TENNESSEE: During SEC Media Days, linebacker Kevin Burnett said the Vol defense is gunning for Gator quarterback Chris Leak because he said Leak disrespected the unit with his remarks last season. Both Burnett and offensive lineman Michael Munoz disagreed with the perception that the program was slipping. Vol Coach Phil Fulmer read a 10-minute statement during SEC Media Days explaining his reasons for not attending the meetings. Fulmer said he did not want to fuel any lawsuits from Alabama attorney Tommy Gallion. (Volquest.com)

LSU: Center Ben Wilkerson cautioned the media in Birmingham not to overlook the Tiger defensive line that lost some key players, but also returns several all-conference candidates. Both Wilkerson and cornerback Corey Webster were careful not to publicly support any single quarterback candidate in the trio of Marcus Randall, JaMarcus Russell or Matt Flynn, who is a competent runner. (TigerBait.com)

SOUTH CAROLINA: Defensive end George Gause said new defensive coordinator Rick Minter communicates better and is willing to try more schemes than previous coordinator Chris Cosh. He also said linebacker Ricardo Hurley might be on the verge of a breakout season. (GameCockCentral.com) Coach Lou Holtz has granted the players request and ordered black jerseys. (The State)

MISSISSIPPI STATE: The competition for quarterback should be intense among the foursome of Kyle York, who is healthy after shoulder surgery, Brett Morgan, a converted safety, Aries Nelson and Omarr Conner. Coach Sly Croom was the most impressive coach at SEC Media Days in the opinion of many media members. Croom said his offense might have 25% of the West Coast package installed. He admitted to be very disappointed in not getting the Alabama job. He believed that the job was his the day before Mike Shula was named the head coach. (BulldogBlitz.com)

KENTUCKY: Wildcat coach Rich Brooks said his team would be back to 85 and 25 scholarship limits next year. Brooks said starting tailback Arliss Beach has increased his weight to 225 pounds and has improved his speed to 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. The series with Indiana ends after the current contract ends next season. (KentuckySportsReport.com) Cornerback Bo Smith will miss the season because he is recovering from a fractured skull and broken bone around his left eye after being hit in the head with a baseball bat in a fight July 10. Another Wildcat player, walk-on tight end Ryan Schumm was charged with first-degree assault in the fight. (USA Today)

GEORGIA: Boise State has been added to the Bulldog schedule for Sept. 3, 2005, at Sanford Stadium in Athens. The game is a replacement for Arkansas State, who asked out of their contract earlier this year. Kickoff for the Georgia Southern game has been scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on FSN and in Florida on the Sunshine Network. Bulldog defensive end David Pollack told the media that he was very glad that defensive end Will Thompson returns from an injury that caused him to miss the entire 2003 season. Coach Mark Richt told the media in Birmingham that the Bulldogs have to replace kicker Billy Bennett, break in a new tight end and develop a young offensive line and cornerbacks. Richt moved Max Jean-Gilles form tackle to guard. He also expressed excitement about freshman quarterback Blake Barnes, who will likely be redshirted. Junior linebacker Jamario Smith was injured last weekend while trying to break up a fight at his home in Forsyth, Ga., according to his grandmother. His injuries are not believed to be serious. Tailback Michael Cooper believes his headaches are gone after receiving treatment for bulging disks in his back. (UGASports.com)

ARKANSAS: Quarterback Matt Jones told the media at SEC Media Days that De’Arrius Howard recently had a 400-pound power clean and a 600-pound plus squat. Arkansas has only nine seniors returning. Houston Nutt is concerned about losing eight defensive backs and the entire offensive line. Rumors about Matt Jones injuring his knee are false. (HawgSports.com)

AUBURN: Tiger defensive back Junior Rosegreen showed up at Media Days with 13 tattoos. Rosegreen compared new Tiger offensive coordinator Al Borges to Norm Chow of Southern California. Coach Tommy Tuberville is excited about having Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams in the backfield at the same time. Tuberville said Brown might be the best receiver on the team. Although the Tigers lost five of the front seven on defense, he said one player to watch for is defensive end Stanley McClover. Tuberville said quarterback Jason Campbell could explode this year with a better surrounding cast. He added that backup quarterback Brandon Cox has gained 30 pounds. (AuburnSports.com)

FLORIDA: Jonathan Garner (6-4, 205), a quarterback from Daytona Beach Mainland has committed to UF. He was invited to the EA SPORTS Elite 11 Camp. He had narrowed his list down to Florida, Miami, Stanford and Ole Miss. (GatorBait.net) Earl Everett, a projected starter at strongside linebacker, and backup running back Sklyer Thornton have had a sworn complaint filed against them. The two were accused of beating up a 22-year old UF student. Taurean Charles, also a strongside linebacker, was arrested July 20 and charged with felony-aggravated battery in a separate incident at the same party. (Florida Times Union) Safety Jermaine Thomas is up to 215 pounds.

OLE MISS: Coach David Cutcliffe and Rebel players said they are concerned about the opener against Memphis before they begin to discuss the Alabama game. Cutcliffe also admitted that the Tennessee would be an emotional game for him. He praised the versatility of staring quarterback Michael Spurlock. (RebelGrove.com)

ACC: The conference has proposed making football players eligible to compete for five years, saying the extra season might allow some students to get their degrees rather than leave school early.

DUKE: Senior receiver Lance Johnson has been kicked off the team for violating an undisclosed team policy. (Collegefootballnews.com)

MARYLAND: Terp Coach Ralph Friedgen said he had four walk-ons when he came four years ago and now he has 15. (TigerIllustrated.com)

MIAMI: Hurricane signee Willie Williams will be admitted to school, but he must abide by tougher academic standards. He will be involved in a program that provides mentoring, constructive counseling and monitoring their behavior. Tailback Frank Gore is progressing well, but he is questionable for the opener against FSU. (Canesport.com) A total of 14 practices over 11 days will be open to the public when it begins on Aug. 10. (Miami Herald)

NORTH CAROLINA STATE: There was much talk during ACC media days about the Wolfpack hosting Ohio State, Miami, Georgia Tech and FSU, their most attractive home schedule in years. (Warchant.com)

CLEMSON: Tiger quarterback Charlie Whitehurst was the center of attention during ACC Media Days. Whitehurst said he would not rule out an early departure to the NFL, if he were a first round selection. He also denied an Internet rumor that he and receiver Kelvin Grant got into a fight during the spring. (TigersIllustrated.com)

FSU: Seminole coach Bobby Bowden has reinstated offensive lineman Bobby Meeks after a county court dropped felony charges from a fight outside a nightclub earlier this month. Meeks was ordered to pay court costs, write a letter of apology to the officers and was prohibited from returning to the club. He will have to serve 30 days at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office work camp. Because the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, Meeks can play in the opener against Miami. (Tallahassee Democrat) Jhermaine McAroy has been dismissed due to academics. Receiver Willie Reid is battling senior Chauncey Stovall for the starting job. He ran a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash last week. Freshman receiver Kenny O’Neal is scheduled to show up next week for the first time.

RYAN PERRILLOUX: The No. 1 rated quarterback from Rivals.com has verbally committed to Texas. He said he will likely visit Tennessee, Florida, FSU, Miami and LSU. (TigerBait.com)

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FL.
HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM AND SAMSPORTSLINE.COM.