Around the SEC West – 3/25/09

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Here are your morning notes, nuggets and links from across the SEC West:

Bama:  For Alabama, the Anthony Grant situation might be a case of “hurry up and wait.”

Bama:  Grant, according to sources, has five days to make up his mind about the Tide’s job.

Aub:  The Tigers might have lost to Baylor 74-72 last night, but Evan Woodbery of The Mobile Press-Register writes that it was one of the most exciting games at Auburn in years.

Aub:  Rasheem Barrett barely missed a 22-footer with one second left.

Aub:  Two missed free throws from DeWayne Reed with nine seconds left also played a role in the Tigers’ loss.

Aub:  “Any time you lose by two points, it hurts more than losing by 30,” Barrett said after the game.

Aub:  In January, no one would have believed that Auburn could get thisclose to the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

Aub:  Losing Barrett, Quantez Robertson and Korvotney Barber will be difficult for Jeff Lego to overcome next season.

Aub:  While Auburn’s basketball season came to a close, the Gene Chizik era of Tiger football was beginning.

Aub:  Chizik’s first order of business was closing spring practice so his team could work without distractions.

Aub:  Here’s a first day breakdown on Chizik — everything from what he wore to practice to how quickly he walked and how he coached.

Aub:  “Everything is starting over, and everything’s new, and everybody’s got a shot,” Chizik said.

Aub:  According to this report, receivers coach Trooper Taylor almost yelled his voice out during the Tigers’ first day of drills.

Aub:  When asked about some off-season injuries and surgeries, Chizik said he preferred not to talk about injuries.  Which means speculation and rumors can now take the place of actual information.

Ark:  Tight end DJ Williams led the Razorbacks in receptions last year and was voted first-team All-SEC… but Bobby Petrino wants him to block better.

Ark:  The first day of practice was conducted at a faster pace than last year’s spring drills.

Ark:  Wally Hall of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette discusses Petrino’s coaching style and how his team seems to be responding to it.

Ark:  Ryan Mallett, Tyler Wilson and Jim Youngblood are ready to compete for the starting quarterback job.

Ark:  That doesn’t mean the QBs didn’t have their share of “first-day jitters.”

Ark:  Petrino’s team appears to be fully stocked at running back.

UM:  Ole Miss’ season opener at Memphis will be pushed back to Sunday, September 6th so ESPN can carry the game nationally.

UM:  The Rebels have an open date the next weekend, so moving the game back a day should have no negative consequences.

UM:  An afternoon kickoff on Labor Day weekend could result in a blistering day at the Liberty Bowl for Ole Miss fans.

UM & MSU:  Terrico White, David Huertas and Jarvis Varnado are in the running to be named the state of Mississippi’s top college basketbal player.

MSU:  Dan Mullen has painted a maroon line beside his practice field.  Once players cross it, walking stops and jogging/running begins.  That was just one of the changes from Sylvester Croom’s practices.

MSU:  Linebacker Jamar Chaney said practice under Mullen is “more intense, I mean, more attention to detail, and it’s a fast pace.”