Around The SEC East – 3/25/09

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You realize, of course, that with MrSEC.com’s links and summaries, you never have to miss a single story from the SEC.  Like these notes and headlines from the SEC East:

Vandy:  For guys like Mackenzi Adams, Bobby Johnson’s decision to spend extra time watching his younger players might not be a good sign.

UT:  Is Florida obsessed with Lane Kiffin or is Kiffin obsessed with Florida?

UT:  You know who likes Kiffin’s trash talking?  His players, like linebacker Rico McCoy: “After we started the workouts, I’m like, ‘Hell yeah, coach.’  I know we’re going to be in the best shape and we’re going to have the best coaching.  Say whatever you want.”

UT:  Tony Barnhart of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Kiffin is taking a page from Steve Spurrier’s playbook… and so far it’s working.

UT:  According to this practice notes column, quarterback Nick Stephens was back at practice yesterday after missing time with a broken wrist.

UT:  Kiffin wasn’t happy with his offense’s performance yesterday.

UT:  In basketball news, Wayne Chism played against Oklahoma State in the NCAA Tournament with a broken left thumb.

USC:  For Carolina, 6′4, 249-pound Cliff Matthews is a jack of all trades.

USC:  Linebacker Eric Norwood says he doesn’t regret returning to Columbia for his senior year, but he does still think about the decision he made.

USC:  In this practice notes blog, it’s revealed that quarterback Stephen Garcia looks more comfortable than ever running Steve Spurrier’s offense.

USC:  The Columbia cop accused of using excessive force against a Gamecock football player last year now faces a new charge of simple assault.

UK:  After struggling with turnovers all season, Kentucky has totaled more assists than miscues in their two NIT games.

UK:  Jodie Meeks has gotten fewer minutes in the NIT, but he says that doesn’t bother him.  Billy Gillispie doesn’t like being asked about it, though.

UK:  Kentucky’s players will try to stay upbeat and keep having fun in South Bend tonight.

UK:  Gillispie is worried about Notre Dame big man Luke Harangody.

UK:  Patrick Patterson sounds like Harangody’s press agent.

UK:  A Kentucky fan blogger for The Louisville Courier-Journal is angry with the media and with Kentucky fans for the way they’ve treated Gillispie.

UGA:  Coordinator Willie Martinez wants to see his defense do a better job of handling in-game adversity this fall.

UGA:  DeAngelo Tyson is beginning to win over defensive line coach Rodney Garner.

UGA:  Cornerback Prince Miller is holding his own against AJ Green in practice.

UGA:  Georgia has avoided any new injuries this spring.  That’s cause for celebration considering the number of Dawgs that have gotten hurt in the past year-and-a-half.

UGA:  25 year-old running backs coach Bryan McClendon says the job of starting tailback is wide open at this point.

UGA:  But Mark Richt is bragging about backs Caleb King and Carlton Thomas.

UF:  Florida was once again dominated inside in a 71-62 NIT loss to Penn State last night.

UF:  Nick Calathes said afterward, “We couldn’t get key stops like we needed to.  We couldn’t get the key plays down the stretch.”

UF:  Calathes said he hasn’t given any thought to turning pro.  Yet.

UF:  Dan Werner gave an honest assessment of what went wrong for the Gators this year: “A lot of time the stuff on the court is physical and sometimes we shy away from that stuff.”

UF:  In football news, Urban Meyer is going to experiment with a no-huddle, hurry-up offense this spring.  He’s been thinking about this for a year, having sent Dan Mullen to Missouri last spring to study their attack.

UF:  Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun gives you five things to watch during the Gators’ spring practice.

UF:  Antonya English of The St. Petersburg Times provides a good capsule-style preview of UF’s spring drills.