MrSEC.com » Mississippi State

MSU sets mark again for season ticket sales

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:33:09 +0000

STARKVILLE – It looks like Mississippi State fans will be packing out Davis Wade Stadium again this fall. The school announced Friday morning that it had broken the record, set last year, for foot…
(more)

SEC Headlines – 7/30/10

John — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:44:17 +0000

1. Remember the Mike Price era at Alabama? Neither does he. (When that went down, who could have seriously predicted that Bama would be back on top of the college football world just a few short years later?)

2. This writer doesn’t think Bama’s schedule and the Bye Week Controversy look at all that tough in reality.

3. There’s a battle at right tackle at Auburn.

4. Ryan Mallett is still on track for fall camp in Fayetteville.

5. Freshman linebacker Courtney Gaston will have to go the juco route to get into Arkansas.

6. Bobby Petrino is shaking up the Razorbacks’ practice schedule.

7. John Pelphrey added a walk-on player named Fuad “Kikko” Haydar to his Hogs squad.

8. LSU assistants had to fill in for Les Miles on the last stop of a fan tour.

9. LSU will play a basketball game with Wichita State this year in Shreveport-Bossier City.

BREAKING — 10. Jeremiah Masoli is on campus in Oxford.

11. Former Ole Miss quarterback Raymond Cotton — who should get a Thank You note from Masoli’s PR team – is transferring to South Alabama.

12. Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray suffered a “conditioning accident” that left him with “a shiny purple bruise under his left eye.” No. Really.

13. Justin Houston is expected to rise above the rest of the Dawgs’ defense.

14. DeMarcus Cousins is still a big hit in Lexington.

15. Cousins is getting good reviews for his early NBA work.

16. South Carolina has released its practice schedule.

17. Derek Dooley is trying to restore order at Tennessee.

18. Dooley knows his quarterbacks will be both young and new this fall.

19. So much for Lane Kiffin’s claims that he’s smoothed things over with Jeff Fisher. The Titans’ coach said that Kiffin’s belief that he’s being sued because the Titans are in Tennessee is “absurd.”

20. This Nashville writer says that Vanderbilt needs an athletics director to hire coaches.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

A&M To The SEC Just A Matter Of Time

John — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:08:50 +0000

While the Pac-10 unveiled a new logo and grabbed national attention by taking its media day events on the road from New York to Los Angeles, Dan Beebe and the Big 12 quietly played second fiddle.

One league — which failed in its expansion plans — is being hailed as a forward-thinking conference of the future. The other appears to be hooked to a life-support system… that has a frayed cord… with plenty of people gathered around ready to yank said cord at a moment’s notice.

The Big 12 says that it will be alright. Having 10 teams beats having 12. Losing Nebraska and Colorado was a good thing.

Yeah, right.

Beebe said this week that his league would simply move a few “key” games to the end of the season to make up for the loss of its conference championship game. Uh-huh. Oklahoma-Oklahoma State will surely grab national attention like an SEC or Big Ten title game.

Just a few weeks ago, Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville compared his new league to his old one and made it pretty clear that he doesn’t see the Big 12 lasting long term. Schools in the SEC get along. Schools in the Big 12 are ready to get going.

Tuberville was slapped on the wrist for his comment, but he was right. We wrote the very same thing on the day that the Big 12 announced its survival.

Well now it’s Texas A&M that is putting a little pressure on the conference and its commissioner. A&M president R. Bowen Loftin let it be known this week that he’s eager to see if/when the Big 12 makes good on the promises it made to keep everyone together back in June.

“A key part of Texas A&M’s decision to remain in the Big 12 earlier this summer was the commissioner’s commitment that Texas A&M would receive a minimum of $20 million annually in future conference distributions. We remain committed to the conference and fully anticipate that the Big 12 will honor its commitment to Texas A&M.”

Yeesh. That sounds pleasant, doesn’t it? It’s reminiscent of the Mel Brooks line from “A History of The World” in which his king is shooting clay “pigeons”… which happen to be human. “I love my people. Pull!”

A Houston Chronicle writer claims that one “high-ranking A&M official” told him that “every legal avenue would be explored” if the Big 12 didn’t fork over the $20 million each year to the Aggies. And if the money still can’t be collected, the school might yet bolt for the SEC, which many Aggie officials and fans wanted to do this summer.

Interestingly, Beebe claims that Texas and Oklahoma have declined offers from the other Big 12 schools that would forward those schools’ shares of Nebraska’s and Colorado’s exit fees to UT, OU and A&M. The gesture was considered to be a “Thanks for not forcing us to join Conference USA” message to the three A-1 programs who decided to stick around. Unlike Texas and Oklahoma, the Aggies have not turned down the offer.

This tells us two things:

1. A&M is cash-strapped. That’s true. And we already knew it to be true.

2. Several A&M power brokers would have preferred to leave the Big 12 for the SEC. Taking a ransom from its fellow schools sends a clear message to the rest of the league: “We’re staying, but you better make good or we’re outta here.”

The tension between schools in that conference is laughable. All are out for themselves. I would be shocked if the Big 12 is still around in 10 years, maybe five.

Meanwhile, for more than two decades, A&M and the SEC have had flirtations with one another. The SEC wants to get into Texas’ recruiting grounds, wants to be a big draw in the Dallas and Houston television markets, and wants to find a rival for Arkansas. A&M fits the bill perfectly. And this past summer it became clear that the Aggies and their fans are warming to the idea of heading East.

It might be another 20 years before it happens, but at some point, Texas A&M WILL be a part of the Southeastern Conference.

When the band-aids holding the limbs of the Big 12 together fall off, the SEC will get their long lusted-after presence in the Lone Star State. A&M and the SEC will eventually marry. Mark it down.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

SEC Headlines – 7/29/10 Part Two

John — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:30:35 +0000

1. You might be a college football if…

2. ESPN.com’s Chris Low breaks down the SEC’s offensive lines by experience. That’s great news for Georgia and Auburn… off-the-chart bad news for Tennessee.

3. Tommy Tuberville wants his old 2004 Auburn squad to be declared that year’s national champion. Well, duh.

4. Gary Stokan of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game says rumors of a Southern Cal-Georgia opener next year in Atlanta aren’t true. UGA isn’t available next year.

5. History lesson: Georgia’s now famous red helmets were almost white.

6. Joker Phillips has officially announced that 2008 signee Donte Rough has finally qualified at Kentucky.

7. Tailback Derrick Locke might be the key for the Cats in 2010.

8. ESPN’s Tom Jackson says the new coaches at UK and Louisville (his alma mater) will be good for the rivalry.

9. Steve Spurrier says South Carolina’s run game will improve this year.

10. Spurrier says his team has to start earning respect.

11. And he’s still ticked about last year’s bad bowl loss to UConn.

11. Top defensive coach Ellis Johnson studied game tape while on vacation at the beach this summer.

12. Tennessee’s football players are raving about new strength coach Bennie Wylie. (He’s the Vols’ fourth in three seasons.)

13. Vanderbilt’s coaches will be working in some refurbished offices next week.

14. One of the best beatwriters in the South will be covering Georgia instead of South Carolina from here on out. Best of luck to Seth Emerson as he makes his move.

SEC Commitment Comparison – 7/29/10

John — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:47:00 +0000

With a flurry of recent recruiting activity, we thought it was a good time for a preseason check of all those players currently committed to SEC schools.

Below you’ll find how much talent each school has lined up — as of now. We’ve used Rivals.com’s star rankings (5 stars = 5 points, etc) for our point system, but we also give all 0-star prospects a 1-point value as well. As the bumper sticker says, “God don’t make no junk.” (Aside from the mosquito, I suppose.)

Here’s the list in alphabetical order…

School	Commits	5-stars	4-stars	3-stars	2-stars	1- & 0-stars	Total Points
Alabama	15	1	7	6	0	1	52
Arkansas	13	0	1	8	0	4	32
Auburn	12	0	2	7	0	3	32
Florida	12	0	7	3	0	2	39
Georgia	15	0	6	8	0	1	49
Kentucky	15	0	1	6	0	8	30
LSU	14	1	6	4	0	3	44
Miss. State	14	0	2	12	0	0	44
Ole Miss	14	0	5	8	0	1	45
S. Carolina	11	0	0	7	0	4	25
Tennessee	7	0	0	6	0	1	19
Vanderbilt	2	0	0	1	0	1	4

Below is a ranking of the SEC’s commitment lists — by total point scores — which also features each team’s average commitment at this point:

School	Total Points	Avg. Points/Commit
Alabama	52	3.467
Georgia	49	3.266
Ole Miss	45	3.214
LSU	44	3.142
Miss. State	44	3.142
Florida	39	3.250
Arkansas	32	2.461
Auburn	32	2.666
Kentucky	30	2.000
S. Carolina	25	2.272
Tennessee	19	2.714
Vanderbilt	4	2.000

PS — In an effort to be fair across the board, we use only the commitments acknowledged by Rivals.com as of this morning. So if you’re school has received one or 20 commitments in the past 24 hours, those players probably won’t be represented in the above charts.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

SEC Headlines – 7/29/10 Part One

John — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:14:41 +0000

1. Dennis Franchione was a hit at Alabama. Briefly.

2. There are going to be several position battles going on during Auburn’s fall camp…

3. In part because this year’s team will have more depth than last year’s squad.

4. Safety Ikeem Means is one of the Tigers looking for playing time.

5. A big media fish has gobbled up a smaller media fish, but Arkansas’ broadcasts should remain the same.

6. At a fan event yesterday, Les Miles was beating “the same drum of optimism he’s thumped in several public appearances.”

Legalizing Agents And Paying Players Won’t Solve The NCAA’s Problems

John — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:17:09 +0000

The NCAA is horrible. I get it.

If you’ve spent any time on the internet since last week’s SEC Media Days then you’ve surely seen one or a dozen of the columns written by folks who view today’s NCAA system as being just two hairs shy of out-and-out slavery.

“Agents aren’t the problem with today’s game. The NCAA rulebook is the problem.”

“Agents aren’t the pimps. The college coaches are the ones who mislead and misuse America’s youth.”

“Money isn’t the root of all evil. Money is the solution. Let’s just pay the players and let them all have agents.”

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ve heard it before. David J. Neal penned just that kind of piece yesterday for The Miami Herald.

But what folks don’t seem to think through is the fact that the “pay ‘em all” solution just adds another layer of problems to college sports.

I don’t want to spend all afternoon writing this, so I’ll give you a couple of quick examples and be done with it:

* Pay the players!

Okay. Let’s say the NCAA decides to start paying players. They can’t clean things up completely, so we’ll say it’s better to just blow up the whole system. Fair enough. So let’s look at the details. How much should the players make? Just a stipend of some sort or a nice percentage of a program’s wealth? Should the NCAA pay all athletes, or just those at the FBS level in football? Do walk-ons get any money or just scholarship athletes? What about the redshirts? What about kids on medical hardship who are technically still on scholarship? Does the 85th man on the roster get the same amount as the star quarterback? What about the other sports? If the NCAA is going to start paying football players, you can bet it won’t take too long for some member of a women’s crew team to threaten a lawsuit for her share of the NCAA pie.

And where does the money come from, by the way? Sure, Southern Cal, Texas, Ohio State and Florida make gazillions, but is Louisiana-Monroe going to be held to the standards of those big boys? If so, how does ULM make enough cash to pay their athletes? If small schools can’t/don’t/won’t pay players, then isn’t that just increasing the “haves versus have-nots” system that folks don’t like to begin with? Many athletic programs have a hard time turning a profit at all, so now the idea is to make them pay out more cash to — at the minimum — 85 football players? I don’t think that sounds feasible, but hey, I’m not one of those people who thinks he can fix all the ills of college sports in a single sports column.

* Let the players have agents!

I’ve had this one brought up to me a dozen times on radio shows this week. If the NCAA won’t pay the players, then let ‘em go ahead and have agents. Okay. Let’s say agents are no longer verboten. What happens the first time one player on a team gets a Lexus from his agent while some other kid is still forced to drive his hand-me-down Dodge Dart? Chemistry problems, perhaps? And at what point can a player sign with an agent? Is the NCAA going to have to start policing high schoolers to make sure prospects aren’t already tied to agents during the recruiting process? What if a player tells a coach to simply speak to his agent during recruiting? Is that a problem? Or is that legal?

I’ll end with a scenario that fans and coaches alike would love. Let’s say Alabama reaches this year’s BCS Championship Game. The Tide is going for back-to-back national titles. But Mark Ingram has a sprained ankle. (Keep in mind that last year, Greg McElroy played in the BCS title game with a broken rib.) Let’s say Ingram’s agent has a chat with him prior to the big game. “You know, Mark, this championship is important, but you’ve got a career to think about. If you do further injury to your ankle it could knock you down NFL draft boards and keep you from making the kind of money that will change your family’s future forever. You already have a BCS ring and a Heisman Trophy on your mantel. Sit this game out and make sure you’re a healthy man when the NFL combine kicks off next month.” Does that scenario sound good to you?

“Pay the players.” “Let the players have agents.”

Those are simply the half-baked suggestions of people who’ve obviously never heard tell of a little thing called Pandora’s Box.

Shedding Some Afternoon Light On The SEC

John — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:20:29 +0000

Wanted to hit you with just a few more nuggets from the SEC this afternoon. Enjoy…

1. The family of Alabama signee Blake Sims is “on pins and needles” while waiting on the NCAA clearinghouse. (Much as I was one year when I got a dime in the mail from Publishers Clearing House.)

2. Mississippi State will not unretire the #21 after all.

3. State is within 234 season tickets from breaking last year’s record number of 40,901 sold.

4. Incoming Kentucky freshman defensive tackle Donte Rumph has been cleared by the NCAA academically.

5. Four 90-foot tall banners will adorn the outside of Commonwealth Stadium this year. Four current Wildcats are shown on the 3D banners. (It’s gonna be pretty darn slick looking, if you ask me.)

6. South Carolina has lost its third backup quarterback this offseason. This one was expected. Zach Brindise has been granted a release to seek more playing time at Western Carolina.

7. If some sports agents are pimps, one fan wants to know what Nick Saban is. (A possible Bama fan’s answer: “The best coach in Amurica, by God!”)

8. In the Pac-10’s ongoing effort to rebrand itself, the league has introduced a slick new logo (that will be easy to update whenever the league expands).

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

SEC Headlines – 7/28/10

John — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:30:53 +0000

1. A look back at the Mike DuBose era at Alabama. He accepts the blame for a lot of what went wrong.

2. Auburn running backs coach Curtis Luper says true freshman Michael Dyer will be playing this fall, not redshirting.

3. Tailback Eric Smith is expected to play a big role for the Tigers.

3. Frankie Sullivan — the only returning starter to Auburn’s basketball team — will likely miss part of the season after having knee surgery.

4. If you hear that slow tickets sales at your favorite school are due to the economy, just remember that winning trumps the economy. Arkansas’ high expectations have led to an increase in ticket sales.

5. Arkansas officials want boosters to cough over more dough in order to get UA’s athletic spending on par with the SEC’s top progams.

6. The father of KC Ross-Miller says his basketball playin’ son is nearing eligibility at LSU.

7. Randy Rosetta of The Baton Rouge Advocate expects a 9-4 finish for the Tigers this year. (What would another four-loss season mean for Les Miles?)

8. LSU tailback Richard Murphy might finally be healthy enough to shine.

9. Maybe Jeremiah Masoli was involved in some violent crimes, after all. There’s debate over Masoli’s involvement in a string of 2005 strong-armed robberies. (So much for juvenile records being sealed.)

10. Several MSU fans are urging Dan Mullen not to unretire the jersey number of a Bulldog who drowned in 1997.

11. Some wonder if there isn’t a better way to honor Keffer McGee.

12. Expect more dribble-drive from this year’s Kentucky basketball team.

13. Get ready for the Pac-12. The league will change its name when Colorado and Utah come onboard. (Not the SEC, but a rival league.)

14. Get ready to see even more of Tim Tebow. He’s now a pitchman for Jockey Sportswear.

15. Florida’s players are confident that their success will continue post-Tebow.

16. Twitter or text messages played a role in four of the 14 secondary violations reported by Georgia (across multiple sports) since the start of the year.

17. Georgia will open its basketball season against Mississippi Valley State.

18. Mark Richt: It’s better to have a young QB on a veteran offense than the opposite.

19. Tony Barnhart of The AJC thinks Ole Miss should bring in Jeremiah Masoli only if he meets certain conditions.

20. South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman talked about the state of the Gamecock program yesterday.

21. Derek Dooley has requested $9 million worth of upgrades to a strength facility being built at Tennessee.

22. Dooley told a group of Vol fans this week that his team will eventually win in “a way that will represent you guys in the way you want to be represented. And I take responsibility for that.”

23. Former running back Bryce Brown has left Knoxville without telling Dooley that he wants a release to Kansas State.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

SEC Headlines – 7/27/10

John — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:56:49 +0000

1. Bama folks are rememberin’ the good ol’ Gene Stallings days.

2. In 2008, Melvin Ray chose baseball over Alabama football. Now the former high school receiver is hoping to land in Tuscaloosa after all.

3. Ryan Shoemaker is Auburn’s top punter going into fall camp.

4. The Football Writers Association may award Auburn with the 2004 national title.

5. Arkansas AD Jeff Long says he’s more cautious when it comes to football optimism than Bobby Petrino.

6. The Hogs have some work to do in fall camp.

7. Sound like UA might be “calling the Hogs’” fans to ask for some cash.

8. LSU’s Jordan Jefferson is on the watch list for the Manning Award.

9. Jefferson is starting to realize that there’s more to his role than just passing.

10. Raymond Cotton left Ole Miss in tight spot by transferring.

11. The mother of an MSU player who died in 1997 will not allow State to unretire her son’s jersey number. “They’re not going to use it. I’m not gonna let them use it.” Well, actually, the school’s decision to retire the jersey was a nice gesture. They can unretire it if they want to… though they say they want the mother’s permission.

12. Urban Meyer still won’t take any shots at Lane Kiffin.

13. Meyer expects to play “a bunch” of freshmen this year.

14. Mark Richt wants fans to be patient with new QB Aaron Murray. Uh-huh. People were calling for Joe Cox’s head after the Dawgs’ first game last season.

15. Starting linebacker Akeem Dent will be off the Georgia practice fields for four to six weeks after undergoing surgery on his toe today.

16. It doesn’t look like UGA will redshirt Richard Samuel this fall.

17. Richt got a little testy when a fan mentioned Florida’s “dominance” to him last night.

18. Dion LeCorn appears finally ready to excel at wideout for South Carolina.

19. No word yet on the status of Tennessee tailback Bryce Brown.

20. As expected, North Texas is off of UT’s 2011 schedule and Montana is on.

21. The Tennessee Titans are suing Lane Kiffin. (And they probably helped up their season ticket sales in the process.)

22. Was Bobby Johnson being selfish when he stepped away from Vandy? (Well, yes, but any retirement is technically a selfish act.)

23. This writer believes Dan Mullen could be the next Steve Spurrier. (Spurrier wouldn’t have blasted a fellow coach the way Mullen fired on Nick Saban the other day… so I’ll say that Mullen might be the next Lane Kiffin.)

24. SEC Media Days shows the power of the conference.

25. Expect surprises in the SEC this year.

26. This writer says the NCAA and its coaches set a bad example for players.

27. There will be new faces and familiar expectations at Florida this fall.

Now Finebaum Says Boot Vandy Out… Blah, Blah, Blah

John — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:36:39 +0000

Yesterday, I compared Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel to The Mobile Press-Register’s (and radio’s) Paul Finebaum. I wrote that Bianchi has learned that making any surprising declaration will drive webhits… or generate calls for your radio show, as the case may be.

Little did I know that Jerry Springer, er, I mean Finebaum, would follow Bianchi’s “boot Vandy from the SEC” column with one of his own.

First, Finebaum takes issue with Bobby Johnson’s mid-July retirement. Okay, I’m good with that. The guy did just up and quit with no real reason given, leaving coaches and players to deal with the aftermath.

But then Finebaum rips into Robbie Caldwell for his countrified performance at Media Days. “… If I wanted to see Jerry Clower, I’d pop in an old DVD of “Hee-Haw” and sit back on the couch with a bottle of RC Cola and a Moon Pie. And besides, if you’re the Vanderbilt head coach, shouldn’t you at least try to give off the appearance you could have been admitted to the school as a student? I found the whole presentation insulting, not only to a great academic institution like Vanderbilt, but to the SEC as well.”

If you’ve ever heard some of the miscreants and crackpots who make up Finebaum’s roster of regular radio callers, you’re probably just as surprised as I am to learn that he feels bad presentations are insulting. If that’s the case, I’ve been insulted by his show every time I’ve heard it.

Question: Why does it make a radio host in Alabama ANGRY that a guy showed some personality in a press conference. “If I wanted to see Jerry Clower,” he sneered. Well, if I wanted to get mad about something, I’d probably focus my attention on the lack of political discourse in our country. Or something truly important like the genocide in Darfur. Or saving the spotted owl. But an interim coach acting like a character from Mayberry? That’s what outrages Finebaum?

I’m not sure why anyone would take shots at Caldwell unless he’s — oh, yeah! — out to take shots at anyone in an effort to drive webhits and radio calls.

Finebaum continues his piece by saying that Vandy doesn’t even try in football. That they wiped out their athletic department. And that they are only in the SEC because of their academics. Been there, heard that. Many times.

“In this new era of college football, it’s time to get serious and Vanderbilt simply doesn’t belong nor can it ever hang with the rest of the SEC. … Oh, you say, Vanderbilt went to a bowl game in 2008 for the first time in 26 years. What good did it do them? They didn’t even win a conference game the next year and now they have Larry the Cable Guy coaching.”

Another smart aleck shot at Caldwell just for the sake of taking another sarcastic shot, apparently.

“So enough already,” Finebaum writes. “Let me be the first to make a motion for the SEC to begin proceedings to dump Vanderbilt. Would anyone like to second the motion?”

Paul, Bianchi beat you to that by a couple of days.

Seeing as how I got a zillion emails back in June from SEC fans who didn’t want to see their league get any tougher through expansion, I wonder who out there wants to trade a likely football win over Vandy each year for a tougher game with someone else. Anyone want to second that motion?

I’m no Vandy guy, but I get sick of people trying to stir controversy by suggesting that some school in the SEC should be dumped. Finebaum would expel Vandy, Arkansas and South Carolina if we’re to believe what he’s written and said this summer.

Hell, why stop there? Kentucky and Ole Miss have never been to an SEC Championship Game. Now UK brings good basketball, so they’re safe. But how has Ole Miss been any better than Arkansas or South Carolina over the past 20 years? They don’t even have an on-field mascot! Dump ‘em.

And Mississippi State? They reached Atlanta more than a decade ago, but they promptly lost. Also, MSU and Ole Miss actually spend less on athletics than the Commodores who famously have no athletic department. So I guess we need to dump the Bulldogs, too.

That’s five schools evicted. That’ll clear the way for Mike Slive to bring in Texas, Notre Dame, Florida State, Southern Cal (who wouldn’t want Lane Kiffin back) and Ohio State.

Now wouldn’t that be fun?

I find it interesting that columnists and talk show hosts have more problems with Vanderbilt than any rival coaches, rival presidents or SEC officials. If folks around the conference aren’t outraged, then why are guys like Finebaum and Bianchi so angry, so insulted by all things Vandy?

Maybe because they could care less in reality… but they know very well how to drive webhits and radio calls.

SEC Headlines – 7/26/10 Part Two

John — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:28:05 +0000

1. This writer suggests that the SEC is too big for its britches when it comes to media accessibility.

2. In case you missed this one over the weekend, Florida center Kenny Kadji is transferring… making him — I believe — the 1,000th player to leave UF early under Billy Donovan’s watch.

3. Georgia has to post its opening for a new athletic director and it’s now done so on the NCAA’s official website. Want to apply?

4. Football practice at UGA kicks off one week from today. (And you realize we’re less than five months from Christmas, too, right? Man, time speeds by.)

5. Jeff Schultz of The AJC ranks the SEC’s football programs heading into 2010.

6. There appear to be no simple solutions to the problem of player-agent interactions.

7. ACC commissioner John Swafford says leagues are best with 12 teams in them… but that doesn’t mean there won’t be 14- or 16-team leagues.

8. The Bryce Brown saga at Tennessee could end today.

9. Whoever carries the ball for UT this year will likely get a lot of work.

10. In the West, Arkansas hopes to ramp up its defense in 2010.

11. Finally, fans like to see their team’s athletes as superstars. In fact, they are simply human beings with very human flaws. This editorial from The Lexington Herald-Leader deals with the suicide of former Kentucky basketball star Melvin Turpin. It’s a very, very good read.

SEC Headlines – 7/26/10 Part One

John — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:19:33 +0000

1. This fall, Bill Curry will lead fledgling Georgia State in Bryant-Denny Stadium to face Alabama. Here’s a recap of Curry’s time on the other sideline.

2. The target on Alabama’s back can’t get much bigger.

3. The best defensive line in the SEC belongs to Ole Miss, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Low.

4. It seems we’ve started something. Several writers have now put out their own rankings of SEC coaches’ “performances” at Media Days last week… including this fine effort.

5. You’ve probably never heard of Kurt Schmidt, but he plays an important role on Arkansas’ football staff.

6. Les Miles is sending the LSU faithful an optimistic, hopeful message.

7. Miles’ seat is warm heading into 2010 and there’s nothing unusual about that in the SEC.

8. The University of Mississippi can now say, “Thanks a million!” to Eli Manning.

9. Houston Nutt said last week that he wasn’t pursuing Jeremiah Masoli. Now that Raymond Cotton has transferred — and left UM with just two scholarship QBs — the former Oregon star (and criminal) is an option after all.

10. The NCAA is trying to shut down basketball’s shady Pump brothers. Their ChampSearch firm reportedly helped to pair Tennessee with Bruce Pearl.

11. In the end, the salvation — for now — of the Big 12 prevented the SEC from landing Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Here’s a bit more on how Dan Beebe helped keep his league together.

More to come…

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Ready For More Expansion Talk?

John — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:06:17 +0000

If you thought all the expansion hullabaloo of May and June was in our collective rearview mirror, think again. The Big Ten still has its eyes open.

According to a weekend piece penned by Len Robbins of The New York Post, the Big Ten is still interested in adding Eastern teams located along the Boston-New York-DC corridor.

“It’s the center, it has been the center of media activity for a hundred years,” said Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany. “It’s the center of financial activity and it has been that way for 150 years. To me it’s sort of where a lot of things start in the country.

“I consider the East Coast to be as important to us as the West Coast is even though the West Coast has got the Rose Bowl and the Big Ten-Pac-10 relationship. And it’s so because of the recruitment of students, the recruitment of athletes, the size and scope of the markets. I hope it becomes more important.”

The author of the piece points out that the Big Ten’s original “12 to 18 month” expansion schedule is winding down. “… FBS schools in the Boston (Boston College), New York (Rutgers and Syracuse) and Washington, DC (Maryland) markets” are “prime properties.” “Should the Big East lose two members and/or the ACC lose Maryland, a charter member that is cash-strapped, it could reshape the Eastern seaboard.”

Could the Big Ten expand to 16 by grabbing BC, Maryland, Rutgers and Syracuse? And if so, would the SEC feel the need to keep pace via expansion maneuvers of its own?

As we saw in June, Mike Slive made a pretty strong push to land Texas A&M and Oklahoma… only to lose out to a rejiggered Big 12. The SEC supposedly has no desire to “attack” a league that stands on solid ground, but if the ACC lost one or more teams to the Big Ten, would Slive and crew make a move on Florida State or Georgia Tech or Miami, Clemson, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, etc, etc?

This final version of this expansion story has yet to be penned.

Bianchi Becoming The New Finebaum In Attack On Vandy

John — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:48:24 +0000

When it comes to grabbing attention, big proclamations are the name of the game. Tackling a small topic or detailing both sides of an argument just don’t draw in readers they way that shocking declarations do.

For years, the king of this type of writing — at least in the SEC region — has been Paul Finebaum. Each Tuesday the Mobile Press-Register posts his new opinion piece. And each Tuesday, we link to it. And then some fanbase gets mad over it.

“Arkansas and South Carolina should be kicked out of the conference.”

“Mark Richt is headed out the door at Georgia.”

“Does Anthony Grant even want to be at Alabama?”

“Nick Saban and Urban Meyer have been corrupted by power.”

Big. Loud. Declarative.

Heck, Finebaum even made news last week by being the only media member in Hoover, Alabama not to be won over by Vanderbilt’s Robbie Caldwell. There’s nothing wrong with a little cynicism, but Finebaum is so often the skeptic that I expect him to pop up in the next X-Files movie.

These days you can make room for another “I’ve got a surprising take that will tick you off!” writer in the South. Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel is following the Finebaum formula… and following it successfully. Here are just a few of his headlines from the past couple of weeks:

“Forget Southern Cal, Alabama is NCAA’s most consistent cheater.”

Most incendiary line: “Alabama’s rallying cry should be, “We Lied!”

Fact: Sure Alabama has a rap sheet a mile long, but this was a hard shot at the league’s top team just as reporters began to convene for Media Days. It was an out of the blue, unprovoked, “Cheater, cheater, pumpkin-eater” from Bianchi.

“Georgia might be the most overrated program in college football.”

Most incendiary line: “The fact of the matter is this: Without Herschel Walker and Lindsay Scott, Georgia would be closer in history and tradition to South Carolina than it is to Florida.”

Fact: Florida’s tradition dates back all of 20 years. Georgia is one of the 11 winningest programs in the history of college football. Without Steve Spurrier building things in the early ’90s, Florida would still BE a South Carolina. (Sorry, Cock fans.)

“Tennessee should have kept Phillip Fulmer.”

Most incendiary line: “Wish that I was on old Rocky Top, Up on a Tennessee hill, Kiffy done bolted like a pig runnin’ to his slop, Guess that we shoulda kept Phil.”

Fact: Lane Kiffin’s quick departure further wrecked the USS Volunteer, but the ship had already hit an iceberg. No league titles or BCS bowls in a decade. Two losing seasons in four years. A stadium filled with Alabama fans on the Third Saturday in October. Kiffin made things worse, but Phillip Fulmer had overseen a decline in the program.

And finally we come to Bianchi’s most recent post: “Why is Vanderbilt, not UCF, in the SEC?”

Bianchi’s premise is this: The BCS (his real target in the piece) is bad because Vandy is in the SEC and UCF — that’s Central Florida to folks outside Orlando — is not.

“Can anybody logically explain this,” he asks. “Can anybody tell us why UCF, a thriving, up-and-coming program committed to building a big-time football program is stuck in Conference USA while Vanderbilt — just because it was fortunate enough to join a major conference during the Great Depression — still gets to reap the financial and ancillary benefits of being in the SEC?”

I’ve got numerous issues with that one paragraph alone.

First, if I said the words “Central Florida football” to anyone outside of the Sunshine State, I doubt the word I’d hear back would be “thriving.”

From 2004 to now, the Knights have gone 34-41. They have also made headlines due to a federal fraud scandal involving improper cell phone use in the 1990s. Some believe UCF’s coach’s negligence was partly to blame for the death of a player in 2008. And the program is currently on two-years probation due to “major” NCAA violations.

Other than that — thriving!

As for Vanderbilt reaping financial rewards because it was fortunate enough to join the SEC years ago, that’s nothing more than the American way. Getting there first is the key to just about everything in our society.

There are other soft drinks out there, but Coca-Cola was the first biggie… and it’s still THE biggie. The nation would probably be better served by having multiple political parties, but we’re stuck with two because that’s the way it’s been for the past century. If Bianchi inherited a fortune from a relative would he feel the need to give the money away? “Why should I prosper just because Grandpappy made money in the 30s?”

Vandy prospering from a good decision is no different from any other person or business prospering from a shrewd investment or a wise choice.

“The fact is, Vanderbilt doesn’t belong and cannot compete in the SEC,” Bianchi writes. In football — which admittedly drives the bus — no, Vandy does not compete with the upper echelon of the SEC. However, VU is quite competitive and often successful in other sports such as basketball, baseball, women’s basketball, etc, etc.

Bianchi even goes on to point out that Arkansas, South Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi and Mississippi State haven’t played in a BCS bowl. So he believes UCF would navigate an SEC schedule all the way to a BCS bowl? Please.

The writer then explains that UCF is a bigger school than Vanderbilt — though he doesn’t dare say “better” — and that if this country “based its hierarchy on the power structure that was in place 100 years ago,” “African-Americans would still be riding in the back of the bus” and “Women would still not be allowed to vote.”

Yes. The SEC’s decision not to boot a founding member that also happens to be its most prestigious university over its football program is akin to mass racism and sexism. Sure. I see that.

Why Bianchi’s column even forces me to defend the BCS, which I loathe. He says the BCS is “un-American.”

Sadly, it seems there’s now nothing more American than calling something “un-American.” Democrats and Republicans have spent the last six years calling each other un-American. The current healthcare system is supposedly un-American. But then the recently passed plan to fix healthcare is also un-American. Everything’s un-American.

Except for making money.

The rich getting richer? That’s very American. That’s capitalism, baby. And the BCS is all about the richest few — those who built up college football — reaping the rewards for their past decisions and past successes.

The BCS might be a crummy way to decide a national champion, but it’s as American as apple pie, mom, insider trading and HMOs.

To eject Vandy from the SEC just so UCF can get a bigger share of the wealth, uh, that’s pure socialism. And some would certainly point out to Mr. Bianchi that that’s — dare I say? — un-American.

Vandy’s not going anywhere. Certainly not to make room for UCF.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (3) Posts

Bulldogs: It’s Diaz for the defense

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:32:45 +0000

MSU has new defensive coordinator.
(more)

Ron Higgins: Proposed NCAA rule would curb early offers

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:28:18 +0000

A proposal by the NCAA to pass a rule that would prevent football coaches from offering scholarships to high school players until the July after their junior seasons is getting favorable responses from Southeastern Conference coaches.
(more)

SEC countdown to kickoff

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:20:03 +0000

A look at the No. 1 game in the upcoming season:
(more)

Why is Vanderbilt, not UCF, in the SEC?

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:18:45 +0000

UCF would be more committed, competitive than Vandy

HOOVER, Ala. — The other day, Bill Hancock, the executive director and head propagandist for the Bowl Championship Series, rambled on … and on … and on about how fair and equitable college football is under his beloved BCS system.

(more)

Shelf life not long for SEC coaches

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:17:32 +0000

Georgia coach Mark Richt is the grizzled veteran of Southeastern Conference football coaches.

He enters his 10th season in the 12-team league, which makes him the longest-tenured coach by four years over Florida’s Urban Meyer, South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier and LSU’s Les Miles, all of whom begin their sixth season.

(more)

Nick Saban’s comparison of unscrupulous agents to pimps: An insult to pimps everywhere

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:13:03 +0000

On Wednesday, Saban helped launch the SEC Football Media Days with a quote that resonated all week. Referring to agents preying on players and jeopardizing their eligibility, Saban said, “How are they any better than a pimp?”
(more)

Top MrSEC Clicks For The Week

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:12:23 +0000

1. Georgia Appears To Commit Secondary Violation

2. Petrino Scores Well In Media Session

3. What We’ve Learned This Summer

4. LSU Not Picked To Win…But Miles’ Nose Gets Picked

5. Is The SEC A Two-Team League? Meyer Says So

SEC countdown to kickoff

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:40:40 +0000

A look at the No. 2 game in the upcoming season:
(more)

SEC media poll: Alabama picked to win title over Florida

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:36:41 +0000

The Southeastern Conference media believes the 2010 season is going to end with the same matchup in Atlanta as the past two seasons. Alabama was picked to win the Western Division and meet Eastern Division champ Florida in the SEC championship game. The Crimson Tide was picked to win the SEC title by 143 of the 177 voters.

(more)

SEC Notebook: Ten Florida Gators, six Georgia Bulldogs make preseason all-league team

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:34:30 +0000

HOOVER, Ala. — Former Forrest High School linebacker Brandon Hicks was among three Florida players named to the media’s preseason All-SEC first team.

(more)

2 gud 2B tru?

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:26:05 +0000

From texting to Twitter to Facebook, social media is now a new recruiting tool leaving coaches baffled and others wondering if this is too good to be true
(more)

Top scorers have departed

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:24:10 +0000

Four SEC teams have the task of finding a replacement for their all-time leading scorer before the 2010 season kicks off.
(more)

Robbie Caldwell: Mr. Media Days 2010

John — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:17:38 +0000

He had me at turkey insemination.

That’s when I — and every other media person covering the SEC — knew that Robbie Caldwell had something special.

Funny, humble, self-deprecating, Southern-fried to the core, folksy. Vanderbilt’s interim coach conducted not only the best media session of the week but possibly the best SEC Media Days session of all-time.

Earning a round of applause from jaded media honks isn’t easy to do. Caldwell got one.

But let’s not forget what Bobby Johnson said about his buddy just last week when Caldwell was bumped into the interim chair. “Robbie, he tries to give you that hayseed act a little bit, but he’s a really smart guy.”

Smart enough to win over every member of the SEC media corps.

Over the week we graded each SEC coach from 1 to 5 in three categories:

Personality — 5 was friendly, 1 was adversarial

Speaking Skill — 5 was entertaining/engaging, 1 was boring

Honesty — 5 was open, 1 was evasive

Tally ‘em up and this year’s standings shook out as follows:

Mr. Media Days = Robbie Caldwell, 15 points

Mark Richt, 14 points

Derek Dooley and Bobby Petrino, 13 points

Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, 12 points

Dan Mullen and Les Miles, 11 points

Steve Spurrier, 10 points

Gene Chizik, Les Miles, and Joker Phillips, 9 points

Moving forward, here’s hoping Caldwell shows enough as a coach to earn a return engagement to next year’s Media Days event. Of course, if he doesn’t return it might be the ultimate Costanza move of leaving on a high note.

At the bottom of our score sheet, maybe a few 2010 wins will inject Spurrier with some of his old spit and vinegar. And here’s hoping that Phillips’ first-year struggles were just nerve-related.

As for Chizik and Miles, well… I think at this point we probably know what we’re going to get year-in and year-out from them.

Until next July, congratulations to Robbie Caldwell: Mr. Media Days 2010.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

SEC Afternoon Headlines – 7/23/10

John — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:42:03 +0000

1. Here’s one man’s take on the best and worst from yesterday’s Media Days chatter.

2. Folks in Georgia aren’t very fond of The Orlando Sentinel and how the paper continues to dig at the Dawgs.

3. Auburn linebacker Josh Bynes forgot to pack his shoes and had to do Media Days in a suit… and flip-flops.

4. Offensive tackle Lee Ziemba passed on the NFL for one more year on The Plains.

5. Houston Nutt isn’t worried about preseason rankings.

6. Nutt is a fan of new co-offensive coordinator Dave Rader.

7. Here’s some more info on the Raymond Cotton situation at Ole Miss. (Supposedly he was upset that he couldn’t go to the Manning Passing Academy. Good Lord.)

8. So, Houston… what do you really think of Mississippi’s early schedule?

9. Tennessee’s Derek Dooley says agents are like coaches.

10. Dooley had to take a back seat to his parents today.

11. UT’s coach aimed to steer clear of controversy.

12. Defensive end Chris Walker says the Vols will need leaders to step up.

13. Here’s video of some interviews with Gene Chizik and his players…

14. and some interviews with Dooley and his players…

15. and some interviews with Les Miles and his players…

16. and some interviews with Nutt and his players.

17. Chizik is ready to build on Auburn’s Outback Bowl win…

18. He also says Gus Malzahn’s offense will be more explosive.

SEC Headlines -7/23/10 Part Three

John — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:27:31 +0000

1. Florida assistant Chuck Heater tackled hot topics away from SEC Media Days yesterday.

2. Ryan Mallett is becoming a full-fledged star…

3. And the Razorbacks are getting used to high expectations.

4. Mallett and Petrino are a perfect match.

5. Steve Spurrier says this might be the team that finally wins big at Columbia… again.

6. He remains optimistic on the verge of his sixth season at USC.

7. This writer believes Spurrier has to win this season.

8. Does he have one more good run in him?

9. Carolina’s coach did have a couple of good lines yesterday.

10. Stephen Garcia has to cut down on the sacks.

11. Robbie Caldwell left the media in stitches.

12. This writer says he is one of a kind.

13. Nashville writers say that Caldwell lit up Media Days (he did)…

14. And that his sense of humor will serve him well at Vandy.

15. Georgia’s AJ Green spent yesterday ignoring distractions.

16. Pot-stirrer Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel says that Georgia “might be the most overrated program in college football history.”

17. Mark Richt has had a good summer… despite arrests and an NCAA inquiry.

18. Richt said he’s come to expect unexpected issues.

19. Unlikely names repped the Dawgs in Hoover yesterday.

20. Tennessee representatives will surely be asked about the Vols’ recent bar brawl.

21. College athletes don’t have the room for off-field errors that they used to.

22. Derek Dooley hasn’t stepped to the podium yet… but 90% of Vol fans say he did a great/good job in a Knoxville News Sentinel poll. Well, hell, why even show up?

23. Dooley was talking discipline to Vol fans yesterday.

24. Who’s #3 in the SEC?

25. The Miami Herald has a little bit more on the South Beach club and party that started out at the center of the NCAA-agent mess.

UPDATES

26. Caldwell might have a winning personality, but he’ll need to lead Vandy to some real wins if he’s to land the job on a permanent basis.

27. More agents are talking about Nick Saban’s “pimp” comments.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

SEC Media Predictions Are In

John — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:01:17 +0000

The SEC media on hand in Hoover, Alabama has voted… and the SEC has released their preseason predictions.

You can click here to see the media’s All-SEC team, but below are the predicted standings for the conference this fall (with first-place votes in parenthesis):

SEC East	Team	1st Place Votes -Division	Total Points	1st Place Votes – Conference
1.	Florida	153	1030	17
2.	Georgia	15	791	2
3.	S. Carolina	8	790	1
4.	Kentucky	0	462	1
5.	Tennessee	0	450	0
6.	Vanderbilt	1	194	0

SEC West	Team	1st Place Votes – Division	Total Points	1st Place Votes – Conference
1.	Alabama	157	1034	143
2.	Arkansas	6	726	3
3.	Auburn	10	691	7
4.	LSU	1	653	1
5.	MSU	0	320	0
6.	Ole Miss	3	293	2

How can schools get votes to win the league but not their own divisions? How can schools like Vandy, Kentucky and Ole Miss get votes to win the league title?

Well, the SEC has opened its doors to everyone — and as you can tell from listening to the media’s questions this week — half the media don’t seem to be media anymore. They seem to be fans. And fans of teams always rank their schools just a little bit higher than everyone else does.

So if I were you, I wouldn’t pay too much attention to the predictions of the SEC’s — ahem — media.

SEC Headlines – 7/23/10 Part Two

John — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:50:33 +0000

1. Arkansas officials say no Razorbacks are currently under NCAA scrutiny.

2. Here’s a good wrap of the Hogs’ day in Hoover.

3. Ryan Mallett was a star at Media Days.

4. Mallett has stepped to the forefront of the SEC.

5. But is he this year’s Jevan Snead?

6. UA’s players aren’t shying away from big expectations.

7. Steve Spurrier? Not so cocky now.

8. Spurrier has a little hope because of a veteran offensive line.

9. Here’s the latest on Houston Nutt’s attempts to talk QB Raymond Cotton out of transferring.

10. This reporter would like to sign up as Vanderbilt’s beatwriter.

11. This scribe says Robbie Caldwell would fit in well on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.

12. Vandy’s players have vowed to fight against the odds.

13. The SEC is ready to install HD monitors in stadiums for replay reviews.

14. This writer says that coaches like Nick Saban have no room to talk about agents.

15. Players need to take some responsibility, too.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

SEC Headlines – 7/23/10 Part One

John — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:30:45 +0000

Today’s headlines are as follows… and we start with a good one:

1. A sports agent has fired back against Nick Saban’s “pimp” comment. One problem — Saban made it clear that there are good agents and the BAD agents give them a bad name, too. Saban did not call all agents pimps. This has been something that has been skewed on several SEC websites the past two days.

2. Agents were still a hot topic on Day Two of Media Days.

3. This writer says Ryan Mallett could topple Alabama’s defense this year.

4. Mallett = Elite.

5. Saban and Urban Meyer are so far ahead of everyone else that that same writer says other coaches need to take the Robbie Caldwell’s humorous view of life.

6. Caldwell will have a lot of people pulling for him after yesterday.

7. Here’s another take on Caldwell’s impressive debut.

8. Vandy’s coach stole the show.

9. This writer believes Caldwell restored “a little faith that at least some people in your profession do keep things in perspective.”

10. Steve Spurrier says Stephen Garcia is his starter… for now.

11. This writer says that Spurrier just isn’t Spurrier anymore. And it’s kind of sad. (Said it yesterday… I agree.)

12. Garcia spent the summer holding dinner parties for his offensive teammates.

13. According to ESPN.com and The Sports Business Journal, the NCAA is now looking at two different Miami area parties.

Not That We’re Keeping Track Or Anything…

John — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:56:39 +0000

Over the last eight hours, one website has brought you:

* 99 headlines, blurbs and links to stories from across the SEC

* 36 exclusive posts, stories and observations covering SEC Media Days

That site is MrSEC.com.

We’re all over Media Days like bad tattoos on a moron.

And we’re not done yet.

Still More Afternoon Links — NCAA Wants To Question Ingram?

John — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:57:43 +0000

Just a few more headlines for you this afternoon:

1. Uh-oh. TMZ.com — a gossip site — is reporting that the NCAA wants to talk to Alabama tailback Mark Ingram about a party he attended in Washington, DC in May. Bama says things are “on the up-and-up,” but just when will this agent stuff stop?

2. TMZ has photos of the party with Ingram in attendance.

3. Redshirt freshman offensive guard Nick Allison has quit the South Carolina team… apparently wanting to return to Asheville, NC to be closer to his girlfriend.

4. Here’s video of some interviews with Mark Richt and his players…

5. Video of some interviews with Bobby Petrino and his players…

6. And video of some interviews with Steve Spurrier and his players.

7. Richt says Georgia has new energy in 2010.

8. Jeff Schultz of The AJC writes that Richt’s words and deeds haven’t removed the cloud that hangs over his program.

9. Oh, yeah? Well the Dawgs still have a darn good kicking game.

10. Here’s a wrap on Spurrier’s statements this afternoon…

11. Spurrier says tight end Weslye Saunders told him he didn’t do anything wrong regarding an agent’s party in South Beach.

12. New Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore drew some praise from a teammate today.

13. Chip Cosby of The Lexington Herald-Leader makes his SEC predictions for 2010… and he thinks we’ll have a different SEC title bout this year.

14. Intensity “is through the roof” at Kentucky under Joker Phillips.

15. And in case you didn’t know, SEC football still rules the world.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

SEC Afternoon Links

John — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:46:15 +0000

So what else are folks talking about around the SEC and the nation today? Here are some afternoon updates for you:

1. ESPN.com’s Dana O’Neil writes about a survey of 20 high-profile basketball coaches who reveal the shady, nasty, sleazy side of recruiting.

Must read stuff to start out our afternoon nuggets. Read it, folks.

2. The SEC has sent proposed changes to the league’s 2012-2018 football schedules to the conference’s television partners. Consultant Larry Templeton said the league wants to move more conference games to the start of the season.

3. Houston Nutt says quarterback Raymond Cotton — competing with Nathan Stanley and Randall Mackey for playing time — is leaning toward transferring. That would be a blow to Ole Miss… especially if Stanley wins the starting job and then struggles.

4. Nutt said Cotton’s parents do not want their son to leave Oxford.

5. UM has hired someone to take over marketing and branding of the Rebel athletic program.

6. Everyone’s talking about Vanderbilt’s Robbie Caldwell.

7. Here’s video of some interviews with Caldwell and his players.

8. Bobby Petrino likes the fact that Arkansas’ bye week comes between Alabama and Texas A&M.

9. Petrino is fired up for the start of the season.

10. Georgia is keeping quiet on the NCAA’s inquiry.

11. Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett remains “on schedule” in rehabbing his foot.

12. He’s also taken out an insurance policy.

13. Hog tight end DJ Williams snuck into Mallett’s session and asked him about getting the ball to his tight ends. The QB started to answer before realizing who’d done the asking.

14. Arkansas is embracing high expectations… and Mike Slive is embracing Mallett’s return to school.

15. Steve Spurrier wants his offense to knock off the “backward plays: sacks, bad snaps out of the shotgun.”

16. Spurrier said he got a bigger bonus for his team’s APR improvements than he did for taking the Cocks to the Papajohns.com Bowl.

17. Auburn has landed a commitment from a cornerback. (Again, we’re handling some of the recruiting news on our front page as Josh Ward covers things in Hoover.)

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

The SEC On TV – Early Schedule

John — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:47:44 +0000

The SEC released its early season television schedule yesterday. Here are the kickoff times for the first three weeks of the season:

Thursday, September 2nd

Southern Miss at South Carolina, 7:30pm ET, ESPN

Saturday, September 4th

Miami (Ohio) at Florida, 12:00pm ET, ESPN

La-Lafayette at Georgia, 12:21pm ET, SEC Network package

Kentucky at Louisvile, 3:30pm ET, ABC

Jacksonville State at Ole Miss, 3:30pm ET, CSS

UT-Martin at Tennessee, 6:00pm ET, Pay-per-view

San Jose State at Alabama, 7:00pm ET, Pay-per-view

Tennessee Tech at Arkansas, 7:00pm ET, Pay-per-view

Memphis at Mississippi State, 7:00pm ET, ESPNU

Arkansas State at Auburn, 7:00pm, Fox Sports Network

Northwestern at Vanderbilt, 7:30pm ET, CSS

North Carolina vs LSU at Atlanta, 8:00pm ET, ABC

Thursday, September 9th

Auburn at Mississippi State, 7:30pm ET, ESPN

Saturday, September 11th

Georgia at South Carolina, 12:00pm ET, ESPN or ESPN2

South Florida at Florida, 12:21pm ET, SEC Network package

Penn State at Alabama, 7:00pm ET, ESPN

Oregon at Tennessee, 7:00pm, ESPN2

LSU at Vanderbilt, 7:00pm, ESPNU

La-Monroe at Arkansas at Little Rock, 7:00pm ET, Fox Sports Network

Western Kentucky at Kentucky, 7:30pm ET, CSS

Ole Miss at Tulane, 9:00pm ET, ESPN Classic or ESPN2

Saturday, September 18th

Arkansas at Georgia, 12:00pm ET, ESPN or ESPN2

Vanderbilt at Ole Miss, 12:21pm ET, SEC Network package

Alabama at Duke, 3:30pm ET, ABC

Florida at Tennessee, 3:30pm ET, CBS

Clemson at Auburn, 7:00pm ET, ESPN

Mississippi State at LSU, 7:00pm ET, ESPNU

Akron at Kentucky, 7:00pm ET, Fox Sports Network

Furman at South Carolina, 7:00pm ET, Pay-per-view

Mid-Morning Notes

John — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:40:27 +0000

A few mid-morning notes and nuggets:

1. Mike Slive says money shouldn’t be the driving factor in conference expansion. (Shouldn’t be, but it is.)

2. Tony Barnhart of The AJC says it’s time for a whole new approach to the agent issue.

3. Concussion concerns led the NCAA to change some rules for 2010.

4. The Birmingham News ranks the best and worst from Media Days’ first day.

5. This writer can’t even nitpick Alabama’s team.

6. High school recruits in Mississippi are battling with “Hotty Toddy” and “School Up North” jabs.

7. Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel writes that Urban Meyer still trumps Nick Saban as the SEC’s top coach. (Saban is the first coach since World War II to win national titles at two different schools and he did so by building up two programs in America’s toughest conference. Mike Bianchi is wrong.)

8. ESPN.com’s Chris Low has ranked the SEC’s teams based upon their running back stables…

9. And their receiving corps.

10. The Knoxville bar where several Tennessee football players allegedly got into a brawl has been cited numerous times by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Knoxville Police Department.

As I touched on earlier today regarding the Rodney Scott story at Ole Miss, fans always try to defend their players. In this case, whether a bar blew it by serving alcohol to underage players — and most college bars do, folks — doesn’t change the fact that several Volunteer football players allegedly sent two people to the hospital.

Was the bar in the wrong? Probably. Does that take the players off the hook? It shouldn’t.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

SEC Headlines – 7/22/10 Part Three

John — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:26:47 +0000

1. Rogue agents? What about the unscrupulous players?

2. Money is ruining the college game.

3. The NCAA is headed for big trouble.

4. This writer says Nick Saban never railed against agents until they hurt Bama. (Well that’s pretty standard for coaches, isn’t it?)

5. Justin Trattou is ready to lead at Florida.

6. Ahmad Black is ready to lead, too.

7. Frankie Hammond has lost his scholarship over a DUI… and UF is looking for playmakers.

8. The rivalry between Florida and Alabama is growing.

9. This has been the summer of Urban renewal.

10. The NCAA’s inquiry into Georgia apparently focuses on star receiver AJ Green and is tied — yep — to agents.

11. Green says he didn’t attend a party in Miami over Memorial Day. This is the one guy UGA can’t afford to lose.

12. A former teammate of Green tweeted: “Hahaha. This talk about A.J. is hilarious. That country boy ain’t never been to Miami!!! You can put those rumors to rest.” (Good news if it’s true.)

13. Still, an NCAA inquiry is the last thing Mark Richt needs.

14. Kentucky’s Derrick Locke wants Mike Hartline to be the starting QB… and he was wowed to meet Florida’s Meyer.

15. Locke has opinions on everything it seems.

16. Paul Warford is gone and five more UK footballers have academic issues.

17. John Calipari has had to cancel a fundraiser for Kentucky’s governor after online outrage. (Coaches should avoid politics at all costs. Why alienate half of your fanbase?)

18. The SEC is enjoying a Kiffin-less week.

19. Vandy will open the season with night games.

SEC Headlines – 7/22/10 Part Two

John — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:07:40 +0000

1. This scribe says college football’s system of rules is broken.

2. Mike Slive left the door open for expansion. (How could he not?)

3. Here’s a transcript of Slive’s opening comments.

4. Arkansas is on the docket for this morning.

5. Folks in Fayetteville are angry at “outside” media pickin’ on their Hogs.

6. Quarterback Chris Relf expects to make some noise for MSU.

7. Relf is armed for a breakout season.

8. Relf found “his voice as media go-to” yesterday.

9. Dan Mullen and Nick Saban stand far apart on the spread offense. (Actually, as we mentioned yesterday, they were set-up by the media and Mullen took the bait.)

10. Here’s more on how Mullen’s comments “turned some heads.”

11. Mullen has high hopes for State in Year Two.

12. MSU’s brash coach is trying to change the mindset in Starkville.

13. Mullen keeps taking digs at Ole Miss, too.

14. Bulldog safety Charles Mitchell might be working too hard.

15. McNeese State fans are grabbing up tickets for their game with LSU.

16. Urban Meyer looked refreshed. Maybe he’d just had a Junior Mint.

17. Here’s more on Saban and Meyer tag-teaming bad agents.

18. Players are on the defensive against agents. (All evidence to the contrary.)

19. Alabama is focused on 2010, not 2009.

20. Saban is working with some new ingredients this year.

21. The Tide looks forward to facing Joe Paterno this season.

22. Ole Miss got a commitment from one of Mississippi’s top DBs yesterday. (With Josh Ward stuck in the internet-deprived mess that is Hoover, I’m posting some recruiting news on the main page for now.)

23. UM landed another commitment from a receiver, too.

TAKE NOTE OF THIS ONE…

Rebel fans have been taking a guy to task who was punched by UM tailback Rodney Scott. They blamed Elmer L. Johnson. One problem — Houston Nutt is apologizing to Johnson because Scott punched the wrong guy.

All fans should pay attention to this one. Believe me, the vast majority of fans across the conference defend their players at all costs regardless of what they’ve done and who they’ve done it to. Most blame the victim in crimes for provoking players.

Well, in this case, Rebel fans were 100% incorrect and a truly innocent victim has not only been punched, but he’s been ripped and harrassed on the internet.

Kudos to Nutt for apologizing to him publicly.

Hopefully everyone will remember this the next time they want to defend one of their players after he robs a bank or hijacks an airplane… or slugs somebody in a fight.

SEC Headlines – 7/22/10 Part One

John — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:37:33 +0000

As we await the start of Day Two of SEC Media Days, here are just a few quickie headlines from across the conference:

1. Most media from Hoover were unable to post real-time stories on their websites yesterday. So that’s why we were the only folks out there who were bringing you minute-by-minute info. Sounds like you better stick with us for remainder of the week, no?

2. Crimson Tide fans descended on Media Days yesterday.

3. The Marcell Dareus probe continues at Alabama.

4. Source: Dareus didn’t know that his trip to South Beach with a friend would be tied to an agent’s party.

5. Bama’s Mark Ingram is humbled by his popularity.

6. UA’s Greg McElroy says he’s “much more comfortable with who I am.”

7. Life after Tim Tebow is no problem for Florida.

8. Urban Meyer’s battery is recharged…

9. But he still has hurdles to face.

10. Meyer and Saban both went at rogue agents pretty hard.

11. This writer says Saban’s “pimp” comment won’t change an unjust system.

12. Here’s a wrap of Joker Phillips’ comments yesterday.

13. Here’s a wrap of Dan Mullen’s comments.

14. And here’s video of some interviews with Meyer and his Gator players.

See You In The Morning

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:35:01 +0000

With Day One from Hoover complete, we here at MrSEC.com are signing off for the day.

We invite you to take a look back through today’s coverage and compare it to any other site you like. If you can find a spot out there that provides as much news — up to the minute — with as much analysis and opinion as this one, we’d love to hear about it.

We’ll try to bring you this same type of coverage tomorrow and Friday, too.

And for our media friends out there, we ask that if you use this site to prep for your radio show or find story ideas for your local column, toss us a mention or a link. Obviously, we have no problem driving folks to you. A little quid pro quo would be much appreciated.

A good night to all… and we’ll see you in the AM.

SEC Evening Headlines

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:15:28 +0000

1. Mike Slive wants a truly national strategy to deal with agents.

2. Here’s video of some interviews with Nick Saban and his players.

3. The times for Alabama’s non-conference games are set.

4. Saban is focused on 2010.

5. Auburn’s season-opener with Arkansas State will have a 7pm ET start.

6. Arkansas is setting their kickoff times, too.

7. Here’s video of some interviews with Dan Mullen and his players.

8. Here’s a transcript of one of Mullen’s media sessions.

9. Here’s a wrap of Joker Phillips’ media session.

10. LSU-Vandy and LSU-MSU will be nighttime kickoffs on ESPNU.

11. The Gainesville Sun conducted a survey of some of the media members in Hoover.

12. A former five-star defensive end will transfer from California to Florida.

13. The gametime has been set for Florida’s game with South Florida.

14. The kickoff time has been set for Georgia’s opener.

15. Mike Slive discussed (sort of) which schools received expansion invitations as well as the departure of Georgia’s Damon Evans.

16. Slive made a big point of welcoming Derek Dooley to the SEC… and drew a laugh at Lane Kiffin’s expense in doing so.

17. Kentucky’s first two games will kick at night.

18. Senior UK cornerback Paul Warford (a three year starter) is no longer a member of Joker Phillips’ team, failing to accumulate enough hours to maintain eligibility.

19. Tailback Derrick Locke said today that he believes Mike Hartline should be the Wildcats’ starting quarterback.

20. The start time is set for South Carolina-Furman.

21. Marcell Dareus has told Bama officials that no other Tide players were present at the South Beach party that’s landed him in hot water.

22. Incoming Tide freshman DeQuan Menzie is back at full speed after tearing his Achilles tendon in April.

23. Here’s video of some interviews with UK’s Phillips and his players.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Meyer Says Mullen Just Gives “Very Direct Answers”

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:48:06 +0000

Meyer was asked about Dan Mullen’s outspoken nature and whether or not that trait serves him well. Meyer grinned before saying:

“Dan’s outspoken? He was with me for 10 years or so. Dan is one of the most intelligent people — not coaches — just intelligent people I’ve been around. And if you ask maybe some people will look at that as outspoken, I think he just gives very direct answers and extremely well thought out answers. … I think sometimes he comes across that way, but he’s just a very intelligent person and when you ask a question he’s going to answer you.”

True enough. We wrote that very thing in our wrap-up of his main media session. But in regards to his quick slap of Nick Saban, it’s hard to pin that one on intelligence or directness. It sounded like a man who was tired of having his system questioned.

Mullen Solid In Session; Tricked By Media

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:17:37 +0000

Time to grade the Year Two performance of Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen. The Bulldogs’ coach certainly made the biggest splash of Media Days so far with his broadside of Nick Saban. Here’s our take:

Mullen is an outgoing guy and it’s easy to see why State fans love him. Just as Tennessee fans loved Lane Kiffin last year. And just as Florida and South Carolina fans have loved Steve Spurrier (well, at least USC fans loved Spurrier when he arrived in Columbia).

Fans of a school like their coach to show that he’s not afraid of anyone. So Mullen’s surprising swipe at Saban (“I have a lot more first-round quarterbacks drafted than he’s ever had in his career as a head coach”) and his comments about winning the West this season will start the cowbells a ringin’ in Starkville. Elsewhere, those comments will raise eyebrows.

Mullen was noticeably more comfortable this year than last. That’s to be expected. It’s not easy for a first-timer to stand up to about 400 faces, microphones and cameras. MSU’s coach didn’t use the word “excited” as a crutch as he did so often last year. And he didn’t take on an adversarial role with the press.

Honesty is not a problem when it comes to Mullen. Like his mentor Urban Meyer or even Spurrier or Kiffin, Mullen says what he thinks. Like it, don’t like it, he really doesn’t seem to care. Just check out that comment about Saban again.

Still, as I noted earlier today, Mullen will have to learn not to be baited into a back-and-forth with another coach by someone in the media relaying PART of what another coach said. The media lives for that nonsense. A false controversy is great for business, unfortunately. Saban didn’t say anything in his remarks to deserve the firm backhand that Mullen fired his way. Mullen — I’m guessing — will learn this lesson in time.

Personality — 4
Speaking Skill — 3
Honesty — 5

1-point deduction for letting the media goad him into a tiff with Saban.

Total Score — 11 out of 15

(Grabbed that photo from al.com, by the way. Their coverage is great as always.)

You Can Tell He’s A Favre

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:22:03 +0000

Speaking about incoming freshman quarterback Dylan Favre — nephew of Brett — Mullen said that the then-recruit texted him following State’s loss to LSU last season.

Referring to the Bulldogs’ final failed quarterback sneak, Favre said, “If I was your quarterback, I would have scored on that play.”

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Mullen Jokes About How Long He’ll Coach

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:17:44 +0000

Asked if he could imagine coaching for 10 or 15 years, Mullen responded with a smile:

“The problem with being a head coach I guess is it’s not the greatest job security in the world as you see out there these days. So hopefully Mississippi State wants me around for 10 or 15 of 20 years to come.”

Mullen Says The QB Job Is Still Up For Grabs

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:13:29 +0000

Though most believe Chris Relf will be the starting quarterback with Tyler Russell getting some amount of snaps, Mullen said that his quarterback spot is still open.

He also said that Dylan Favre will get a shot this fall. Mullen said he’ll rotate two guys — as he did last year — if he feels that two players have earned time in fall camp.

Mullen Jabs Saban Over Spread Offense Comments

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:07:00 +0000

This was a pure set-up. Earlier today, Nick Saban was asked about spread offenses and he said that they make it tougher for NFL scouts to evaluate the players in such systems.

Mullen was asked to comment on Saban’s comment.

“I’m not gonna knock him. I don’t know his personal record, but I’ve coached a spread offense and I have a lot more first-round quarterbacks drafted than he’s ever had in his career as a head coach. … In the last six years I’ve had two of mine drafted in the first round.”

Wow. Did he just pop off about something he HEARD that Saban had said? Young coach. He’ll have to learn not to trust the media — of which I’m a part — and never to blindly comment on something that he’s TOLD another coach said.

Perhaps Mullen is sick of hearing this knock on his system. Perhaps Bama uses it against him on the recruiting trail. Either way, to respond as he did is a little surprising. Saban went out of his way — in gigging the system from an NFL-perspective — to say that it’s a difficult offense to stop. But Mullen continued talking about his great job of prepping quarterbacks:

“One was a five-star recruit and one was a one-star recruit. So when you develop players as a coach, you develop players. … The one-star, I guess was no good, when I got him so I must’ve done a great job coaching him to be a first pick in the draft.”

Cocky. Whether it’s gigging Ole Miss or showing no fear toward Saban and Bama, MSU fans love Mullen’s brash attitude. But the guy’s got a little Kiffin in him.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Mullen Talks Social Media

John — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:52:05 +0000

Dan Mullen said he and the younger members of his staff are comfortable using social media to grow the MSU fanbase. He also hopes that he’s forming relationships with recruits via Facebook.

“You can learn a lot about a person when you get on their Facebook page. So if I can get on a recruit’s Facebook page and see what can kind of things they’re writing… and I can tell you this, we certainly have crossed a recruit off our board because of different things I’ve seen them post on Facebook.”