Coaching News

1. LSU is introducing new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.  Greg Studrawa will return to strictly focusing on the offensive line.

2. Is Alabama interested in South Carolina offensive line coach Shawn Elliott?  Steve Spurrier seems to think so. Has reportedly interviewed.

3. Elliott is a candidate along with University of Central Florida offensive line coach Brent Key.

4. Nick Saban’s first defensive coordinator at Alabama, Kevin Steele, is now the team’s Director of Player Personnel.  Looming deregulation in college football will allow him to recruit on the same level as the team’s nine coaches.

5. Alabama now lists 28 people under the heading “recruiting.”

6. Sports Illustrated on Tennessee coach Butch Jones: He “understands the importance of tapping into the resource of former players.”

SEC Football

7. Jadeveon Clowney’s mother.  ”I don’t think he has it in him to sit out. He loves to play football. I know I want him to play.” Steve Spurrier agrees.

8. Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel redshirted his first year – meaning he’s eligible for the NFL draft next year. Offensive coordinator Clarence McKinney: “With the uncertainty of Johnny’s situation because of the way the NFL is going — his stock is rising.”

9. Nine quarterbacks selected for Jon Gruden’s QB Camp on ESPN.  Two of them from the SEC – Tennessee’s Tyler Bray and Tyler Wilson from Arkansas. (Some non-QB’s also will be featured – including South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore and Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel).

10. Mississippi State wants to target the tight end more this fall. Tight ends coach Tim Brewster: “I think Malcolm Johnson has a chance to truly be one of the best tight ends in the nation…”

11. Bulldogs want to find a backup to leading rusher LaDarious Perkins.

12. Ole Miss projects Jeff Scott to get 15-20 carries this fall -leaving plenty of  room for someone else to step up.

13. Auburn has two quarterbacks, three running backs and six receivers on scholarship heading into spring practice.  Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee: “We do have depth issues.”

14. This preseason top 25 has Alabama at No. 1, seven SEC teams make the cut.

15. Bryant-Denny Stadium ranked No. 1 stadium experience by magazine.  SEC stadiums get six of the top 11 spots.

Crime/Legal Beat

16. The NCAA revealed its relationship with the attorney for the man at the center of the Miami investigation to lawyers in mid-January, according to CBSSports.com. That’s about a week before the NCAA went public with the information.

17. Eddie Williams, one of the four Alabama players arrested Monday, wants permission to return to his hometown while out on bond. Here’s our story from this morning on the Alabama players and Charles Barkley’s comments.

18, Harvey Updyke’s wife was asked if she knew if her husband poisoned the oak trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn: “I’ll be honest with you, I never asked him, because I don’t want to know the answer.”

SEC Basketball

19. In light of the Nerlens Noel torn ACL, The New Yorker asks, “Is College Basketball Doomed?”

20. “Should the NBA abolish its age minimum’s? Absolutely not.”

21. With Noel out, will Tennessee go with its small lineup again tomorrow?  Cuonzo Martin after the Vanderbilt win this week: ”I felt like our best lineup is four guards.”

22. For Alabama guard Trevor Lacy, basketball wasn’t his first love.  ”Growing up, I was a football guy.”

23. Florida led the nation in three-pointers last year.  This season, they’re making almost as many. Making 38.9 percent – best in the SEC.

24. Florida goes to Auburn tomorrow where the Tigers are struggling - lost eight of their last nine SEC games.

25. Texas A&M travels to Vanderbilt Saturday.  Aggies still focused on the postseason. Elston Turner: “Ultimately our goal is to make the NCAA tournament.”

26. So did Arkansas coach Mike Anderson intentionally not wear a tie the other night at Auburn or did he forget to pack one?  ”Any other questions?”

27. Anderson will meet his old team Saturday when Missouri comes to Fayetteville: “It’s kind of like a full circle, really.”

28. Headline after last night’s LSU victory over South Carolina.

Extras

29. The battle for the future of American sports gambling.

30. That stranded Carnival cruise ship that finally docked apparently had some Arkansas fans on-board.

1.  Florida’s basketball team won’t be making an international trip this summer as expected.

2.  Coming off a 6-7 season, many ESPN’ers think Georgia has a good shot at bouncing back big.

3.  Former Georgia and Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith says he’s free of prostate cancer after surgery.  Best wishes to the ex-SEC coach.

4.  The UK men’s basketball team posted a 3.14 GPA for the spring semester.  (Take that, Bob Knight.)

5.  This writer says Kentucky had a better NBA outcome than Vandy — UK lost two players to the draft, Vandy none — and that Tennessee basketball is likely doomed until 2015.

6.  The father of South Carolina O-line coach Shawn Elliott is trying to recover from injuries sustained when a car left the road and crashed into him while he was gardening.  Our best to Charles Elliott.

7.  Former Tennessee point guard Melvin Goins has ended his attempt to play football for the Vols.

8.  Derek Dooley believes continuity and stability — for the first time since 2008 — will help his team.

9.  Vanderbilt forward Darshawn McClellan — who redshirted last year and graduates tomorrow — will play as a senior at Louisiana-Lafayette.