John Clay's Sidelines

Wild story today in which ESPN’s Desmond Howard claims that Louisville native and ex-New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms threatened to punch him at the Super Bowl over comments Howard made about Phil’s son, Matt, the former starting quarterback at Tennessee.

Howard said that Simms, the former Morehead State star and lead analyst on CBS’ NFL broadcasts, was upset over a statement Desmond made before the Tennessee-LSU game that fans would be seeing “three of the worse quarterbacks” in the league.

Excerpt from AP story:

“We all thought he was joking, but he kept going and said he wanted 2 take a swing at me,” Howard wrote.

“I was at a public signing for a sponsor when Phil approached me to express anger over on-air analysis I made months ago about his son,” Howard said in a statement provided by ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz. “During the conversation, Phil made a reference to hitting me and security and sponsor representatives soon stepped in. It was an unfortunate incident and I’m moving on.”

Simms disagreed, saying “at no time was there ever a chance of any physical confrontation or that I felt the police officer assigned to me by the event planners for my appearance needed to separate the two of us.”

SEC links for Wednesday:

• EDSBS has an LSUfreek video of Nick Saban applying a beatdown to Urban Meyer.
• Mr. SEC talks to the SEC’s coordinator of officials, who says officials acted in “textbook” fashion at end of Tennessee-LSU game.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that SEC football coaches are tarnished by the Les Miles touch.
• Mark Ingram’s game last year against South Carolina propelled him toward the Heisman, writes Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Rested, but is South Carolina ready? asks Michael Casagrande of the Anniston Star.
• Dr. Saturday has the new Ole Miss mascot designs.
• It has been a rough go for Georgia, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: League praises officials in Tennessee-LSU game’

Auburn

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News thinks Florida would be much better with Cameron Newton.
• Florida’s Fun N’ Gun more run, run, run, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.
• Despite defenses knowing what’s coming, Bama’s wildcat has been very effective, writes Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Florida’s Trey Burton is a triple threat, writes Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that John Brantley faces a huge test in the Alabama defense.
• Mississippi State’s Dee Bost is still waiting on an answer from the NCAA, reports Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Georgia’s A.J. Green explains his jersey sale, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• With Tennessee up next, LSU’s John Chavis has no time for nostalgia, writes Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Matt Simms is surviving the SEC school of hard knocks, writes David Climer of the Tennessean.
• Gus Malzahn’s Auburn offense is more than just finesse, writes David Morrison of the Opelika News.

SEC links for Friday:

Phil Fulmer has found a new role on TV, writes David Climer of the Tennessean.

Alabama will play Michigan in 2012, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.

Marcell Dareus is one of many keys to Alabama defense, writes Harry King of the Arkansas News.

Matt Sims’ likability and toughness have endeared him to Vols, writes Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Auburn was once hopeful for a Dyer-Lattimore backfield tandem, writes Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Phil Fulmer is now a television star’

(The State photo/Gerry Melendez)

SEC links for Tuesday:

• If Steve Spurrier has hit the right formula, will he stick to it? asks Tony Barnhart of the AJC.
• Ron Morris of The State says NCAA investigation has put Spurrier’s image on the line.
• With Alabama back on top, order has been restored, says Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Georgia must get ready for the Arkansas air show, reports David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Even Phil Fulmer thinks Tennessee is looking at a long-term problem, reports Bill Bryant of the Huntsville Times.
• All would be forgiven if Matt Simms could somehow beat Florida, writes Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• A. Stacy Long of the Montgomery Advertiser reports that Alabama is expecting Ingram and Dareus back on the field.
• Vanderbilt’s receivers, including Somerset’s John Cole, have all but disappeared, writes Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Criticism mounting at Georgia after loss to South Carolina, writes Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph.
• Auburn’s Cameron Newton is a true run-pass threat, blogs Chris Low of espn.com.

Florida's new combat uniforms (Nike.com)

SEC links for Thursday:

• Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier reports that South Carolina enters its opener tonight under much uncertainty.
• Patrick Magee of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Southern Miss is ready for its shot at the Gamecocks.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register reports on Mark Ingram’s recovery from knee surgery.
• Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News reports on the new Alabama and Florida uniforms.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that everything changed at Florida 20 years ago.
• Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald writes that John Brantley is ready to start a new era at Florida.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that it’s time to play some geeked football.
• Robert Holder of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Tennessee’s Matt Simms is eyeing his debut.
• Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that there’s still no answer on A.J. Green’s status.
• Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times reports that LSU has one less Tar Heel to worry about.

SEC links for Sunday:

• Phil Simms wary of giving his son, Matt, advice at Tennessee, writes Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Ron Morris of The State thinks that Stephen Garcia should be starting quarterback at South Carolina.
• Ellis Johnson’s defense fuels South Carolina’s success, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Armand Williams has blossomed at LSU since Katrina, writes Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times.
• LSU got the opener it wanted, writes Scott Hotard of The Baton Rouge Advocate.
• Ryan Mallett is the no-doubt leader at Arkansas, writes Robbie Nieswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Auburn football has a window of opportunity, writes Evan Woodbery of the Huntsville Times.
• More players and a familiar system has Auburn optimistic, writes Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News.
• “Repeat” and “Defending” are two words Nick Saban does not want to hear, writes Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Phil Simms wary of giving advice to son’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• South Carolina’s Weslye Saunders finds more trouble in a suspension, reports Joe Person of The State.

• Can Jeffery top breakout freshman season at South Carolina? asks Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.

• Vanderbilt’s top playmaker, Warren Norman, to have MRI on knee, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.

• Only label Matt Simms missing at Tennessee is starter, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

• Eric Gordon a vicious hitter for the Vols, writes Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

• Ole Miss’ Jeremiah Masoli is awaiting clearance from NCAA, writes David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger.

• With season fast approaching, Urban Meyer says he has concerns at Florida, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.

• Meyer says he’s starting to hit the panic button a little, reports Anthony Chiang of the Orlando Sentinel.

• Jordan Jefferson to take more risks as LSU’s quarterback, writes Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times.

• It’s Aaron Murray’s time to shine at Georgia, writes Steve Hummer of the AJC.

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Ex-U of L quarterback Matt Simms opens fall as the Tennessee starter, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Simms can’t fool anyone anymore.
• Simms relaxes with the Tennessee offense, writes David Climer of the Tennessean.
• Climer also writes that Derek Dooley expects to get past UT’s coaching turmoil.
• Clarion-Ledger columnist Rick Cleveland writes that Houston Nutt is doing what he must to win.
• Ex-Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville is eager to get things started at Texas Tech, writes Tommy Hicks of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Mississippi State’s split squad focuses on detail work, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.

Continue reading ‘SEC: At Tennessee, all eyes on Matt Simms’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Bobby Johnson’s sudden retirement stuns Commodores, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.

• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean says Vanderbilt football claimed another victim.

• Suspended Georgia running back Dontavius Jackson will transfer, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

• Bobby Johnson did a lot with a little, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.

• 

  Jenn Brown

  New Vandy coach Robbie Caldwell is called intense, writes Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean.

• Some fans suspicious about timing of Johnson’s retirement, writes Maurice Patton of the Tennessean.

• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Johnson’s departure is puzzling.

• Wayne Chism is talking Turkey as a backup plan, reports Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel.

• Another report, another twist to the Vol Brawl, writes the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

• Erin Andrews’ replacement, Jenn Brown, has carved her own path, writes Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Bobby Johnson’s retirement shocks Vandy’