John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Cecil Hurt: Like it or not, rule changes are coming
• Joe Medley: More motivation than agreement at Destin meetings
• The oversigning debate has begun at SEC Spring Meetings
• Oversigning has support among league coaches
• Number is “in play” on oversigning issue
• LSU’s Les Miles says a change is underway
• Alabama coach Nick Saban defends Ohio State’s Jim Tressel
• David Climer: Gordon Gee hurt Ohio State more than Vanderbilt
• John Adams: For once, it’s Big 10 football that creates the intrigue

Continue reading ‘SEC: Like it or not, rule changes are coming’

Dan Werner

SEC links:

• Former Florida Gator basketball player Dan Werner offered a plea deal, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Georgia and Georgia Tech are battling over hoops prospect, reports Michael Carvell of the AJC.
• Stephen Garcia has a chance at being back at South Carolina, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Arkansas’ Marshawn Powell undergoes surgery on left foot, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• LSU to unveil bronze statue of Shaquille O’Neal, reports Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune.
• Auburn’s Gene Chizik has a book on the horizon, reports Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News.
• Auburn AD says he’s confident in Cam Newton case, reports John Zenor of the Associated Press.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Werner offered plea; Garcia may be back at USC’

(AP photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• SEC commissioner Mike Slive sounds off on various topics to the Mobile Press-Register.
• Report says Ryan Mallett admitted drug use to NFL teams, writes Robbie Neiswanger of Arkansas News.
• State of SEC quarterbacks looks grim, says Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Ex-Georgia quarterback and coach Ray Goff stays connected through FCA, reports John Kosater of the Macon Telegraph.
• Bottom line only part of the equation for LSU women’s basketball, writes Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Nick Saban gives credit to Crimson Tide fans, writes Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Mike Slive sounds off; Mallett admits drug use’

Mike Sherman leads Texas A&M against LSU in Cotton Bowl tonight. (AP photo/Cody Duty)

SEC links for Friday:

• Jim Kleinpeter: Hype set aside as LSU-Texas A&M square off in Cotton Bowl tonight.
• Glenn Guilbeau: Could Cotton Bowl be Jordan Jefferson’s last stand at LSU?
• Scott Rabalais: Cotton Bowl has made a comeback and wants BCS slot.
• Robbie Neiswanger: Ryan Mallett declares himself eligible for NFL draft.
• Jay G. Tate: Auburn offense fueled by relationship in trenches.
• Kevin Scarbinsky: The SEC’s streak is Auburn’s burden in title game.
• Brandon Marcello: Mississippi State promotes Chris Wilson to defensive coordinator.
• Chase Goodbread: Alabama defensive tackle Marcel Dareus will turn pro.
• Michael Casagrande: Saban tells Alabama recruit that Mark Ingram is going pro.
• Kyle Veazey: SEC West playing catch-up to East in basketball.
• Jeff Lockridge: SEC East should dominate men’s basketball again in league.
• David Paschall: It’s been a rocky start for SEC basketball.
• John Adams: SEC women’s hoops no match for Tennessee’s depth.
• Mike Griffith: Bruce Pearl’s game-day hiatus is about to begin.
• Rachel George: Florida prepares to face Orlando native Chris Warren and Ole Miss.
• David Ching: Georgia athletic director feels fans’ frustration over football.
• Seth Emerson: Greg McGarity says he wants to see Bulldogs improve.
• Austin Ward: Texas hires away Tennessee football’s strength coach.
• David Jones: Kirk Herbstreit says Charlie Weis will be a success at Florida.
• Tony Barnhart: Newton and Pryor rulings are completely different.

(AP photo/Mark Humphrey)

SEC links for Thursday:

• Vanderbilt could not have worked a better late-game play, getting an Andre Walker bucket with 4.1 seconds left to beat visiting Marquette 77-76 last night at Memorial Gym, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean. It was also fun watching the bald Kevin Stallings match wits with the bald Buzz Williams.
• Tennessee men’s basketball team held off UT-Martin 68-62 last night, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The Vols needed to hit nine of 10 free throws down the stretch to win it. Scotty Hopson led the way with 17 points.
• Meanwhile, LP Field has become Knoxville West for tonight’s Music City Bowl game between Tennessee and North Carolina, reports Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean. It’s a 6:40 p.m. kickoff on ESPN. Remember the bowl days when it was Lexington South?
• Back to basketball, where Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel writes that close scares are the norm for Tennessee hoops. Bruce Pearl said afterward, “”I was hoping all the media was in Nashville with the football team. “Unfortunately I’m disappointed to see you guys.”
• Mississippi State’s long nightmare of a road trip finally ended with a 94-72 loss at St. Mary’s, reports the AP. Rick Stansbury may be ruing the day he laid eyes on Renardo Sidney.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Vandy gets big win, but Tennessee takes Nashville’

SEC links for Monday:

• Mississippi State disputes blog report that Elgin Bailey is off team after fight, reports John L. Pitts of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Three Georgia Bulldogs will miss Liberty Bowl because of academics, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Off-the-field news marks memory of this Georgia season, writes Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that tracking tattoos has become NCAA role.
• Nick Saban addresses DUI of football signee, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.
• Urban Meyer’s final Gators game might be fun, writes David Jones of Florida Today.
• Arkansas’ offense preparing for its final test, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Crimson Tide hits the field in Orlando, reports Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Mississippi State starts its game week in Florida, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Bowl will gauge Tennessee’s improvement, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Mississippi State disputes report Bailey off team’

(AP photo/Danny Johnston)

SEC links for Sunday:

• A sweet statement as Arkansas inches closer to Sugar Bowl, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• No BCS game for LSU after 31-23 loss to Arkansas, writes Scott Rablais of The Advocate.
• Missed Georgia Tech extra point helps Georgia get bowl eligible, writes Seth Emerson of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
• Georgia’s win isn’t art, but Dog fans have come to expect that, writes Jeff Schultz of the AJC.
• Florida State snaps Florida’s streak, writes Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
• Jimbo Fisher does something that Bobby Bowden couldn’t do, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• South Carolina overpowers Clemson 29-7, reports Travis Sawchik of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Mississippi State was the stronger, faster team in win over Ole Miss.
• Navy assistant denies report he is about to be Vanderbilt’s next football coach, reports Bill Wagner of the Annapolis Capital.
• South Carolina beats host Western Kentucky in basketball in two overtimes, writes the AP.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Arkansas is sweet; Georgia survives; Florida flops’

(AP photo/Dave Martin)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Joe Schad of ESPN reports that both Cecil Newton and his son Cameron spoke of the pay-for-play plan.
• Cameron Newton is under fire again, writes Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News on whether latest hit on Cameron Newton is a bomb or a dud.
• Gene Chizik says latest Newton allegations are pure garbage, reports John Zenor of the Associated Press.
• Urban Meyer claims he played no role in Cameron Newton stories, reports Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun.
• Slow down before knocking Newton, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Unstoppable on the field, Newton is being assailed off it, writes Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Newton needs to reveal the truth about academic allegations at Florida, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Even more Cameron Newton allegations’

(AP photo/Wade Payne)

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Reality is a bummer for Tennessee fans, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• After seven years together, Nick Saban and Derek Dooley face off Saturday, reports Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Alabama players are feeling their SEC schedule, writes Michael Casagrande of the Anniston Star.
• Les Miles calls Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton “one of a kind,” reports Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register.
• LSU is sticking with its two-quarterback system, writes Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Urban Meyer is missing Dan Mullen, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Mullen has Mississippi State on the fast track, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• The fall of the Gators starts with Urban Meyer, writes George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel.
• It’s back to the drawing board for South Carolina, reports Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is improving, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Billy Donovan talks about Florida basketball’s high expectations for this season, reports Andy Marks of the Gainesville Sun.
• Les Miles and Stephen Garcia will meet in SEC title game, says Clay Travis of AOL FanHouse.
• Arkansas worried about its offensive misfires, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Caleb King’s status unclear at Georgia after arrest, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Mullen and Meyer yield to conflicting self interests, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel thinks SEC could still be in the mix for national title.
• Julio Jones undergoes surgery on broken hand, reports A. Stacy Long of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Alabama trying to figure out what happened to its running game, writes Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Vanderbilt offense has been slow to start, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Two-quarterback system working at LSU, writes Randy Rosetta of The Advocate.