John Clay’s Sidelines

Tommy Tuberville was a good football coach. Strike that, Tommy Tuberville is a good football coach. He won at Auburn, won big at times, once turned in a perfect season, and bloodied arch-rival Alabama’s nose for six straight years. All the while, the delusional zealots down on the Plains couldn’t wait to get rid of Coach Tubs.

They flew undercover in the dead of night to interview the sneaky Bobby Petrino while Tuberville, Petrino’s former boss, was still the coach. Happily, they got caught. They crooned over other candidates. When Tubs finally slipped on a banana peel this season, they couldn’t wait to force Tuberville out. Which they did. Tuberville’s own mother says her son’s resignation was forced, and mothers don’t lie.

Actually, Tuberville was probably glad to get his $5 million and leave.

So who did Auburn push Tommy Tuberville out for — Gene Chizik.

Gene Chizik, a coach who went 5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State. Gene Chizik, a coach who brings a 10-game losing streak to the Plains. Gene Chizik, not exactly a household name to go up against Nick Saban in the state of Alabama.

That giggling you’re hearing from down south comes from delighted Crimson Tide fans.

And you thought Lane Kiffin was a curious hire at Tennessee.

Mark Schlabach does a good job of summing up the whole episode at espn.com.

Here’s an excerpt:

Given what transpired during Auburn’s 10-day search for Tuberville’s successor, Tigers fans can only hope (AD Jay) Jacobs was caught completely off guard by the former coach’s resignation. If not, Jacobs might have just presided over the most haphazard search in recent college football history.

If the Tigers weren’t going to keep Tuberville, they needed a coach who would unite their divided fan base. They needed a coach who was charismatic enough and confident enough to stare into the eyes of Alabama coach Nick Saban and not blink.

More than anything else, the Tigers needed to do something to sway some of the momentum away from Tuscaloosa.

Instead, Auburn hired a coach who seemed to be a dead man walking at Iowa State. In recent weeks, Chizik demoted both his coordinators and fired two assistant coaches. That’s not a sign of stability.

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Chloe White of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Tennessee’s president is having to defend Phil Fulmer’s appointment as assistant to the president at the same time the school is under a hiring freeze.

• Brittney Whitley of the Opelika News reports on marchers at Auburn protesting the treatment of ex-coach Tommy Tuberville.

• Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Bobby Petrino’s actual contract is different than the letter of agreement he reached with Arkansas before becoming head coach.

• Gainesville Sun’s poll says Heisman race is too close to call between Tebow and Bradford.

• Chip Towers of the AJC reports on Georgia basketball’s win over Virginia Tech.

• Mobile Press-Register columnist Paul Finebaum writes that Auburn must find the right man.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: A freeze at UT, except for Fulmer’

SEC links for Friday:

• Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky asks why couldn’t Auburn get along this way before Tommy Tuberville walked away.

• Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register reports that Auburn has a list of coaching candidates.

• Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times wonders if it won’t be tough for Auburn to find a coach who wants to compete in the ultra-competitive SEC.

• Press-Register columnist Randy Kennedy wonders how Auburn is going to top Tuberville.

• Chip Towers of the AJC talks to ex-Auburn offensive lineman and current Georgia assistant Rodney Garner, the recruiting whiz, who says he’d love Tigers’ job.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Can Auburn top Tuberville?’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Mike Herndon of the Press-Register writes that Texas Tech’s Mike Leach sits atop Auburn wish list.

• 

  Tommy Tuberville

  Evan Woodberry of the Mobile Press-Register looks back on the Tommy Tuberville reign at Auburn.

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger tackles speculation that Tuberville could be headed to Starkville as Mississippi State’s next coach.

• In the Montgomery Advertiser, Jay G. Tate gives more Tuberville details.

• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News quotes Bama’s Nick Saban as saying he guesses he’s just a 5-7 away from suffering the same fate as Tuberville.

• On ESPN.com, Ivan Maisel writes that Tuberville ouster merely echoes other SEC changes.

• At CBS Sportsline, Dennis Dodd writes that Auburn is again looking for a great coach — just like the one it had.

• Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley writes that Florida football is looking out for No. 1.

• Mike Organ of the Tennessean reports on Vandy’s embarrassing 19-point home loss to Illinois-Chicago.

• Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes on Tyler Smith’s historical triple-double in Tennessee’s win over UNC-Asheville.

• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss couldn’t hold on, and ends up losing to visiting West Virginia.

SEC links for Monday:

• Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News-Sentinel tracks down reports that Monte Kiffin will join his son at Tennessee as defensive coordinator.

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes about Tennessee’s loss to Gonzaga in finals of Old Spice Classic in Orlando.

• In the AJC, Tim Tucker reports that Georgia coach Mark Richt will not fire embattled defensive coordinator Willie Martinez.

• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida hopes a hobbled Percy Harvin can play in SEC title game.

• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes that Tennessee may be home to a Kiffin family reunion.

• News-Sentinel columnist John Adams writes that plenty of kid coaches, like Kiffin, have experienced success.

• In our own Herald-Leader, Jerry Tipton writes about UK forward Josh Harrellson.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Kiffins to reunite at Tennessee’

SEC links for Wednesday:

Ian Rapoport writes in the Birmingham News that Nick Saban can’t help but get emotional about his return to Baton Rouge.

Paul Finebaum writes in the Mobile Press-Register that decision day is near for Auburn and Tommy Tuberville.

Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that just like Tommy Bowden, Phil Fulmer got Nicked.

In the AJC, Jeff Schultz asks if Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford has already made up his mind about going pro early.

Also in the AJC, Mark Bradley writes that timid Georgia failed to embrace its potential.

Joseph Schiefelbein writes in The Advocate that LSU is looking for playmakers.

In the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen writes that Tennessee’s problems had been buidling before Fulmer’s dismissal.

Also in the Tennessean, David Climer writes that Fulmer had let his guard down.

ESPN, through various services, says Butch Davis, David Cutcliffe and Steve Spurrier all say they have no interest in Tennessee.

Young basketball Razorbacks learning the do’s and don’ts, writes Bob Holt in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Drew Edwards writes in the Knoxville News-Sentinel that Tennessee is dealing with the shock and trying to move on.

Houston Nutt at Arkansas.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• In The State, Joe Person writes about the aggressive official who put a shoulder to Carolina’s Stephen Garcia. Story features nice photos of the incident.

• In The Advocate, Randy Rosetta tackles the same official from LSU’s perspective.

• Rick Cleveland writes in the Clarion-Ledger about the emotions likely to be stirred by Houston Nutt’s return to Arkansas.

• In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Bob Holt writes that Nutt is whistling Dixie.

• In the Gainesville Sun, Robbie Andreu writes about Florida’s home-run threats.

• In the AJC, Chip Towers writes that Georgia will face several two-headed monsters in LSU.

• John Adams writes in the Knoxville News-Sentinel that even without Mt. Cody, Alabama is a huge test for Tennessee.

• The News-Sentinel also reports that Tennessee is picked to win the SEC in basketball.

• In the Gainesville Sun, Kevin Brockway writes about Billy Donovan’s fresh hoops options with the Gators.

• In the Birmingham News, Charles Goldberg writes that Tommy Tuberville finally goes on offense — about health rumors, program problems, etc.

• Maurice Patton writes in the Tennessean that Vandy hopes that Duke presents opportunity for sixth win.

• Birmingham News columnist Ray Melick writes that the regular season in college football is never regular.

SEC links for Thursday:

• Nate Allen of the NW Arkansas Times offers that the Tommy Tuberville/Bobby Petrino example shows that coaches should go with what they know.

• Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writes that after a poor start, the Arkansas defense is improving.

• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News writes that Nick Sabans’ love of power backs has contributed to Alabama’s success on offense.

• But David Brandt in the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss is ready for Bama’s smashmouth attack.

• Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News-Sentinel says that Phil Fulmer is thanking supporters during UT’s 2-4 start.

• But John Adams, columnist for the News-Sentinel offers that Sylvester Croom could play terminator to Fulmer’s job security.

• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News will stir up Vandy fans, saying that Commodores coach Bobby Johnson would be a good fit for Clemson.

• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean writes that Vandy needs to locate some offense in order to beat Georgia.

• Charles Golberg of the Birmingham News reports that Auburn linebacker Tray Blackmon is out for the season with a cracked bone in his right wrist.

• In The State, Joe Person writes that South Carolina receiver Jason Barnes is coming into his own.

• In The Advocate, Randy Rosetta writes that LSU’s backups on offense are waiting to contribute.

• Kyle Veazey in The Clarion-Ledger writes that Mississippi State continues to try new things on offense.

• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun writes about the Florida basketball team, which starts practice Friday.

SEC links for Saturday

• Seth Emerson of The State writes that Carolina receiver Kenny McKinley is a Sharpe shooter.

• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that fans should be ready for anything in tonight’s crucial LSU-Florida tilt.

• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that it’s boom or bust for Tigers and Gators.

• John Adams of the Knoxville-News Sentinel writes that Tennessee’s history at Sanford Stadium is not enough for the Vols.

• Tim Tucker of the AJC writes that the odds are in Georgia’s favor.

• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News says that with Tony Franklin gone, gone, gone, Auburn may go back to an ol’ fashioned running game.

• Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that either hiring or firing Franklin will go down as Tommy Tuberville’s biggest mistake.

• Tommy Hicks of the Mobile Press-Register has some advice for Auburn’s new play-caller, Steve Ensminger: Run the ball.

• Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writes that Auburn and Arkansas are both wondering which trends will hold up today.

• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean writes that Vandy’s magic number stands at one.

• The Tennessean’s Joe Biddle warns that Mississippi State could give Vandy pain.

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger writes that State is starting a seven-game season.

SEC links for Friday:

• Mark Bradley makes the case in the AJC that Georgia better beware Fulmer’s struggling Volunteers.

• David Climer of the Tennessean argues that Tennessee won’t fire Fulmer.

• Joe Person of The State writes that no quarterback news is good news at South Carolina.

• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun offers 10 reasons why Florida-LSU is a big game, but not a rivalry game.

• George Morris writes in The Advocate that getting pressure on Tebow will be key for LSU.

• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News reports that quick-trigger Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville has turned to veteran assistant Steve Ensminger in hopes of turning around the Tiger offense.

• Wally Hall in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contends that Tuberville has “shown nothing but class” in the Tony Franklin firing.

• Bryan Mullen at the Tennessean reports that Tennessee safety Eric Berry takes Georgia personally.

• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean makes the case that depth is the reason Vandy is 5-0.

• Kyle Veazey writes in the Clarion-Ledger that Mississippi State hopes to douse Vandy’s fire.