John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Thursday:

• NCAA ends investigation into Newton recruitment, reports Advertiser’s Jay Tate.
• NCAA closure vindicates Auburn, says Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News.
• Joe Medley of Anniston Star says that proof beat perception.
• Not sure how you can fault the NCAA, says Jeff AJC’s Jeff Schultz.
• Many share blame in Garcia saga, writes Ron Morris of The State.
• Press Association objects to Spurrier, reports Post and Courier.
• Florida’s Murphy and Larson thankful for return, reports Sun’s Kevin Brockway.
• Donovan close to signing contract extension, reports Rachel George of Sentinel.
• Lopsided games have dominated early SEC schedule, says Brett Martel of AP.
• Chavis downplays return to Tennessee, reports Times-Picayune’s Jim Kleinpeter.
• Don Kausler of the Birmingham News goes inside an Alabama football halftime.
• Bama’s Jones takes pie to the face, reports Chase Goodbread of Tuscaloosa News.
• Ole Miss knows upsets can happen, writes Hugh Kellenberger of C-L.
• No decision on Vandy quarterback, reports Jeff Lockridge of Tennessean.
• Florida linebacker will transfer, reports Matt Watts of Miami Herald.
• Chip Towers of AJC writes on realities of Georgia’s Dream Team recruiting.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Christian Laettner coming to Lexington to coach in Villains game.
• Kentucky staff visits No. 1 prospect Shabazz Muhammad.
• Kentucky recruiting could experience a slight letdown, says SI’s Luke Winn.
• Kentucky officially off Mitch McGary’s final list.
• South Carolina’s point guard Bruce Ellington is now returning footballs.
• Matt Roark follows his early drops with his first touchdown catch.
• Wide receiver LaRod King wants everybody on the same page.
• South Carolina’s offense is behind new starting quarterback Connor Shaw.
• Don’t count Stephen Garcia out just yet, says Brad Senkiw.
• Raymond Sanders: Dap King.
• Previewing Saturday’s Kentucky-South Carolina football game.
• Doron Lamb returns for his sophomore season with a purpose.
• Kentucky’s point guard transfers are working to improve.
• John Calipari has a bad case of Rick Pitino envy, writes Rick Bozich.
• The hilarious whine from many quarters over Calipari’s comments.
• John Calipari’s subtle geography lesson.
• After knee surgery, Jon Hood wants to use recovery time to improve.
• UK freshman Anthony Davis grew into a big man overnight.
• More details on those Big Blue All-Stars games.
• UK women’s soccer reaches highest ranking in school history.
• It’s tough to hate the most hated man in Kentucky.

Mike Slive (AP photo/Dave Martin)

SEC links for Thursday:

• SEC commissioner Mike Slive has too much to do to retire, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Joe Medley of the Anniston Star writes that the SEC commissioner started off the proceedings with some big talk about academic reform and NCAA rules.
• Slive shows he wants to be out in front of the debate, says my H-L column.
• Slive wants to alter the landscape, writes Mark Schlabach of espn.com.
• The commish has ideas and they’re not stupid, says Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports.
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel argues that Ron Zook left Urban Meyer a better program at Florida than Meyer left Will Muschamp.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC doesn’t think Muschamp is the next Zook.
• South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has his old swagger back after winning division title, writes Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Spurrier knows that repeating won’t be easy, reports Jennifer Smith of the H-L.
• With former UK associate AD Scott Stricklin at the helm, Mississippi State pulls in a record $37.6 million in private donations, reports the AP.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Slive’s big ideas, Spurrier’s swagger and Gators’ chip’

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’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Washaun Ealey is no longer a Georgia Bulldog, reports Seth Emerson of the Columbus Ledger-Enqurier.
• Ealey’s departure not as big as it might have been once, writes Mark Bradley of the AJC.
• Florida sets a high bar for SEC success, writes Antonya English of the Tampa Tribune.
• Charges reduced against Florida basketball players, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Phil Fulmer could get by as athletic director, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Mr. SEC looks at commitment lists for SEC football.
• Justice Department shouldn’t make a federal case out of the BCS, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Ealey departs Georgia; Florida sets the bar high’

SEC links:

• Kevin Ware will visit Georgia and Louisville, reports Michael Carvell.
• Cuonzo Martin’s challenge at Tennessee just got tougher, writes John Adams.
• Scotty Hopson says his game is ready for the NBA, reports Mike Griffith.
• Tennessee basketball looking to regroup, reports Patrick Brown.
• Georgia looks ahead at quarterback, writes Seth Emerson.
• APR scores headed in right direction at Georgia, reports Marc Weiszer.
• UGA golfer wins on Nationwide tour, reports Jonathan Heeter.
• Caldwell committed to the LSU cause, writes Scott Rabalais.
• LSU football’s last four not as good as previous four, says Glenn Guilbeau.
• Stephen Garcia is a college graduate, reports Travis Haney.

Some morning notes and Big Blue Links:

- Here we go again. Peter Vecsey of the New York Post claims that the New York Knicks are interested in John Calipari as coach and GM. I thought Cal was going to take his talents to South Beach and try and keep LeBron’s mom out of trouble. Or maybe he was succeeding the retiring Phil Jackson with the Lakers. Or . . .

- Alabama prep star and Kentucky target Trevor Lacey says reports that he’s down to Kentucky and Alabama and will announce soon are incorrect. Kansas is visiting the scoring machine today.

- Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on the versatility of Kyle Wiltjer. The Kentucky signee is playing in this weekend’s Nike Hoops Summit on Saturday. Fox Sports South is scheduled to show the game, starting at 11 p.m. Michael Gilchrist and Marquis Teague are also playing in the game. Click here for the rosters.

- Meanwhile, could Duke be getting DeAndre Daniels?

Continue reading ‘BBL: Are the Knicks interested in John Calipari?’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• No excuse for Auburn this time, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• This is a least-expected SEC final, reports David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC likes South Carolina to pull the upset in title game.
• Stephen Garcia is sporting a sling, but should be fine, reports the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Alabama staff helped choose controversial songs, reports Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News.
• MSU coach Dan Mullen denies job speculation, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Matt Jones of the NW Arkansas News handicaps Arkansas’ bowl possibilities.
• Tennessee basketball whips Middle Tennessee, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Miami holds off Ole Miss rally, reports Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald.
• Billy Donovan ready to square off with former assistant, reports David Jones of Florida Today.

(The State photo/Gerry Melendez)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Chris Low of espn.com does video talk about South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery.
• Kentucky’s cornerbacks hope to avoid a repeat of last year with Jeffery, reports B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Steve Brown is hearing some mumblings and rumblings, says my column.
• Raymond Sanders and Donald Russell will get their chances against South Carolina, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Calipari says UK will lose some games early, blogs Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Calipari talks athletics and academics at UK forum, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia finds redemption, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Ramon Harris is still pursuing a professional career, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Volleyball trying to keep NCAA Tournament streak alive, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Jake Lanefski plays role in latest UK football commitment, reports Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register.

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.