John Clay's Sidelines

Gus Malzahn. (AP photo/Dave Martin)

SEC notes and links for Monday:

SEC BASKETBALL TONIGHT – LSU takes on a tough Coastal Carolina tonight, reports Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times. “The Chanticleers are 7-2 on the season under former Auburn coach Cliff Ellis after winning 28 games last season and reaching the NIT. Desmond Holloway leads Coastal Carolina with 18.4 points a game while averaging 7.2 rebounds a game. LSU, meanwhile, trailed by 11 points with 14 minutes to play Saturday before rallying to tie the game for the first of two times in the final 2 minutes. The game was won thanks to three late turnovers by Central Michigan and LSU making 12-of-12 free throws in the latter stages after starting the game 4-of-10.”

Mississippi Valley State, which comes to UK on Saturday, is at Ole Miss tonight. And Nicholls State is at Mississippi State.

GUS MALZAHN TO VANDY? – Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News reports that Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has been offered the Vanderbilt job. He writes: “A person close to situation said Malzahn is mulling over the offer from the Commodores and will decide either tonight or early in the morning. That person said reports that he has already accepted the job are not true. Malzahn was in New York on Saturday to watch his quarterback, Cam Newton, accept the Heisman Trophy.”

– Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean says reports of a Vandy agreement with Malzahn are false.

Continue reading ‘SEC news: Gus Malzahn not Vandy’s new coach — yet’

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon. His team meets Tennessee today. (AP photo)

SEC links for Saturday:

• Vols ready for Big East battle, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Vanderbilt targets Gus Malzahn, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Auburn OC has job options, writes Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News.
• Hesiman could be a runaway, says Matt Hinton of Yahoo Sports.
• Media shouldn’t be Heisman story, writes Dan Wolken of the Commercial Appeal.
• Meyer a coaching cop-out, writes Mike Bianchi of Orlando Sentinel.
• It’s a pressure-packed job, writes Gene Wojciechowski of espn.com.
• Florida’s Foley keeps low profile, says Edward Aschoff of Gainesville Sun.
• Dan Mullen in rumor-deflecting mode right now, writes David Brandt of the AP.
• Successor speculation all around UF, writes Jason Lieser of Palm Beach Post.

Continue reading ‘Tennessee ready for Pitt; Vandy targets Gus Malzahn’

(AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

SEC links for Thursday:

• Jeremy Foley ready to work quietly and quickly, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• The Meyer ride was fun while it lasted, writes Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun.
• Meyer stepping down is the best thing for the Gators, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Chris Low of espn.com looks at who might be on Florida’s short list.
• If Florida wants Mullen, Mississippi State won’t be able to match bid, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Vanderbilt basketball throws away a chance at an upset at Missouri, writes R.B. Fallstrom of the AP.
• Pat Forde of espn.com says we should wait 24 hours to make sure Meyer means it.
• Could Petrino be a potential candidate? asks Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Urban Meyer’s departure puts family first, writes Joe Biddle of the Tennessean.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel thinks a hatred of losing drove Meyer from coaching.

Continue reading ‘Reaction to Meyer decision, and who’s on UF short list’

Update: Now official, as Florida has issued a release.

Brett McMurphy of AOL FanHouse is reporting that Urban Meyer is stepping down as Florida’s football coach.

He says there will be a press conference tonight.

Gator Updates claims there will be a press conference at 5 p.m.

Get ready for the Charlie Strong to Florida rumors. The Louisville coach was defensive coordinator at UF before finally getting his head coaching shot at U of L. Ironically Coincidentally, Strong was named co-Big East Coach of the Year today with UConn’s Randy Edsall.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Arkansas preparing for its trip to Freedom Hall, writes Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.
• Tennessee basketball ranked No. 2 in RPI, reports Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• If Georgia Tech wants to alter perceptions, it must beat Georgia tonight, writes Jeff Schultz of AJC.
• Jackets-Bulldogs eye bragging rights tonight, writes Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Playing in BCS is anti-climatic after winning SEC, writes Mickey Griffin of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• Tennessee sells out its Music City Bowl allotment, reports Andrew Gribble of the News-Sentinel.
• Vanderbilt closes in on its list of football coaching finalists, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Urban Meyer not changing offensive coordinators at Florida, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Meyer explains why he voted Oregon No. 1 in coaches’ poll, reports David Jones of Florida Today.
• Former Georgia quarterback is transferring to LSU, reports David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Arkansas prepping for Freedom Hall trip’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Alabama fires part-time employee who played “Take the Money and Run” when Cameron Newton came onto field during Iron Bowl, reports Izzy Gould of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Bama tries to do right after songs gone wrong, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC has video proof of the Alabama song selections.
• Fans upset that Urban Meyer blew off post-game radio interview following Florida’s loss to Florida State, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Auburn wants a complete game against South Carolina, reports Charles Bennett of the Anniston Star.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Steve Spurrier and Gene Chizik have made the grade in the SEC.
• Middle Tennessee a trap game for basketball Vols, says Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Temple coach Al Golden is on Vanderbilt’s radar, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Houston Nutt says he has no regrets about bringing in Jeremiah Masoli, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• No staff changes at Georgia, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

SEC links for Monday:

• Auburn takes No. 1 BCS rankings spot from Oregon, reports Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Regsiter.
• Two SEC division winners were not the picks at the beginning, writes Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
• Auburn hopes playing South Carolina again will turn out twice as nice, writes Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser.
• South Carolina playing some of its best football going into title game, reports Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Florida knocks off Florida State in basketball, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that bowl trips can sometimes go bad.
• Urban Meyer says Florida’s rebuilding project begins now, writes Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Houston Nutt denies reports linking him to Colorado job, reports the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Mark Richt says he has no interest in Miami opening, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• For every Iron Bowl winner there is a loser, writes Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

SEC links for Tuesday:

Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun: “If Florida’s frontline is the heavyweight heading into today’s showdown at the O’Connell Center, then Ohio State is the super heavyweight. Led by 255-pound senior forward Dallas Lauderdale and 6-foot-9, 280-pound freshman Jared Sullinger, Ohio State out-rebounded North Carolina A&T 60-22 in its season-opening 102-61 win. The Buckeyes grabbed 30 offensive rebounds. Lauderdale had all of Ohio State’s eight blocked shots.”

Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel: “The 24th-ranked Vols will need to win them against hungry, quality mid-major programs, beginning with Belmont tonight (TV: ESPNU, 9:30 p.m.). It’s the second game of a doubleheader at Thompson-Boling Arena. Arkansas State (0-1) and Missouri State (1-0) play in the opener at 7. The winners and losers of tonight’s games will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. and 9:30. UT (1-0) will play in the 7 p.m. game regardless of tonight’s outcome.”

Clay Travis of AOL FanHouse: “Let’s get this out of the way early: Cam Newton is going to be ruled ineligible to play college football at some point. That ruling will mean that every game he participated would not count as an Auburn victory. This isn’t a question of if, it’s a question of when. It might take 10 days, it might take two years, but the ineligibility ruling is coming. No reasonable person can believe that Cecil Newton Sr. didn’t solicit funds from Mississippi State for his son to play football there.”

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “Not anymore. Now when I think of Urban Meyer, I see a coach who is uncertain, shaky, wishy-washy. I see a man who cannot make up his mind about who he is, where he is headed and what his program is all about. His indecisiveness started last December when he resigned suddenly and reneged the very next day. Remember? He told everyone he was quitting because he wanted to spend more time with his family and then he made the decision to come back without consulting with his family.”

Continue reading ‘SEC: Florida ready for Ohio State in hoops’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Urban Meyer should have sent a loud message about domestic violence.
• If Chris Rainey is cleared to play, he could be a focal point, writes Mike McCall of the Miami Herald.
• The Rainey situation reveals priorities, writes David Ching of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Florida tinkering with its struggling offense, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• This is the week Georgia’s defense needs to step up, writes Jeff Schultz of the AJC.
• Derek Dooley was in one foul mood after Tuesday’s practice, reports Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Steve Spurrier has backed off his play-calling duties, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Alabama’s Julio Jones is not letting pain affect the way he plays, reports Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Ole Miss gets the next shot at slowing Cameron Newton, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.
• But that will be a tough task for the Rebels, reports Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily News.

Roy Skinner and Adolph Rupp (Photo Vanderbilt athletics)

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Roy Skinner, a Paducah native and the winningest basketball coach in Vanderbilt history, has died, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Derek Dooley compares Tennessee to Germans awaiting American invasion, reports Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Auburn not ready to say its defensive problems are fixed, writes Charles Bennett of the Anniston Star.
• Gus Malzahn making most of his shot at Auburn, writes Chris Low of espn.com.
• Alabama-Auburn could be a historic Iron Bowl, writes Paul Finebaum for the Mobile Press-Register.
• Better practice, better performance in games, says Urban Meyer, reports Edward Aschoff of the Gainesville Sun.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC has an early Georgia-Florida primer.
• Ole Miss looking for a stretch run just like 2008, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Vanderbilt changing offensive coordinators, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• LSU turns focus to Alabama, writes Randy Rosetta of The Advocate.