SEC Football

1. LSU running back Alfred Blue apologizes for “sissy” comments regarding gay players.  ”I apologize if anyone was hurt by my comments and also to everyone that I may have let down.”

2. LSU fans will get their first chance to Cam Cameron’s offense at today’s spring game.

3. A big day at Auburn. Today’s festivities, which include the final rolling of Toomer’s Oaks, will have an estimated economic up to $3 million.

4. Auburn quarterbacks Kiehl Frazier and Jonathan Wallace will alternate with the first and second-team offenses today.

5. Heading into Alabama’s spring game today, quarterback AJ McCarron is better than ever.  Nick Saban: ”His arm is even stronger than it was before…”

6. Dennis Dodd: “If Bama makes it four out of five and three year in a row, McCarron will have earned four national championship rings, four for BCS bowls and three SEC title rings.”

7. Expect a lot of focus today at Alabama to be on the offensive and defensive lines.

8. Tennessee coach Butch Jones on the importance of today’s spring game. “This is basically a dress rehearsal for Austin Peay…”

9. Tennessee officially opens its new indoor training facility.  A.D. Dave Hart: “This is a historic moment in the program’s history.”

10. Arkansas is hoping for 50,000 fans at today’s spring game.

11. At Missouri’s spring game, coaches are looking to linebacker Andrew Wilson and cornerback E.J. Gaines to become more vocal leaders.

12. Do Mississippi State defensive tackles Quay Evans and Nick James have the potential to be future first-round NFL draft picks?

13. ESPN’s Todd McShay on Georgia’s 2012 season:  “I don’t think you can lose sight of how close this team was.”

14. Steve Spurrier; “We open in August against that other Carolina, I call it Dabo’s Carolina.”

15. What we learned this spring about Florida wide receivers and tight ends.

SEC/NFL Draft

16. Potentially record-setting draft for the Florida Gators?

17. Former Texas A&M running back Christine Michael -  ”the second-most talented back in the class…”?

SEC Basketball

18. Auburn freshman guard Jordan Price is transferring.

19. Kentucky 2014 commitment Karl Towns will be rooming with the nation’s No. 1 prospect, Andrew Wiggins, at the Nike Hoops Summit.

20. Earlier start to Midnight Madness?

SEC/College News

21. Outgoing North Carolina chancellor says it’s time to be realistic about university presidents and big-time college sports.

22. LSU, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas A&M are among the schools opposed to multiyear scholarships.

23. Former Georgia A.D. Damon Evans now works for IMG College.

24. Name change in the B1G.  Goodbye “Legends” and “Leaders” – hello East and West.

Running back Marlin Lane can return to Tennessee but coach Butch Jones says “criteria” needs to be met to be reinstated
About 28,00 tickets sold for Auburn’s spring game Saturday
Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s three-year, $3.4 million deal with LSU officially approved by the school
Renovations underway at University of Missouri’s Faurot Field
Big 12 commissioner on expansion: “We don’t want to, but if somebody else moves, we’re ready”
Kentucky assistant basketball coach Rod Strickland reportedly taking job at DePaul, his alma mater
Follow the SEC year-round at MrSEC.com and on Twitter at Twitter.com/mrsec

SEC Football

1. Running back Marlin Lane can return to Tennessee but coach Butch Jones says “criteria” needs to be met to be reinstated.

2. Tennessee’s record for spring game attendance is almost 74,000.  If the Vols don’t break it on Saturday, safety Byron Moore says he’s leaving Twitter forever. The Tennessee “drone” in action.

3. Why is ESPN so eager to discredit Auburn when Oregon is the one that’s admitted to “major infractions”?

4. Gus Malzahn on defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson: ”His standards are very high. Just for the basic foundations, techniques, he’s as good as it gets.”

5. About 28,000 tickets sold for Auburn’s spring game on Saturday.

6. When Ole Miss takes the field for the opener against Vanderbilt, what will the depth chart look like? 

7. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s three-year, $3.4 million deal with LSU officially approved by the school’s System Board of Supervisor. How Larry Bird helped shape Cameron’s philosophy.

8. Student body invited to attend LSU’s practice this afternoon.

9. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel says his team needs vocal leadership: “So if you don’t want to lead (vocally), it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to lead vocally – guess what, we need you to lead, and this is how you do it.”

10. Renovations underway at Mizzou’s Faurot Field.

11. Progress report on Florida’s quarterbacks – Jeff Driskel the star, Tyler Murphy the surprise.

12. Florida coach Will Muschamp on Ronald Powell, recovering from two ACL injuries.  “I saw a guy who handled hardship much better than I would have.”

13. Don’t expect Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley to do much hitting in Saturday’s spring game – still recovering from surgical procedure on his right shoulder. Injuries in the linebacking corps giving Tana Patrick an opportunity.

SEC/NFL Draft

14. Former South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore’s bid to recover from a devastating knee injury.  ”This is going to be a great story. I promise you that.”

15. Former Tennessee wide Cordarrelle Patterson on ESPN’s Sport Science program.

16. Former Texas A&M and current Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is looking forward to Luke Joeckel possibly being taken No.. 1 overall by  the Kansas City Chiefs.  Why?  “Because then I would get to whip his ass twice a year.”

SEC Basketball

17. Missouri guard Negus Webster-Chan is transferring to Hawaii while the Tigers pick up 6 feet 11 JUCU center Keanau Post

18. Arkansas grants Hunter Mickelson’s scholarship release request – sophomore foward will transfer at the end of the semester. Why he left.

19. Familiar name coming to South Carolina – Reggie Theus, Jr, son of the former NBA player –  signs with the Gamecocks.

20. Kentucky assistant coach Rod Strickland is reportedly headed back to his alma mater, DePaul.

Extras

21. Video footage of the great Jackie Robinson - as a college football player.

22. Was Michael Jordan the victim of food poisoning during the 1997 NBA Finals?

23. Never to early to start making excuses.  The least wedding-friendly Saturdays this fall.

24. For the first time ever, the ACC will hold a championship event in the state of Pennsylvania.

The SEC and ESPN will announce the creation of a new “SEC Network” on Tuesday in Atlanta
The new SEC-only channel is expected to launch in August of 2014
Alabama RB Jalston Fowler is still not back to 100% following a torn ACL
Alabama’s football team — as BCS champs — will visit the White House Monday for the third time in four years
Les Miles says the LSU offense has improved this spring under new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron
Kentucky QB Jalen Whitlow made a push for the starter’s job during the Wildcats’ spring game this past weekend
Kentucky C Nerlens Noel has announced that he will jump to the NBA after just one season in Lexington
Georgia G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has announced that he will jump to the NBA after just two seasons in Athens
Keep up with the SEC all year long by visiting MrSEC.com and twitter.com/mrsec

Florida defensive line coach Bryant Young surprisingly resigned on Wednesday to spend more time with his family
Vanderbilt coach James Franklin got into a testy exchange on a Nashville radio show on Wednesday…
The host tried to get Franklin to clarify a tweet in which the coach suggested that players who do not sign with Vanderbilt are “want 2 settle in life.”
10 SEC players will attend the NFL draft in New York later this month
Alabama coach Nick Saban says NFL coaches are visiting his program in order to learn how to defend the read-option offense
Ole Miss TE Christian Morgan will have to undergo knee surgery but he is expected back by August
LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is trying to increase the tempo of the Tigers’ offense
Follow SEC football, basketball, and recruiting at MrSEC.com and twitter.com/mrsec

SEC Football

1. New LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has worked with Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Joe Flacco.  He’s impressed with quarterback Zach Mettenberger: ”I like what I see. He’s an extremely hard worker and that’s critical to be a great QB.”

2. Coach Les Miles on the arrest of LSU signeee Rickey Jefferson, Jordan’s younger brother. “I don’t have a lot of information at this point.”

3. New Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin on the challenge of replacing seven starters. “We play 20-something guys in a game on defense, and we want to continue that…This spring is going to be awesome to see guys go compete for spots.”

4. With plenty of starters gone, Florida coach Will Muschamp is worried about the middle of his defense. “There is no question we’ve got to be strong up the middle. That’s something that’s a question mark.”

5. A challenge at Alabama this spring for new line coach Mario Cristobal- replacing three starting offensive linemen.

6. Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron on seeing Johnny Manziel at the Super Bowl.  ”He was trying to get me to go hang out with him and go to all the events, but that’s just not me.”

7. Stewart Mandel on the consequences of Manziel spending more time in the pocket this fall: “This will make it harder for him to repeat as the Heisman winner, because dazzling, improvisational runs are his trademark.”

8. Arkansas practices in pads for the first time today.

9. Vanderbilt spring practice starts Friday. James Frankin’s team returns 16 starters.

10. Spring football begins Sunday for Ole Miss. Bo Wallace’s injury means his backups will get plenty of reps this spring.

NFL Draft Prospects

11. Former Alabama defensive lineman Jesse Williams runs a 4.9 forty-yard dash at the Crimson Tide pro day.  Nick Saban on the tattooed Australian “He’s going to continue to get better because he has more upside … He doesn’t have the same background of growing up as a football player like a lot of players we have in our program.”

12. Hard to believe now, but in 2008, not a single Alabama player was drafted.   

13. Former Florida offensive tackle Phil Trautwein last played for the Gators in 2008.  He’s giving football one last shot – showed up at Florida’s Pro Day this week.

SEC Basketball

16. One opinion on coach Tony Barbee: “While he came to Auburn as a young, hot-shot coach, he may be too old school for these Tigers.”  MrSEC’s take on Barbee.

17. Georgia starts day two conference tournament play against LSU. Bulldogs coach Mark Fox: “Everyone outside of Florida is in the middle of the pack in our league — everybody.”

18. Seven of the top eight teams went 6-4 in their last 10 games - only exception was Tennessee which closed at 8-2.

19. Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin defends the league: “I think this league takes a level of criticism that it doesn’t deserve.”

20. As Arkansas meets Vanderbilt, Razorback players don’t know what it’s like to advance in conference tourney – last tournament victory was 2008.

21. Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings on Georgia’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: “He’s one of the few guys in this league that is good at everything that (happens) on a basketball court.”

22. Alabama gets the Tennessee-Mississippi State winner on Friday afternoon. Former coach Wimp Sanderson on the Crimson Tide: “They’ve got as good a chance as everybody else. They play very good defensively.”

23. Missouri’s Alex Oriakhi was on a Connecticut team that lost four of its last five regular-season games.  It went on to win the national title.

24. Missouri meets Texas A&M tonight - Aggies won the regular season game by two points.  A&M guard Elston Turner: “(Missouri) thinks they should have won that game,”

25. What’s the explanation for Florida’s late struggles in close games? Coach Billy Donovan: “If anything, I see maybe an overconfidence or ‘We’re going to be OK’ kind of thing,”

26. Based on these panel projections, Florida looks to be a big favorite to win the conference tournament.

SEC Football

1. Georgia reserve tight end Ty Flournoy-Smith arrested Friday night. The misdemeanor charge involves a false report of stolen textbooks.  Authorities believe Flournoy-Smith sold the books himself. Mark Richt aware of arrest.

2. New offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s contract at LSU calls for a $1 million buyout.

3. Former Texas A&M running back Christine Michael still doesn’t understand why he didn’t play in the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma.  ”I had no clue that I wasn’t going to play not a down in that game. It was shocking to me, and it still shocks me to this day.”

4. With defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson’s 4-2-5 defense, Auburn wants big safeties: “We’re going to put one more body up there than you can block, and try to disrupt the blocking schemes instead of trying to physically overpower offensive linemen.”

5. Defensive end might be the deepest unit for Mississippi State this fall. Can five-star recruit Chris Jones start as a freshman?

6. Young defensive ends spark optimism at Ole Miss as well.

NFL Scouting Combine

7. Offensive lineman Chance Warmack on his time at Alabama: “It’s like a mini-NFL.” Why “Warmacking” may come to an end in the NFL.

8. Former Alabama tackle D.J. Fluker: “I want to be the Ray Lewis of my offensive line.”

9. Running back Eddie Lacy won’t run the 40-yard dash at the combine because of an ailing hamstring.

10. A school-record 13 players at the combine from LSU includes as many as four potential first-round picks.

SEC Basketball

11. A focus for Alabama today – stopping LSU’s Johnny O’Bryant.  Averaging 21.5 points and 10 rebounds over the last four games.

12. Another big man that’s found a groove is Vanderbilt’s Rod Odom – averaging 15.2 points last five games.

13. Tennessee’s shared history with Texas A&M – each program’s best player was Bernard King.

14. Mizzou point guard Phil Pressey has been a lightning rod for criticism.  Does his second-half performance against Florida mean he’s getting better?

15. John Calipari is not  a fan the late start time to tonight’s game against Missouri.  ”I hate it at 9 o’clock.” (Eastern time)

16. Despite losing 10-of-11, Auburn’s freshmen are optimistic about the future.  Shaq Johnson: ”I think the future looks bright for this program.”

Realignment

17. Top two rivalries lost thanks to realignment have SEC ties.

18. Realignment Rumor Mill - MrSEC joins the panel discussion.

Extra

19. Former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme reportedly headed to SMU as offensive coordinator.

Wednesday’s SEC basketball:
South Carolina 63, Ole Miss 62…Alabama 64, Mississippi State 56…
Texas A&M 65, Auburn 56…Kentucky 74, Vanderbilt 70
Florida F Damontre Harris has been arrested for failing to appear in court after being cited for driving without a license earlier this year
Eight of the SEC’s 14 basketball teams are averaging fewer than 70 points per game
New LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will receive a three-year contract that will top out at $1.5 million by 2015
Follow the SEC all year long on MrSEC.com and twitter.com/mrsec

Saturday SEC Basketball Schedule
Finals…Tennessee 88 – Kentucky 58…Florida 83 – Auburn 52…
Alabama 68 – South Carolina 58……Arkansas 73 – Missouri 71… Vanderbilt 63…Texas A&M 56
Mississippi State at LSU…Georgia at Ole Miss
LSU made the hiring of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron official Friday
Miami assistant coach Mario Cristobal a candidate for the offensive line coach position at Alabama
Follow SEC news everyday at MrSEC.com and on Twitter at Twitter.com/mrsec

Thursday’s SEC hoops action: LSU 64 – South Carolina 46
After starting SEC play at 6-0, Ole Miss has lost of four of five
South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney is considering a $5 million insurance policy to protect against serious injury
LSU will make the hiring of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron official Friday
One NBA draft analyst says Kentucky F Nerlens Noel will still be a top-five pick even with a torn ACL
Riding a two-game win streak, Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin says: “I think we can beat any team in this league now.”
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