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SEC MEDIA PREDICTIONS:
Last year the media prognosticators broke their losing streak by selecting LSU to win the SEC. Before the 2007 season, the last time the pundits in Birmingham were correct was in 1995, when they picked Florida to win the title.
SEC MEDIA DAYS LINEUP
WEDNESDAY: Florida coach Urban Meyer with quarterback Tim Tebow and offensive lineman Phil Trautwein; Mississippi State coach Sly Croom with quarterback Wesley Carroll and linebacker Jamar Chaney; LSU coach Les Miles with center Brett Helms and defensive end Tyson Jackson; Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson with safety Reshard Langford and receiver George Smith.
THURSDAY: Alabama coach Nick Saban with offensive lineman Antoine Caldwell and safety Rashad Johnson; Georgia coach Mark Richt with receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and defensive tackle Jeff Owens; Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt with defensive tackle Peria Jerry and offensive tackle Michael Oher; Tennessee coach Houston Nutt with running back Arian Foster and linebacker Adam Myers-White.
FRIDAY: Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville with center Jason Bosley and defensive end Sen’Derrick Marks; Kentucky coach Rich Brooks with defensive end Jeremy Jarmon and receiver Dicky Lyons, Jr.; Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino with linebacker Elston Forte and center Jonathan Luigs; South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier with linebacker Jasper Brinkley and receiver Kenny McKinley.
BIG GAMES FOR COACHES:
UCLA at Washington on Nov. 15-Rick Neuheisel returns to Washington. The Huskies haven’t had a winning season since he left after the 2002 season.
Alabama at LSU, Nov.8-This is Nick Saban first return to Tiger Stadium since leaving to go to Miami.
Ole Miss at Arkansas, Oct. 25-Houston Nutt returns to Arkansas for the first time since leaving.
North Carolina at Miami, Sept. 27-This is the first trip back to Miami for Tar Heel coach Butch Davis since 2000.
ELITE 11 FINALIZED: The prestigious Elite 11 quarterback camp has been finalized. Some of the participants are A J McCarron (Alabama commitment) of Mobile, Ala., Zach Mettenberger (Georgia verbal) of Watkinsville, Ga., Aaron Murray (Georgia commitment) of Tampa Plant, Eugene Smith (Florida, FSU, Miami have all offered) from Miramar, Fla., Raymond Cotton (Auburn verbal) of Fort Meade, Maryland, and Bryn Renner (North Carolina) from West Springfield, Va.
COMBINED POLL FOR SEC/ACC TEAMS AND OTHERS: Ohio State #1, USC #2, Georgia and Oklahoma #3, Florida #5, Missouri #6, Clemson #7, LSU and West Virginia #8, Texas #10, Auburn #11, BYU and Texas Tech #12, Wisconsin #14, Kansas and USF #15, Virginia Tech #17, Arizona State #18, Oregon #19, Tennessee #20, Penn State and Illinois #21, Wake Forest #23, Alabama #24 and FSU and Pitt #25, South Carolina #27 and Notre Dame #33.
SEC NOTES
GEORGIA: Sophomore defensive end Michael Lemon, listed as third team on the spring depth chart, has been dismissed following his July 3rd arrest on charges of felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery stemming from a fight with a fellow student. A little over two years ago, the team raised more than $70,000 to help Lemon’s family after the former boyfriend of his mother killed her and set her house on fire.
A concealed weapon charge against defensive end Jeremy Lomax has been dropped. After Lomax was pulled over for speeding, police found a gun under the seat. Under Georgia law, he would not have been charged if the gun was in the glove compartment. Offensive lineman Clint Boling has been suspended for the first two games of the season after he was charged with a DUI in May. Boling missed most of the spring with mono. Offensive linemen Trinton Sturdivant and Justin Anderson were also recently arrested for simple battery. Coach Mark Richt has yet to decide their punishment. In all, seven Bulldog players have been arrested this year.
Linebacker Marcus Washington, who had shoulder surgery earlier in the year, said he might be able to return in October instead of missing the entire season. Georgia sports information personnel said they still expect Washington to be out the majority of the season. Receiver Tony Wilson, who broke his leg in March, is hopeful to return for the fall. Wilson, who weighed 230 in January, is down to 208. He is a former 200-meter champion runner.
Bulldog fullback Brannan Southerland, who had surgery on his foot earlier in the year, said he is expecting to return to the team after missing only three games instead half the season as first predicted by the school’s medical staff. Shaun Chapas, Southerland’s replacement, has bulked up to 242 pounds after weighing 235 last year. Reserve linebacker Ben Boyd has been moved to fullback. Another former linebacker, Justin Fields, was moved to fullback a few months ago. Bulldog signee Toby Jackson is appealing to the NCAA for another chance to take the ACT. He could possibly end up at Hargrave Military Academy.
Coach Mark Richt told the Jacksonville Bulldog Club that quarterback Matthew Stafford is down to 230 pounds from his nearly 250 pound freshman playing weight. He said guard Chris Little is down from 380 to 335. Punter Brian Mimbs has been awarded a scholarship. Athletic director Damon Evans said this week that he expects legendary announcer Larry Munson, 85, to resume his duties after having surgery for a blood clot in his brain this past April.
LSU: Co-defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto said the Tiger defensive scheme that was so successful under Bo Pelini, the new Nebraska head coach, will not change. Peveto and co-defensive coordinator Doug Mallory will be hard pressed to shore up an inexperienced secondary. Sophomore Chad Jones and senior Curtis Taylor, who had 54 tackles and three picks and six pass breakups, lead a group of safeties that have experience. The problem is trying to fill the void at cornerback with the loss of three- year starter Chevis Jackson and two- year starter Jonathan Zenon. The possible starters include two juniors, two redshirt freshmen and three freshmen.
The Tigers have seven home games in 2009 after reportedly adding Tulane. The other non-conference games are against Washington, and Louisiana-Lafayette. LSU’s other 2009 non-conference game will come against another non-BCS team.
Stavion Lowe (6-6, 294), a four-star offensive tackle from Brownsville, Texas, has committed to LSU. Miami, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn and Florida State are among the schools to offer him.
LSU sophomore offensive tackle Jarvis Jones, who played in seven games as a freshman, has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.
TENNESSEE: Included in coach Philip Fulmer’s new contract is an automatic one-year extension for any season that the Vols win at least eight games. The Vols have 11- of -18 signees already on campus and expect receiver Steven Fowlkes to report on Aug. 1.
Vol punter Britton Colquitt has entered a guilty plea to a first-offense DUI. The rising senior was facing charges of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. He is suspended for the first five games of the season. Colquitt has had five alcohol-related incidents since coming to campus in 2003.
Vol junior offensive lineman Jacques McClendon recently made a record dead lift of 645 pounds. The previous record was 550 pounds by Albert Toeniana. Safety Eric Berry has added 10 to 15 pounds of muscle. Quarterback signee Casey Kelly has signed a pro baseball contract with the Boston Red Sox.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Coach Steve Spurrier has his website (spurrierhbc.com) back up and running after a lull. The cost is around $50 down from last year’s price of nearly $100. One of the features of the site is a video playbook of the previous week’s game that gives fans an inside look at the key plays.
Spurrier recently said on his website that he is still counting on Tommy Beecher to be the starting quarterback if the team played today. He has also mentioned the name of true freshman quarterback Aramis Hillary, who is the lead background tenor in his church choir, as a player to watch out for this season because of his mobility. Spurrier said mid-week that he would spend nearly all his time with the offense and the quarterbacks since has confidence in new defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. He also mentioned that sophomore linebacker Melvin Ingram could move to fullback and receiver Larry Freeman to outside linebacker.
Six Gamecock signees—defensive end Chaz Sutton, offensive lineman Elliott Williams, defensive end Ronald Byrd, defensive back Darrell Simmons, defensive lineman Jarriel King, and receiver Tori Childers—have yet to qualify. Of the six, King might have the best chance to get in.
South Carolina reserve linebacker Vandaral Shackleford is transferring to another school. Spurrier said Shackleford, who was the backup to Jasper Brinkley at one point last season, went through “a little down period” that included getting “his feelings hurt” when a coach yelled at him. Shackleford was facing a long climb up the depth chart.
Spurrier made it clear this week that he will oversee the play-calling. He said he and his son, Steve Spurrier, Jr., will get the play-calling done.
AUBURN: Jamie Collins (6-3, 210), a three-star dual-threat quarterback/linebacker from Meadville, Miss., is commitment No. 20 to the Tigers. His other offer came from Southern Miss. Donald Ford (6-3, 205), a defensive end from Odenville, Ala., has committed to the Tigers. Clemson, FSU, Mississippi State and Troy have offered him. Ford is Auburn’s 19th verbal commitment.
Tiger defensive back signee Marcus Jemison is expected in Auburn this week after being certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Currently, 23- of- 29 signees have qualified. It is doubtful that offensive line signee Jermaine Johnson will qualify. Running back Reggie Hunt is the only signee left with NCAA Clearinghouse questions. Coach Tommy Tuberville said Raven Gray, one of the better juco transfers, is close to being back at full strength after rehabbing an injured knee. He added that sophomore offensive lineman Chaz Ramsey is struggling with a sore back. Tuberville also said incoming freshman Andre Wadley is fine after spending time in the hospital.
ALABAMA: Tide defensive end Zeke Knight, who has been medically disqualified, tried to transfer to Faulkner State College, but was denied. Knight has a heart-related condition that will prevent him from playing this season. Former Tide quarterback Andrew Zow, who is the football coach and AD at Union (Fla.) County, turns 30- years- old this year. He is the last Tide quarterback to beat Auburn. Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver has confirmed that his school is working with the Georgia Dome to open the 2009 season against an SEC team. Alabama was mentioned as a possibility, but that seems unlikely. The Tide will have a new quarterback next season and negotiations have been underway to move the 2010 game at Duke to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. ESPN/ABC is interested in televising the game. Next season, Virginia Tech will host Nebraska, Marshall and travel to East Carolina.
Thirty-two high school seniors signed with the Tide this past February. As many as 28 players could enroll. Two signees enrolled in January counts toward last year’s class. Defensive line signee Kerry Murphy, who attended Hargrave Military Academy, last year, is still awaiting his status. Athlete signee Devonta Bolden and defensive end signee Brandon Lewis will be attending a junior college. Receiver signee Melvin Ray has already signed to play pro baseball. Destin Hood, a second round draft pick for the Washington Nationals, has signed a contract before the Aug. 15 contract. Redshirt freshman receiver Tarence Farmer has left the team. The Tide is down to 61 scholarships, one short of the required 60.
Alabama radio analyst Ken “Snake” Stabler, who was arrested recently for a DUI, has taken a leave of absence from the radio broadcast crew for the 2008 season. Tom Roberts, who has been involved with the broadcast crew for years, will take over his duties.
OLE MISS: Signee Andre Sterling is going to Hargrave Military Academy even though he has the grades to get into college. Sterling said he needs to have a year to get bigger and stronger. Some state sources are saying that defensive tackle Jerrell Powe has been cleared academically to play.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: Patrick Patterson (6-3, 190), a four-star receiver from Noxubee County, Miss., has committed to the Bulldogs. Southern Miss, Arkansas, Auburn and Ole Miss have offered him. Patterson is the top ranked player in the state of Mississippi according to Rivals.com.
ARKANSAS: The few Hog players who have been able to talk to the media have been complimentary of new coach Bobby Petrino in terms of his consistency in dealing with players. Center Jonathan Luigs, tight end D. J. Williams and defensive tackle Patrick Jones described Petrino as strictly business, but fair. Williams, who nearly transferred to Ole Miss, because he was very close to the Nutt staff, will be one of the strengths of the offense.
FLORIDA: The Gator secondary sustained a blow when junior safety Dorian Munroe and senior safety John Curtis, a backup, tore ACLs. The overall safety depth is thin after Jamar Hornsby was kicked off the team for allegedly fraudulently using a credit card, Jerimy Finch transferred, and four-star safety signee Dee Finley ended up at Milford Prep in New York. Other options are signee Will Hill, Bryan Thomas, and sophomore Ahmad Black. Sophomore receiver Cade Holliday had already moved to safety. Janoris Jenkins is also a possibility. There will be plenty of pressure on starting safety Major Wright.
Florida’s deal with Sun Sports is worth more than $82 million according to the Tampa Tribune. Most of the programming on Sun Sports remains the same, but what changes is Florida no longer will negotiate with sponsors and advertisers. Sun Sports now owns all the negotiation rights. However, Florida’s deal doesn’t affect the possible SEC TV Network. The league is presently negotiating with all the television partners. All possibilities are still open.
ACC NOTES
FLORIDA STATE: Offensive line signee Garrett Faircloth was scheduled to greyshirt (enroll in January) this season, but the thin offensive line might prove otherwise.
MIAMI: Safety signee C. J. Holton said he has been certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse. He is still awaiting his admission letter from the school. Linebacker signee Antonio Harper is likely heading to Milford Prep in New York. Signees C. J. Odom, a defensive back, and offensive linemen Brandon Washington and Benjamin Jones are still awaiting their fate. The team motto this year is “No Excuses”. Coach Randy Shannon confirmed this week that he will play both quarterbacks Robert Marve and Jacory Harris. He also said defensive lineman Courtney Harris will miss the entire 2008 season after tearing his Achilles tendon in June. Allen Bailey also remains slowed by a pectoral injury, but could be ready for the start of the season.
WAKE FOREST: Derald Jones (5-10, 152), an athlete from First Coast High in Jacksonville, has verbally committed to Wake Forest. Last year Jones threw for 1800 yards and ran for more than 600 yards. Ball State, Indiana and North Carolina have offered him.
CLEMSON: Former linebacker Courtney Vincent has transferred to Tarleton State, a Division II program in Texas. Vincent was a senior who started 12 games last year.
SOUTHERN MISS: Former Miami Northwestern running back Antwain Easterling has left the school and is transferring to a junior college in California.
KANSAS: The Jayhawks have 13 verbal commitments including six from the state of Texas. Mark Magino has received a two-year extension and raise. He will make $2.3 million per year.
NOTRE DAME: Attorney Jack Swarbrick, who is a Notre Dame grad from Indianapolis, is expected to be named the new athletic director replacing Kevin White who went to Duke. He was a finalist for the NCAA President’s job before Myles Brand was awarded the position.
ARMY-NAVY GAME: Representatives of the Cotton Bowl and the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium have expressed an interest in hosting the Army-Navy rivalry. As many as 15-17 cities have expressed an interest in hosting the game, but one of the problems is housing both the student bodies which would cost up to $4 million.
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.
E-MAIL BRENT AT bcbeaird@bellsouth.net
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