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SEC MEDIA DAYS: Florida was the pick of the 70 SEC media members who voted during the annual gathering in Birmingham. Auburn was selected to win the SEC West division. LSU was second and Alabama third. Georgia was second and Tennessee third in the East.
MIKE SLIVE: The SEC Commissioner said he is pleased that only the Arkansas track team is on probation after promising to have no schools in trouble with the NCAA five years previously. Slive said the SEC TV Network is still a real possibility. He also mentioned that the Football Writers Association of America is working with NCAA Schools for better and more access.
FACING OLD SCHOOLS: On consecutive Saturdays in the fall, four SEC coaches face their old schools: Oct. 25, Houston Nutt and Ole Miss go to Arkansas; Nov. 1, Tommy Tuberville and Auburn go to Ole Miss; Nov. 8, Nick Saban and Alabama go to LSU; and Nov. 15, Steve Spurrier and South Carolina go to Florida.
TENNESSEE: The Vols 2010 schedule lists a home game with Oregon on Sept. 11, a week before playing Florida. Tennessee will start the 2010 season with four straight home games. Fullback David Tolbert underwent a second knee surgery last Friday, but he will miss the 2008 season. Coach Phil Fulmer expects safety Eric Berry to be one of the best players at Tennessee in a long time. He said Berry and Demetrice Morley could be the best safety tandem in his era. Fulmer was served a subpoena during his visit to SEC media days to give a deposition in a lawsuit by former Alabama booster Wendell Smith against the NCAA. The case involved his involvement with former Alabama/Tennessee player Kenny Smith.
AUBURN: Defensive end Andre Wadley will miss the start of practice after spending time in the hospital for symptoms akin to dehydration. However, the doctors have yet to make a determination. Ball State has been added to the 2009 non-conference schedule joining Furman and West Virginia. A fourth team has yet to be added. Wally Hall, an Arkansas reporter, mentioned in his column that after Danny Ford was fired as the Hog coach that the vacant position came down to either Tommy Tuberville or Houston Nutt. Tuberville was the favorite choice until former Chancellor John White said the vote of the search committee had to be unanimous. Tiger linebacker Bo Harris will not be eligible this season due to academics. He is transferring to another school.
Tuberville told the media in Birmingham that he will pick a starting quarterback after the first 10-12 practices, but he will play two quarterbacks-Kodi Burns (the more durable quarterback who is a better runner) and Chris Todd, the better passer. He is happy that the spread offense gives them more options. Auburn averaged 56 plays per game last year and 93 in the bowl win over Clemson. The spread offense has helped Tuberville to have 20 verbal commitments, which is the most this early in his career. He believes the defense will be solid. Tuberville welcomed Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, his former assistant to the league. He said there is no ill will between the two. Tuberville, who has won 50 games in five years, said there will never be an early signing day.
ALABAMA: Simpson Pepper, the longtime P.A. voice of Alabama football and Legion Field, is in grave condition in a Birmingham hospital after sustaining a heatstroke last weekend. Former receiver Tarence Farmer is transferring to Wyoming.
Coach Nick Saban said the development of the freshmen will determine how this year’s team will do even though the team has only nine seniors. Saban is glad to have the exposure from the Clemson game. He said John Parker Wilson had an outstanding offseason and will blend in well with new offensive coordinator Jim McElwan’s quarterback friendly system (minimize the thought processes). Saban said the development of the receivers is a key to the productivity of the offense. He defended his policy of disciplining players which means working with them to make them successful. Saban re-emphasized his dislike for the “Saban Rule” which means head coaches can’t have face-to-face contact in the spring.
FLORIDA: Coach Urban Meyer is hoping that quarterback Tim Tebow won’t have to carry the ball 210 times as he did last year. Meyer is worried about team chemistry. He talked about his mission trip this summer. He is excited about the tight ends and he addressed concerns at safety mentioning Cade Holliday, Will Hill, Ahmad Black, and Major Wright. Meyer, who said the offensive line is the best kept secret on the team, also reported that receiver Percy Harvin is 80-90% recovered and bench pressing 400 pounds. He also said Brandon Spike’s leadership might be more important then Tebow’s.
Tebow told the media at media days that he will try to be more patient in the pocket and not take off as quickly.
LSU: The Tigers should be ready for Auburn’s spread formation offense after starting the season with Appalachian State, Troy and North Texas. Appalachian State quarterback Amanti Edwards might run the spread as well as anyone in the nation. Coach Les Miles said the Tiger defensive line could be better this season even without Glenn Dorsey largely due to the presence of Ricky Jean-Francois. He is also excited that defensive tackle Charles Alexander, who only played in three games last season, also returns. Miles is also including freshman Jordan Jefferson in the quarterback mix along with Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch.
GEORGIA: Coach Mark Richt said the preseason expectations could be a curse or a blessing depending on the players attitude. He said it’s a curse if they believe they have sense of entitlement and don’t have to work hard. Even though Richt regrets the decision to have the team rush the field after scoring first on Florida, he did say that he was going to be more excitable and free with his emotions this season. Richt also said that he wanted to do something to generate some excitement on the team after they were so flat against Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Richt, who said he would be in favor of an early signing period, said the Florida rivalry intensified because they won the game. Richt said his concerns were still the offensive line with only one junior and no seniors. He also said he expects quarterback Matthew Stafford to return for his senior year. Richt said he won’t vote his team No. 1.
OLE MISS: Coach Houston Nutt said the move to Oxford has re-energized him. Nutt said offensive coordinator Kent Austin has a tremendous knowledge of the passing game He said Jevan Snead was a smart quarterback with a strong arm. Nutt praised offensive lineman Michael Oher. He is not sure whether defensive tackle Jerrell Powe will ever play at Ole Miss due to academics. The running game with Cordera Eason, Derrick Davis and freshmen Devin Thomas, Brandon Bolden and Enrique Davis could be potent. Nutt is excited about defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix. He also said juco linebacker Patrick Trahan is finishing up his school work and his eligibility has yet to be determined.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Coach Steve Spurrier expressed confidence in defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, who has 10 returning starters, and special teams coach Ray Rychleski, who comes from Maryland. Rycheski is the first assistant to handle all the special teams for Spurrier since Ron Zook. He said Steve Spurrier, Jr., will have the principle play-calling duties. Spurrier said his teams’, 6-1, start was deceiving last year. He added that close losses to Tennessee and Clemson were heart-breaking. Spurrier said he hopes the offensive line problems will improve. He bemoaned the fact that no lineman has been drafted during his tenure. Spurrier said Tommy Beecher is the starting quarterback because of his arm, his intelligence and experience. Still, Stephen Garcia will get an opportunity if he is eligible. Spurrier believes the next three years will show his recruiting efforts. He was asked if Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy in consecutive years and replied, “If he runs for about five touchdowns a game like he did against us, he’ll do it.”
KENTUCKY: Coach Rich Brooks said this is his best defense especially with an outstanding front. The quarterback battle is a dead heat between Mike Hartline and Curtis Pulley, who was cited this week for multiple traffic citations. Tony Dixon will be the main tailback if he is healthy. He is fine with the Joker Phillips coach-in-waiting situation. Brooks said the first year he was at Kentucky only one player ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.5 seconds. Last year, he had 17 players who did the same.
VANDERBILT: Coach Bobby Johnson began his remarks with praise for cornerback
D. J. Moore. Johnson mentioned that the secondary, with all four starters back, is a team strength. He is excited about two Memphis products, John Stokes and Chris Marve, two defensive players. Johnson believes the quarterback situation will be better with a healthy Chris Nickson and a more experienced MacKenzi Adams. Jared Funk and Larry Smith will push them.
ARKANSAS: Coach Bobby Petrino faced the media for the first time in Birmingham. He said the strength of the team was the line of scrimmage on both sides. Petrino said the Hogs are very inexperienced at running back, receiver and linebacker. He likes quarterback Casey Dick. Petrino said Nathan Dick was the backup and Alex Mortensen was the third team quarterback. He basically side-stepped the move from Atlanta to Arkansas by admitting it was “bad-timing”. Petrino denied the fact that he left Louisville with several discipline problems.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: Coach Sly Croom said the right and left tackle spot on the offensive line was crucial. He praised the progress of sophomore quarterback Wesley Carroll, who nearly set the NCAA record for completed passes without an interception. This year’s 19 verbal commitments are a direct result of last year’s solid season. He praised the promotion of Charlie Harbison as defensive coordinators
ACC NOTES
ACC: The league introduced non-mandatory guidelines designed to streamline the reporting of injuries. Playing status for injured players will be reported on Thursdays for Saturday games and Tuesdays for Thursday games. Much has been made of the league not winning a BCS game since FSU won the national title in 1999. No team has been ranked higher than seventh since Miami and Virginia Tech joined.
ACC TEAM NOTES
FLORIDA STATE: For the first time since joining the league in 1992, the Noles were not picked to win their division or the ACC. Defensive end Neefy Moffett, defensive tackle Budd Thacker, linebacker Dekoda Watson, and cornerback Patrick Robinson are among those expected to sit out the first three games. When pressed by the media, coach Bobby Bowden, who has 373 career wins, one more than Penn State’s Joe Paterno, said he was not ready to leave. Defensive back signee A. J. Alexander said he has qualified and will join his teammates in workouts this week.
CLEMSON: The Tigers were picked to win the league for the first time since 1991. Virginia Tech was chosen to win its division.
SOUTHERN MISS: Prized receiver signee DeAndre Brown has been certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse. He teams with running back Damion Fletcher and linebacker Gerald McRath to give the Golden Eagles a potent trio of players. Golden Eagle officials have sold 10, 150 tickets, 400 shy of the record.
MIAMI: The Canes were picked third in their division. Cane coach Randy Shannon said defensive end Allen Bailey was on track to return to the team after tearing a pectoral muscle. He refused to comment on rumors that receiver Sam Shields was in academic trouble. Shannon said even though two quarterbacks would see action, there would be a starter. Defensive back C. J. Odom, linebacker Antonio Harper, and offensive lineman Brandon Washington are going to Milford Prep.
VIRGINIA TECH: The backfield at Tech is in question. Starting tailback Brandon Ore was dismissed from the team this past March. Jahre Cheesman has been cleared after breaking his leg. Kenny Lewis, Jr. is slowly coming back from shoulder surgery.
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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