So much for those rumors of Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart giving Derek Dooley his walking papers yesterday afternoon.  Not only was Hart watching a women’s soccer game in Knoxville when he was supposedly dropping the hammer on Dooley, but he actually gave the coach word — according to the coach himself — that no decision has been made yet.

According to Dooley at his usual Monday presser today:

“I didn’t ask him that, but I did ask him a lot of things.  We talked very frankly about it.  He told me he had not made a decision, whether we go 6-6, despite what all the reports are.

Either the sources are wrong, or Dave wasn’t being forthright with me, and I have no reason to think Dave’s not being forthright.  He’s an honest man, he’s always been honest with me and I’ve appreciated how he’s handled everything about this.  I really have.”

Tennessee’s coach is 4-18 in SEC play and he’s not likely to return next season.  Attendance has waned at Neyland Stadium and keeping Dooley would mean taking a financial hit next season.  Of course, buying Dooley out would also put the squeeze on an athletic department that lost cash last year.

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Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu was one of four former LSU players arrested on drug charges on Thursday
SEC commissioner Mike Slive tells ESPN.com that the site for the new Champions Bowl — either New Orleans or Arlington, Texas — will be announced next week
Arkansas AD Jeff Long says he will most likely hire someone who is currently employed as a coach
Sources have told MrSEC.com that TCU’s Gary Patterson is Arkansas’ top choice
Sources have told MrSEC.com that if Tennessee replaces Derek Dooley, Jon Gruden and Bobby Petrino would be 1-2 on UT’s list of replacements
Hurricane Sandy could create a windy day for the Georgia-Florida game
Kentucky will try to play three quarterbacks versus Missouri on Saturday
Texas A&M DL Damontre Moore leads the nation in sacks with 9.5 and tackles for loss with 17
Follow the SEC every day at MrSEC.com or twitter.com/mrsec…
Athlon Sports and Maxim Magazine have named MrSEC as a Twitter feed every fan should follow

Arkansas AD Jeff Long says he will most likely hire someone who is currently employed as a coach…
That would seemingly rule out Arkansas native Butch Davis
Sources have told MrSEC.com that TCU’s Gary Patterson is Arkansas’ top choice
Source have told MrSEC.com that if Tennessee replaces Derek Dooley, Jon Gruden and Bobby Petrino would be 1-2 on UT’s list of replacements
Georgia FB Alex Ogletree tweeted that UGA players and fans should rush the end zone after Bulldogs’ first TD versus Florida this weekend
Hurricane Sandy could create a windy day for the Georgia-Florida game
Kentucky will try to play three quarterbacks versus Missouri on Saturday
Missouri QB James Franklin is doubtful for this weekend’s game but should return for Florida game in two weeks
Texas A&M DL Damontre Moore leads the nation in sacks with 9.5 and tackles for loss with 17
Follow the SEC every day at MrSEC.com or twitter.com/mrsec…
Athlon Sports and Maxim Magazine have named MrSEC as a Twitter feed every fan should follow

1.  Athlon Sports lists the 10 biggest SEC storylines of fall practice.

2. Will Muschamp says he feels good about Florida’s quarterback battle.  (Ever heard a coach say, “I really hate our quarterback situation?”)

3.  Georgia opened practice yesterday.

4.  UGA has released its 2012-13 basketball schedule.

5.  Kentucky offensive coordinator Randy Sanders thinks his squad will be better than last year.  (That shouldn’t be too tough.)

6.  Here are five questions for South Carolina this fall.

7.  Tennessee’s Derek Dooley has a lot more players to choose from and use this fall.

8.  Quarterback Jordan Rodgers is now the clear leader of Vanderbilt’s football team.

9.  Missouri quarterback James Franklin looked “pretty darn good” yesterday as he comes off of shoulder surgery.

10.  The first report of Alabama’s first fall practice has been filed.

11.  Auburn no longer has Mike Dyer at tailback but the Tigers do have depth.

12.  Only two players were absent from Arkansas’ first practice session.

13.  LSU players know better than anyone that the only ranking that matters is the one you have after the final game.

14.  Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen says he’s not going to answer injury questions anymore.  (Childishly, he even stood up and threatened to leave the room when asked about a specific player.)

15.  Ole Miss started fall practice without two key freshmen yesterday.

16.  No shock, quarterback tops the list of questions at Texas A&M.

17.  A 5-7 bowl team?  An FCS bowl team?  Sure, why not?  (I used to be against all the bowls, but if some kid gets to play in a postseason game in Hackensack, good for him.  No one will try to make me watch it.)

1. The NCAA has warned schools to be wary of recruiting star basketball player Shabazz Muhammad. Kentucky is in the mix.

2. Muhammad, by the way, is scheduled to visit Duke this weekend.

3. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher believes the Seminoles can play and recruit against the SEC.

4. Kelvin Taylor isn’t the only Florida legacy being recruited by the Gators for 2013.

5. Athlon Sports analyzes Tennessee’s class of 2012.

6. Defensive end Carl Lawson from Alpharetta, Ga., has already received more than 30 offers.

7. Brian McLaughlin of Sporting News takes a look at some of the nation’s top quarterback prospects.

8. Several basketball recruiting questions are answered by the experts at 247Sports.

Here’s a look at why so many basketball teams covet Shabazz Muhammad.