Last season, Alabama’s Nick Saban was the first coach — at least the first to get national media coverage — to suggest that the trend of up-tempo offenses in college football could be dangerous.  Yes, dangerous.

Well, Saban now has some company.  Arkansas coach Bret Bielema recently proposed a rule change that would create “a 15-second substitution period” that would allow defenses time to make substitutions.  According to the new Razorbacks coach:

“Not to get on the coattails of some of the other coaches, there is a lot of truth that the way offensive philosophies are driven now, there’s times where you can’t get a defensive substitution in for eight-, 10-, 12-play drives.  That has an effect on safety of that student-athlete, especially the bigger defensive linemen, that is really real.”

Naturally, coaches who run frenetic, no-huddle offenses see things just a bit differently.  Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, for example, pointed out to Al.com that “offensive players a playing, too, the same number of snaps… are they in danger also?”

Several conferences have taken it upon themselves to conduct studies on player safety in recent years, specifically in the area of helmet-first collisions.  If enough defensive-minded coaches speak out, perhaps a conference or two will investigate to see if there really are any connections between hurry-up offenses and injuries.

Our guess is that they wouldn’t find anything conclusive.  This smells more like a ploy by defense-first coaches who don’t like the advantage offenses now hold.  That said, it can’t hurt for the SEC or another league or the NCAA to look into the matter.

Asked about former assistant — and current Florida offensive line coach — Tim Davis referring to him as “the devil himself,” Alabama’s Nick Saban said last night that he was disappointed in his old employee’s choice of words:

“It really is a little terribly disappointing…

I try to do right by the people that work for me.  It’s a tough demanding job.  And at the same time, if anybody had an issue or problem with me, I would want them to just tell me…

Twice.  On two occasions.  It’s just disappointing.  If somebody has a problem with me, I’d appreciate it if they’d tell me.  If I’m doing something to offend somebody, I’d certainly like to do whatever I have to do to fix it.  It’s not our intention.  It’s not what we try to do.

We’re in a tough business.  It’s very competitive.  Sometimes you’ve got to demand that people do things that maybe they don’t want to do, but it’s not personal…

I know it’s not representative of Will Muschamp and the University of Florida and the way they do things.  I know that because I’m close enough to Will to know that.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard someone say something is a “little terribly” anything, but the coach’s meaning is clear.  And the “twice” remark was a reference to the fact that Vanderbilt coach James Franklin called Saban “Nicky Satan” at a high school’s awards banquet back in January.  Franklin later apologized and said he was joking, though Saban apparently hasn’t forgotten the matter.

Alabama’s coach has a reputation for a being both a tough boss and a cold fish.  Even Muschamp’s parents have talked about how their son “got crosswise” with “that son of a bitch” while serving on Saban’s staff in the NFL.

At the same time, Kirby Smart and others have stayed in Saban’s employ and enjoyed great success as a result.  If Smart is hating life on Alabama’s staff he’s doing a good job of hiding it.  Jobs come open each December, yet he has stayed put in Tuscaloosa, as have many others.

Obviously, one man’s dream boss can be another man’s nightmare.

In this case, Davis should have kept his nightmare to himself.  A public figure calling another public figure the devil or Satan — even if it’s in jest — is going to draw a national spotlight.  That spotlight is now shining brightly on Davis, Muschamp and the Florida football program.

At some point — probably today — Davis will likely cough up the obligatory apology (which most people will immediately peg as being insincere).

And if he doesn’t apologize, the silence will be louder and more telling than even his initial “devil” comment.

New Arkansas coach Bret Bielema took a shot at the SEC while he was coaching at Wisconsin about 14 months ago.  He took a shot at the SEC’s overall strength again this weekend.  He also managed to compare himself — favorably — to Alabama’s Nick Saban.

Now, his words about Saban don’t particularly read like a joke, but if he says he was kidding around, we’ll buy it.

But in trying to defuse his Saban joke yesterday via Twitter, he also chose to remind the world of his predecessor’s downfall.  Bobby Petrino wrecked his motorcycle and his career a year ago yesterday.  And here’s Bielema’s tweet from late yesterday afternoon:

Ha.

What a card.

Here’s guessing Petrino, his family, Jessica Dorrell, her family, her fiance, and his family appreciate Arkansas’ coach bringing that up again.

But what’s Bielema care?  He’s a cocksure coach who won big at Wisconsin (though plenty of Badger fans reminded him he didn’t win as many Rose Bowls as Barry Alvarez had).  Bielema also landed the job at Arkansas in part because he sent a letter to Razorback AD Jeff Long congratulating him for his firing of Petrino after his crash and for Long’s comments afterward.  With that in mind, it should be no surprise that Bielema had no problem re-opening Petrino’s old wound.

Nowhere in the SEC rule book does it say a coach has to be a nice guy.  Steve Spurrier’s been lippy over the years.  Lane Kiffin flapped his gums for a year.  Dan Mullen’s taken a helluva lot of shots at Ole Miss during his tenure.

But if Bielema’s going to joke about Saban’s record, kid about the SEC’s strength, and jest about a winning coach’s off-field downfall, he’d better win plenty of football games.  His track record suggests he will.  But he’s talking like a man who already has.

Big difference.

Tennessee’s Derek Dooley is in one messed up situation.  First, when he took over the Tennessee program, he became the school’s third coach in three years.  Phillip Fulmer’s ouster and Lane Kiffin’s unexpected exit led to so much attrition that it was thought Dooley would get three or four years to turn things around.

But since that hiring:

1.  Tennessee has hired a new athletic director who did not hire Dooley.  Many of the same boosters who helped decide on Dooley are still in Knoxville and still writing checks, but Dooley is not AD Dave Hart’s “guy.”

2.  The coach lost to Kentucky to end last season which led many Vol fans to make up their minds about Dooley well before the end of any third or fourth season.  Tennessee hadn’t lost to the Wildcats since 1984.

3.  Hart has made it abundantly clear that due to past buyouts and parting gifts paid to ex-coaches and ADs, the athletic department’s reserve fund is running on empty and UT has a massive debt at the same time.  Think of the Tennessee program as Greece.

With all that in mind, can UT afford to buy Dooley out, pay off a number of his assistants, pay a new coach’s buyout from his current school, and offer up enough cash salary-wise to lure in a name coach who’ll have to be UT’s fourth coach in six seasons?

Or with its current budget can UT afford not to dismiss Dooley.  The lifeblood of any athletic department is football-related — tickets sold, donations given, concessions, parking, merchandise, etc, etc.  Those will all surely drop further next season if Dooley returns.

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Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron says he feels good and he’s “ready to go.”
An erroneous Internet report on Monday claimed McCarron tore his meniscus against Missouri on Saturday
South Carolina defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles could face discipline for punching LSU offensive lineman P.J. Lonergan during last week’s game
The SEC will not suspend backup Alabama DE LaMichael Fanning for “body slam” tackle versus Missouri RB Russell Hansbrough
Tennessee LB Herman Lathers says after players-only meeting that if players aren’t playing correctly, “We’re going to kick them off the field.”
Les Miles says LSU’s defense will be “one of the fastest” Texas A&M QB Johnny Mazniel “will have seen.”
Alabama’s Nick Saban says Tennessee’s offensive line is the best his team will have faced all season
Kentucky coach Joker Phillips would be owed a $2.55 million buyout if fired this season
Arkansas AD Jeff Long says he hopes to have a new football coach hired by mid-December
Follow the SEC at MrSEC.com and twitter.com/mrsec

The SEC will not suspend backup Alabama DE LaMichael Fanning for “body slam” tackle versus Missouri RB Russell Hansbrough
Tennessee LB Herman Lathers says after players-only meeting that if players aren’t playing correctly, “We’re going to kick them off the field.”
Les Miles says LSU’s defense will be “one of the fastest” Texas A&M QB Johnny Mazniel “will have seen.”
Alabama’s Nick Saban says Tennessee’s offensive line is the best his team will have faced all season
Kentucky coach Joker Phillips would be owed a $2.55 million buyout if fired this season
Arkansas AD Jeff Long says he hopes to have a new football coach hired by mid-December
Follow the SEC at MrSEC.com and twitter.com/mrsec

Kentucky hoops coach John Calipari says he’s “working harder than I have in 10 years” after winning last season’s national title
Les Miles seemed to suggest yesterday that DB Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu could return to LSU in 2013
Ex-Auburn coach Pat Dye has apologized for saying that Alabama’s Nick Saban “ain’t a better man” than Auburn’s Gene Chizik
Georgia leading WR Michael Bennett will miss the rest of the season after tearing an ACL in practice
Kentucky RB CoShik Williams will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum
Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury wants his team to improve in the red zone… after a 58-10 win over Arkansas
Steve Spurrier says South Carolina’s O-line isn’t “dominating as we hope we can”
Tennessee defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri is stressing the fundamentals to his unit after a 51-44 loss to Georgia
Follow all the news from across the SEC every single day on MrSEC.com

Hear all 14 SEC coaches discuss their team.

Vanderbilt- James Franklin

Tennessee – Derek Dooley

South Carolina – Steve Spurrier

Mississippi State – Dan Mullen

Ole Miss – Hugh Freeze

LSU – Les Miles

Kentucky – Joker Phillips

Georgia – Mark Richt

Florida -Will Muschamp

Auburn – Gene Chizk

Arkansas – John L. Smith

Alabama – Nick Saban

Texas A&M – Kevin Sumlin

Mizzou – Gary Pinkel

For the past few seasons, Alabama’s Nick Saban and a few other coaches have beaten the drum for player safety regarding helmets that fly off during the course of play.  This offseason, the NCAA responded by creating a new rule.  If a player’s helmet comes off during a play, he has to leave the field for the next play.  The goal is to get players back in the habit of properly buckling their chinstraps.

With the new rule in place, the number of helmets flying off has now drawn the attention of fans, as well.  Watch a game and you’re bound to see someone have to leave the field of play after losing his headgear.  And always looking for any advantage they can find,  you can bet that some coaches are instructing their players to help their opponents’ helmets pop off.

Take it from Missouri quarterback James Franklin, who twice lost his helmet during Saturday’s game with Georgia:

“The second time I could feel it, but you could also see on film where (a Georgia player) was pulling on it.  It definitely was frustrating.  You try to make adjustments so they couldn’t just pop it off.  They say if they see a player intentionally pull it off you won’t have to come out.  But I think teams will definitely try to do that more.”

Outspoken Mizzou receiver TJ Moe made his feelings on the new rule known to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

“It’s a stupid rule that will be gone after this season.  Stupidest rule ever in college football.  If my quarterback leaves the game one more time because his helmet is ripped off, I’m going to lose it.”

Actually, it’s not a stupid rule.  Players have been losing their buckets more and more often over the past few years and several factors could be involved — looser helmet construction, players refusing to fully snap their straps, etc.  Old-timers will remember the days just 15 years or so ago when players would walk to the sideline, have to put their fingers in their helmets’ ear holes and pull the sides wide just to remove them.  Now notice how many players can easily slip off their helmets simply by lifting up on the facemask.  (Photo at left.)

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LSU starting LT Chris Faulk will reportedly miss the season with a knee injury
Alabama’s Nick Saban on available tickets vs W. Kentucky: “We can’t sell out with all the games we’ve won?”
Houston has reportedly put in a bigger bid to host the “Champions” Bowl than Arlington or New Orleans
Tennessee is paying nonconference foes Ga. State, Akron and Troy more than $2 million to visit Knoxville
Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart: “We want people in the stands, but we’ve got to earn that back.”
Two W. Kentucky players promise a victory at top-ranked Alabama on Saturday
Follow all 14 SEC schools and their recruiting efforts every day on MrSEC.com and twitter.com/mrsec