John Clay’s Sidelines

Tony Franklin

SEC links for Thursday:

• Tony Franklin tells Evan Woodberry of the Mobile Press-Register that his gamble backfired at Auburn.

• Robbie Andrew writes in the Gainesville Sun that Florida offensive guard Jim Tartt is out of the Kentucky game because of an injured shoulder.

• Kevin Scarbinsky writes in the Birmingham News that Nick Saban’s nail is taking aim at Phil Fulmer’s coffin.

• Bryan Mullen writes in the Tennessean that the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry extends to recruiting.

• Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle writes about the return of Alabama guard Ronald Steele.

• Marty Cook writes in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the Razorback defense is enjoying a turnover turnaround.

• David Brandt writes in the Clarion-Ledger that Ole Miss linebacker Allen Walker has taken advantage of his second life.

• Drew Edwards writes in the Knoxville News-Sentinel that Tennessee quarterback Nick Stephens focuses on playing smart.

• In the AJC, Tim Tucker reports that injury bug is biting Georgia in preparation for LSU.

• Chip Towers of the AJC thinks he knows the reason behind all the Georgia injuries.

• George Morris of The Advocate writes about LSU’s versatile Tremaine Johnson.

SEC links for Thursday:

Updated with new links at 8:40 a.m.

The big news of the day is Tony Franklin’s firing at Auburn. Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News writes that Franklin told co-workers that Auburn “told me to get lost.”

Over at the Mobile Press-Register, Evan Woodberry reminds us that less than 24 hours before the Franklin firing, Tommy Tuberville had said it would be a “major disaster” to make a change in mid-season.

Jeff Hood of the AJC reports that at least one Auburn commitment says he plans on being a Tiger.

Also in the AJC, Tony Barnhart asks five questions about Tuberville and the Franklin firing.

In the Birmingham News, Ray Melick writes “you got to know when to fold ‘em.”

Tom Murphy at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writes that Arkansas’ offensive letdowns have Bobby Petrino seeing red.

In some basketball news, Seth Emerson at The State says new coach Darrin Horn is keeping promises to a minimum.

David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger takes a look at replay, and its affect on the flow of the game.

Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger points out that after returning five interceptions for touchdowns last year, Mississippi State is looking for its first pick-six this season.

In The Advocate down in Baton Rouge, Joe Macaluso reports on new basketball coach Trent Johnson’s talk to the local Rotary Club.

Mark Bradley writes in the AJC that the Georgia O-line is seldom Out-standing.

John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes about the black could that has been hovering over Georgia.

Robbie Andreu points out in the Gainesville Sun that special teams have been important in previous LSU-Florida games.

AP has a story that LSU player who promised to take out Tim Tebow now apologizes.

Maurice Patton in the Tennessean writes about the little things that have staked Vandy to its 5-0 start.

Also in the Tennessean, columnist Joe Biddle wants the real Tennessee to please stand up.

Why would any coach ever work for Tommy Tuberville?

Why would any football coach ever work at Auburn?

If it wasn’t a legitimate question before (and it was) it certainly is now after Tuberville, or Auburn, or both have fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin this afternoon just six games into the 2008 season, saying that the Tigers needed a change since the Tigers are ranked 104th in the nation in total offense.

Six games?

Incredible.

Bad enough that Franklin, the former UK assistant, got less than a year to install his offensive system. Bad enough that no coach fires a coordinator in the middle of the season, it’s practically unheard of, unless you’re Al Davis. Bad enough that Tuberville now makes himself look like a fool for hiring Franklin in the first place. Bad enough that you have to wonder if the forces that be at Auburn, i.e. booster Bobby Lowder, did order Tuberville to push Franklin out the door. Wouldn’t be the first time.

But the whole thing is so Auburn.

Tuberville goes through offensive coordinators the way most people go through paper towels. He fired Ron Borges just last year after what had seemed like a successful run. He’s had three defensive coordinators in the past five years, mainly because at the first sniff at a better job, coordinators are out the door.

Why would anyone want to work for a head coach like that?

Why would anyone want to work for a school whose officials in the middle of the night, with their head coach still employed, boarded Lowder’s plane and went on a secret mission to Louisville to interview Bobby Petrino about replacing Tuberville a few years back. How ironic that Auburn entertains Petrino and the Arkansas Razorbacks this Saturday.

It is true that Tony Franklin is no shrinking violet. He butted heads with Hal Mumme during his final year at Kentucky and was fired at the end of the season before probation caused Mumme to lose his job. Tony has been known to say what he thinks. (And write what he thinks, as demonstrated by his book, “Fourth Down and Life to Go.”) But Tuberville had to have known that when he hired him away from Troy to install the Tony Franklin offense at Auburn.

Six games into the 2008 season, Franklin is no longer the Tigers’ offensive coordinator.

But the way Auburn does business continues to be a joke.

SEC links for Tuesday:

Evan Woodberry of the Mobile-Press Register reports that Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville has muzzled offensive coordinator Tony Franklin. I know from personal experience that’s hard to do. Of course, cynics would suggest that defenses have not had much trouble muzzling Franklin’s offense.

Paul Finebaum writes in the Press-Register that it is Tuberville, not Franklin, who created Auburn’s problems.

Over at CBS Sportsline, Dennis Dodd has a bad feeling about Vanderbilt.

In The State, Joe Person examines Steve Spurrier’s mastery of Kentucky. You may not have heard this, but UK has never beaten Steve Superior.

Jimmy Hyams writes on Mr. SEC that the Big 12 has surpassed the SEC in football.

Robbie Andreu writes in the Gainesville Sun that Urban Meyer understands the fans frustration with the Florida offense, but he sees improvement on the way.

Ray Melick of the Birmingham News asks if Nick Saban will ever smile. The Bama coach replies that grins aren’t in while the season is still going. Bama pride will be a body of works, says the Nickinator.

Drew Edwards in the Knoxville News-Sentinel reminds us that Tennessee should receive a boost from the return of punter Brandon Colquitt. After all, the Vols’ putrid offense has required quite a bit of punting thus far.

Maurice Patton of the Tennessean says that if Chris Nickson can’t go at quarterback, Vandy is confident in backup Mackenzi Adams. In fact, it was Adams who directed the Commodores win over Auburn.

Chip Towers reports in the AJC, or Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that it is a beat-up bunch of Bulldogs preparing for Tennessee.