter is held out of workouts by NCAA Eligibility Center, reports Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Arthur Jefferey ready to play again for Vols, writes Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Former Alabama basketball player Mikhail Torrance collapses after workout, reports Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
• John Pennington of Mr. SEC compares Les Miles to Barry Switzer, and hears about it.
• Alabama defense looks to improve in game-like scrimmage, reports Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald reports that opinions differ on mobility of Florida quarterback John Brantley.
• Connor Shaw off to a strong start at South Carolina, reports Neil White of The State.
• Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier reports that Marcus Lattimore is continuing his progress at USC.
• Zac Etheridge can’t wait to hit again at Auburn, reports Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Arkansas News does a Q&A with Razorbacks quarterback Ryan Mallett.

SEC links for Saturday:

• ESPN’s Rick Reilly tries to take up for ex-Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin.
• Tennessee says it will not release Bryce Brown from his scholarship, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• No, synthetic turf is not coming back to Neyland Stadium, writes Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel.
• Cooperation is the key to solving the agent issue, writes Pat Forde of espn.com.
• Georgia opens camp with a long to-do list, writes Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Florida basketball will play Ohio State next season, blogs Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Rick Reilly tries to defend Lane Kiffin’

SEC links for Friday:

• Young and new describe the Tennessee quarterbacks, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• David Climer of the Tennessean thinks Vanderbilt needs a full-time athletic director.
• Mr. SEC updates its conference football commitment chart.
• Bryce Brown’s run-away style was not for the Vols, writes Jay Greeson of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• David Paschall of the Times Free Press writes that LSU is expecting a special defense this season.
• Texas A&M could still be a possibility for the SEC down the road, says Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun thinks you might be a college football nut if . . .

Continue reading ‘SEC: New and young describe Tennessee quarterbacks’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Ex-Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to Ole Miss is a thorny possibility, writes David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Tennessee Titans slap Lane Kiffin with a lawsuit, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
• NCAA requests only one Georgia player for interview, reports Marc Weiszer of the AJC.
• Weiszer also reports that Mark Richt is urging Georgia fans to be patient with new quarterback Aaron Murray.
• “We want our fans to be proud,” Richt tells boosters, reports Mark Bradley of the AJC.
• Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register jumps on the kick Vandy out of the SEC bandwagon.
• It’s full speed ahead for South Carolina receiver Dion LeCorn, writes Seth Emerson of The State.
• Dan Mullen is the real Darth Visor, Jr., writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Eight wins just ain’t enough for Auburn, writes David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Jordan Jefferson is set to be more than LSU’s quarterback, reports Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times.
• Gene Stallings got Alabama back on top, at least for a little while, writes Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Ex-UT star Tyler Smith joins the SEC parade of basketball players to Turkey, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

SEC links for Monday:

• Eli Manning is giving a $1 million to his alma mater, Ole Miss, reports the AP.
• Ex-South Carolina star Devan Downey signs contract to play in Turkey, reports Seth Emerson of The State.
• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News looks at Bill Curry’s brief stint as Alabama coach before Curry came to UK.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC ranks the SEC football programs 1-12.
• Bryce Brown saga could be coming to an end, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• John Adams of the News-Sentinel writes that running backs won’t be a sideshow for Derek Dooley.
• Lane Kiffin must be stopped, writes Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• ACC routs the SEC in media access, blogs Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Arkansas is ramping up its defense, writes David Paschall of the Times Free Press.
• Les Miles is preaching optimistic message to LSU faithful, writes Scott Hotard of The Advocate.

SEC links for Sunday:

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that SEC should drop Vanderbilt for Central Florida.
• Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher rips ex-Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean writes about the internet problems at the SEC Media Days.
• South Carolina’s Stephen Garcia is primed for a breakout season, writes Ron Morris of The State.
• Touted quarterback Raymond Cotton has left Ole Miss, reports David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Ole Miss thin at quarterback after Cotton’s departure, writes Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Mark Fox is taking Georgia basketball up a notch, writes Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• LSU excited about returning to the Georgia Dome, reports Scott Hotard of The Advocate.
• Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times writes that Nick Saban has insulted pimps everywhere.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News thinks this will be Saban’s most important season.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Should conference give Vanderbilt the boot?’

SEC links for Friday:

• Tennessee football players involved in brawl at bar, reports Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

• Tennessean columnist David Climer reports that Lane Kiffin has taken another jab at Tennessee.

• ESPN announces a $1.86 billion TV deal with ACC, reports Andrew Carter of the Orlando Sentinel.

• Championship coach Ray Tanner seeking a new deal at South Carolina, reports Joseph Person of The State.

• Person also counts the five SEC first-year football players most likely to make a splash.

• Ex-LSU star JaMarcus Russell must help himself before others can, writes Tommy Hicks of the Mobile Press-Register.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Tennessee players involved in bar brawl’