SEC Football

1. Ohio State jumped Alabama for the No. 1 spot on Mark Schlabach’s Top 25 for 2013.

2. Mike Slive on the College Football Playoff Selection committee: “We want football expertise.”

3. How does Auburn running back Tre Mason test his speed? He chases squirrels.

4. Police are looking for another suspect in the alleged fight involving suspended LSU running back Jeremy Hill.

5. Hill’s suspension puts extra pressure on quarterback Zach Mettenberger and the rest of the Tigers’ offense.

6. Auburn could be a sleeper in the SEC.  Missouri could be as well, writes Edward Aschoff.

7. Tennessee gave athletic director Dave Hart a one-year contract extension with a $50,000 bonus.

8. Former Georgia players discussed the Bulldogs’ rivalry with Clemson and looked at this year’s matchup.

9. Matt Hayes looks at the differing opinions among SEC coaches on the nine-game schedule conversation.

SEC Basketball

10. If you missed it yesterday, CBSSports.com released its Top 25 (and one) for next season.

11. There’s already plenty of buzz for next year’s matchup between Kentucky and Louisville in Rupp Arena.

12. Former Ole Miss basketball player Murphy Holloway is still learning about football as he tries to make the NFL.

Extra

13. Pat Dooley looks at the Jets’ release of Tim Tebow and the SEC’s increased level of talent in recruiting.

14. Former Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray can still make it in the NFL, writes Mike Strange.

15. A chest injury suffered during a “freak accident” has ended the career of Stanford quarterback Josh Nunes.

16. DO you want to see Peyton Manning sing Johnny Cash during karaoke? Click here.

17. Here’s an early look at the top NFL prospects for the 2014 NFL draft. The No. 1 prospect resides in the SEC.

18. Virginia Tech is looking to bounce back after a disappointing seven-win season in 2012.

SEC Basketball

1. Here are three points the day after Alabama lost on the road to LSU.

2. Tennessee and Texas A&M provided “one for the ages,” writes Mike Strange.

3. Kentucky’s young players grew up in the Wildcats’ win over Missouri, writes John Clay.

4. Should we look out for Kentucky in March? Maybe so.

5. Missouri let one “slip away” in its loss to Kentucky.

6. An official released a statement following a “curious ruling” late in the Georgia-South Carolina game.

7. Three SEC teams showed up on ESPN’s bubble watch from Saturday’s action.

8. The top concern for Florida: health, according to ESPN’s Myron Medcalf.

SEC Football

9. Georgia TE Ty Flournoy-Smith was arrested and charged with filing a false crime report.

10. Former Notre Dame LB Manti Te’o said the girlfriend hoax played no role in the BCS title game.

11. Here are seven early enrollees who could make a quick impact in the SEC.

NFL Scouting Combine

12. Former Alabama guard Chance Warmack is focused on preparing for the NFL Draft.

13. Former Tide nose guard Jesse Williams is preparing for the bench press. He should do well there.

14. Former Auburn defensive end Corey Lemonier is preparing for the next step in his career.

15. Former Tiger Philip Lutzenkirchen was pleased with his Combine results on Saturday.

16. Several former LSU players are in Indianapolis preparing for the draft.

17. NFL teams have raised red flags regarding former Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones.

Extra

18. NCAA president Mark Emmert has received a vote of confidence from the executive committee.

19. The NCAA is “out of whack,” says former Southern California coach Pete Carroll.

1. Texas A&M joining the SEC makes sense for both parties but is the speculation premature?

2. What’s the SEC got against Memphis?

3.  SEC coaches have different opinions on recruiting services.

4. Roster management rules are here to stay.

5. Mike Strange reads Tennessee’s response to the NCAA:  ”(J)ust underscores how unnecessary and, thus, how sad an affair it is…”

6. Bruce Pearl: “I panicked.” If you don’t want probation, don’t lie to the NCAA.

7. Why Tennessee fans should be rooting for Arkansas.

8. Others are taking note of the Razorbacks talent.

9. Mike Herndon on Alabama/Auburn: ” Remind us which of these teams is the defending national champ?”

10. Kevin Scarbinsky: “Can this rivalry be saved?”

11. Three top passers from the SEC last year are now gone but seven starters return.

12. Kentucky quarterback Morgan Newton has a mentor in Andre Woodson.

13. Wildcats now in the NFL provide motivation.

14. John Clay on Kentucky’s loss in the Compass Bowl: “The guess here is that the Birmingham beat-down was a painful but necessary shock to the system.”

15. Anything less than the Outback Bowl will be disappointing to many Georgia fans.

16. 14 of the conference’s top 20 rushers are back this year.

17. Don’t forget Tennessee’s Tauren Poole when discussing the best running backs in the SEC.

18. Breaking down Florida’s secondary.

19. Profile of former Vanderbilt coach Robbie Caldwell: “Caldwell said when he thanked hotel and restaurant workers at SEC Media Days, they told him they don’t typically get that appreciation from other SEC coaches.”

20. Collision injury seminar at South Carolina.

21. Hershel Walker’s number 34 isn’t going anywhere.

22. SEC Media Days – the view from Los Angeles.

Crying is viewed as a sign of weakness when someone associate with another team is doing the crying.  It’s a sign of heartfelt emotion and deep passion when its your guy who’s doing the balling.

From Tim Tebow to John Boehner, if he’s someone you like, then let the tears flow.  They show a man so secure in himself that he doesn’t give a hoot what outsiders think.

If you don’t like him, then the cryer’s a pansy.

Well Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl cries.  Often.  He’s an emotional guy.

This past week he choked up at a Tip-Off Club event while talking about his son, Steven, a walk-on on UT’s team.  Asked about his ongoing suspension, Pearl said, “I can’t tell you that I haven’t cried every single time that bus pulls away.”  And everyone has seen the clips and highlights from Pearl’s emotional interviews and press conferences regarding his decision to lie to NCAA investigators.

Mike Strange of The Knoxville News Sentinel wants the world to know that Pearl’s not shedding alligator tears.  He says the coach’s emotions are very much real.


“Some in the national media have scoffed at Pearl’s proclivity to tear up, suggesting even that its calculated.

It’s not.  I’ve seen his emotions bubble to the surface in a one-on-one, off-the-record conversation.

So if he says watching the team bus pull away moves him to tears, I believe it.”


In other words, Vol fans can continue to applaud their coach for the honesty of his emotions.  And rival fans can continue to mock him as a softie.  But according to Strange, no one should question whether or not Pearl’s tears are genuine.

Content provided by John Clay’s Sidelines.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Alabama fires part-time employee who played “Take the Money and Run” when Cameron Newton came onto field during Iron Bowl, reports Izzy Gould of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Bama tries to do right after songs gone wrong, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC has video proof of the Alabama song selections.
• Fans upset that Urban Meyer blew off post-game radio interview following Florida’s loss to Florida State, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
• Auburn wants a complete game against South Carolina, reports Charles Bennett of the Anniston Star.
• Mike Strange of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Steve Spurrier and Gene Chizik have made the grade in the SEC.
• Middle Tennessee a trap game for basketball Vols, says Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Temple coach Al Golden is on Vanderbilt’s radar, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Houston Nutt says he has no regrets about bringing in Jeremiah Masoli, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• No staff changes at Georgia, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.