John Clay’s Sidelines

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• Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel reports that Vols’ basketball player Josh Tabb has withdrawn from school.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 Saturday:

• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama is wary of South Carolina.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that Alabama’s eyes have returned to the top.
• Joe Person of The State reports that USC’s Jarvis Giles has been suspended for Bama game.
• Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News remembers when Steve Spurrier was an evil genius.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean writes that Vanderbilt wants to open up its offense against Georgia.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC writes that Georgia is desperate for a win.
• David Ching of the Athens Banner-Herald writes that Mark Richt’s loser talk has no place.
• Alex Abrams of the Morning News writes that Arkansas hopes its setting a trap game in The Swamp.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida is trying to keep an even keel.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Mississippi State faces challenge of Tony Franklin’s spread offense.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss’ offense hopes to regroup against UAB.

AP Photo/Beth Hall

SEC links for Friday:

• Robbie Nieswanger of the NW Arkansas Morning News writes that Arkansas basketball wants to bury the negativity.
• Gary Laney of The Advocate reports that LSU’s Tasmin Mitchell relishes his repeat role.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes that frontcourt is key for Florida basketball.
• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Alabama basketball is committed to up-tempo.
• In The State, Ron Morris writes on Stephen Garcia’s daunting challenge at Alabama.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News thinks Mark Richt is starting to look like Tommy Tuberville.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Arkansas hopes to negate the negativity’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Bruce Pearl thinks Tennessee’s seniors have the talent for a great ending.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Tyler Smith has Vols excited.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports that Billy Donovan is looking forward to Florida’s season.
• Joe Person of The State writes on South Carolina’s now-star receiver Alshon Jeffery.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that change will be tough for Mark Richt, but not for Paul Johnson.
• Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reports that some Bulldogs are in off-the-field trouble.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports on a Florida gymnast arrested for storing nine guns.
• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that Georgia’s Richard Samuel is having trouble meeting expectations.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News thinks the NCAA should leave its trash talk on the field.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee, Florida excited for hoops start’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Chris Low of espn.com reports that the NCAA calls Alabama a “serial repeat violator.”
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that the NCAA remembers Alabama’s past sins.
• Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News reports on the release of Alabama’s rebuttal to the NCAA.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Lane Kiffin’s quarterback loyalty is a worthy selling point.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Tennessee seems to be back on a successful path.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate reports that Les Miles is still looking for answers at LSU.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC hands Georgia a mid-season report card.
• David Ching of the Athens Banner-Herald writes that Georgia needs to change the culture.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that the Mark Richt era is much like the Phil Fulmer era.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: NCAA calls Alabama a “serial” violator’

Ken Stabler

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Ron Morris of The State thinks the ESPN-SEC television deal is hurting attendance.
• The Tennessean’s David Climer asks: Didn’t Mark Richt learn from Phil Fulmer’s exit?
• Mark Bradley of the AJC talks to Georgia AD Damon Evans, who says he does have concerns about football.
• Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reports that Georgia fans are venting.
• AP reports that ex-Bama quarterback Ken Stabler has sold home to pay off his debts.
• Gentry Estes writes for the Huntsville Times that second-ranked Alabama is mindful of South Carolina.
• Joe Person of The State writes that opportunity knocks for the Gamecocks.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that Arkansas is too good to be a trap game for Florida.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Is ESPN deal hurting SEC attendance?’

(AP Photo/Wade Payne)

SEC links for Monday:

• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that maybe Mark Richt should follow Paul Johnson’s example.
• Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald asks how low can these Dogs go?
• Don Klauser of the Birmingham News writes that it’s the intense internal competition that has made Alabama unbeatable.
• John Patton of the Gainesville Sun reports that Urban Meyer relied on advice before playing Tim Tebow.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Tebow confessed to being worried before the LSU game.
• Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Florida’s defense is nearing its goal of greatness.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Is Mark Richt on the hot seat at Georgia?’

Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald has uncovered a truly surprising off-season statistic.

Not a single Georgia Bulldogs football player was arrested this off-season.

I know you’re thinking that could not be possible. Georgia is in the Southeastern Conference. And SEC players make it their duty to have run-ins with law enforcement agencies during the off-season. Why numerous Florida Gators are on a first-name basis with Sunshine State policemen given that there have been 25 arrests/incidents since Urban Meyer took over at Gainesville.

And Georgia has had its share of troubles. The Bulldogs had 11 players arrested from January to November 2008.

But none since.

Said Georgia coach Mark Richt:

“I’m proud of the guys in that regard. I do think that that was a big focal point of our leadership of our team for the players to be more accountable to each other. I think, certainly, something went right. Those things usually don’t happen by accident. I think our guys have done a very good job.”

SEC links for Thursday:

• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Vanderbilt is back for more.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes on the start of Urban Meyer’s fifth season at Florida.
• Joseph Person of The State investigates the mystery of who will be calling plays at South Carolina this season.
• Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writes on the Razorbacks’ timetable for success.
• ADG columnist Wally Hall warns fans to get ready for real taste of Bobby Petrino’s system.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Alabama coach Nick Saban says poor 2008 finish still grates.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Vanderbilt is back for more.’

Lane Kiffin

SEC links for Thursday:

• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that there’s plenty of speculation about what Lane Kiffin’s billboard in Florida might look like.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC wants to know if Mark Richt will ever win the big one at Georgia.
• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Georgia knows it has to beat Florida.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that NCAA has asked Renardo Sidney’s family for more documents.
• John Davis of the Oxford Eagle writes that SEC’s new TV deal makes other leagues jealous.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that the schedules favor the top SEC teams.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee’s planned billboard for Florida’