John Clay's Sidelines

Mark Richt at SEC Media Days. (AP photo)

SEC links for Friday:

• Vandy’s interim coach puts on an entertaining show, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Arkansas embraces expectations, reports Cosby in the H-L.
• Steve Spurrier is not so cocky now, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Spurrier has to win at South Carolina this season, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Tennessee gets ready to answer questions about the Vols Brawl, reports the AP.
• Mark Richt says he’s learned to expect issues at Georgia, reports David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Arkansas happy to have high hopes, writes Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Ryan Mallet’s right arm and left foot are important parts, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Sometimes, laughter is the best medicine in the SEC, writes Scarbinsky.
• You have to hand it to the humorous Robbie Caldwell, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Does Steve Spurrier have to win now?’

Ryan Mallett

SEC links for Thursday:

• Ex-Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin will start with two-year bowl ban and major scholarship reductions at USC, reports Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times.
• Tennessee will play Pittsburgh in the SEC/Big East Invitational, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is on crutches, but still on track, says ESPN’s Chris Low.
• Both Rutgers and Seton Hall will play SEC teams, reports Brendan Prunty of the Newark Star-Ledger.
• Ole Miss football improves its APR scores and avoids penalty, reports David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger.
• South Carolina linebacker is granted sixth year by NCAA, reports Joe Person of The State.
• South Carolina will face SEC’s toughest football schedule, says John Pennington of Mr. SEC.
• Alabama baseball names its starter for opening game of Super Regional, reports Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Relievers throw Vanderbilt pitching rotation a curve, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Florida’s APR number pass with flying colors, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Georgia’s football APR numbers are second in SEC behind Vanderbilt, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

SEC links for Friday:

• Alabama basketball picks up two commitments for 2011, reports Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register.

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News wonders if Alabama quarterback Star Jackson will have to jump through transfer hoops, a la basketball player Justin Knox.

• Florida wins big game at South Carolina 3-2, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.

• Chris Bahn of Arkansas Sports 360 on Razorbacks’ quarterback Ryan Mallett.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Will Alabama treat its transfers equally?’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Matt Reynolds writes for the The Advocate on LSU’s 71-60 win over Western Kentucky in the pre-season NIT.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports on the Gators signing two basketball standouts.
• Carroll Rogers of the AJC reports on Georgia basketball’s loss to Wofford.
• Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald says the Bulldogs were bitten by the Terriers.
• Andrew Carroll of the Tuscaloosa News reports on Anthony Grant’s first win as Alabama basketball coach.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: LSU, Tennessee, Bama post basketball wins’

(AP photo/Dave Martin)

SEC links for Monday:

• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News wants to know if Auburn can really look this bad versus Kentucky.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Auburn is trying to regroup after loss.
• Gainesville Sun reports on Florida’s drop to No. 2 in AP poll.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida’s narrow win reminded people of Ole Miss.
• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News reports on Alabama’s No. 2 ranking in BCS standings.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press asks if Tennessee can affect the title game.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Alabama can throw its weight around.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Florida No. 1 in BCS, No. 2 in AP’

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’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Writing for the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum says that it was Lane Kiffin, not Nick Saban, who proved that Urban Meyer is mortal.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Kiffin is again critical of Meyer.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes that Meyer is also ranked No. 1 in excuses.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida is going back to basics.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC gives five reasons why Georgia should demote Willie Martinez.
• Gentry Estes writes in the Huntsville Times that Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett is a mighty challenge for Bama.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Meyer, Kiffin still throwing verbal jabs’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Lane Kiffin’s plan is to try and catch the Gators.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Kiffin is downplaying his influence on the Gators.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that Tim Tebow claims Florida has a special chemistry.
• FanHouse’s Clay Travis writes that Jonathon Crompton’s collapse could spell doom for Tennessee.
• Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel writes on Tennessee star Eric Berry.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC writes on Georgia’s two newest stars.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Florida wants to make Kiffin Gator-bait’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that UT’s Tyler Smith may end up playing overseas.
• Griffith also reports that UT’s J.R. J.P. Prince says his shoulder rehab his ahead of schedule.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that Georgia football will have its hands full thanks to a difficult schedule.
• Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times reports that Alabama expects to hear back soon from NCAA about irregularities involving textbook purchases.
• Montgomery Advertiser, via AP, says Auburn looking into possible rules violations.
• Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett has broken his ring finger on his throwing hand.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: UT’s Tyler Smith considering overseas’