John Clay's Sidelines

(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’

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon. His team meets Tennessee today. (AP photo)

SEC links for Saturday:

• Vols ready for Big East battle, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Vanderbilt targets Gus Malzahn, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Auburn OC has job options, writes Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News.
• Hesiman could be a runaway, says Matt Hinton of Yahoo Sports.
• Media shouldn’t be Heisman story, writes Dan Wolken of the Commercial Appeal.
• Meyer a coaching cop-out, writes Mike Bianchi of Orlando Sentinel.
• It’s a pressure-packed job, writes Gene Wojciechowski of espn.com.
• Florida’s Foley keeps low profile, says Edward Aschoff of Gainesville Sun.
• Dan Mullen in rumor-deflecting mode right now, writes David Brandt of the AP.
• Successor speculation all around UF, writes Jason Lieser of Palm Beach Post.

Continue reading ‘Tennessee ready for Pitt; Vandy targets Gus Malzahn’

SEC links and news for Friday:

GRUDEN TO BE A GATOR? – Adam West of the Gainesville Sun reports that Jon Gruden met with Florida officials on Thursday. But David Jones of Florida Today seems to think that Gruden is out of the race. The ex-Bucs coach says he likes what he’s doing on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. I like it, too.

MULLEN THE MAN? – Dan Mullen reiterates he’s happy at Mississippi State, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger. In fact, Mullen said all the attention regarding the Florida and Miami jobs is a little annoying. And Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel says Florida should bypass the Mississippi State coach, writing, “He looks like he should be. He talks like he should be. He has the Urbanator bloodlines. And, yes, he has what Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin calls the “it factor.” But there’s one thing he doesn’t have: A track record of success that should be a prerequisite for the Florida job.”

MORE MEYER FALLOUT – An old competitor, Phil Fulmer, says he admires Meyer’s courage to step down, reports Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. “”His family is important, his health is important,” said Fulmer, who was presented with The Knoxville Award by the Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service at the Convention Center on Thursday. “I think it’s just a huge statement that the pressure coaches nowadays are under. Good for him to have the courage to step down and do the things that are important to him.”

Meanwhile, Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post reports that Meyer will still be around to help at Florida.

The AJC’s Tony Barhart says that even if you are a Gator-hater, there’s no joy in Meyer’s departure. Plus, Matt Hinton of Yahoo Sports on the Gators that time will forget.

Continue reading ‘Gruden and Gators; Mullen’s plans; Newton news’

SEC links for Saturday:

• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News writes that the NCAA has faced a firestorm in the face of Cameron Newton loophole.
• Chizik and Spurrier say they are both happy Newton will play today, writes Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Spurrier’s experience can stop Newton, writes Joe Biddle of the Tennessean.
• Spurrier and Garcia have become a good working pair, writes Ron Morris of The State.
• The old ball coach is ready for today’s title game, writes Charles Bennett of the Anniston Star.
• Defenses will decide the SEC title, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Georgia basketball holds on to beat UAB, reports Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph.

Continue reading ‘SEC: In Newton firestorm, SEC title decided today’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Alabama fires part-time employee who played “Take the Money and Run” when Cameron Newton came onto field during Iron Bowl, reports Izzy Gould of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Bama tries to do right after songs gone wrong, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC has video proof of the Alabama song selections.
• Fans upset that Urban Meyer blew off post-game radio interview following Florida’s loss to Florida State, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Auburn wants a complete game against South Carolina, reports Charles Bennett of the Anniston Star.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Steve Spurrier and Gene Chizik have made the grade in the SEC.
• Middle Tennessee a trap game for basketball Vols, says Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Temple coach Al Golden is on Vanderbilt’s radar, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Houston Nutt says he has no regrets about bringing in Jeremiah Masoli, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• No staff changes at Georgia, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

Tennessee

SEC links for Thursday:

• Scotty Hopson scores 18 to send Tennessee to NIT final, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• LSU basketball whips Centenary 78-36, reports Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• John Pelphrey must overcome attedance apathy at Arkansas, says John Pennington of Mr. SEC.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC takes his annual look at Georgia and Georgia Tech fans.
• Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal gives thanks for a plate of SEC treats.
• Auburn is undefeated, and the underdog, writes Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Mississippi State leader has a vocal critic in his wife, writes Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Gus Malzahn’s main focus is perfecting the Auburn offense, reports Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Florida quarterback visits his namesake baby in hospital, reports Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Vols play big in Big Apple; Pelphrey problems’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Thayer Evans of Fox Sports reports that Cameron Newton left Florida after an academic cheating scandal.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News says there are holes in earlier Newton scandal story.
• Tennessee basketball loses to Indianapolis in exhibition basketball game, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Alabama basketball has to go double overtime to beat Alabama-Huntsville in an exhibition game, reports Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that Georgia and Mark Richt return to Auburn, but nothing is the same.
• Florida has totally transformed, writes Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Ron Morris of The State writes on the five most important games in South Carolina’s history.
• Steve Spurrier says it’s time for some changes, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Les Miles has become must-see TV, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• Alabama football looking to bounce back after loss to LSU, writes Michael Casagrande of the Anniston Star.

SEC links for Wednesday:

Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger: “(Nick) Bell, 20, died at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital a day after undergoing emergency surgery. The redshirt sophomore was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer after a tumor was removed from his brain on Oct. 1. He had recovered enough by Oct. 23 to attend the Bulldogs’ home victory over UAB, but last week he learned the cancer had spread, said family friend Moreland Smith.”

Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal: “This is not a subject that you normally have to deal with on a college beat. I’m covering young men in their physical primes, their futures wide open before them. Less than two months ago, the 20-year-old Bell was a key part of MSU’s defensive line, rotating at the right end spot, making tackles and making an impact.”

Tim Tucker of the AJC: “Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, caught on camera making a choking gesture toward Florida’s kicker near the end of last Saturday’s game, expressed regret about the incident Tuesday. “As a competitor, sometimes you get caught up in the heat of the moment,” Grantham said. “I wish the situation hadn’t happened. It was a tough, hard-fought game. They won it, and I’m ready to move forward and finish out the year strong.”

Mark Bradley of the AJC: “I know, I know. In Richt’s first five seasons he took Georgia to the SEC title game three times, which Donnan didn’t manage once, and won it twice. In those five seasons Richt bought the kind of good will Donnan never could. But Georgia, which has the same president now as then, has had essentially the same record the past five years as in Donnan’s tenure, and it has had many more off-the-field embarrassments.”

Doug Segrest of the Birmingham News: “Seemingly overnight, defense has gone out the window and the SEC has become an outdoor version of the Arena Football League. Auburn scored 65 points against Arkansas and 51 at Ole Miss. Kentucky averaged nearly 33 points in a four-game span — and lost three times. Even the best-regarded defenses in the league have been chewed up and spit out. South Carolina put 35 points on the board against defending national champion Alabama. LSU did everything but raise a white flag in surrendering 440 yards on the ground to Auburn, including 217 to quarterback Cam Newton.”

Continue reading ‘SEC: A death at MSU; Grantham’s choke sign’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Urban Meyer should have sent a loud message about domestic violence.
• If Chris Rainey is cleared to play, he could be a focal point, writes Mike McCall of the Miami Herald.
• The Rainey situation reveals priorities, writes David Ching of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Florida tinkering with its struggling offense, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• This is the week Georgia’s defense needs to step up, writes Jeff Schultz of the AJC.
• Derek Dooley was in one foul mood after Tuesday’s practice, reports Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Steve Spurrier has backed off his play-calling duties, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Alabama’s Julio Jones is not letting pain affect the way he plays, reports Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Ole Miss gets the next shot at slowing Cameron Newton, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.
• But that will be a tough task for the Rebels, reports Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily News.