1. Jon Solomon on bowl ticket policies: “Cater to the wealthy. It’s a time-honored bowl tradition.”

2. Florida hotels and resorts love the Bowl Season.

3. It’s back to the practice field today for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

4. Extra motivation for the Florida Gators – Urban Meyer’s final game. The guy on the other sideline is no average Joe.

5. Meyer’s three biggest wins at Florida.

6. Nick Saban is not the only ex-Michigan State coach at Alabama.

7. Alabama transfer and former Tennessee player Aaron Douglas faces a December 29th hearing after being charged with DUI.

8. LSU’s struggles on the basketball court not a cause for alarm.

9. LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is 18 years old, 5’9″ and 180 pounds.  He also has more tackles than Patrick Peterson.

10. The most surprising coaching moves of the year.

11. Derek Dooley’s first year in Knoxville.

12. A few Tennessee basketball players could see reduced time on the court – but not freshman forward Tobias Harris.

13. Brandon Knight - renaissance man.

14. The Rivals 2010 All-Junior College transfer team.  As you might imagine, there’s a few SEC names on the list.

15.  Shorthanded Mississippi State loses to Hawaii – 68 – 57.

16.  Wall Street’s latest target – sports gambling and casinos.

1. Sidney really working out for MSU

2. LSU’s Ridley Ineligible For Cotton Bowl

3. Maryland Forces Out Friedgen, But Not Over Franklin

4. SEC Commitment Comparison

5. SEC Coaching Carousel Tracker

1. Renardo Sidney and Elgin Bailey suspended indefinitely by Mississippi State.

2. Tough couple of weeks for LSU sports.

3. Alabama will get $4.6 million from the Capital One Bowl – where does it all go?

4. A sophomore walk-on is the top scorer on the Alabama football team.

5. Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones’ last challenge before an NFL career is the Alabama offense.

6. The AD saga at Georgia was this writer’s top story of the year.

7. Bruce Pearl’s challenge to his basketball team: “Do you want to act like the team that was picked fourth in the [SEC] East? Because teams that get picked fourth in the East don’t go to the NCAA tournament. They don’t.”

8. How John Calipari learned that charity begins at home.

9. With a win over St. Louis, Ole Miss finishes third in the Cancun Governor’s Cup.

10. LSU’s Patrick Peterson is the state of Louisiana’s defensive player of the year.

Before we here at MrSEC.com head out and partake in our annual holiday traditions (at left), we wanted to wish all of you a safe and happy Christmas Eve.

We hope yours is a great one!

1.  Alabama is hoping the Christmas break will help heal up a number of injuries.

2.  If Julio Jones leaves for the NFL early, the door will be open for young Bama wideouts next year.

3.  Former Duck coach Mike Bellotti breaks down the differences between the Oregon and Auburn offenses.

4.  Continuity has been a key to success for Arkansas’ offensive line.

5.  The NCAA is having to explain why five Ohio State players won’t begin their suspensions until after the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas.

6.  LSU and Stevan Ridley don’t expect an answer to their NCAA appeal until next week at the earliest.

7.  Ridley was already thinking about jumping to the NFL before his academic suspension.

8.  Trent Johnson says his basketball team’s struggles have to do with getting “bigger, stronger and quicker.”

9.  Zach Graham scored 16 points coming off the bench, but Ole Miss still fell 68-61 to Colorado State yesterday in Cancun.

10.  MSU AD Scott Stricklin says Dan Mullen’s new contract is 95% complete.

11.  Michigan’s Denard Robinson draws comparisons to Cam Newton.  (Sure, if Cam Newton were 6-0, 193 instead of 6-6, 250.)

1.  If your school has been in a scrape with the NCAA this year, you might find this article by SI.com’s Stewart Mandel pretty interesting.  (Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky fans, I’m talking to you.)

2.  Is Florida ready for a bowl rebound?

3.  The UF basketball team is still having troubles with turnovers. (Somebody blame Steve Addazio!)

4.  Freshman safety Alec Ogletree has worked his way into Georgia’s starting line-up with big hits.

5.  Georgia survived a 56-53 thriller with in-state rival Mercer last night.

6.  The NCAA says it won’t be swayed by the comments of Enes Kanter’s father… and it won’t rule on the UK big man’s eligibility until 2011. (Why not just let him play now and then suspend him for 2011-12?  You know, Ohio State style?)

7.  Without Kanter, John Calipari needs Eloy Vargas to assert himself more.

8.  Six Wildcats are logging heavy minutes… and six may be enough for Coach Cal.

9.  In football news, UK quarterback Morgan Newton is looking forward to starting in the BBVA Compass Bowl.  (That might make him the only person looking forward to the BBVA Compass Bowl.)

10.  South Carolina could be facing a shake-up on its offensive line in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

11.  Tennessee survived a 66-65 thriller with in-state rival Belmont last night.

12.  This writer says the Vols go as Scotty Hopson goes.

13.  FootballScoop.com has “learned” that James Franklin has re-hired Vandy O-line coach Herb Hand.

Renardo Sidney had a questionable reputation when Rick Stansbury and Mississippi State decided to make a run for the talented big man.  In fact, schools in Sidney’s hometown of Los Angeles had backed away due to NCAA concerns.

MSU signed Sidney.  And they fought with the NCAA over Sidney.  A full season and one month’s worth of NCAA suspension was the result.  And when the center finally hit the floor for the Dogs?  MSU was crushed by Virginia Tech.

Then earlier this week Sidney was suspended for a game for reportedly fighting with players/coaches at practice and general “insubordination.”  Remarkably, that’s not the worst of it…

Sidney and fellow MSU forward Elgin Bailey actually fought in the stands at the Diamondhead Classic in Hawaii.  According to ESPN, “Punches were thrown in the fight, which lasted several minutes and was broken up by teammates.”

Honolulu police and ushers at the arena led Sidney away, but he was not arrested.  Bailey was sent back to the team hotel.  Sidney was still in the arena during the Utah-Hawaii game that followed.

Here’s the video from ESPN:



Earlier in the day, Sidney had come off the bench and scored 19 points in 19 minutes in a 69-52 win over San Diego.  He also grabbed six rebounds.  And then he got in the fight in the stands before the tournament’s next game.

ESPN commentator Doug Gottlieb said when video of the fight (see the picture at left) aired on television: “I think that’s the end.  I think Rick Stansbury washes his hands of him.”

But MSU officials say Stansbury is not expected to release a statement about the fight.  AD Scott Stricklin said only: “It’s disappointing.  Still gathering information, but it’s not how we want out school represented.”

And point guard Dee Bost — who is not on the trip due to his own NCAA suspension — tweeted that his teammates had told him that Sidney “didn’t start” the fight.

Maybe not, but he was in it.  And when you’ve been through as much off-court nonsense as Sidney has… you need to be smart enough to walk away from a fight.  As you can see from the video, he sure as heck didn’t walk away.

We complete our look at the coaching moves across the Southeastern Conference with quick examination of Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Here’s a link to Part One of our Carousel Tracker… and here’s a link to Part Two.


OLE MISS

Houston Nutt, Head Coach — No strong rumors

(Sidenote — Nutt has not made any moves on his coaching staff yet, but he is believed to still be contemplating taking action.  Mike Markuson, James Shibest and Chris Vaughn have each been with Nutt for 11 seasons or more.)

Kim Dameron, Safeties — No strong rumors

Ron Dickerson, WRs — No strong rumors

Mike Markuson, Co-OC/OL — No strong rumors

Derrick Nix, RBs — No strong rumors, but as the brother of Tyrone Nix, it’s believed that if Nutt forces one out he will likely lose both

Tyrone Nix, DC/LBs — Given a raise last year to stay in Oxford when other SEC schools pursued him; UM’s defense struggled in 2010 and some believe Nutt could make a change at the DC position; That appears unlikely

Terry Price, DL — Rumored to be a candidate for Will Muschamp’s new staff at Florida

Dave Rader, Co-OC/QBs — No strong rumors

James Shibest, TEs/Special Teams — No strong rumors

Chris Vaughn, CBs — No strong rumors


SOUTH CAROLINA

Steve Spurrier, Head Coach — No strong rumors

Jay Graham, RBs — No strong rumors

Shane Beamer, Safeties — No strong rumors

Jeep Hunter, TEs — No strong rumors

Brad Lawing, DL — No strong rumors

Ellis Johnson, Asst. HC of Defense/LBs — No strong rumors

GA Mangus, QBs — Pursued the Temple HC job (but he did not get it)

Shawn Elliott, Run Game Coordinator/OL — No strong rumors

Lorenzo Ward, DC/CBs — No strong rumors

Steve Spurrier Jr., Pass Game Coordinator/WRs — No strong rumors


TENNESSEE

Derek Dooley, Head Coach — No strong rumors

Charlie Baggett, WRs — No strong rumors

Jim Chaney, OC/RBs — No strong rumors

Justin Wilcox, DC — Rumored to be a top candidate for the DC position at Texas; Would not deny interest in the Texas’ opening yesterday

Harry Hiestand, OL — No strong rumors

Darin Hinshaw, QBs — No strong rumors

Terry Joseph, DBs — No strong rumors

Eric Russell, TEs/Special Teams — No strong rumors

Chuck Smith, DL — No strong rumors

Lance Thompson, LBs — Rumored to be a candidate for Will Muschamp’s new staff at Florida


VANDERBILT

Robbie Caldwell, Head Coach — Forced to resign prior to the season finale; Was a finalist for the Furman HC job (but did not get it); Rumored to be a candidate to join Dabo Swinney’s staff at Clemson; Replaced by Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin

(Sidenote — Franklin has said that he will not announce his new staff until each person is in place… and that may or may not happen during the bowl season.)

Charlie Fisher, WRs — No strong rumors of other offers; Franklin is believed to have hired Maryland WRs coach Lee Hull for this position

Bruce Fowler, Asst. HC of Defense — Has accepted the Furman HC job

Ted Cain, TEs/Special Teams — No strong rumors of other offers; Franklin is believed to have hired Maryland’s TEs/Special Teams coach Charles Bankins for this position

Jimmy Kiser, OC/QBs — No strong rumors of other offers; Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder has said that Ricky Rahne is leaving his program to become Vanderbilt’s new quarterbacks coach, thus filling this position

Desmond Kitchings, RBs — No strong rumors of other offers; Still recruiting for Vandy; Expected to get a courtesy interview with Franklin; Kitchings took over as OC midway through the 2010 season; Franklin is believed to have hired Maryland RBs coach John Donovan as his new OC

Jamie Bryant, DC/DBs — No strong rumors of other offers; Franklin is believed to have interviewed Miami DBs coach Wesley McGriff for this position

Rick Logo, DTs — No strong rumors of other offers; Still recruiting for Vandy; Expected to get a courtesy interview with Franklin

Mike Pelton, DEs — No strong rumors of other offers

Herb Hand, OL — No strong rumors of other offers; Still recruiting for Vandy; Expected to get a courtesy interview with Franklin

We continue our look at coaching shuffles in the SEC with an inspection of Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, and Mississippi State.

Here’s a link to Part One of our Tracker (Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, and Florida).


GEORGIA

Mark Richt, Head Coach — No strong rumors (but Richt will likely enter 2011 on the SEC’s hottest seat)

(Sidenote — Richt has replaced strength coach Dave Van Halanger with Joe Tereshenski, but no other moves are anticipated.)

Rodney Garner, DL – No strong rumors

Stacey Searels, OL — No strong rumors

Todd Grantham, DC/OLBs — No strong rumors

Scott Lakatos, DBs — No strong rumors

Warren Belin, ILBs — No strong rumors

Tony Ball, WRs — No strong rumors

Bryan McClendon, RBs — No strong rumors

Mike Bobo, OC/QBs — No strong rumors

John Lilly, TEs — No strong rumors


KENTUCKY

Joker Phillips, Head Coach — No strong rumors

Chris Thurmond, DBs — Dismissed by Phillips immediately after the season; Replaced by former Cincinnati HC Rick Minter who was named Co-DC but will be in charge of running UK’s defense

Randy Sanders, OC/QBs — No strong rumors

Steve Brown, DC — Demoted to Co-DC where he will serve under Minter

Larry Brinson, RBs — Dismissed by Phillips immediately after the season; Replaced by Georgia high school coach Steve Pardue

Mike Summers, OL — No strong rumors

Chuck Smith, LBSs — No strong rumors

David Turner, DL — No strong rumors

Tee Martin, WRs — No strong rumors


LSU

Les Miles, Head Coach — No strong rumors

Joe Robinson, DL/Special Teams — No strong rumors

Gary Crowton, OC/QBs — Miles has been quiet with regards to Crowton’s job status; If anyone at LSU is likely to be replaced this offseason it’s him

John Chavis, DC/LBs — No strong rumors

Greg Studrawa, OL — No strong rumors

Ron Cooper, DBs — No strong rumors

Brick Haley, DL — No strong rumors

Billy Gonzales, WRs — No strong rumors

Frank Wilson, RBs — No strong rumors

Steve Ensminger, TEs — No strong rumors


MISSISSIPPI STATE

Dan Mullen, Head Coach – Interviewed for Miami HC job but either showed no interest or turned off Miami officials with his attitude… depending on who you want to listen to

John Hevesy, OL — No strong rumors

Tony Hughes, Safeties — No strong rumors

Les Koenning, OC/QBs — No strong rumors

Melvin Smith, CBs — No strong rumors

Chris Wilson, Co-DC/DL — No strong rumors

Mark Hudspeth, WRs — Has accepted the HC job at Louisiana-Lafayette

Greg Knox, RBs — No strong rumors

Scott Sallach, TEs — No strong rumors

Manny Diaz, DC/LBs — No strong rumors


More to come…

The NCAA announced today that five Ohio State football players — including hotshot quarterback Terrelle Pryor — will have to sit out the first five games of the 2011 season for accepting improper benefits.  A sixth player will have to sit out one game next year for receiving “discounted services.”

The players are accused of selling off university apparel and gifts going back to last year.

But all six players remain eligible for Ohio State’s Sugar Bowl date with Arkansas.  Huh.  How Cam Newton-y.

Ohio State officials self-reported the violations.  They also saved their players’ bowl eligibility by saying that they “were not as explicit without student-athlete eduction as we should have been in the 2007-09 and 2008-09 academic years regarding the sale of apparel, awards and gifts issued by the athletic department.”

According to ESPN, that led the NCAA to determine that the players “did not receive adequate rules education during the time period the violations occurred.”

Oh.  So their eligibility has nothing to do with keeping a big negative story out of the headlines during a highly-rated BCS game?  Okay.