John Clay’s Sidelines

SEC links for Thursday:

• Bob Gillispie of The State writes that with Steve Spurrier, that was then, this is now.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Mississippi State wants to turn up the volume on Alabama.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports on a guard duo that is prepared to sign with Tennessee.
• Gary Laney of The Advocate writes on LSU’s early basketball recruiting class.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that when Bobby Johnson talks, the SEC should listen.
• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News looks at the highest-paid SEC assistant football coaches.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun thinks Florida assistant Charlie Strong is too smart to take the Memphis job.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the News says it’s not too early to predict Alabama-Florida.
• Junkyard Blawg lists 10 great Georgia wins over Auburn.
• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that A.J. Green is back in the mix for Georgia.

SEC links for Thursday:

• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Tennessee football has gone Lil Wayne.
• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes about Tennessee and Lil Wayne.
• Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel reports that Vols’ basketball player Josh Tabb has withdrawn from school.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that Mike Slive needs to step up control of the SEC family.
• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register reports on the Gus Malzahn-Houston Nutt reunion.
• Joe Person of The State revisits David Reaves’ switch from South Carolina to Tennessee.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee goes Lil Wayne’

(AP Photo/Dave Martin)

SEC links for Monday:

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that MSU coach Dan Mullen thinks replay official blew call.
• Don Kausler of the Birmingham News writes that Alabama gained a tough lesson with close win over Tennessee.
• Ray Melick of the News asks if Alabama is suddenly vulnerable.
• In the News-Sentinel, Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin claims Alabama should have been penalized on field goal block.
• John Adams of the News-Sentinel writes that Tennessee must run gauntlet for 8-4 season.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: League coaches complain about calls’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Robbie Nieswanger of the Morning News reports on SEC suspending officiating crew from Arkansas-Florida game.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that the SEC should get out of the referee business.
• Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register writes that the SEC’s overall strength is under debate.
• Joe Person of The State reports on the latest development in the South Carolina-Alabama tape-gate.
• Mr. SEC says Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier are pointing fingers at each other.
• Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Alabama’s Mark Ingram has Tennessee’s attention.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: League faces slippery slope with officials’

(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 Saturday:

• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama is wary of South Carolina.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that Alabama’s eyes have returned to the top.
• Joe Person of The State reports that USC’s Jarvis Giles has been suspended for Bama game.
• Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News remembers when Steve Spurrier was an evil genius.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean writes that Vanderbilt wants to open up its offense against Georgia.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC writes that Georgia is desperate for a win.
• David Ching of the Athens Banner-Herald writes that Mark Richt’s loser talk has no place.
• Alex Abrams of the Morning News writes that Arkansas hopes its setting a trap game in The Swamp.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida is trying to keep an even keel.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Mississippi State faces challenge of Tony Franklin’s spread offense.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss’ offense hopes to regroup against UAB.

(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Program note: I’ll be live-blogging from the Rich Brooks portion of UK’s weekly press luncheon, which starts around 12:10-12:15.

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that UK is awaiting the full report from Mike Hartline’s MRI.
• My column saying that UK should not move Randall Cobb to quarterback full-time.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that UK is expecting the worst for Hartline.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that Rich Brooks thinks Cobb is a better receiver than quarterback.
• Vaught also writes that Hartline’s injury changes plans for Newton.
• Bill Bryant of the Huntsville Times writes that flattened Auburn must prove its resiliency.
• Andy Bitter of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer writes that Auburn cites lack of focus as its problem.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK not optimistic about Hartline’s knee’

(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• WHAS quotes a “source close to the University of Kentucky football team” as saying that Mike Hartline is out for the season. (FYI: Rich Brooks has his usual Sunday teleconference at 4:15 today. We should know something official then.)
• The Herald-Leader’s Chip Cosby gives details of UK’s tough 28-26 loss at South Carolina.
• Cosby on tough day for UK’s young cornerbacks, and other notes.
• My column on Mike Hartline’s “significant” injury.
• Jerry Tipton’s Sunday UK basketball notebook leads with John Calipari and expectations.
• Mark Story of the H-L lists top 10 UK players who did not play in the Final Four.
• Joe Person of The State writes that South Carolina jump-started way over Cats.
• Ron Morris of The State writes on USC receiver Alshon Jeffery’s huge game.
• The State has video of Steve Spurrier’s post-game comments.
• Travis Haney of the Charleston Post-Courier writes that South Carolina scratched out a win.

Continue reading ‘BBL: One report says Hartline out for season’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader on how Steve Spurrier may test UK’s young corners.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L covers John Calipari’s address to the Jefferson County alumni.
• My column on Billy Gillipsie’s borderline sadistic streak, and how that doesn’t work anymore.
• Seth Emerson of The State grades South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia.
• Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports claims Jim Calhoun and John Calipari are not the best of friends.
• Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline picks John Wall as his preseason Player of the Year.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Spurrier doesn’t want to talk about streak.
• Dawson also covers Calipari’s speech.
• Tom Leach writes on Mike Hartline.
• A Sea of Blue knows its basketball season.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald writes that answers should come quickly for Georgia.
• David Hale of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer writes that Georgia back Caleb King isn’t quite ready.
• Ron Morris of The State writes that Steve Spurrier’s mystique was born at North Carolina State.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that Alabama’s 2008 recruiting class is growing up fast.
• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean writes that Vanderbilt selected its calm quarterback.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Answers should come quickly for Georgia’