You can add another SEC player to the list of guys who stupidly failed drug tests at the NFL combine this past February.  No shock here, the failed test belonged to a Florida Gator.

By now you’re well aware of these two facts:


* UF has a very liberal five-strikes drug policy for its athletes

* A former member of the 2006 national championship Gators estimated that 75% of his teammates smoked pot


So the fact that former UF offensive lineman Maurice Hurt tested positive at the combine for marijuana is par for the course.  In fact, Hurt is the third Gator in as many years to fail a drug test for weed at the combine.  The others were Percy Harvin and Aaron Hernandez.

Hurt joins Georgia’s Justin Houston and Iowa’s Christian Ballard on this year’s list of dimwits.

If you know you’re going to be drug tested, how do you light up beforehand?

Tennessee has cancelled a summer trip to Italy for its basketball team.  Two reasons were given for the switch: travel and Cuonzo Martin’s duties at the World University Games.

According to athletic director Mike Hamilton, the trip would have been difficult from a travel perspective with the Vols also now heading to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational in November.

In addition, Martin is scheduled to serve on the staff of Purdue’s Matt Painter when he coaches the US team in the World University Games in China in August.  Training will be held for that event in Colorado from July 30th through August 8th.

“It will be better to wait a year for the trip because then we can get a feel for our players,” Martin said.  “When you take those trips, you’re also building team camaraderie.  It’s always a beneficial trip, playing five or six games and getting extra practice.”

For those reasons, it would seem to actually make more sense to take the trip this year, as Martin is laying the foundation for his program.  But let’s face facts — you don’t back out after you accept a position coaching a US national team.

Also, with Scotty Hopson and Tobias Harris possibly NBA-bound, the Vols might have had a hard time even filling out a roster this summer.

The rumor has been floating around for months and finally John Calipari has acknowledged it — he’s considering coaching the Dominican Republic’s national team in the Tournament of the Americas.  The tournament will be held August 30th through September 11th in Argentina.

“My question to the Dominican Basketball Federation was, why are you calling me?” Calipari wrote on his Facebook page yesterday.  “Their response was, they liked what we are doing in China, including coaching their coaches and being involved in promoting grassroots basketball.”

If Calipari accepts the job, the Dominican team will train at UK, so the coach won’t be forced to spend too much time away from his main job.

Interestingly, Louisville’s Rick Pitino is already scheduled to coach Puerto Rico in the international tournament.




UPDATE — Rick Pitino has pulled out of his duties with the Puerto Rican team just this morning.

Urban Meyer’s daughter Nicki has heard enough of the rumors linking her dad to Ohio State.  And she’s tired of people quizzing her about the possibility.

Ole Miss has received commitments from defensive linemen Isaac Gross and Temario Strong from South Panola High School in Batesville, Miss.

Gross, who projects to play defensive tackle, chose the Rebels over offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Tennessee.

Temario Strong, who will likely play defensive end in college, has only received an offer from Ole Miss.

The Rebels have three commitments for the class of 2012.

Alabama has extended a scholarship offer to defensive tackle Danny O’Brien from Flint (Mich.) Powers Catholic High School.

“I’m pretty excited,” O’Brien told 247Sports.com. “I was kind of waiting on this one for a little while, and it’s great to get it.”

Alabama is the second SEC school to offer O’Brien, who told the website he still favors Tennessee. O’Brien also has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

O’Brien, who said he would like to make his college decision before his senior season begins, has upcoming trips scheduled to Michigan State and Alabama.

Florida State has received a commitment from defensive tackle Alphonse Taylor from Davidson High School from Mobile, Ala.

Taylor has also received interest from Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State, although Florida State is the only school to make an offer so far.

Taylor was recruited to Florida State by former Auburn quarterback Dameyune Craig, who coaches quarterbacks for the Seminoles.

Craig has also landed a commitment from Mobile linebacker Craig Casher, who chose Florida State over an offer from Auburn.

1.  This writer has some questions about the money Steve Spurrier will make under his new South Carolina contract.

When ex-Georgia receiver AJ Green met with reporters after UGA’s pro day last month, he had to answer questions not just about his on-field play, but also regarding his Wonderlic score.