August 19, 2008 3:13 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Tennessee
From a town just outside of Knoxville to Florida State back to East Tennessee and now onto the playing field at Neyland Stadium.
That's the path that's now been cleared for former Florida State freshman All-American tight end, Brandon Warren.
The NCAA notified UT this morning that Warren will be eligible to play for the Vols this fall.
This is another big plus for Tennessee, a team that has already seen the injury bug bite Florida and Georgia. Regardless of their actual practices, the first two weeks of fall camp have been pretty positive for UT.
August 19, 2008 12:24 pm ║ Posted by: JIMMY HYAMS ║ Permalink
After Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the coveted Heisman Trophy, he called Florida teammate Percy Harvin and said, ``You’re next.’’
While Harvin is a dynamic player, don’t look for a Matt Leinhart-like Heisman handoff to Reggie Bush
Tebow is the engine that drives the Gator train. He puts the spread in the spread option – spreading his ability with rushing and passing abilities seldom seen in the collegiate game.
He passed for 32 touchdowns. He ran for 23 more. He ranked second in the nation in passing efficiency. He had almost 3,300 passing yards and rushed for 895.
Not a bad dual threat quarterback, would you say?
With defenses geared even more to stop Tebow and with Florida mindful of limiting his carries, he probably won’t duplicate those numbers.
Instead of accounting for 55 touchdowns, he might account for 45. Instead of almost 4,200 total yards – almost 700 more than runner-up Andre Woodson of Kentucky in the SEC -- he might get just 3,800.
But that slight decline shouldn’t hurt Tebow. It’s like Tiger Woods going from a 64 to a 66. It’s still outstanding.
And what figures to offset Tebow’s numbers decline – if, in fact, that is the case – is that Florida should have a better team. It is favored by SEC media to win the SEC. And you know what happens when a team wins the SEC. Recent history says it wins the national championship as well.
Of course, the Heisman voting is done by the first week in December. But Tebow will have done enough by then to make a run at becoming only the second person to win two Heisman Trophies. That honor belongs to Archie Griffin, running back, Ohio State .
Wouldn’t it ironic for the SEC to toss another dagger at Ohio State – that an SEC player forces a Buckeye to slide over so this rarified Heisman platform can be shared?
Three things will determine if Tebow can repeat as a Heisman winner.
One, health. He got hit so much last year – he carried an incredible 210 times – he suffered a shoulder injury late in the season. Florida needs to reduce the carry total to about 150.
Second, Florida ’s performance. If the Gators don’t win the SEC, or the East Division, that could prove costly. If they do, it benefits Tebow.
Third, the I’m-tired-of-you factor. Call it the Peyton Manning syndrome. Voters became tired of Manning in 1997. They looked for another candidate to challenge him. They became cynical of his goody-two-shoes imagine.
Could voters tire of Tebow? Could they tire of his pristine-clean imagine? Could they say: He’s got his, let’s honor another player?
Perhaps. But I don’t sense the skepticism about Tebow that I did about Manning. I don’t hear many people question his squeaky clean imagine. Maybe it’s because he spends his vacation time on Mission trips. Maybe it’s because he’s strong enough to hit a golf ball 370 yards yet delicate enough to circumcise an infant.
I think Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy again and I think he’ll be the most productive of the six SEC quarterbacks who are returning starters.
Here is how I would rank the other five returning SEC quarterbacks.
2) Matt Stafford, Georgia . One NFL draft analyst said Stafford would be the top overall pick in the NFL draft whenever he turns pro. I don’t buy it.
Stafford might be the most talented quarterback Mark Richt has ever coached, but that doesn’t mean he’s the best. Stafford played very well when Georgia went 7-0 down the stretch last season. Until then, he had been an inconsistent performer who threw too many interceptions.
Stafford completed only 55.7 percent of his passes last season – eight other SEC starters did better – and his touchdown-interception ratio wasn’t very good (19 to 10).
Richt says Stafford easily has his best receiving corps as a Bulldog. He also has more experience and a terrific running back.
Is he consistent enough to lead Georgia to an SEC Championship?
He hasn’t been yet.
3) John Parker Wilson, Alabama. Wilson is going to end his career as Alabama’s all-time leading passer. What’s wrong with that sentence?
Just the fact that Wilson isn’t close to being one of Alabama’s best quarterbacks. And the fact that Wilson has not won more than six regular-season games in two years as a starter (6-6 in both regular-seasons).
Wilson set five single-season passing records last year, including most attempts, completions, touchdown passes, passing yards and total offense.
But he hasn’t beaten Auburn . He hasn’t won the West Division – must less an SEC title. And he hasn’t made big plays at big moments.
Wilson lost two of his best receivers and he’s got a third offensive coordinator in three years. But he can be an effective quarterback if he avoids key mistakes.
4) Casey Dick, Arkansas. An Arkansas sportswriter has predicted Dick will set single-season records for pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdown passes.
I thought that absurd considering Dick’s previous performances and the lack of receivers at Arkansas .
But Arkansas ’ single-season passing marks aren’t impressive and the Hogs have never had an offensive-minded coach like Bobby Petrino.
Dick figures to air it out in Petrino’s controlled passing scheme. How well he succeeds will depend largely on a group of inexperienced receivers.
5) Wes Carroll, Mississippi State. Carroll is described as a smart quarterback who makes good decisions and is a winner. He began his Bulldog career by going 137 passes without an interception, one attempt away from the NCAA freshman record.
He won a lot of games in high school (52-5, two state titles). He went 6-3 as a starter last season, but two of those wins came on a defensive or special teams touchdown and the offense scored fewer than 20 points four times.
Carroll completed 52.5 percent of his passes for 1,392 yards and nine touchdowns. His numbers will be better this year, but he doesn’t have much of a supporting cast in the passing game.
State had a quality running back in Anthony Dixon, but as the saying goes, you can run, but you can not hide an inept passing game.
6) Chris Nickson and Mackenzi Adams, Vanderbilt. The Commodores were 10th in the SEC in scoring and passing last season.
It won’t get much better, not without receiver Earl Bennett and first-round NFL draft pick Chris Williams (offensive tackle).
Nickson had a nice sophomore season, but regressed as a junior, completing 52.1 percent of his passes for 763 yards and six touchdowns. Adams completed 55.5 percent for nine touchdowns. Adams proved to be the better runner, getting 289 yards.
This is a classic case of, if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have one.
Next column, we’ll predict the quarterback production of the first-year starters.
August 19, 2008 12:15 pm ║ Posted by: ETHAN SMARTT ║ Permalink ║ tags: Kentucky
Chris Low's tour around the SEC has stopped in the Bluegrass State. Here's his update on the Kentucky Wildcats:
Mr. Low had a chat with Kentucky head coach and resurrector of programs Rich Brooks. Part One is right here and Part Two is right here.
Defensive end Jeremy Jarmon says the Wildcats' defense should be much improved over the porous, touchdown-allowing machine of last year.
And Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline would love to have freshman Randall Cobb as one of his receiving options this fall. At the moment, though, Cobb and Hartline are competing for the starting QB job.
Mr. Low caught up with both quarterback candidates and provided his assessment of the situation.
August 19, 2008 12:05 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee
"Mr. College Football" covers five bulletpoints in this most recent blog at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
1) Florida is really gunning for Georgia. According to Gator back-up quarterback Cameron Newton anyway. "May, they have opened something up. It's going to be a fun game this year. I know coach (Urban) Meyer wants it bad."
2) Arizona State is trying not to focus on their game with Georgia yet.
3) Terrence Cody (6'5, 380ish) is important to Alabama because Nick Saban's 3-4 defense requires a massive tackle to occupy multiple blockers. Cody's got the massive part down already.
4) Alabama and South Carolina are simplifying their offenses for quarterbacks John Parker Wilson and Tommy Beecher, respectively.
5) UCLA has named a juco transfer as their starter against Tennessee on Labor Day night. Anyone who saw what Brent Schaeffer did in the California juco league as compared to what he did at Ole Miss should know that it's a pretty big step up from juco defenses to SEC defenses.
August 19, 2008 11:55 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Arkansas
With Patrick Beverly out, at least for the year, due to... well, no one really knows why he's unavailable... Arkansas was in need of some good news.
They got it yesterday when the NCAA cleared freshman point guard Courtney Fortson to play this winter.
"Oh, man, it seemed (to take) so long. But the great thing is that everything is all cool now and I can head that way. I got the call and told my Mom, and we were both just very, very thankful."
I'm guessing John Pelphrey felt the same way.
Now, back to Beverly, after telling FoxSports.com on Friday that he'd signed with an agent and was heading overseas to play professionally, he now says that he did NOT sign with an agent and that his "first choice is still to go back to Arkansas."
It'll be interesting to watch this one play out.
August 19, 2008 11:38 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Kentucky
With no Monday practice, the Kentucky beat turned into a day to cover the Cats' defense.
We start in the secondary, where the Wildcats boast Trevard Lindley, a player that Rich Brooks says is as good as any cornerback in the country.
On the defensive line, everyone knows the story of Jeremy Jarmon, but when it comes to his back-up, Nii Adjei Oninku, most of us would be lucky just to spell his name correctly. You can get to know more about him and the devastating knee injury he's trying to recover from here.
That kid's last name means "invincible," but Nii Adjei Oninku sounds like a "Star Wars" character from the Mos Eisley cantina to me.
And you can get a quick scouting report of UK's entire defensive line right here.
Finishing up, Mark Story of The Lexington Herald-Leader has been pretty good at picking the winners in the UK-Louisville football series. But this year, he has "no earthly idea what is going to happen in Pap John's Cardinal Stadium on Aug. 31."
How 'bout... um... some mediocre football?
August 19, 2008 11:18 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Georgia
Georgia is preparing for Georgia Southern. The season opener is less than two weeks away. But suddenly, there's yet another injury to deal with.
Back-up tailback Caleb King might miss a couple of practices with a hamstring injury (as he did yesterday), but as you all know, hamstrings aren't always the easiest injuries to come back from.
Here's what King did in Georgia's spring game.
With Knowshon Moreno wearing a green no-contact jersey, that leaves true freshman Richard Samuel to get the bulk of the Bulldogs' practice carries.
"It is a bad time for anybody to miss right now," Mark Richt said.
This notes column also reveals that Brannan Southerland is waiting for the results of a CT scan to tell him how his left foot is healing.
We mentioned Samuel getting carries at the tailback slot, but he's not alone in terms of freshman contributors. In fact, top-ranked Georgia looks like they'll use more freshmen this year than they have in the last five years.
In addition to Samuel, kicker Blair Walsh and receiver AJ Green... Cordy Glenn, Marcus Dowtin and Ben Jones have all made big impressions in fall camp.
With all the attention being paid to Georgia's freshman wideouts, some of the veterans at that position (like Israel Troupe) have been overlooked. Now, they're working to get noticed.
Finally, according to this notes column, it looks like Kiante Tripp will be the man to replace Trinton Sturdivant at left tackle when the Silver Britches open the season.
UPDATE -- Harry King of Razorback Central writes that Georgia won't go wire-to-wire in the AP poll, but not for the reasons you're thinking.
Comparing the #1 votes tallied by Georgia, Ohio State and Southern Cal, King believes that the OSU-USC winner will vault over Georgia that weekend.
Pretty good logic, actually. Whether you think that kind of vote would be fair or not, this is a pretty likely scenario.
August 19, 2008 10:48 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: South Carolina
Let's kickoff the Cock talk with The State's daily "stock report" from Monday's practice. Included is news that juco defensive lineman Jarriel King is trying to get used to his new slot on Carolina's offensive line.
"Defense you don't have to be too smart: Just see ball, tackle ball." When asked for a simplified line regarding the offensive line, King said, "There is no simplified. There's nothing simple. We some technicians over there."
But apparently they're not English majors.
Yesterday, we linked you to Seth Emerson's scouting report breaking down Carolina's offensive line. Now we link to his blog where he reveals that despite all the worries about USC's left tackle spot, it's the guard spot that looks like a bigger concern.
And here's even more on the race to land the left tackle job. One of the guys who's been in the mix for that position has been Hutch Eckerson.
"Everybody on the left side has great feet and great hands. That's definitely why they have us on the left side with speed rushers and stuff.
"Like I said, these guys are awesome. We have the best left tackles I've been around ever out here. We have four of them. It's competition like none other."
Behind that offensive line will be tailback Mike Davis, who coaches are counting on to replace Cory Boyd. This article is scouting report on all the Gamecock running backs.
And finally, two Columbia police officers have been suspended without pay and charged with using excessive force while arresting USC football player Kevin Young in March.
It should be noted that these are city officers, not campus officers... who have been accused by one USC trustee of targeting Carolina athletes.
August 19, 2008 10:13 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Florida
Let's start with a practice notes column, including how the Gators plan to deal with any potential weather problems brought on my Tropical Storm Fay.
Sophomore safety Ahmad Black looks to be in the Gators starting line-up when they take the field versus Hawaii.
According to Michael DiRocco of The Florida Times-Union, injuries have forced O-lineman Phil Trautwein to become a better player and a better leader.
Urban Meyer said Monday that he did not punish Percy Harvin for his much ballyhooed fight with Chris Rainey. "That's a minor thing. Fights during practice happen every once in a while." Yes, they do. But how often do fights break out among two injured players who aren't practicing?
In this column, Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun tells you exactly what he tells everyone else that asks him how the Gators will do in 2008.
(Hint: with so many good teams across the country, there's no real way to predict.)
Florida's defensive players are referring to themselves as "the wolf pack" based on a commonly used quote posted by offensive line coach Steve Addazio. And while the strength of the wolf might actually lie in the pack, I'm not a big believer in bumper sticker or motivational posters.
Personally, I prefer signs like the one at left. (As always, click the headline to see the image full size.) And you can find even funnier "demotivator" posters at despair.com.
August 19, 2008 9:49 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Vanderbilt
Not much coming out of Vandy today, other than the fact that defensive end Tim Fugger was back in action Monday for the first time since breaking his collarbone in June.
Now, it should be pointed out that The Tennessean goes so far as to mention that Fugger's name is pronounced FEW-ger.
That said, I've still got a new name to play with in our headlines.
So all you folks that link to every sophomoric headline I create for a story relating to Casey Dick or South Carolina (and I thank you), get ready for this Fugger to get the same treatment.
In other news from this notes column, Bobby Johnson was happy with yesterday's practice.
"We had a good tempo. Everybody was concentrating very well. I was very pleased."
August 19, 2008 9:23 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Tennessee
Following Monday's practice, Phillip Fulmer broke down Saturday's scrimmage position-by-position, and Drew Edwards of The Knoxville News Sentinel has the full report.
Some of the major notes: Jonathan Crompton took a big step forward at quarterback, the defensive tackles looked better than expected, and the back half of the Vols' defense missed too many tackles.
"That group (linebackers) is playing with good energy and working hard," Fulmer said. "That's not the issue, it's just technique things and a little focus on tackling better. Secondary-wise, played pretty well for the scrimmage. Didn't give up anything huge, but again the tackling situation showed up on the secondary on a few too many plays."
The past couple of years, Tennessee's offense has featured more H-back and a lot less fullback. But Kevin Cooper is trying to make sure that a smashmouth fullback (which he hopes to be) will get more playing time in Dave Clawson's new offense.
In this notes column, it's clear that the Vols will have no shortage of backs running behind Cooper... when he IS in the game. Also, neither BJ Coleman nor Nick Stephens has locked up the second-string quarterback job.
Finally, a UT team bus had an odd incident Monday night when the driver of the bus became ill and we forced to pull the vehicle over. The driver was taken to an area hospital via ambulance. No players were hurt.
August 19, 2008 9:05 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Mississippi State
We'll start the Starkville news with word that everything went well with offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey's surgery yesterday. The family wants to keep the matter private and so far everyone has done so -- which is good.
With McCorvey out this week (he's expected to return next week), Sylvester Croom is taking over the OC duties.
"I'm going to see how good a coach I am again. I've got to go back to work now. I told Woody, he's got to hurry up and get back, this coaching is killing me."
Coaching the Bulldogs' offense can have that affect on a man.
In this notes column, it's revealed that Eric Richards will handle MSU's kickoff duties this fall... and that no decision has been made in regards to the starting right tackle position (where Mark Melichar and Quentin Saulsberry are competing).
Croom tossed some heavy praise at defensive tackle Kyle Love when he compared him to tailback Anthony Dixon. "When they're healthy and playing well, things are a little bit different on both sides of the ball. When they're not, it's a struggle."
August 19, 2008 8:55 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Ole Miss
Ole Miss got more bad news on the defensive line yesterday, as defensive tackle Peria Jerry had to undergo knee surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus.
Before fall camp, it looked like the Rebels' defensive front would be the strength of the team. But sack specialist Greg Hardy is now out 6-8 weeks with a stress fracture in his foot... Ted Laurent is out for another couple of weeks with a meniscus injury... and now Jerry could be out until the Vanderbilt game.
"We're thankful a ligament was not involved and we're glad Peria will be back this season," said Houston Nutt. "We've had a bad injury bug to our defensive line this preseason. Fortunately, we fell none of the injuries have been season-ending, and we're looking forward to getting everyone back."
And if you're wondering what a torn lateral meniscus is, The Jackson Clarion-Ledger has a nice interactive diagram of the knee right here.
So with injuries all over the D-line, who's left to step up? Expect true freshman tackle Justin Smith to be in the line-up when UM opens up against Memphis.
August 19, 2008 8:37 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: LSU
Last week, Jarrett Lee missed practice time with a bum ankle.
On Saturday, Andrew Hatch, who Lee is battling for the starting quarterback job, left LSU scrimmage with soreness in his back.
Yesterday, just one day before the Tigers' final scrimmage, Lee was out of practice again with back spasms.
Lee and Hatch are both expected to be ready to go today, though.
The question is, who'll be the guy working more often with the first team? And who'll have the role after the scrimmage.
Receiver Demetrius Byrd sounds confident in whoever wins the starting QB job. "If you have a great quarterback, that's a blessing. If you have one who's young and inexperienced like we do, he just needs to go back there, stay patient and play his game -- make the reads and make the best decisions. We have talented players all around the quarterback and whoever it is, all he has to do is go back and pick his poison." Nothing to it, right?
This notes column bring you up to speed on the Tigers' overall injury situation.
Finally, tight end Richard Dickson is preparing to be a team leader and a more active participant in LSU's offense... due to the fact that LSU's young quarterbacks might force offensive coordinator Gary Crowton to stress the short passing game more.
I'm guessing Ohio State fans might remember Dickson.
August 19, 2008 8:21 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Arkansas
Everybody out West is talking about freshmen today, and the folks who cover the Razorbacks are keeping with the program.
In this notes package, Tom Murphy of wholehogsports.com writes that Jelani Smith and Khiry Battle both played weakside linebacker with the first team during yesterday's practice. "They're in there," said Bobby Petrino. "They're battling. They're doing as much as they can learning on the job."
And in this notes column from Razorback Central, it's revealed that Sunday's day off didn't completely refresh the players following Petrino's hardcore fall camp. "I think it will take a little bit more recovery. I thought they came out with pretty good effort and tried to practice hard."
Sitting out during his transfer year, quarterback-in-waiting Ryan Mallett has run the Razorbacks' scout team offense, he's played some safety in practice and now his rocket arm is being used to simulate punts during practice.
"He's got a cannon," said safety Matt Harris. "When he's in there at quarterback, you know you'd better get deeper."
Petrino added: "The best thing about Ryan is his personality is such he'll go do whatever it is you ask him to do. He's got a great attitude, and because of that, he'll have a good redshirt year."
(Thanks to the folks at wholehogsports.com for the photo at left.)
August 19, 2008 8:05 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Alabama
Let's talk freshmen to start. Gentry Estes of The Mobile Press-Register creates his own depth chart of Bama's freshmen right here (Nick Saban would disapprove).
In terms of guys ready to "strap 'em up now," here's his list:
WR Julio Jones
RB Mark Ingram
ILB Don'ta Hightower
WR BJ Scott
S Mark Barron
NT Terrence Cody
OLB Courtney Upshaw
OLB Jerrell Harris
And according to Mr. Estes, there are five more freshmen that are "in the mix" for playing time.
There's been a lot of talk about Alabama's freshmen receivers, but forgotten speedster Marquis Maze is competing for playing time, too.
Who's going to be the guy backing up John Parker Wilson this year? Sophomore Greg McElroy, who center Antoine Caldwell has nothing but good things to say. "Real, real smart. He kind of sees a lot of plays even before they happen. He's big for JP. I see he and John Parker talking together a lot, and they talk a lot about things McElroy sees. He's been great for JP and he's been good for us."
As for freshman quarterback Star Jackson, Saban says he's "a little uncertain in some regards about reading and getting the ball out of his hand. But he's really a talented guy. We're working with him a lot, and we want to continue to see him develop throughout the course of the year."
"Star" is an interesting name for a kid. And regarding the kid in this video... it's called "ritalin," folks. Ritalin. And plenty of it.
Finally, Alabama fans can now purchase special hands-free receivers that will allow them to hear the Crimson Tide's game broadcasts with zero delay while at the stadium (both at home and on the road).
Technologically speaking, I'm assuming that the broadcast team's signal is zipped straight to these receivers like a cell phone or walkie-talkie... rather than going out to stations and back to radios, which is where the delay comes from with standard units.
So if you're wondering if you can buy these and then sit in Saskatoon and listen live to games without delay, that'd probably be a big negatory.
August 19, 2008 7:28 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Auburn
Yesterday we started in the SEC East, so today we'll begin in the West.
Auburn had yesterday off, which means there's not as much news coming from The Plains as their normally is.
There is news that Mike Blanc is "probably No. 1" in the race for the defensive tackle slot opposite Sen'Derrick Marks.
In this article, Evan Woodberry of The Mobile Press-Register runs through the list of freshmen expected to contribute for the Tigers this Fall. And Tommy Tuberville's list could be quite long.
Secondary: Neiko Thorpe, D'Antoine Hood, Harry Adams
Receivers: Philip Pierre-Louis... Darvin Adams and Derek Winter could also get some playing time
Running Backs: Eric Smith
Quarterbacks: Barrett Trotter is challenging veteran Neil Caudle for the number three job
Defensive Line: Jomarcus Savage could play depending on Raven Gray's health
There's been a lot of talk about Pierre-Louis... his 5'8 size and his blazing speed. In fact, he's been one of the biggest stories of Auburn's camp.
Here's how he looked in high school. Having seen Troy's offense last year and knowing how Tony Franklin can get guys the ball, I think this little dude might have a pretty big year for a freshman.
August 18, 2008 3:11 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Ole Miss
The Rebels' scrimmage on Saturday was more about finding depth than finding starters, according to this notes/wrap-up column.
Cordera Eason had a big day on Saturday as he tries to steal some of the spotlight from Ole Miss' three highly-touted freshmen running backs.
Houston Nutt: "I just really have admired his toughness, his work ethic. And he know those three freshmen coming in were very tough. I've been proud of the way he's been pretty steady and he's got to keep going for us."
Ole Miss, which has already lost Greg Hardy from their defensive line for up to two months, may be without fellow D-lineman Peria Jerry for a while.
Jerry has tweaked his knee for the second time this fall and the Rebels are awaiting word of an MRI... though it's not believed to be a serious injury.
Meanwhile, Patrick Trahan is ready to show his linebacking skills after transferring from Auburn to a junior college to Ole Miss. "I'm a nice guy off the field. But when I'm on the field, I'm angry. I want to hurt somebody. That's just the way I need to be."
Receiver Lionel Breaux believes he got a new lease on life when Ed Orgeron was fired and Nutt hired in Oxford. Not to rain on the kid's parade, but did he ever see Nutt's passing offense at Arkansas? He'd better hope Kent Austin has complete autonomy with the offense.
This spring, linebacker Tony Fein was booted off of the Rebels' team for having a bad attitude and not going to class. But a few days after said booting, and after a one-on-one meeting, Nutt decided to give Fein one more chance.
"We wanted his mouth closed and his helmet to do the talking. ... His attitude wasn't right and it carried over to the field."
Now, Fein is impressing teammates and coaches with his changed attitude. Which should keep him from having to change latitudes.
August 18, 2008 2:52 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Mississippi State
Some breaking news for you: Bulldogs offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey underwent surgery this morning and will spend the rest of the week recuperating.
There's no word on what the surgery for the 57 year-old was, other than the family's request that the "planned medical procedure remain confidential and private."
Sylvester Croom added, "Woody informed me last Thursday of his physician's recommendation to have this surgery done at this time."
Back to on-the-field news, Croom was happy with his defense and kickers after this weekend's scrimmage. I know, I know... big shock.
The Bulldogs offense, as reported in this notebook column, struggled in the red zone and self-destructed with penalties.
Finally, it looks like MSU has arrived at a four-man receiver rotation, but there's no definitive word on who will be the starters and who will be the back-ups.
August 18, 2008 2:32 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: LSU
Andrew Hatch had to leave Saturday's scrimmage early due to "stiffness in his back," but Les Miles says he was still pleased with Hatch... and his fellow quarterback Jarrett Lee. "I think both quarterbacks played well, and I think both quarterbacks ran the team well."
The Tigers' secondary also drew praise from the head coach, which is covered in this long, detailed notes column. Also covered is the fact that LSU used the scrimmage to see just how having co-defensive coordinators will work during a game setting.
Running back Keiland Williams doesn't believe anything's up between him Miles. "I've heard a lot of people say I'm in the doghouse or I've fallen out of Coach Miles' good graces, but nothing has really changed at all. If something changed, I think I would have noticed. I'm still getting the same reps I always have and I'm running the ball in the same situations."
Richard Murphy is also battling for playing time at the running back spot. The story of the personal tragedies he's had to overcome will leave you pulling for him.
James Varney (Hey, Vern!) takes a close look at LSU's receivers in this New Orleans Times-Picayune article.
The Tigers will play at least four games on CBS this fall... including an 8pm EST kickoff at Florida, their game at South Carolina, their home battle with top-ranked Georgia, and their traditional day-after-Thanksgiving match-up with Arkansas in Little Rock.
Finally, Wally Hall of wholehogsports.com writes that LSU has come a long way under Miles. That's not exactly what a lot of "he just inherited a good program from Nick Saban" folks seem to think.
August 18, 2008 2:12 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
While most of the talk has been about the length and possible financial impact of the SEC's new television contract with CBS, Ray Melick of The Birmingham News believes the real winner in this deal are the fans.
With no SEC Network on the horizon, fans won't be stuck in a tug of war between the league and cable operators. And there won't be any new costs associated with watching your favorite team's games as long as they stay on free network television.
August 18, 2008 1:47 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Arkansas
Reports from FoxSports.com, ESPN.com and CBSSports.com have all recently said that Patrick Beverly will not play basketball at Arkansas this year due to academic issues.
But Beverly has said, "It had nothing to do with academics. I violated NCAA rules an what happened went over the coaches' heads."
Beverly also is still determining what his next step will be and has not turned pro, as some reports have stated.
He is still listed on Arkansas' roster and there is still a chance he could return to the Hogs.
Losing Beverly is / would be a big loss for John Pelphrey's squad. He has started 67 of 70 games and has averaged 13 points and more than five rebounds per game during his two year stint in Fayetteville.
August 18, 2008 1:38 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Arkansas
Arkansas took advantage of yesterday as a day of rest after a rough two weeks of fall camp under new coach Bobby Petrino.
Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson hasn't been pleased with his D very often this fall, but he has liked what he's seen from redshirt freshman linebacker Jerry Franklin.
How big of a role will the fullback play in Petrino's system? Depends on how well the fullbacks play. If they don't play well, you can expect to see the position de-emphasized or done away with entirely.
Robbie Neiswanger of Razorback Central profiles the Arkansas receiving corps, paying special attention to Carlton Salters, who's emerged as one of the Hogs' top targets.
Mr. Neiswanger also writes that Arkansas will score points "at a breakneck pace" this year... and that they'll need every point they can score thanks to a sub-par defense. We'll see. It's one thing for Casey Dick to put up points against a thin Razorback defense in practice... it's quite another thing to do it against LSU, Auburn and Mississippi State.
Odds-maker extraordinaire Danny Sheridan believes the SEC "is murder" and that "no team in the SEC will ever go undefeated again."
Because he thinks so highly of the conference, he doesn't think too highly of the Razorbacks' chances this season.
"If (Petrino) were to win five or six games this year, I think that would be outstanding. If he were to win seven games, I'd probably vote him coach of the year in the conference."
August 18, 2008 1:09 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Auburn
According to the players who took part, this weekend's scrimmage for the Auburn Tigers was yet another offensive exhibition. "Offensive" meaning high-flying ball movement, not, well, "offensive."
Tommy Tuberville singled out 5'8 freshman receiver Philip Pierre-Louis for his good work in the scrimmage. "That's one guy I'll tell you who did well. he's not a big target, but quarterbacks have a lot of confidence in him, and confidence that he can make plays after (the catch). He caught passes and made 15-yard runs after that." (How can a kid named Philip Pierre-Louis not be playing for LSU?)
Kodi Burns, who's locked in a quarterback battle with Chris Todd, said, "At this point, the offense as a whole is going to be extremely good. One game it might be some guy making big plays and the next game it'll be another. We have so many different people to go to in this offense. It'll be a lot of fun."
Tuberville didn't seem to be wowed by the play of his quarterbacks, and despite last week's news that a starter would be name shortly, it now appears that no announcement in imminent. (Told you so.)
The Tiger players are happy to be finally getting a break today, after 20 practices in 16 days. On the injury front, defensive tackle Jomarcus Savage will be getting an MRI today after injuring his shoulder in Saturday's scrimmage.
In this notes column, it's revealed that sophomore Mike Blanc has worked his way to the top of the depth chart at nose guard. (Nick Saban would disapprove of the use of depth charts, by the way.)
With injuries thinning the Auburn secondary, sophomore Mike McNeil has locked up a starting safety spot.
Finally, in this notes column it's pointed out that #10 Auburn will face five teams ranked in the AP's Top 25: Georgia, LSU, West Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama.
August 18, 2008 11:50 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Alabama
Here's a wrap-up of Alabama's final pre-season scrimmage which includes the following observations: John Parker Wilson looked good, the defense looked consistent and Bama's freshmen had several highlight plays.
Receiver Julio Jones continues to the be the Tide's most impressive freshman.
This notes column reveals that Bama avoided any serious injuries in their last scrimmage... and that freshman Chris Jordan has been moved from tailback to linebacker.
For the most part, Nick Saban was pleased with what he saw. "The good news is we made some big plays on offense today and John Parker (Wilson) was pretty precise with the ball. He didn't throw any interceptions, he didn't turn it over." That's a big step for Wilson who made some pretty bad judgements at times last year.
Glen Coffee has used a solid fall camp to jump to the top of Alabama's tailback rotation.
Terrence Cody, also known as "Mount Cody" for his 6'5 nearly 400-pound size, is getting the job done at nose tackle for the Tide.
Saban: "Terrence Cody is a new guy that has made an impact in the middle. He is a presence. He can push the pocket. He's difficult to block. He's making a contribution in the middle, no question about that, especially on run downs."
Kareem Jackson is the veteran in the Alabama secondary. He's got more starts than all but one of his fellow DBs. Yet Jackson is only a sophomore... which should tell you just how young the rest of Bama's defensive backfield is.
Young guys are filling up the wide receiver ranks as well.
Cecil Hurt of The Tuscaloosa News examines the Tide's schedule, where four of the nation's Top 10 teams await them. (The only other team in the country facing four of the nation's Top 10 is South Carolina.)
And Josh Moon of The Montgomery Advertiser, who always seems to write with a pretty bold pen, digs into the recent Forbes article and determines that Saban is more like a mafia don than simply sports' most-powerful coach.
He also thinks the coach's "Crimson Mafia" org chart is pretty darn sharp.
August 18, 2008 11:16 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Kentucky
From Darius Miller to Josh Harrellson to Jodie Meeks, former Cat Kenny "Sky" Walker likes what Billy Gillespie is putting around Patrick Patterson.
Detailed article for the UK fans out there.
August 18, 2008 11:11 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Florida
There's no denying Percy Harvin's on-field talent.
But according to the podcast of one Miami Herald beat writer, Harvin's off-field attitude might negate his great play (that is, when he's actually on the field).
Check this out for some interesting scuttlebutt regarding Harvin's fight with Chris Rainey. A fight Harvin supposedly started.
August 18, 2008 11:07 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Georgia
Over the weekend, UGA held what Mark Richt called "the shortest scrimmage in the history of Georgia football." Why? Because the number of players suffering from injuries is cutting into what the Dawgs can accomplish on the practice field. More than 20 players were held back during the scrimmage.
In this notes column, there's a real "look on the bright side" angle that's put forth: Matthew Stafford is building a good rapport with his back-up wideouts while Mohamed Massaquoi, Tavarres King, AJ Green and Michael Moore wear green no-contact jerseys.
Sixth-year senior Andrew Williams was shocked when Richt announced he would be on scholarship this year. Now the back-up safety and special teams ace is trying to live up to the coach's kindness.
Alright, with Georgia now holding the #1 spot in the coaches' poll and the AP poll, folks are starting to point out just how rough the Bulldogs' road to the title might be.
Chip Towers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution points out that out of 57 pre-season polls that the AP has spat forth since 1950, only 10 times has the pre-season #1 team held that rank at year's end. (Alabama in 1978 and Tennessee in 1951 are the only SEC teams to run the table from start to finish.)
The AJC's Mark Bradley writes that this year's Georgia squad needs to learn from the highly-ranked, but ultimately disappointing, Dawgs of 2004.
David Climer of The Tennessean doesn't seem to like Georgia's chances too much... due to their man-sized schedule.
Finally, Tony Barnhart, also of the AJC, reveals five possible hurdles that Georgia might face in 2008:
1) History is not on their side.
2) UGA shouldn't be underestimating Central Michigan. Not after Troy rolled up 488 yards in a tighter-than-expected 44-34 loss in Athens last year.
3) Georgia could face Tempe temperatures near 100 degrees for their game with Arizona State.
4) The guy that led Troy to all those yards in Athens? It was Tony Franklin. And his spread attack is now employed at Auburn. Who do you think has more talent -- Auburn or Troy?
5) Kirston Pittman and Tyson Jackson give LSU one of the best pass rushes in America. Not necessarily good news for Stafford and whoever winds up at left tackle.
August 18, 2008 10:36 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Florida
While Tim Tebow feeds the poor and heals the crippled, Cameron Newton and John Brantley are engaged in a tight battle to take over UF's #2 quarterback role.
Ever heard of running back Mon Williams? You probably will this fall.
Here's a scouting report on the Gators' defensive line, which is deeper than at any point during the Urban Meyer era.
Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun believes that while Percy Harvin will be getting the hype, Louis Murphy will be getting the ball. Meyer sounds like he agrees. "Louis Murphy is going to be the go-to guy."
According to receiver Brandon James, it now sounds like Harvin will miss a couple of Florida's early season games. Folks can talk about depth and Murphy all they want... not having a healthy Harvin is bad news for Florida. When special players come off the field, it's always a worry.
Click this and tell me that UF won't miss this guy if he's out for an extended period.
Meanwhile, Riley Cooper and Carl Moore are dueling for the last starting receiver slot.
August 18, 2008 9:27 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: South Carolina
Let's get started with The State's "stock report" from Sunday's practice. Defensive starters Darian Stewart and Jasper Brinkley are among the Gamecocks' walking wounded.
According to this notes column, Steve Spurrier wants to take it easy with Brinkley's ankle/foot injury. "Sometimes those ankles take a while. We need to be careful he doesn't re-aggravate it." Also noted here: don't pencil Stephen Garcia in as the USC #3 QB quite yet.
Here's a little bit of what Brinkley brings to the Gamecocks' table:
Cock fans should get used to more position and player juggling along the offensive line.
The guy Spurrier says will be playing behind that line, Tommy Beecher, owes his starting job to a family trip two years ago... that helped him decide to stick things out in Columbia.
This one should draw a little anger from USC fans. Gene Sapakoff of The Charleston Post & Courier predicts a 7-5 regular season for the Gamecocks. To make matters worse? He picks Clemson to finish the regular season 12-0.
Please. Not to be an SEC homer, but is this guy familiar with Tommy Bowden's record in big games? Clemson will start 6-0 and finish 9-3... again... just as it seems they always do. And that's without even looking at their schedule.
Finally, Ron Morris of The State writes that Carolina's new "seat donations" plan is simply the price of doing business in the ultra-competitive SEC.
August 18, 2008 9:05 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Kentucky
Look at all the stuff from Kentucky today. Did somebody figure out it's football season?
The Wildcats had their first full scrimmage of the fall on Saturday and things didn't look real good for UK's offense. "The defense kicked the offense's butt," said Rich Brooks.
Here's a full rundown of how the scrimmage went down... including the fact that Kentucky could manage only five field goals on the day. No touchdowns. Just field goals.
It doesn't appear that watching film of the scrimmage changed Brooks' mind about his initial reaction. "We were very fast on defense, looked like we were confident and knew what we were doing. On offense, we did not look the same way."
That said, Brooks does feel that this is going to be the best defense he's had in Lexington.
Kentucky had some players banged up in the scrimmage and quarterback Mike Hartline came away with a sore shoulder. Kentucky has now canceled the practice they had scheduled for this afternoon.
Joker Phillips believes his current wide receiver corps is the best he's ever had.
A group that's not lived up to billing so far this fall is the Cats' offensive line. Here's a quick scouting report on the guy's making up the line.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Jarmon and the defensive line is expected to give UK its identity in 2008... not the passing game of the past couple of years.
Linebacker Micah Johnson believes he's ready to finally live up to the hype that surrounded his arrival in the Bluegrass State.
Mark Story of The Lexington Herald-Leader writes that UK has a lot of negative streaks to snap in 2008. Among them:
1) Kentucky has not been to three consecutive bowls since 1949, 1950 and 1951.
2) Kentucky has not had three straight winning seasons since 1954, 1955, and 1956.
3) Kentucky has not had a winning conference record since 1977.
4) Kentucky has not beaten Tennessee since 1984.
5) Kentucky has not beaten Florida since 1986.
UPDATE -- Scott Cacciola of The Memphis Commercial-Appeal previews UK's 2008 season.
August 18, 2008 8:21 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Tennessee
The problem with Jonathan Crompton so far in fall camp has been his decision-making. Blessed with a big arm, the Vols' new starter has a tendency to try to make too much happen (sort of the anti-Erik Ainge).
So it was big news on Saturday night when Crompton went through his first scrimmage since early spring without tossing an interception.
Crompton's favorite target and the Vols' presumed "big play guy" is receiver Gerald Jones.
Freshman tailback Tauren Poole is catching the eyes of his coaches. "We just keep piling on the information and he keeps eating it up. He's a student of the game. He loves to play it and I'm realy satisfied with his effort," said running backs coach Stan Drayton.
Offensive coordinator Dave Clawson added, "He has the ability to put his foot in the ground and make a vertical cut. Tauren is really good at seeing leverage on a block and... hitting the thing north and south and not bouncing things laterally and losing yards or running out of room.
Then why's he not getting more carries? Pass protection.
August 18, 2008 8:09 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Vanderbilt
Let's get things started in the SEC East today... Vandy specifically.
Vandy held a scrimmage on Saturday and spent part of the time prepping for the offensive and defensive line looks that they expect to see from Miami (OH) in their season-opener.
The offense only scored three touchdowns during the 73-play scrimmage, but tailback Gaston Miller did pick up 83 yards rushing on 15 carries.
The last two seasons, Vandy has redshirted about 75% of their incoming freshmen. Don't expect that many to sit this fall.
In case you don't know the long, up-and-down story of Vandy receiver George Smith, Maurice Patton of The Tennessean does a nice job of getting you up to speed. Makes you pull for the kid (that's his photo at left).
August 15, 2008 2:59 pm ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Tony Barnhart of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that two major things can be taken from the new SEC-CBS pact:
1) This mega-deal seals Mike Slive's legacy as SEC commissioner.
A couple of weeks ago, Phillip Fulmer, upset that Brandon Warren had yet to be declared eligible, threw a barb toward the commissioner saying that he must be up to his eyeballs in tv contracts to not have given a ruling on Warren.
Apparently he WAS up to his eyeballs in tv contacts.
(Of course, Warren's fate was and is in the hands of the NCAA anyway, so the comment about Slive was off-base to begin with.)
To hammer out a 15-year deal, the longest in tv sports history, has to have taken a lot of hours and a lot of negotiating. The only word to use is "unprecedented."
Now, back to Barnhart... he writes that Roy Kramer brought the SEC into the modern age financially during his tenure as commish. And now Slive has done it all over again... and his legacy is secure.
2) There will be no SEC Network.
That's the thinking of Barnhart anyway. Why would there be an SEC Network? This new deal is the king of contracts. And when the financial numbers are released, expect to be astounded all over again.
I agree that this probably spells the end of SEC Network talk. But I've said that on this site since May. There are too many schools with their own 10-year multimedia deals worth $50-100 million each.
The SEC would have to gain control of all those rights to launch a network. That's a lot of negotiations and a lot of buy-outs.
This deal, with its length and cash, should render all of those negotiations and buy-outs unnecessary.
(Sidenote -- Barnhart also adds that he agrees with Forbes Magazine's rank of Nick Saban as sports' most powerful coach: "... based on my experience there is no coach I know whose fingerprints are on every moving part of a football program the way Saban's are at Alabama.")
August 15, 2008 11:15 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Everyone knows that the SEC is the king of the college football world. The new tv deal with CBS should settle any remaining debate.
But Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun has set out in his latest column to explain why the SEC is tops.
His list (and you can read the full explanations by banging this link):
1) Infighting (four SEC coaches have previously coached rival SEC schools... and all are in the same division with their former school)
2) Secondary rivalries (Alabama-Auburn is known throughout the country, but Alabama-Mississippi State is pretty dang heated, too)
3) Barbecue
4) Bumper Stickers
5) Girls
6) Volume
7) Tailgating
8) Stadiums
9) Traditions
10) Love-Hate
August 15, 2008 11:05 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Arkansas
Here's a practice notebook that includes news of the Razorbacks' freshman contributors as well as an update on the battle between Mitch Petrus and Wade Grayson for a starting offensive guard spot.
Injuries have created a revolving door at linebacker for the Hogs.
Garrick McGee believes Casey Dick is starting to grasp his quarterback role. "He's starting to understand how important every detail of playing the position is. When you are asked to run the show, to make all the checks and make all the decisions, you reall have to be technique sound and focus snap after snap after snap.
Did Houston Nutt teach this guy anything about playing quarterback? Ole Miss fans, be glad Kent Austin is in Oxford.
Kicker Alex Tejada is trying to regain his accuracy and his confidence following a knee injury this May. That doesn't sound good.
Wow, two watermelon stories in one day. Apparently the Hogs have a tradition of eating the refreshing melon after practice, not unlike Auburn. (Technically, I don't think I've ever been refreshed by eating a watermelon, but it made for good copy.)
Arkansas' new multimedia pact with ISP Sports signals the end of the Arkansas Razorback Sports Network on Little Rock station KATV.
Finally, Bill Gwatney, the murdered state chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party was a major fan of the Razorbacks with numerous ties to the athletic department. Sad and senseless.
August 15, 2008 10:35 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: South Carolina
Brian Maddox has been making the most of his opportunity at running back, filling in for starter Mike Davis, who's out with a mild shoulder injury.
According to this "stock report," safety Chris Culliver is also working his way toward more playing time... especially in the Cocks' 4-2-5 anti-spread defense.
Defensive tackle Nathan Pepper is focusing on football, trying to bounce back from a major injury last year as well as the fact that his brother has been given life without parole for murdering a woman. That's a lot to bounce back from.
Steve Spurrier might not be as cocky as he was this time last year, but The Huntsville Times reports that the ol' ballcoach still believes in his team. "We're not that far away from being a pretty good team. We've got ball players. We absolutely have no excuses about ball players. We need to coach better, and they got to play like good players."
August 15, 2008 10:24 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Ole Miss
According to this notebook column, defensive starters Peria Jerry and Allen Walker were back at practice yesterday. Neither participated in all of the contact drills.
When asked if he was going to be careful with Jerry, Houston Nutt said, "Well, he's not going to scrimmage anymore, if that's what you're getting at."
Also on the injury front, and this is a doozy, star offensive tackle Michael Oher took a helmet to the forearm yesterday and had to go in for x-rays... x-rays that showed no breaks. (That's Oher at left.)
"He's gotta be OK," Nutt said. "I'm praying right now - hard."
And some leftover notes can be found here, including the fact that freshman kicker Bryson Rose is pushing Joshua Shene for the team's place-kicking duties.
August 15, 2008 10:16 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
The SEC's new 15-year contract with CBS is believe to be the longest, biggest network television deal in history.
Scott Rabalais of The Baton Rouge Advocate covers the basics of the SEC's new plan, which still might include the launch of an SEC Network. (Though I still doubt it.)
David Brandt of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger spoke with former Mississippi State athletic director Larry Templeton, who helped negotiate the deal.
"The huge thing about this deal is that it's a 15-year deal. That's an unbelievable statement from CBS."
And here's another strong statement from Mike Aresco, CBS' executive VP for sports programming: "The SEC is the gold standard in college athletics. The length of this deal is a testament to the great brand that 'The SEC on CBS' has become."
For the viewer at home, expect the set-up you've come to know from CBS (3:30 EST kickoffs, a primetime game and a couple of double-headers) to continue.
August 15, 2008 9:59 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Vanderbilt
The big talk is of the quarterback battles at Auburn and LSU, but Vanderbilt is puting on a QB competition of their own between Mackenzi Adams and Chris Nickson.
"We're going to let them push each other and one of them's going to step up and be more prepared or better than the other," said Bobby Johnson. "But you've always got to plan on having two ready to go and maybe even three. That's why I feel so good about it."
And here's a full notes column on Vandy's recent practice news... complete with the latest on offensive lineman Chris Aaron, who was briefly hospitalized with a neck injury.
August 15, 2008 9:52 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Alabama
Lots of stuff to get to from Tuscaloosa today. First, in this notebook column, it's clear that Nick Saban is pleased with his team's attitude. "I think the players are probably in the mood to play against somebody else."
Here's another practice notes column, this one sharing Saban's feelings on John Parker Wilson. "He's been having a good camp so far. His leadership has been a real positive on the development of our offensive team."
We told you that Auburn might play as many as 12 freshmen this year. Alabama might only be calling on about 10 freshmen this season, but those players will probably have to play pretty big roles.
Thought this was an interesting little blurb from The Montgomery Advertiser. It's a list of all the signees from February's top-ranked recruiting class... complete with what each player is up to (baseball, failed to qualify, second string, etc).
Justin Woodall: Alabama safety, walking tattoo parlor.
Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News isn't buying the Forbes' article that tabs Saban as sports' most powerful coach. He believes there are other coaches with more power (Mike Krzyzewski, for one).
And Alabama doesn't help Saban's cause, either. "... Alabama is the British Empire of college football. It ain't what it used to be. Territories it once ruled, like Auburn and Mississippi State, have declared their independence with a vengeance."
That'll tick off the Bama fans, but there's certainly no arguing with it.
Personally, I will take issue with Scarbinsky on one of his points... a point that lots of people tend to make: "So this guy is powerful/well-paid for going 7-6?"
Saban may build the Tide back to dynastic status. Or he may become the next Bill Curry.
But to judge the man on Year One is equivalent to naming McCain or Obama a dud based on what happens in their first week in office.
Is Saban the most powerful coach in sports? Probably not. How can you judge that?
But a buffoon because he only won seven games? I'm not buying that, either.
Wasn't Bear Bryant 5-4-1 in his first season in Tuscaloosa? How'd that one turn out?
It's looking more and more like Alabama WILL open next season, back in Atlanta, against Virginia Tech. The Hokies have already committed to the game.
I realize that the head of the Atlanta Sports Council is buddies with Saban, but shouldn't the group just go ahead and change this game's name from the "Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic" to the "Alabama Invitational?"
Where's the credibility in inviting the same team to Atlanta every year? How about Virginia Tech vs Florida or South Carolina or Auburn?
And here are a pair of stories on Dave Hart, the man who says he's NOT been hired to replace athletic director Mal Moore.
August 15, 2008 9:25 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Florida
Urban Meyer's Gators practiced in a Gainesville rain yesterday, and the coach liked what he saw. "You can tell from my demeanor right now that we had a heck of a practice. That was good stuff today."
Also in that notes column is the news that back-up quarterback Cameron Newton is running so well that he might be used as Florida's "single-wing back" at times... in order to limit Tim Tebow's carries.
Jeremy Fowler of The Orlando Sentinel takes a bit of a shot at the folks who blog about his practice observations. Perhaps those of us who link to his stuff shouldn't. If he doesn't want web traffic, why give it to him? Nah, we'll do it anyway... chief among his notes: there's a real battle going on for the starting strongside linebacker job.
Caleb Sturgis and Jonathan Phillips are both vying for UF's kicking duties.
Javier Estopian is trying to fight his way back from a third ACL injury. His defensive line coach is awed by his tenacity. "I've never heard of it, I've never seen it before. It's an amazing inspiration every day to come to practice and see someone who still wants to be a part of a team."
Gator fans, rejoice: Meyer says that Percy Harvin is "real close" to returning to practice (photo at left). He hasn't take part in a full practice this fall, due to a slow-healing heel injury.
August 15, 2008 9:09 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Mississippi State
Sylvester Croom was upset with his team again yesterday. Might not have a thing to do with what the Bulldogs will do this Fall, but after two weeks of practice, this sounds like the most up-and-down bunch in the SEC.
Tyson Lee continues to impress his coaches and is expected to see some playing time at quarterback, along with starter Wesley Carroll, this fall.
MSU defensive end Tim Bailey (photo at left courtesy of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger) will be featured in the National Guard's new $450 million ad campaign. "They're trying to get people to see that you still have a life while you're in the guard."
This is an interesting story on the young man who spent nearly all of 2005 in Iraq.
August 15, 2008 8:58 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Georgia
In this notes column, it's revealed that Mark Richt has had Knowshon Moreno and quarterback Logan Gray, gulp, returning punts in practice.
Marc Weizer of The Athens Banner-Herald points out that Reggie Bush and Felix Jones were darn good punt returners. Of course, their teams also had Darren McFadden and LenDale White to handle half the carries.
There's little doubt that Moreno could be an exceptional punt returner. But if my season rested on a Heisman candidate tailback, I don't think I'd have the stones to risk him getting hurt on a punt return.
Freshman kicker Blair Walsh has been getting some extra testing from Richt in practice.
The AJC plays "Five Questions" with the Bulldogs' new tight ends coach, John Lilly.
In this notes column, it's revealed that rehabbing fullback Brannan Southerland is targeting the fourth week of the season for his return to action. Also in this notebook: minor injuries have depleted UGA at the defensive end position.
Mark Richt likes what he's seeing from freshman offensive lineman Ben Jones.
Former Georgia quarterback DJ Shockley had some words of advice for Matthew Stafford.
Only one member of Georgia's incoming freshman class has failed to qualify, and Toby Jackson is sorry he's having to head to Hargrave Military Academy.
"I wouldn't say I'm heart-broken, but it hurts. However, I'm happy for the other freshmen and rest of the team. They've earned the shot at being #1. Hopefully I can take care of what I have to do in prep school and join those guys in time for bowl practice." Sounds like a kid with a good attitude.
August 15, 2008 8:40 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: LSU
Les Miles is happy with the way cornerbacks Jai Eugene and Chris Hawkins are performing in fall practice. "I like 'em. Jai is getting better, Chris Hawkins is getting better. I like the guys behind them, too. I'm not ruling anybody out."
Three brothers, one football team, one bizarre name. Meet Curtis, Brandon and Jhyryn (huh?) Taylor.
August 15, 2008 8:33 am ║ Posted by: JOHN PENNINGTON ║ Permalink ║ tags: Kentucky
Derrick Locke, Tony Dixon, Alfonso Smith and Moncell Allen will all be vying for carries out of the UK backfield this year. So is that a blessing or a curse, Rich Brooks?
"The tailback position is going to get 'x' amount of carries just about every game; it's just a matter of who gets them. I don't worry about it. They may worry about it, but I'm not."
Here's a quick scouting report on the Wildcats' backfield.
The fullback leading the way for the Cats' tailbacks will be former walk-on John Conner. "He's like a pillow," said Dixon. "He makes me feel comfortable when he's in front of me." Smith added, "John Conner is one of the best fullbacks in the nation."
Lexington police plan to crack down on parking around Commonwealth Stadium this fall. Scofflaws won't be tolerated.
Not even Newman.