John Clay's Sidelines

SEC links for Sunday:

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that SEC should drop Vanderbilt for Central Florida.
• Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher rips ex-Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean writes about the internet problems at the SEC Media Days.
• South Carolina’s Stephen Garcia is primed for a breakout season, writes Ron Morris of The State.
• Touted quarterback Raymond Cotton has left Ole Miss, reports David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Ole Miss thin at quarterback after Cotton’s departure, writes Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Mark Fox is taking Georgia basketball up a notch, writes Roger Clarkson of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• LSU excited about returning to the Georgia Dome, reports Scott Hotard of The Advocate.
• Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times writes that Nick Saban has insulted pimps everywhere.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News thinks this will be Saban’s most important season.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Should conference give Vanderbilt the boot?’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Bobby Johnson’s sudden retirement stuns Commodores, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.

• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean says Vanderbilt football claimed another victim.

• Suspended Georgia running back Dontavius Jackson will transfer, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

• Bobby Johnson did a lot with a little, writes Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger.

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  Jenn Brown

  New Vandy coach Robbie Caldwell is called intense, writes Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean.

• Some fans suspicious about timing of Johnson’s retirement, writes Maurice Patton of the Tennessean.

• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Johnson’s departure is puzzling.

• Wayne Chism is talking Turkey as a backup plan, reports Mike Griffith of the News-Sentinel.

• Another report, another twist to the Vol Brawl, writes the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

• Erin Andrews’ replacement, Jenn Brown, has carved her own path, writes Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Bobby Johnson’s retirement shocks Vandy’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Florida football in trouble over misuse of Facebook, reports Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel.

• Erin Andrews is joining ESPN’s College GameDay, reports Gainesville Sun.

• Ex-Vol Wayne Chism has joined DeMarcus Cousins no Sacramento Kings’ summer team, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

• Ex-Vandy star David Price starts tonight in All-Star game, reports Gannett Tennessee’s Tom Kreager.

• Paul Finebaum of the Mobile Press-Register thinks that Mark Richt is headed for trouble.

• Don’t blame Richt for his players’ bad choices, writes Mark Bradley of the AJC.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Florida football in trouble over Facebook’

(Photo uga.edu)

SEC links for Sunday:

• Damon Evans is out at Georgia, according to a WSB-TV report, says Larry Hartstein of the AJC.

• Here’s the report from WSB-TV in Atlanta, via sources.

• The New Jersey nets have already cut Wayne Chism, ex-Vol, from their summer team, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

• Duke is cramming for visit from Alabama, writes David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

• Illinois coach Ron Zook, former coach at Florida, says SEC is better than the Big 10, blogs Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Report says Damon Evans fired at Georgia’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• South Carolina just one win one away from NCAA baseball title, reports Neil White of The State.

• Top Tennessee basketball prospect cuts list to Florida, Alabama, Vandy and Memphis, reports Chip Cirillo of the Tennessean.

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that MSU guard Dee Bost is looking for slack from the NCAA.

• Ole Miss has released a list of new mascot ideas.

• Carolina pitcher Blake Cooper finds way to ruin the Bruins, writes Ron Morris of The State.

• UCLA digs itself a hole in CWS final, reports Shandel Richardson of the Los Angeles Times.

• Cooper strikes out 10 in eight innings, reports Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.

• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger thinks its puzzling how Phil Turner and Rick Stansbury failed to connect.

• SEC basketball coaches pondering early scholarship offers, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.

• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News reports that Anthony Grant is comfortable with current Bama basketball roster.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: South Carolina one win away from NCAA title’

Back from furlough with SEC links for Monday:

• Mississippi State’s Phil Turner and Rick Stansbury have conflicting stories about Turner’s scholarship being cut, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Turner claimed he was stunned by dismissal, reports Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Veazey also reports that Ole Miss is looking into whether an assistant football coach committed a violation by commenting on a prospect’s Facebook page.
• South Carolina and UCLA mirror images heading into NCAA Baseball title series, writes Neil White of The State.
• South Carolina in the national spotlight, writes Ron Morris of The State.
• Gamecocks ready for historic finale, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Turner, Stansbury tell conflicting stories’

SEC links for Monday:

• Mark Bradley of the AJC makes a very short post about a very big topic – Georgia coaching.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that UT basketball is in Paradise Jam final.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Wayne Chism is UT’s MVP.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Tennessee scored feel-good story on extra point.
• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Auburn’s Gene Chizik plans to draw on his past Iron Bowl experiences.
• Tommy Hicks of the Press-Register writes that the Iron Bowl is big no matter what.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee reaches Paradise Jam final’

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News writes on Auburn’s comeback win over Alabama.
• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports that Auburn has now clinched an SEC Tourney bye.
• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News writes on Auburn’s sweep of Alabama.
• In the Montgomery Advertiser, Jay G. Tate writes on the Auburn rally.
• In The Advocate, Gary Laney writes on the LSU seniors’ unfinished business.
• In a recurring theme, Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes on Wayne Chism’s unfinished business.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Kevin Brockway writes that Florida is searching for some defense.
• In The State, Seth Emerson writes on Zam Fredrick’s family tradition.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Auburn on the rise’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• In the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen writes that Tennessee’s hopes of beating Kentucky lie with Wayne Chism.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith writes that there are plenty of storylines for UK-UT.
• Also in the News-Sentinel, John Adams writes on how UT walk-on Travis Wild tried to recruit Patrick Patterson to UT.
• In the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Wally Hall writes that young Razorbacks were warned, but fell into a trap.
• In the Clarion-Ledger, Kyle Veazey writes on Mississippi State freshman Dee Bost.
• Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News reports that ex-Auburn star Tracy Rocker is coming back as defensive line coach.
• Also in the News, Ray Melick writes that college football is the biggest winner in Tim Tebow’s return.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Robbie Andreu reports on Tebow’s shoulder surgery.
• In the Tennessean, Jessica Bliss writes that Phil Fulmer is accepting life without Tennessee.
• In the AJC, Tim Tucker writes on three off-season keys for Georgia football.

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Nate Allen of the NW Arkansas Times reports on Arkansas’ upset win over No. 4 Oklahoma.
• Also in the Times, Brandon Marcello reports on the lift the Hogs received from ex-grid star Marcus Monk.
• Times columnist Terry Wood writes that the Hogs go chin-to-chin, and pull out the win.
• Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Wally Hall writes on Arkansas freshman Courtney Fortson.
• In The State, Seth Emerson reports on South Carolina’s fifth straight loss to Clemson in men’s basketball.
• Randy Rosetta writes in the Baton Rouge Advocate that for LSU it all comes down to stopping Georgia Tech’s option.
• In the Tennessean, Maurice Patton writes that Vandy football is trying for a historic finish.
• Also in The State, columnist Ron Morris writes on Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that new Auburn offensvie coordinator Gus Malzahn is not Tony Franklin 2.0.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that Auburn’s fall and Alabama’s rise were the top stories of 2008.
• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, John Adams writes that SEC bowl prospects appear mixed.
• In the Tennessean, Bryan Mullen reports that Tennessee center Wayne Chism’s availability is iffy for the Kansas game.