John Clay’s Sidelines

Anthony Grant

SEC links for Thursday:

• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register reports that crowd of 10,245 shows up for Anthony Grant’s first game at Alabama.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that Georgia AD Damon Evans still made his point while backing Mark Richt.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes about the challenge facing LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson.
• Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Alabama wants to improve its downfield passing game.
• Jeff Lockrige of the Tennessean reports that Vandy back Warren Norman is running for league’s top freshman.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Anthony Grant makes Alabama debut’

SEC links for Monday:

• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Urban Meyer deflects reports of Florida lockerroom skirmish.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that Alabama and LSU may be reversing roles.
• Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Charles Scott is key to LSU rushing attack.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida welcomes the pressure.
• David Paschall of the Chattanoga Times Free Press writes on Florida winning the East.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Was there a “skirmish” in Florida lockerroom?’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Robbie Nieswanger of the Morning News reports on SEC suspending officiating crew from Arkansas-Florida game.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that the SEC should get out of the referee business.
• Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register writes that the SEC’s overall strength is under debate.
• Joe Person of The State reports on the latest development in the South Carolina-Alabama tape-gate.
• Mr. SEC says Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier are pointing fingers at each other.
• Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Alabama’s Mark Ingram has Tennessee’s attention.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: League faces slippery slope with officials’

(AP photo/Dave Martin)

SEC links for Monday:

• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News wants to know if Auburn can really look this bad versus Kentucky.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Auburn is trying to regroup after loss.
• Gainesville Sun reports on Florida’s drop to No. 2 in AP poll.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes that Florida’s narrow win reminded people of Ole Miss.
• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News reports on Alabama’s No. 2 ranking in BCS standings.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press asks if Tennessee can affect the title game.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Alabama can throw its weight around.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Florida No. 1 in BCS, No. 2 in AP’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Chris Low of espn.com reports that the NCAA calls Alabama a “serial repeat violator.”
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that the NCAA remembers Alabama’s past sins.
• Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News reports on the release of Alabama’s rebuttal to the NCAA.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Lane Kiffin’s quarterback loyalty is a worthy selling point.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Tennessee seems to be back on a successful path.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate reports that Les Miles is still looking for answers at LSU.
• Tim Tucker of the AJC hands Georgia a mid-season report card.
• David Ching of the Athens Banner-Herald writes that Georgia needs to change the culture.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that the Mark Richt era is much like the Phil Fulmer era.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: NCAA calls Alabama a “serial” violator’

(AP Photo/Wade Payne)

SEC links for Monday:

• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that maybe Mark Richt should follow Paul Johnson’s example.
• Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald asks how low can these Dogs go?
• Don Klauser of the Birmingham News writes that it’s the intense internal competition that has made Alabama unbeatable.
• John Patton of the Gainesville Sun reports that Urban Meyer relied on advice before playing Tim Tebow.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that Tebow confessed to being worried before the LSU game.
• Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Florida’s defense is nearing its goal of greatness.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Is Mark Richt on the hot seat at Georgia?’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger writes about Chucky Mullins and the hit that happened 20 years ago.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun examines the issue of leaving your starters in a blowout game.
• David Jones of Florida Today reports that SEC coaches stand by Urban Meyer’s decision to leave Tim Tebow in game.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC is worried about Mississippi State.
• Bradley also blog that while LSU changed defensive bosses, Georgia stuck with Willie Martinez.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Twenty years after Chucky Mullins’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that time is now for Florida’s young receivers.
• George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel grabs his Purrell and writes that Urban Meyer is making too much of flu issue.
• Doug Segrest of the Birmingham News writes that if Florida stumbles, the SEC has Lane Kiffin to thank.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Florida wasn’t able to trick wise old Monte Kiffin.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel says numbers show Lane Kiffin is a conservative lean.
• Joe Person of The State reports that South Carolina has a Top 10 itch to scratch.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss is concerned about USC’s Eric Norwood.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Florida, Florida and more Florida’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Writing for the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum says that it was Lane Kiffin, not Nick Saban, who proved that Urban Meyer is mortal.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Kiffin is again critical of Meyer.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes that Meyer is also ranked No. 1 in excuses.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun reports that Florida is going back to basics.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC gives five reasons why Georgia should demote Willie Martinez.
• Gentry Estes writes in the Huntsville Times that Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett is a mighty challenge for Bama.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Meyer, Kiffin still throwing verbal jabs’

Update: According to this Tweet from Wes Rucker, of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Kiffin fires back: wesruckerAlso, Kiffin said the next time #Vols don’t play well, he’ll blame it on the flu. Zing! Still taunting the #Gators in defeat…

Florida coach Urban Meyer took a bit of a shot at Lane Kiffin’s Vols, saying that Tennessee wasn’t really trying to win Saturday, that the heavy underdogs from Knoxville were only trying to keep it close.

Said Meyer:

“I didn’t feel like they were going after the win,” Meyer said. “They wanted to shorten the game. I think that was the plan. There are 10 minutes to go and they’re not in a no-huddle. It’s 23-6 and no urgency (on Tennessee’s part).

“The way we lose a game there is throw an interception. Why put yourself in that position? Let’s find a way to win the game. We’re not trying to impress the pollsters. We’re trying to win the game. A lot of it had to do with the way they were playing. It made our life a little easier.”