• ACC-BC starts March 25 and spring game April 26
• Clemson starts March 22 and spring game April 12
• FSU starts March 17 and spring game April 12
• Miami starts Feb. 26 and spring game March 29

• Alabama starts March 13 and spring game April 12
• Florida starts March 19 and spring game April 12
• Georgia starts TBA and spring game is April 5

Television networks are still concerned about games lasting too long. Last year, the average college game last year was 3:22. In 2005, the average time was 3:21 and in 2006, 3:07 (13 fewer plays that year and five fewer points). Networks are hoping a 40-second clock and a few more tweaks would shorten games.

COLLEGE LOGOS ON COFFINS:

The State Board of Regents in Georgia loosen a policy set up in 1982 that prohibited the school logos for Georgia and Georgia Tech to be put on burial items such as coffins or urns. A Macon-based business called “Collegiate Memorials” asked the regents to revisit the rules. The ban was a part of a policy written in 1982 that prohibited logos on burial items, sex toys and alcoholic beverages. John Millsaps, a spokesman for the University system said, “You still can’t put a logo on a toilet seat, but now you can put one on a casket.”

ALABAMA: The Tide earned the No. 1 team recruiting ranking according to several recruiting sites including Rivals.com. Tide coaches signed three five- star players and 18 four- star players. Julio Jones, a five- star receiver from Foley, Ala., and Jerrell Harris, a four- star linebacker from Gadsen City, Ala., were two of the most coveted players the Tide signed. Assistant coach Lance Thompson was named the recruiter of the year by Rivals.com.

Former Tide defensive coordinator Joe Kines has been hired as the new defensive coordinator at Texas A & M after Reggie Herring left to go to the Dallas Cowboys. Also, former Tide assistant coach Sparky Woods is the new coach at VMI.

GEORGIA: Much has been made about the school wanting to honor former athletic director and football coach Vince Dooley. The most avid Dooley supporters want nothing less than his name added to the stadium. He will have a statue of his likeness placed in a garden near the athletic facility area.

Dontavious Jackson, a heralded Bulldog running back signee from Heard County, Ga., should be ready for spring practice. Jackson tore ligaments his wrist in the opener his senior year. Before the injury, Jackson had gained nearly 250 yards in the game. Georgia already has five verbal commitments for the 2009 class.

TENNESSEE: Rivals.com ranked the Vols recruiting class No. 36 nationally and No. 8 in the SEC. Tennessee failed to sign any five-star prospects for the first time this decade. Tennessee has had unusual staff turnover and five players arrested in the past month which contributed to the low rated class. Yet, Coach Phil Fulmer said he is excited about the class including E. J. Abrams-Ward, a four star receiver from Thomasville, N.C., and Marlon Walls, a four star linebacker from Olive Branch, Miss.

Vol senior defensive back Antonio Gaines will receive a sixth year of eligibility after injuring his knee early last season. Defensive coordinator John Chavis interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons linebackers job over the weekend, but he decided to stay at Tennessee. Coach Phil Fulmer has dismissed defensive back Antonio Wardlow, who preserved a win over Wisconsin in the bowl game with a late pick, and reserve linebacker Dorian Davis for a violation of team rules.

OLE MISS: Enrique Davis, a five-star running back from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., pleasantly surprised Coach Houston Nutt when he signed his letter of intent with the Rebels. Davis, who came from Lynn Haven Mosley High in Florida, originally signed with Auburn.

ARKANSAS: Willy Robinson has been hired as the new defensive coordinator replacing Ellis Johnson, who went to South Carolina. Robinson has served as a NFL assistant on four different teams since 2000. The annual spring game will be on Saturday, April 26, the day of the NFL draft. Former Hog running back Darren McFadden is almost sure to be a top five pick.

LSU: The Tigers open the 2008 season at home against Appalachian State, the team that upset Michigan in 2007. This could be the first time that two defending champions from separate divisions have opened the season against each other. The Mountaineers were chosen after a proposed game against Texas Tech was nixed. However, Texas Tech officials deny the report. Appalachian State is scheduled to play Florida in 2010 and Georgia in 2013. Troy, North Texas and Tulane round out the Tigers’ non-conference schedule.

Coach Les Miles has promoted defensive backs coach Doug Mallory and linebackers coach Bradley Dale Peveto to co-defensive coordinators. FSU assistant Jodi Allen was considered as special teams coach, but Arizona special teams coordinator Joe Robinson has been hired for the position.

Defensive end Kirston Pittman has been granted a sixth year of eligibility. He missed all of the 2005 and 2006 seasons with foot and ankle injuries. Pittman returned this year to lead the Tigers in sacks and tackles for loss. He will be one of five returning starters on defense next season.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Quarterback Michael Henig has decided to give up football after sustaining a hip injury that would require surgery and a long rehab. The Bulldog signed seven defensive linemen, easily the most players at any position.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Coach Steve Spurrier’s recruiting classes have been ranked No. 23, No. 24, No. 6 and No. 21 nationally by Rivals.com. In the SEC, those same classes finished No. 7, No. 8, No. 4 and No. 6.

Even with quarterbacks Stephen Garcia, Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley, freshman Aramis Hillary, a dual threat quarterback from Edgefield, S.C., intrigues Spurrier because of his running ability. Former Gator commitment Chaz Sutton, a four star defensive end from Savannah, Ga., signed with South Carolina.

Gamecock defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis will be suspended due to a violation of team policy for the first three games of the season against N. C. State, Vanderbilt and Georgia. Sophomore receiver Chris Culliver might switch to the secondary this spring because of his athleticism. Secondary coach Ron Cooper is reportedly talking to North Carolina’s Butch Davis about a vacancy at defensive coordinator. South Carolina is one of a dozen schools to agree to have a concert (Gridiron Bash) in conjunction with the April 19 spring game.

KENTUCKY: The Wildcats will have a more mobile quarterback this spring after Andre Woodson, considered a pure drop back passer, finished his eligibility. Mike Hartline and Curtis Pulley, the two quarterbacks who are battling for the job, are considered accomplished runners, but the problem is neither Pulley nor Hartline are accomplished passers.

FLORIDA: Former co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has been hired by the Baltimore Ravens. Dan McCarney inherits Mattison’s duties on the defensive line. Kenny Carter, who held a similar position at Vanderbilt, has been hired to replace Stan Drayton as running backs coach. Florida’s spring game is the same date (April 12) as the FSU spring game.

AUBURN: Four players will not be returning for the Tigers: offensive lineman Antwoin Daniels (graduating), safety Lorenzo Ferguson (shoulder injuries), and defensive back Blake Shrader (graduating) and defensive lineman Bryant Miller (transferring). Quarterback Blake Field, offensive lineman Oscar Gonzalez and receiver Alex Rose, who is from First Coast High, have already transferred to a junior college.

SOUTH ALABAMA: Birmingham-Southern coach Joey Jones has been hired to be the first coach at USA. Clemson assistant Dabo Swinney and James Madison coach Mickey Matthews were also considered.

ACC NOTES:

GEORGIA TECH: Anthony Allen, Louisville’s leading rusher last season, might transfer to Tech, but his father said no decision will be made until May.

ACC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE: Three ACC teams-- Georgia Tech (hosting Jacksonville State), Miami hosting Charleston Southern and N C State hosting South Carolina—play on the first night of the season, Thursday, Aug. 29.

Easily the two best games on the first Saturday, Aug. 30, are Alabama vs. Clemson in Atlanta and Southern Cal at Virginia. Other non-conference foes that weekend are James Madison at Duke; Delaware at Maryland, McNeese State at North Carolina and Wake Forest at Baylor.

The league has nine (along with the three previously mentioned games) Thursday night games-North Carolina at Rutgers (Sept. 11); Clemson at Wake Forest (Oct. 9), FSU at N C State (Oct. 16), Maryland at Virginia Tech (Nov. 6), Virginia Tech at Miami (Nov. 13), and Miami at Georgia Tech (Nov. 20).

Most attractive non-conference games: N C State at South Carolina on Aug. 28, Southern Cal at Virginia, Virginia Tech at East Carolina and Alabama vs. Clemson on Aug 30, Miami at Florida and Ole Miss at Wake Forest on Sept. 6; Cal at Maryland and Virginia at UConn on Sept. 13; UCF at BC, Miss State at Georgia Tech and Miami at Texas A & M on Sept. 20. Colorado at FSU, South Florida at N C State and Virginia Tech at Nebraska on Sept. 27. UConn at UNC on Oct. 4; UCF at Miami, Notre Dame at North Carolina, East Carolina at Virginia on Oct. 11; Notre Dame at BC on Nov. 8.

Southern Cal, Cal, Colorado and Notre Dame travel to ACC schools.

FLORIDA STATE: The Noles are off the first weekend of the 2008 season before opening with Western Carolina and UT-Chattanooga. Wake Forest is the first ACC game at home on Sept. 20. Colorado and FSU play in Jacksonville on Sept. 27. FSU plays at Miami on Oct. 4. The only Thursday night game is at N. C. State on Oct. 16. FSU has three- of- four road games (Miami, N C State, and Georgia Tech) during the middle of the season. They end the season with three (Clemson, BC and Florida) of four games at home.

James Coley, an offensive coordinator at FIU, has replaced John Lilly as tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator. Coley was a grad assistant under Jimbo Fisher. Jodi Allen interviewed last week for a special teams coach position on the LSU staff.

Willie Downs, a receiver from Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby, is the second 2009 commitment for the Noles. The third commitment is JaJuan Harley (6-2, 190), a defensive back from Tallahassee (Fla.) Rickards is the third.

The FSU academic fraud report is out. The recommendations include placing athletic programs on probation for two years. Some 60 student athletes could lose some eligibility (scholarship reduction).

MIAMI: The spring game is on March 29. One of the main storylines will be who takes over at quarterback from a trio of Robert Marve, a redshirt freshman and freshmen Jacory Harris and Cannon Smith. Miami has three Thursday night games: Charleston Southern at home to open the season on Aug. 28; at home against Virginia Tech on Nov. 13 and at Georgia Tech on Nov. 20.

NORTH CAROLINA: Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has returned to the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.

VIRGINIA: The Cavs have hired former Marshall coach Bob Pruett as defensive coordinator.

SEC HOOPS

FLORIDA: Nick Calathes scored 16 points in the loss to LSU. Coach Billy Donovan is trying to win 20 games for the 10th straight year. The Gators have a big game at Vanderbilt Saturday.

LSU: The Tigers had won only once in 11 games before beating Florida in Gainesville Wednesday night. Anthony Randolph scored 22 points and Marcus Thornton added 20 more. LSU shot 60% from the field. Anthony Grant, the VCU head coach, has been mentioned as a replacement for either John Brady or South Carolina’s Dave Odom. Assistant Butch Pierre is the interim head coach.

KENTUCKY: The Wildcats suffered their worst SEC loss (41 points) in history in the loss to Vanderbilt Tuesday night. Kentucky trailed by 30 at halftime. Ramel Bradley had a game high 21 points.

A 12-4 conference record is not out of the question for the Cats. Kentucky, 6-2, at the midpoint of the conference schedule, has home games left against Georgia, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Florida and road games at LSU, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Kentucky’s resurgence is due to leading the SEC in free throw shooting, field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense. Bradley is a clutch player. After the win over Alabama last Saturday, Bradley had made 47 of 49 free throws in the final five minutes of regulation and in overtime.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Sophomore Jarvis Varnado set a new school single season block record in last Saturday’s game against Auburn. He had six blocks that gave him 111 on the season breaking the previous record set by Erick Dampier during the 1995-96 Final Four season. State is No. 2 nationally in field goal percentage defense (36%) and blocked shots (8.57 per game).

TENNESSEE: JaJuan Smith scored 32 points including six three point shots in the win over Arkansas. Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism both added 15 points. Duke Crews had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Tennessee limited Patrick Beverley, only one of three SEC players averaging a double-double in SEC play.

The Vols lead the league in six different categories. Tennessee continues to out rebound its opponents on a regular basis. They have averaged nearly 18 offensive rebounds per game in the past five contests. Tennessee is a strong enough team to win even when playing poorly. For example, the Vols scored only 47 points in a two point win over LSU last Saturday. It was the lowest amount of points scored by Tennessee since 1999.

VANDERBILT: The Commodores led by 30 at halftime against Kentucky before winning by 41. Shan Foster scored 20 points; A J Ogilvy added 19 and 12 rebounds and Ross Neltner scored 15.

The Commodores play five of their last seven SEC games at home which is a welcome respite after losing road games at Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida and Ole Miss. Vandy played six of its first eight SEC games on the road. Ogilvy is averaging 18 points per game at home, but only 12 ppg on the road.

ARKANSAS: The Hogs have played well since a bad loss to Georgia on Jan. 19, which resulted in a 1:30 a.m. practice when they returned home. They have a big test at home against Mississippi State this weekend. Sophomore Patrick Beverley, who is only 6 foot 1, had a team high 13 rebounds in the win over Ole Miss. He has led the Hogs in rebounding in six of the past seven games.

ALABAMA: Mykal Riley scored 22 points and made 10-of-12 free throws in the final 2:46 to beat Ole Miss. The Tide defended Dwayne Curtis and Chris Warren, who both finished the game with four fouls. Alonzo Gee scored 12 points.

The 52 points scored in the loss to Kentucky was the fewest the Tide has scored since tallying only 45 against Georgia in January of 2004. Richard Hendrix, who had started 76 straight games until missing the Kentucky game with the flu, leads the Tide with 19 points and 10 rebounds per game.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR MYCLAYSUN IN ORANGE PARK, FLA. HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON SPORTS RADIO 1010 XL.