John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Thursday:

• Seth Emerson of The State writes about South Carolina’s buzzer-beating win over Florida.
• Ron Morris, columnist for The State, writes that the Gamecocks are starting to show a new attitude.
• Kevin Brockway of The Gainesville Sun calls it the stunner in South Carolina.
• In the Baton Rouge Advocate, Gary Laney has the rundown on LSU’s rout of Mississippi State.
• In the Clarion-Ledger, Kyle Veazey reports on State being buried in the Bayou.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports on Ole Miss’ loss at Alabama.
• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports on the Tide win amidst the turmoil.
• Rapoport also reports that Ronald Steele says foot not reason he’s leaving Bama.
• Andrew Carroll of the Tuscaloosa News reports that ex-South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley is eligible to play baseball at Alabama.
• Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports that Memphis awaits Tennessee after taking care of Rice.

Breaking and bad news from Tuscaloosa where Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News is reporting that Alabama guard Ronald Steele is apparently giving up basketball.

Beset by injuries, Steele missed all last year after multiple knee surgeries. He had returned this season, but had missed the last two games for what Bama said was foot problems. Now comes the official word that Steele will miss the remainder of his senior season.

Earlier, the Huntsville Times reported that Steele was visiting famed Birmingham surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

Here is the official release from Alabama.

SEC links for Friday:

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports on Mississippi’s tough trip to Cincinnati, with Andy Kennedy’s arrest, a loss to Louisville, and Chris Warren’s injury.

• Doing double duty, Veazey also reports on Cincinnati’s win over Mississippi State.

• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports that Bama guard Ronald Steele claims he and coach Mark Gottfried are on the same page after Steele did not start against Tennessee State, just the second non-start of Steele’s 98-game college career.

• Christopher Walsh of the Tuscaloosa News reports that Bama’s Terrence Cody will return for his senior year, but Andre Smith will test the NFL waters.

• Terry Wood of the NW Arkansas Times writes that the Arkansas basketball team is getting better all the time.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Rough night for the Mississippis’

Tony Franklin

SEC links for Thursday:

• Tony Franklin tells Evan Woodberry of the Mobile Press-Register that his gamble backfired at Auburn.

• Robbie Andrew writes in the Gainesville Sun that Florida offensive guard Jim Tartt is out of the Kentucky game because of an injured shoulder.

• Kevin Scarbinsky writes in the Birmingham News that Nick Saban’s nail is taking aim at Phil Fulmer’s coffin.

• Bryan Mullen writes in the Tennessean that the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry extends to recruiting.

• Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle writes about the return of Alabama guard Ronald Steele.

• Marty Cook writes in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the Razorback defense is enjoying a turnover turnaround.

• David Brandt writes in the Clarion-Ledger that Ole Miss linebacker Allen Walker has taken advantage of his second life.

• Drew Edwards writes in the Knoxville News-Sentinel that Tennessee quarterback Nick Stephens focuses on playing smart.

• In the AJC, Tim Tucker reports that injury bug is biting Georgia in preparation for LSU.

• Chip Towers of the AJC thinks he knows the reason behind all the Georgia injuries.

• George Morris of The Advocate writes about LSU’s versatile Tremaine Johnson.