John Clay's Sidelines

Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray will miss six weeks with a broken thumb. (AP photo/Mark Humphrey)

SEC links for Monday:

• Poll without Florida schools for first time since 1982, reports Orlando Sentinel.
• Tennessee’s Bray breaks thumb, reports Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Mullen avoids his quarterback issue, reports C-L’s Brandon Marcello.
• Muschamp will shake up Gators, reports Arnold Feliciano of Gainesville Sun.
• Don’t close your eyes on Arkansas, says Commercial Appeal’s Ron Higgins.
• The Hogs are the clear No. 3, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• LSU aims to clean up its miscues, says Les East of The Advocate.
• Jon Solomon of Birmingham News asks what if Russell Wilson had chosen Auburn?
• Auburn searching for answers, reports Jay Tate of Montgomery Advertiser.
• Ole Miss a speed bump for Bama, reports Don Kausler of Birmingham News.
• Richt thinks Georgia is improving, reports Seth Emerson of Ledger-Enquirer.
• Bulldogs’ top receiver out, reports Chip Towers of AJC.

SEC links for Sunday:

• Fans are seeing red, but players like Georgia’s new football uniforms
• Spurrier says South Carolina is a “bunch of overrated dudes right now”
• Joe Medley: Not disrespect, just logic that has Auburn at No. 23 in AP poll
• Dissecting the AP college football poll
• Angry Les Miles promises more discipline at LSU
• Is karma catching up to LSU?
• No compliance director can save a school from a rouge booster
• Will Muschamp backs Florida assistant coach mentioned in Miami scandal story
• Ole Miss decides to let quarterback battle continue
• Vanderbilt quarterback spot crowded with transfer
• At Alabama, Nick Saban likes his quarterbacks
• Petrino confident in team leadership at Arkansas

Continue reading ‘SEC: Fans seeing red over Georgia’s new uniforms’

SEC links for Friday:

• Trotter ready as Auburn’s starter, reports Charles Goldberg of Birmingham News.
• Trotter and Clint Moseley prayed together, reports Jay G. Tate of the Advertiser.
• Saban discusses recruiting allegations, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.
• Chavis is the wise man of LSU staff, writes Glenn Guilbeau of Shreveport Times.
• Ballard is quietly one of the SEC’s best, writes Edward Aschoff of espn.com.
• MSU fully embraces the hybrid craze, writes Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• John Adams of KNS writes that Tyler Bray isn’t planning on a long run.
• Muschamp still putting in defenses, writes Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Gators say two remain eligible, reports Mike DiRocco of the Florida Times-Union.
• Georgia’s  Williams trying to make loss less painful, reports Chip Towers of the AJC.
• Freshman tackle progressing at USC, reports Gene Sapakoff of the Charleston P-C.
• Arkansas’ tight ends ready, reports Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.

(AP photo)

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Mark Wiedmer: Teammates say Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray progressing
• Mike Strange: Bray says he is hungry to improve
• UT’s Austin Johnson will be punished, but he will practice after arrest
• Tennessee tailback Toney Williams will transfer
• Arkansas transfer Rotnei Clarke picks Butler over Oklahoma
• LSU sets record for season football ticket sales
• Pat Dooley: Is Florida buying into Will Muschamp?
• Suspended South Carolina quarterbacks coach will be back by Wednesday
• Clowney says he’s ready for big season at South Carolina
• Auburn to start football practice with plenty of new faces

Continue reading ‘SEC: Tyler Bray’s improvement; Rotnei Clarke to Butler’

SEC links for Monday:

• Tennessee donors lashed out at Tennessee administration leading up to Bruce Pearl firing, reports Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Warrants issued in Georgia locker room thefts, reports Howard Pousner of the AJC.
• After taking two of three from Vandy, South Carolina baseball may be back to No. 1, reports Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Florida beats Georgia 14-7 to take rubber game of series, reports Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• LSU salvages third game of baseball series with Auburn with 3-2 win, reports Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Mississippi State gets one win over Arkansas, reports the Clarion-Ledger.
• Arkansas can’t get the sweep over the Bulldogs, writes Bobby Swofford of the Arkansas News.
• It has been a tough spring for the followers of LSU sports, writes Scott Hotard of The Advocate.
• Alabama’s defense is back to its old ways, writes Michael Casagrande of the Anniston Star.
• Georgia’s Hutson Mason faces a sticky situation, writes Seth Emerson of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Tennessee donors lashed out at administration’

(H-L photo/David Perry)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Calipari bemoans UK’s selfish ways, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• The Cats have holes, says Calipari, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that the Cats want to get off to a fast start at Tennessee.
• My column on UK football team giving up its meal money to feed less fortunate on Thanksgiving.
• Kentucky’s latest football commitment is a record-breaking receiver, reports Chip Towers of the AJC.
• Offensive coordinator takes blame for Tyler Bray’s struggles last week, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Resiliency defines Tennessee’s seniors, writes Mike Strange of the News-Sentinel.
• Randall Cobb returns to Neyland Stadium, writes Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Newest football commitment is a record-setter’

(H-L photo/David Perry)

Click here for the Herald-Leader photo gallery from Maui.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• A 21-2 first-half blitz carries Connecticut to lopsided win over the Cats, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Click here to see and download the box score from UK-UConn.
• Connecticut marches its way through Maui, writes Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant.
• Calipari says he underestimated Walker in recruiting, reports Anthony of the Courant.
• Oriaki helps lead Connecticut’s domination, writes Chad Ford of espn.com.
• Josh Harrellson makes a statement even Calipari likes, writes Tipton of the H-L.
• UConn overpowers the Cats, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Connecticut hands Kentucky the beach blues, writes Matt May of the Cats Pause.
• Huskies simply steamroll Calipari’s Cats, writes John Marshall of the AP.
• Cats vs. Vols helps life go on after tragedy, reports the H-L’s Mark Story.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Reactions to the Cats being mauled in Maui’

(H-L photo/David Perry)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Kentucky shows grit in its 74-67 win over Washington, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Washington comes up short against the Cats, reports Percy Allen of the Seattle Times.
• Seattle Times photo gallery from Kentucky-Washington game.
• Kentucky wins a rollicking battle with the Huskies, writes Chad Ford of espn.com.
• UK’s appeal of Enes Kanter ruling will be heard the first week of December, reports Tipton.
• Tee Martin hopes his road back to Knoxville leads to a Kentucky victory, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• It’s not just another road trip for Martin, writes Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Not even an earthquake could stop the Cats in Hawaii, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• No love lost between Cats and Huskies, reports Matt May of the Cats Pause.
• Tom Leach has video of John Calipari’s post-game press conference.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Linking up Kentucky’s win over Washington’

(H-L photo/David Perry)

Herald-Leader photo gallery from Kentucky’s win over Oklahoma.

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

Terrence Jones’ double-double leads Kentucky to win in Maui

Jones’ 29 points equaled the second-most by a Kentucky freshman (Jamal Mashburn scored 31 against visiting Georgia in 1991) and advanced Kentucky into Tuesday’s semifinals of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Jones also posted career highs with 13 rebounds and four blocks, plus he equalled his previous best of three assists. (Jerry Tipton, Herald-Leader)

Kentucky’s Terrence Jones was too much for Oklahoma

When Oklahoma basketball coach Jeff Capel recruited forward Terrence Jones, he envisioned a player who could dominate games at both ends of the court with his versatility. Jones ended up signing with the University of Kentucky, and on Monday he validated Capel’s assessment, torching the Sooners for 29 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and three assists to lead No. 8 UK to a 76-64 win in the first round of the Maui Invitational. (Brett Dawson, Courier-Journal)

Washington crushes Virginia 106-63 to earn date with Kentucky

This was the game the Huskies wanted the country to see. They showcased their size, speed, diverse offense and unrelenting defense in a spectacular display that overwhelmed Virginia in a game that turned into a rout soon after the purple-clad capacity crowd at Lahaina Civic Center settled into their seats. Washington not only defeated Virginia 106-63 in the first round of the Maui Invitational on Monday, the 13th-ranked Huskies sent a message to everyone else in the tournament that they’re a legitimate contender to take the title. (Percy Allen, Seattle Times)

Randall Cobb tries to play down importance of the UK-Tennessee football game

Randall Cobb was trying to play it cool Monday when addressing the media about the upcoming game at Tennessee. Despite the fact that Kentucky will be playing to: A) end the nation’s longest losing streak to another school at 25; B) to finish in a possible tie for third in the SEC East; and C) to improve its bowl destination, Cobb wouldn’t give the media much ammo with regards to the importance of the game. That’s not even taking into the fact that Cobb is a native of nearby Alcoa who didn’t get the recruiting love he probably should have from Tennessee. (Chip Cosby, Herald-Leader)

Terrence Jones steals the show, now ready for match with Washington

This summer, when Jones withdrew his commitment to UW, it was a big deal but no one knew quite how meaningful it would be. Jones was considered a top recruit, but wasn’t considered in the same league as Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones or Kyrie Irving. Enes Kanter’s defection from the Huskies to the Wildcats was seen as the bigger loss. But in mid-November, it looks like the Huskies may have lost more than they imagined. Kanter has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA and Jones has more than stepped in to fill the void. (Chad Ford, espn)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Terrence Jones makes waves in Maui’

(AP photo/David Tulis)

SEC links for Thursday:

• Alabama plays host to Bill Curry and Georgia State in a rare Thursday night game tonight, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.
• At Georgia State, Bill Curry is doing what he loves most, writes Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Curry is busy building the Georgia State program, reports A. Stacy Long of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Georgia State is preparing for Goliath, writes Ken Sugiura of the AJC.
• ESPN reports that Bill Bell had outline of the Cameron Newton payment plan.
• Cameron Newton reports fire up again, reports the Anniston Star.
• Could TMZ report be a game-changer in Newton case? asks Tony Barnhart of the AJC.
• The Newton story has blown up again, writes John Pennington of Mr. SEC.
• Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal says it’s time to open the door on the SEC’s ethics policy.
• Tennessee makes the most of a (Trae) Golden opportunity, writes Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Bill Curry brings upstart back to Alabama’