John Clay’s Sidelines

SEC links for Wednesday:

• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith reports on Tennessee’s 80-68 win over Marquette in the SEC/Big East Invitational.

• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes on the fine play of UT center Wayne Chism.

• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean reports on Vandy’s 71-52 blow-by of South Florida.

• News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes that the SEC isn’t ready to challenge the Big East.

• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that Auburn has blown its big chance.

• Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky lists the no-shows at Gene Chizik’s introductory press conference.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: SEC takes lead over Big East’

SEC links for Saturday:

• Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi writes that the SEC title game is a face off for the ages.

• The Tuscaloosa News reminds us that Alabama-Florida has created some lasting images.

• News columnist Cecil Hurt writes that Bama must prove itself once again.

• Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley writes about how like Urban Meyer, Nick Saban has thrived in year two.

• The Gainesville Sun also has a video with Dooley, and his special guest Cecil Hurt, discussing the SEC season in review.

• Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist John Adams writes about the colliding styles in the SEC title game.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: SEC title game’

SEC links for Monday:

• Mike Bianchi writes in the Orlando Sentinel that Urban Meyer embarrassed Steve Spurrier in a way once thought unimaginable. “Seeing Spurrier coming back to The Swamp and getting clobbered was like watching an aging Sinatra returning to the Sands and forgetting the words to ‘My Way.’”

• Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley writes that this Florida roll is the greatest we’ve ever seen. “You talk all week about how tough a game it’s going to be and — BAM! — you look up and it’s 21-0. You worry about the guy in the visor and staying focused and — BAM! — nobody’s going to catch him and it’s 35-3. You spend the week with a sick feeling in your stomach because you’ve been watching this amazing South Carolina defense and — BAM! — you’ve won the game by half-a-hundred.”

• In the Gainesville Sun, Robbie Andreu writes that Florida is trying to keep perspective during its streak of smashing foes. “Meyer has given much of the credit for his team’s focus and intensity during this remarkable streak to the work the Gators have put in every week on Tuesday and Wednesday, especially Tuesday, the hardest and most physically demanding practice of the week.”

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that Alabama’s dream season is about to meet its worst nightmare. “At the end of the day, at the end of the regular season, at the end of every Alabama person’s worst nightmare, there’s Auburn. There’s Auburn, going the distance on the first snap and going crazy, stacking bodies and sacks on the Alabama quarterback, raising one finger after another and sending the blood pressure of Alabama players, coaches and supporters to the moon.”

• Also in the Birmingham News, Ray Melick writes that it was too bad either Georgia or Auburn had to win their game. “Then there are games such as Auburn-Georgia, a game so full of mistakes that the winning coach, the Bulldogs’ Mark Richt, said afterward: ‘Neither team played good enough to win.’”

• Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes that Georgia lacks coaching, discipline. “They don’t play smart. They sputter too often on offense. They miss tackles on defense. They commit so many infractions it’s a wonder no official has suffered a torn rotator cuff from throwing so many penalty flags.”

• Maurice Patton writes in The Tennessean that getting that sixth win, over UK, probably locks up a bowl invite for Vanderbilt. “That means there’s a good chance there won’t be enough qualified SEC teams to fill all of the bowl tie-ins. In that environment, their 5-0 start and underdog story line makes Vanderbilt an attractive option for bowl officials, said Perry Winstead, chief financial officer for the Liberty Bowl, to be played Jan. 2 in Memphis.”

• Drew Edwards reports in the Knoxville News-Sentinel that Jonathon Crompton will start at quarterback for Tennessee against Vandy. “Crompton has played in each of UT’s last two games and engineered UT’s lone scoring drive in a 13-7 loss to Wyoming on Nov. 8. Against the Cowboys, Crompton was 11-of-27 for 91 yards and a touchdown.”

• Randy Rosetta writes in The Advocate that LSU could use its comeback win over Troy as a springboard. “Now what remains to be seen and what could become a huge factor in the final two chapters of LSU’s 2008 season is how do the Tigers respond from their biggest rally in the modern era?”

• The State reports that Penn State spoiled the debut of new USC women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley. “In the first half, the Gamecocks suffered from poor shooting, hitting 5-of-28 from the field. ‘Coming into the season, I knew we would struggle to score,’ Staley said.

• And in the Herald-Leader, Chip Cosby writes that UK needs the bye week to heal some bruises. “Brooks said that the Wildcats will be without two defensive regulars for the Tennessee game. Starting free safety Marcus McClinton is out with a severe laceration on his quadriceps, while backup defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin will miss the game with a high ankle sprain.”

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.