An Arkansas TV station is reporting that ESPN analyst Jon Gruden has been offered the Arkansas head coaching job
Arkansas State’s Gus Malzahn wouldn’t comment on the possibility of landing the head coaching job at Auburn if Gene Chizik is fired
Texas A&M LB Michael Richardson is out of the hospital after having surgery to repair a cervical spine injury sufferend during last weekend’s game
Les Miles has apologized for using a four-letter word during his postgame press conference at LSU on Saturday
Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans are prank calling the opposing team’s quarterback heading into Saturday’s Egg Bowl game
Florida’s Will Muschamp says QB Jeff Driskel will play Saturday against Florida State
Missouri QB James Franklin is questionable for Saturday’s game with Texas A&M
Missouri DT Sheldon Richardson will return from a one-game suspension
Follow the SEC every single day at MrSEC.com and at twitter.com/mrsec

Alabama at LSU

1. A battle royale in Baton Rouge.  Nick Saban and Les Miles 3-3 against each other, combined to win three of last five national championships.

2. Advantage Crimson Tide.

3. What it’s like to face the Alabama secondary?  Hugh Freeze: “It’s the most disciplined secondary I’ve ever faced.”

4. “If the Tigers play their best game of the season, it still might not be enough.”

5. For the first time in 12 years, LSU a “serious underdog on its home turf.”

6. LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger knows a lot about Alabama – the school and the state.

7. A big game for these two schools – a big game for the SEC.

8. LSU’s performance vs. Alabama in the second game last year – one of the “three great flops in BCS title game history.”

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
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Earlier today, we told you in our headlines post about an SI.com profile of former LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu.  It examines all of the issues he has faced — kicked of the Tiger team for a year (at least) and time in counseling at John Lucas’ Houston-based drug rehab clinic.

But it also points to the possibility that Mathieu might have violated NCAA rules by helping to promote parties in clubs and receiving VIP treatment in return while still a member of the LSU football team:

“The flyers and videos may be a violation of NCAA rule 12.5.2.1, which says that anyone who ‘accepts any remuneration or permits the use of his or her name or picture to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind’ is ineligible.  A veteran compliance officer with no direct knowledge of Mathieu’s case says that any penalties would depend on how commercial the videos were, whether Mathieu knew what they were being used for and if he received any illicit benefits, which would violate a separate NCAA rule.  ‘If this guy is in the video in an attempt to draw people to the place,’ says the officer, ‘that’s not permissible.’  LSU says the school, including coach Les Miles, is unaware of players using their images to promote events or receiving extra benefits.”

Current LSU sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Johnson was also listed as one of the parties’ hosts, but he denied any involvement.

Stay tuned.  The road back to the Tiger football program might have taken another turn (in 2013) might’ve just taken another turn.

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

In the “no kidding” department, Les Miles summed up his team’s issues yesterday by saying it’s time to run and throw the ball better.  No shock.  In SEC games only, LSU ranks 11th in the league in both rushing and passing the football.  That’s not championship-calibre offensive production by any stretch.

But the coach also said — in his inimitable style — that the Tigers aren’t planning a move from Zach Mettenberger to a more mobile-type quarterback to help in those areas.

Read the rest of this entry »

Missouri suspends five freshmen for the game Saturday against Vanderbilt, including wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham
Aaron and Andrew Harrison, twins considered the top shooting and point guards in the class of 2013, commit to John Calipari and the University of Kentucky
Ex-Tennessee women’s coach Pat Summitt provides a sworn affidavit for ex-Tennessee employee’s suit against the school
Sources tell MrSEC.com that a 9-game conference football slate is still a possibility for the SEC due to SEC TV Network expected to launch in 2014
Les Miles now says he’s given no thought to DB Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu returning to LSU in 2013
Vanderbilt QB Jordan Rodgers is expected to start this weekend against Missouri
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze has yet to name a starting quarterback this weekend against Texas A&M
Arkansas coach John L. Smith filed amended bankruptcy docments showing $40.7 milion in debt
Keep up with all your SEC news at MrSEC.com and twitter.com/mrsec

Ex-Tennessee women’s coach Pat Summitt provides a sworn affidavit for ex-Tennessee employee’s suit against the school
Sources tell MrSEC.com that a 9-game conference football slate is still a possibility for the SEC due to SEC TV Network expected to launch in 2014
Les Miles now says he’s given no thought to DB Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu returning to LSU in 2013
Florida DE Lerentee McCray on LSU game this weekend: “If we come ready to play, they’re not gonna do nothing.”
Vanderbilt QB Jordan Rodgers is expected to start this weekend against Missouri
Arkansas TE Chris Gragg will not play against Auburn due to a bone bruise in his leg
Keep up with all your SEC news at MrSEC.com and twitter.com/mrsec

Yesterday, Les Miles said on ESPN radio that the story of dismissed — for this season — star Tyrann Mathieu might have a happy ending.  Most took that to mean that Mathieu could possibly return to LSU next season.  Having spent 20 years listening to coachspeak, that’s certainly how it sounded to me.

But Miles was asked to clarify his remarks yesterday and he did so as only the Tigers’ coach could:

“Everybody seems to have picked on that phrase.  The only thing that I can tell you is for me, to get your degree, that you handle your business, get your life in order and you go do the things you want to do.  I can’t imagine he won’t have a great post-college career at whatever he would decide to do.

I am in no way presupposing football.  That’s not something I’m visioning at this point.  I just want to look at my team and do the things that will make this team ready to play Saturday at Florida.”

Miles may not be presupposing or visioning football, but I’ll still go out on that limb and say if Mathieu takes care of his off-field business and wants to return to Baton Rouge to play ball in 2013… he’ll be allowed to do so.  And I think that’s a pretty safe, short, stout limb to climb out onto, by the way.

Former Arkansas linebacker Bret Harris has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill the school’s head athletic trainer on his Twitter account
Florida coach Will Muschamp says he expects linebacker Jelani Jenkins to play against LSU Saturday
Les Miles seemed to suggest yesterday that DB Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu could return to LSU in 2013
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