UK Lentz to give up football due to concussions

University of Kentucky junior Matt Lentz will give up football due to a series of concussions, Coach Joker Phillips announced following the team’s first spring practice on Wednesday. Lentz, a 6-foot-3, 224-pounder, arrived at UK as a quarterback before moving to safety as a redshirt freshman. Lentz had been expected to move to outside linebacker in the spring.
Lentz has been plagued by concussions during his UK career. He was forced to leave last year’s season-opening 31-27 over Louisville with what was labeled a minor concussion. Lentz played in 25 career games at UK, including six starts, with 46 tackles and two interceptions.
Phillips said Lentz will apply for a medical scholarship and will remain with the program as a volunteer coach.

Papajohns.com Bowl and SEC agree to four-year deal

The SEC confirmed Tues­day the Papajohns.com and Liberty bowls will share the conference's final two bowl picks, using an arrangement that asks them to agree upon team selections before a rotation process occurs. As part of their four-year agreements through 2013, the Papajohns.com and Lib­erty rotate who gets an SEC team when the conference doesn't have enough eligible teams. If there are enough teams, the two bowls will at­tempt to work through their picks together. This marks the first four­-year contract between the SEC and the Papajohns.com Bowl after they previously worked under a two-year deal. "We certainly sense more and more community involvement with the bowl, which in our view is essential to the success of a bowl," SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. "We're very pleased that we're able to enter into a more formal and longer agreement with the bowl and to hopefully make a contribution to the community in which the conference office is located."
The Papajohns.com previously had the last SEC pick by itself. "Assuming we have a team to fill every year, there's a process where the Papajohns.com and Liberty will mutually discuss the teams that fit best and hopefully reach a mutual agreement," SEC Executive Associate Commissioner Mark Womack said. "Some­times it may be logical. Sometimes it may not be. It just depends on who the teams are. "If the bowls can't agree on teams, they take turns on who picks first, Womack said. Letting bowls settle a debate over one team marks a change for the SEC. When the Music City and Liberty previously shared a pick and coveted the same team, the school determined where it wanted to play. The contingency plans re­main unclear for the Papa­johns. com and Liberty if they don't get an SEC team. The Papajohns.com pre­viously had a backup plan with the Sun Belt to play the Big East under certain con­ditions if the SEC didn't qualify. The Big East wants to annually play the SEC, and the Liberty has been trying to secure the Big East as a backup in its game against Conference USA. Womack said ESPN Re­gional Television senior vice president Pete Derzis, whose company owns the Papajohns.com Bowl, has been trying to accommo­date every party's needs. At­tempts to reach Derzis for comment were unsuccess­ful. ESPN said it hasn't finalized the necessary agreements to comment."From the SEC's perspec­tive, the focus that we had was trying to maintain nine bowl opportunities for our institutions," Womack said. The Capital One Bowl keeps the SEC's first pick outside the Bowl Champi­onship Series. The Cotton and Outback share the Nos. 3 and 4 picks, followed by the Chick-fil-A, Gator, Mu­sic City and the shared Papajohns.com/Liberty picks. The Independence Bowl left the SEC lineup and was replaced by the Gator, which jumped ahead of some bowls in the confer­ence's pecking order. "Certainly there were some difficult discussions," Slive said. "We're obviously sensitive to the issues that each of our bowls has in their own communities. But the overriding principle that we have to be governed by is: What's in the best inter­est of the Southeastern Con­ference? "Womack said the Papa­johns.com Bowl's payout to the SEC will increase, declining to reveal the amount. Last season, the bowl paid $900,000 for the No. 10 SEC team and $600,000 for the No. 4 Big East team. "In essence, their selec­tion with the SEC has in­creased," Womack said. "In certain years they will have a higher selection than what they were paying. Whereas they were always ninth, now they could get eighth."If the SEC continues to place two teams in the BCS, the Papajohns.com and Lib­erty essentially share the ninth and 10th picks. The SEC moved two teams up in each of the four years since the BCS expanded from eight to 10 teams.

Update on Tuberville-'Bama rematch

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Meyer "thinks" that Alabama has agreed to open the 2012 season against the Red Raiders at Cowboys Stadium.
According to the Tuscaloosa News, there's been no agreement in principle from the Tide's end.
Alabama has been approached about playing the Red Raiders a Labor Day-weekend game, but the deal is not as close to being made as Texas Tech Athletics Director Gerald Myers indicated Monday in comments reported by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal newspaper.
UA has been searching for a high-profile, non-conference game for 2012, and a neutral-site game would best fit Alabama's scheduling needs since the Crimson Tide could not accommodate a return game before 2015 for a home-and-home series. Alabama has a home-and-home series with Penn State in 2010-11, a home-and-home series with Georgia Tech in 2013-14 and a home-and-home agreement with Michigan State in 2016-17, leaving out-of-conference holes in the schedule for 2012 and '15.
In fairness to Meyers, he was quoted as saying that "we haven't gotten down to signing a contract or anything like that", but did say that 'Bama head coach Nick Saban "is also on board for it."
The likely hang-up on Alabama's end is their desire to for a match-up with Notre Dame. The news reports that "UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore hopes to meet with Notre Dame officials this summer to resume talks about a future game or series."

Vols Bryce Brown won't be a Trojan

So, we still don't know whether or not Bryce Brown will become a Tennessee Volunteer , again, one report states that we all can count at least one school out if the running back decides to transfer.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, and citing unnamed sources, it's highly unlikely that UT would allow Brown to rejoin Lane Kiffin and transfer to USC.
The sources cited the "frayed relations" between Kiffin and the Vols, with one sources stating that he "would be shocked" if UT granted a release to USC.
Brown, who remains enrolled in classes at UT even after it was reported that he would transfer from the program, was seen on the sidelines of a recent Vols spring practice and head coach Derek Dooley hasn't completely closed the door on a return but the odds still seem to favor Brown joining his brother Arthur at Kansas State.

Tuberville vs. Tide? Again?

During Tommy Tuberville's ten years at Auburn, the coach basically took ownership of the Iron Bowl.
He was 7-3 versus Alabama, including a six-game winning streak from 2002 through 2007. (However, that Mike Shula was the Tide's head coach during four of those wins, so the streak and mystical Tuberville powers should be taken with a grain of salt the size of Mark Mangino.)
Now, he'll likely get the chance to see if the spell still holds over the Tide, albeit at a different school.
According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Tuberville's new school, Texas Tech, has agreed to open the 2012 season against Alabama. If the one-game deal goes off as expected, it would be played at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
"We've agreed to do it," Myers said. "I think Alabama's agreed to do it. But we haven't gotten down to signing a contract or anything like that.'
"Coach Tommy Tuberville is aware of the game and is in support of playing it. I understand Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban is also on board for it. We're in the talking stages, but we haven't gotten down to talking contract with it yet."
Tuberville was 1-1 versus Saban with the Tigers, although that one loss was a 36-0 pounding in 2008.

Ole Miss Spring Practice Report 03.29

Ole Miss put on pads Monday for its first full-contact practice of spring football drills.
The Rebels labored for over two and a half hours on the sunny practice fields, working in position groups before some full-squad action at the end.
In his third spring in Oxford, head coach Houston Nutt noted too many mental errors after two good days of non-contact drills.
"It's amazing how good you look in shorts, and you put the pads on and revert back to the old ways," he said. "You just can't do that. You have to keep your fundamentals strong, and you have to get back at it tomorrow and get better."
As has been the case through the first two practices, the defense was "miles ahead" of the offense, but Nutt said even that talented veteran unit can get better in certain areas.
"They can improve too," said Nutt. "They've given up a couple of plays I know Tyrone (Nix) won't be happy about. That's why there is always room for improvement."
Among the additions to the squad this spring is junior transfer Damien Jackson, a safety from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, that caught Nutt's eye on Monday.
"He's really physical," Nutt said. "That's what you like to see. A lot of guys can look good in gym class, but now you put pads on, and he doesn't shy away."
Nutt also continues to rave about the effort of another newcomer and Mississippi Gulf Coast product Wayne Dorsey. The 6-foot-6, 255-pound defensive end is already take snaps with the first string.
"Wayne has taken a brand new playbook, and he's caught on and listened," said Nutt. "The thing that stands out is his quickness."
Nutt was also pleased with the play of linebackers Mike Marry, D.T. Shackelford, Joel Kight, Jonathan Cornell and Alex Williams, safety Johnny Brown, and on offense, tackle Bradley Sowell.
"Bradley had his best day I've seen in a long time, as a tackle being physical."

Five-star Auburn recruit in fight with cancer

Gene Chizik informed reporters that a member of his 2010 recruiting class is battling a serious medical issue.
Chizik did not specifically name the issue facing Shon Coleman, but the offensive lineman's mother posted on her Facebook page that her son has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
"He's taking his chemotherapy treatment like a champ," Coleman's mother posted.
As far as Coleman's football future is concerned, Chizik did not offer any type of prognosis, saying that the lineman's health is more important at this point in time.
Coleman was a five-star recruit this past February, ranked as the top player in the state of Mississippi, third at his position and No. 22 overall in the country by Rivals.com.
Everyone's best wishes go out to Coleman as he battles and overcomes this insidious disease.

LSU grinds it out in spring finale

After yesterday's spring spring game, mission tentatively accomplished on that front. On the other hand, as far as the passing game is concerned? Hide the women and children.
While the Tigers had a pair of 100-yard rushers , Michael Ford (139 yards) and Stevan Ridley (104) the quarterbacking was suspect to say the least. Starter Jordan Jefferson and backup Jarrett Lee combined to complete just 17 of 40 passes and two interceptions.
Miles attempted to downplay the performances of his two main QBs, but there was no hiding the concern in his postgame remarks.
"Yeah, there were some throws that were not ideal," Miles said according to the Shreveport Times. "I'm always concerned. I like our guys to throw perfectly. I don't know that anybody does that, though. I see a lot of quarterbacks that throw a ball a little off left or right, so.
Miles added that the way the game was structured could've affected the way the QBs played.
"Well I don't know that we threw exactly what we wanted to throw today," Miles said. "I think we kind of pulled back some of those things.
"But in a scrimmage that we wanted to make sure that we ran the football and looked at two backs, I think that was probably the first step. We ran the football pretty well in the first half, and then we had a running clock in the second half and those were the minutes that we wanted to throw the football. So we got it accomplished on the back end, maybe not as well as we would have liked."

Gamecocks' Spurrier hints Garcia's starting job is in jeopardy

USC's Andrew Clifford, has seemingly put Garcia's starting in jeopardy if Steve Spurrier's words can be taken at face value. After watching Clifford throw for 86 yards on 10-of-13 passing, the head ball coach was asked if Clifford and Zac Brindise had made any headway in the battle to become the Gamecocks' No. 2 QB.
"They were in contention for the starting job today," Spurrier said. "They were the two best out here today."
"Gulp!" Garcia said.
Of course, this could just be a way for Spurrier to publicly send a message and challenge his current starter to up his game. Or, in the worst-case scenario for Garcia, his starting job for the Gamecocks will indeed be on the line for the rest of spring and into summer camp.
Either way, it would benefit Garcia to step it up a notch.

Tennessee football looks for depth on offensive line

Tennessee's football coach, Dooley,would love to find a bevy of playable offensive linemen after two weeks of practice, but he admits that probably won't happen.
"It would be nice to have at least eight," Dooley said. "I'm not sure how realistic we are on that. You'd like to have 10 but we're a ways away from that. I hope we can get five."
With sophomore tackle Aaron Douglas' departure Thursday, the Vols are undergoing a reconstruction of their offensive line.
Gone are the five starters. Gone are two of the top backups. Gone is any semblance of continuity.
And with a new coaching staff, UT's offensive line has undergone more shuffles this spring than a Las Vegas poker room.
Yet a top five seems to be emerging with sophomore Dallas Thomas at left tackle, redshirt freshman JerQuari Schofield at left guard, senior/converted defensive lineman Victor Thomas at center, senior Jarrod Shaw and freshman Ja'Wuan James at right tackle.
That's three underclassmen and one converted defensive tackle. No matter, Thomas.
"We're not going to be the weak link on the team, period, because we're dominating," Thomas said. "That's the way we're looking at it. We're coming hard."
Dooley's staff is looking for five starters but none is more important than finding a center to handle line calls. The two candidates are Thomas and redshirt freshman Daniel Hood.
"Both of them are showing promise but I think beyond that it's hard to make any more statements," Dooley said. "We have a long way to go and that's a concern. It's a concern for our football team, is finding a good center."

Gamecocks' QB Shaw...loses his grip...by USC Joe Persons

Freshman quarterback Connor Shaw had his first tough day of passing.
The right-hander from north Georgia told USC coach Steve Spurrier he had a hard time gripping the ball on a surprisingly cool day at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Shaw completed just 4-of-11 passes for 67 yards in the Gamecocks’ second scrimmage a week after his strong showing in the first scrimmage.
Starting QB Stephen Garcia was 10-of-17 passing for 149 yards, but failed to direct any scoring drives. Garcia also was sacked several times, although at least one of them came on a quick whistle when it appeared Garcia had thrown the ball away.
Meanwhile, third-team QBs Andrew Clifford (10-of-13, 86 yards, one INT) and Zac Brindise (5-of-8, 72 yards 2 TDs) had productive days against a second- and third-team defense featuring two backup long-snappers and a couple of other walk-ons.
When Spurrier was asked whether Clifford and Brindise were in the hunt for the No. 2 job, the Head Ball Coach didn’t miss an opportunity to gig Garcia, saying they were in the hunt for the starting position.
It’s clear one of Spurrier’s objectives this spring is to keep Garcia from becoming too fat and sassy in his starter’s role. Until Saturday, Shaw had provided the push behind Garcia that Reid McCollum could not last fall.
USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season.

UF's Urban Meyer privately apologizes to Reporter for Wednesday's Outburst

Keith Niebuhr of GatorBait.net reports that Urban Meyer privately apologized to a reporter from the ORLANDO SENTINEL today after verbally confronting the writer following a Florida football practice last Wednesday.
Meyer met with Sentinel reporter Jeremy Fowler for 22 minutes on Saturday after a Gators practice. Fowler said, “I won’t go into the details of the conversation, but I would say that Urban did apologize. And I feel like as a work-related conversation it was constructive.”
Fowler added that he “absolutely” accepted Meyer’s apology. Meyer declined media requests to discuss the private conversation.
On Wednesday, Meyer confronted Fowler in front of the gathered media, and a video camera, to question a quote the reporter had recently attributed to Gators wide receiver Deonte Thompson.
In reference to the transition from Tim Tebow to new Florida starting quarterback John Brantley, Fowler reported Thompson said, “With new QB John Brantley, everything’s with rhythm, time. You know what I mean, a real quarterback.”
During his outburst at Fowler on Wednesday, Meyer said, “I told you five years ago: Don’t mess with our players. Don’t do it. You did it. You do it one more time and the Orlando Sentinel’s not welcome here ever again. Is that clear? It’s yes or no.”

Door not completely closed onVols' Bryce Brown’s return

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that Brown , eight days after he left the football program but not the university, was standing on the sidelines watching his former teammates practice.
Head coach Derek Dooley said he "never saw Bryce... didn't even know he was here", but, as recent reports have suggested is the case, Dooley didn't rule out the possibility of the talented running back returning to the Volunteers.
"I don't think there's a timeframe but there's a responsibility you have to the team," Dooley said. "This is the team's team.
"I have a lot of communication with our players and our seniors and if there's ever decisions like that on people coming back or leaving, I'll always involve them."
One of his former teammates also suggested that Lane Kiffin's sudden departure for the USC job was the impetus behind Brown's decision to leave the UT football program.
"I think everybody deserves a second chance," wide receiver Gerald Jones said. "Sometimes it gets hard. Former UT coach Lane Kiffin was his guy. He came out here because of Kiffin. He's all the way from Kansas. First, Kiffin to leave and him being away from his parents, it's hard.
"But if he wanted to come back, I think this team would welcome him back with open arms."
If Brown doesn't end up back at Tennessee, there seems to be a very good chance that he could wind up at Kansas State.


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Ex-Gamecock QB has likely found new home

The "State" newspaper is reporting, that South Carolina quarterback Aramis Hillary said Thursday that "more than likely" he'll transfer to Coastal Carolina.
Hillary's decision to transfer was announced by Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier on Wednesday. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder said he still hasn't received a release from his scholarship, but that would likely be a formality since the Chanticleers and Gamecocks are not conference mates.
Coastal has offered Hillary a scholarship, but he isn't 100 percent sure that he'll transfer to Coastal, he said. Hillary has three years of eligibility remaining.
If Hillary ultimately decides to continue his career in Conway, he would join a cluttered quarterback race with senior Zach MacDowall and junior Jamie Childers. Those two rotated starting responsibilities last fall and are battling for the starting job again this spring.
Hillary is a dual-threat quarterback with a solid arm and good wheels. He threw for 2,400 yards and ran for 980 as a senior at Strom Thurmond High School.
He made news off the field earlier this month when he and his brother were charged following a traffic stop in West Columbia. CoCo Hillary, a receiver at Appalachian State, was charged with DUI, and Aramis was charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol.
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Knee injury likely ends spring for Gator DB

Sophomore defensive back Josh Evans, is likely out for the spring with a left knee injury, according to a team official.

The extent of the injury is unknown, but Evans of New Jersey went down at the beginning of Monday's practice during light contact drills. Losing Evans is a blow for the Gators. He was a solid contributor and expected to compete for a spot on the Gators' two-deep depth chart this fall. He still will, but his knee injury might be a minor set back.

According to the Miami Herald's Joseph Goodman -- aka "IDIOT" -- sophomore defensive back Josh Evans suffered a knee injury during Monday's practice and is likely lost for the remainder of spring practice.

The extent of the injury, suffered during light contact drills, is not known, although it doesn't appear it will keep Evans from participating in summer camp.

As noted by Goodman, Evans is expected to be a regular contributor in the secondary for the Gators in 2010.

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Vols take a huge hit in the trenches

offensive lineman Aaron Douglas has decided to leave the football program.

New head coach Derek Dooley told reporters this evening that he and the lineman "met today, and he's decided that he's no longer a part of the football team."

Douglas' father David, who was a football player at UT in the mid-eighties, told Chris Low of ESPN.com's SEC blog that this move had been in the making for a month, but it was still "a gut-wrenching decision" nonetheless.

"This was all Aaron's decision," David Douglas said. "We've been talking about this for a month, and initially, I didn't necessarily agree with his decision. He actually wanted to do this a month ago.

"The bottom line is that he wasn't happy. He's always going to care about Tennessee, but I just think he wants to go somewhere and be his own person. Aaron needs a fresh start, and as his parents, we're going to support him in every way."

Douglas was a Freshman All-American at right tackle last season after redshirting in 2008. As noted by Low, Douglas was expected to slide over to left tackle and be the experienced anchor of a young unit.

Now, Dooley will have to deal with five new starters along the line.

Bulldogs Continue Spring Football Workouts

ATHENS, Ga. --- Under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s, the University of Georgia football team held a two-hour workout in full pads Tuesday.Georgia coach Mark Richt said it was another productive day featuring great tempo but that the Bulldogs still had a long way to go this spring.“It’s a big learning process on both sides of the ball, we’re still installing on offense and defense,” said Richt. “I feel comfortable where we’re at, I see the the players anxious to make plays, they are working hard.”Richt announced that redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Mettenberger would likely serve a one-game suspension for his off-the-field incident earlier this month during spring break. He said that could change if any additional information arises, but at this time, it would be a one-game suspension.Also on Tuesday, Richt announced a position change for junior offensive lineman Justin Anderson. The 6-5, 330-pound native of Ocilla, Ga., will move to the defensive line with nose guard a starting point when he is healthy. Richt said the move was something that was under consideration once defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was hired and the switch to a 3-4 defense.“Justin is injured right now for the spring so we won’t see what he can do out at practice but he can start learning the terminology,” said Richt. “If we lose some tackles, he’ll be back, but right now we’re going to put him on defense. We think he can do well there because he’s quick and strong, he’s an explosive athlete.”Richt said when he spoke with Anderson about the position change, the junior said he would do whatever he could to help the team. Anderson appeared in all 13 games making five starts last season for the Bulldogs. He appeared in 12 games as a freshman including seven starts in 2008.“In this type of scheme, Justin has the type of body that can help us so we’ll see how it goes,” Richt added.

University of South Carolina Gamecock football squad conducted its seventh practice

The University of South Carolina Gamecock football squad conducted its seventh practice of the spring at the Bluff Road practice fields Wednesday afternoon. The squad worked out for about two hours in near perfect weather conditions, sporting helmets and shorts.
"We had a good practice and will practice again tomorrow from 4-6," said head coach Steve Spurrier following the workout.
Coach Spurrier was asked about the Black caucus issue that developed today. "I don't have all the details, but that's not under my control," said the Head Ball Coach. "Worry about what you can control is what Coach (John) Wooden used to say."
Coach Spurrier confirmed that reserve quarterback Aramis Hillary is no longer on the team. "Aramis is probably going to transfer down a division where he has a chance to play next year. I think it's a smart idea. He wants to play and we wish him the best. I'm not sure what school yet."
Athletics director Eric Hyman issued this statement in regards to the Black caucus: "This is an unfortunate situation but it is not an athletics issue. It is a legislative matter - something over which we have absolutely no control. I am hopeful that the legislators can work this out among themselves."

Five-star LSU DB gets medical redshirt

Safety Craig Loston entered LSU in 2009 as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 rated player at his position in the country and the No. 20 player in the nation overall according to Rivals.com.
A hand injury cost the defensive back the majority of his freshman, but it turns out that rookie campaign wasn't a total loss.
According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, Loston was granted a medical redshirt for last season and will officially be listed as a redshirt freshman in 2010.
Loston is expected to compete for meaningful playing time in the Tigers' secondary this season.

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Tide's appeal to NCAA in textbook case denied

The vacating-of-wins penalty against Alabama will stand after the school's appeal to the NCAA was denied.
The NCAA had stripped the defending national champions of 21 wins -- 10 from 2005, six from 2006 and five from 2007 -- after an investigation uncovered major violations stemming from textbook improprieties.
In its appeal, Alabama argued that the vacating-of-wins penalty was "excessive and constituted an abuse of discretion", as well as noting that the Committee on Infractions had "failed adequately to consider the institution's cooperation."
Obviously, the NCAA disagreed with the school's stance.
We disagree that that the Committee on Infractions failed adequately to consider and weigh the institution's cooperation. In fact, the Committee on Infractions noted at several places in its report that it had considered the institution's cooperation. While the institution may disagree as a matter of substance with the Committee on Infractions' conclusions regarding the level and nature of that cooperation, and its impact on the penalties imposed, we find no basis on which to conclude that the Committee on Infractions' determinations in that regard constituted an abuse of discretion.
Textbook And Vacations-of-Wins Case Precedents
As noted above, the institution argued that the vacation-of-wins penalty improperly departed from the Committee on Infractions' textbook and vacation-of-wins case precedents. We acknowledge, as the institution argued, that the facts presented in the University of Colorado, Boulder Committee on Infractions' case (2007) were generally similar to those present here, but the Committee on Infractions did not vacate any wins; and prior textbook cases did not include the imposition of a vacation of wins.
On the other hand, the Committee on Infractions has noted significant aggravating factors in this case, including the institution's status as a repeat offender. Seldom will two cases be exactly alike. And while we reiterate that the Committee on Infractions must maintain consistency among its decisions over time, we also recognize, as we have noted before, that the Committee on Infractions "must have latitude in tailoring remedies to the particular circumstances involved in each case." [Georgia Institute of Technology Infractions Appeals Report (May 18, 2006) Page No. 11]. We find no abuse of discretion in the Committee on Infractions' vacation of wins.
In addition to losing 21 wins in football, Alabama was also placed on probation through June 10, 2012, as well as "public reprimand and censure."
Athletic director Mal Moore, per the Birmingham News, expressed disappointment in the NCAA's denial of their appeal.
"We're very disappointed because the Committee missed an excellent opportunity to follow its precedent set in recent cases, the precedent we followed due to the nature of the case," Moore said.
"We have thoroughly addressed the situation and have taken corrective measures. We are eager to move forward while continuing to build a program that not only is successful on the field, but also reflects the values of our University."

Torn ACL to delay start of '10 season for Vandy DT

Vandy defensive tackle Adam Smotherman for the start of the 2010 season, The Tennessean is reporting.
Smotherman suffered a torn ACL in a practice session over the weekend, and will undergo surgery once the swelling in the knee subsides.
Head coach Bobby Johnson hopes to get the tackle back before a third of the season is complete.

Vandy's Adam Smotherman is expected to miss the start of the 2010 football season with a torn ACL.
Smotherman, a senior who played at Smyrna, injured his left knee in practice last Saturday while taking on a double-team block.
"I planted my leg and felt a pop," Smotherman said. "It's just one of those freak things. I've taken on hundreds of blocks before. It's crazy to make it through so many games without anything like that happening, and then the first day of spring practice in pads this happens."
Recovery time varies for ACL injuries, although the general rule is at least six months after surgery. Smotherman will undergo surgery as soon as the swelling in his knee goes down. Vanderbilt hosts Northwestern in its season opener on Sept. 4.

'Bama's Saban honored with Bowden coaching award

Bobby Bowden has one piece of advice for Nick Saban.
"How did I handle stress?" said the second-winningest coach in Division I-A football. "Go to sleep. Take a nap."
We can't imagine Alabama's Nick Saban following that piece of advice. In fact, as the joke goes, Nick Saban doesn't get stress; he creates it. The first annual Bobby Bowden National Coach of the Year award was handed out on Sunday, and Saban was on hand to receive the award personally from the former Florida State coaching legend.
"There could be no greater award for me to receive than one with Coach Bowden's name on it, because of not only his accomplishments," Saban said according to the Birmingham News.
"It's not always what you did, but it's more important who you are, and there's no one in our profession -- or anyone that I know as a person -- that I have more respect for than I do Bobby Bowden and the great coach that he's been and the great person that he's been."

Miss. St. AD leaves for Arizona

Two years after becoming the athletic director, Greg Byrne has decided to leave Mississippi State for the same job at Arizona, the school announced this morning.
While the press release did not state where he was heading, Pat Forde of ESPN.com reports that Byrne is taking the job at Arizona. Byrne will replace Jim Livengood, who left for the same post at UNLV.
Byrne was responsible for the firing of Sylvester Croom and the hiring of Dan Mullen as the football coach.
Here's Byrne's statement on his departure:
"It is with a very heavy heart that I communicate with you today. It is one I never imagined writing, but must be exchanged between friends. I am leaving Mississippi State in the near future for a Director of Athletics position at another institution.
"As we have discussed many times, intercollegiate athletics is a very emotional industry. It is why all of us are so invested in this business, whether it is as administrators, coaches, student-athletes, or fans. We all have strong feelings about what happens here. My emotions today range from the highest highs to the lowest lows. While I am excited about a new opportunity, I am heartbroken to be leaving a lot of friends. Our job here is not done, but the pieces are in place to bring success to Mississippi State athletics. An aggressive athletic administrative team and a solid coaching staff will continue working hard for you. Much has been accomplished, and plans are underway to make an even bigger statement on this campus. I will observe your collective accomplishments from afar with much interest. I will always have a warm place in my heart for Mississippi State, and will cheer its athletic successes.
"One of the absolute truths in college athletics is that you can not dictate the times and places in which opportunities present themselves. As I have done in the past, I review those opportunities from a myriad of different viewpoints. Center-most in those items I consider is the affect a professional decision would have on my family. There is little question that this decision is a good one for my family. It places us back in a part of the country with which we are familiar, one that returns us near family and life-long friends. But this decision was more than just family. My new position offers many of the same challenges we faced here at Mississippi State. We will attack those challenges in the same way we did here.
"It is important for me to convey to you that I did not pursue this opportunity. In fact, my initial reaction was to discourage any future interest. It took several conversations, and much prayer on my part, but their overwhelming interest was apparent as time moved along. The combination of a professional challenge and a personal commitment to my family made this position very attractive to me.
"It is difficult to leave Dr. Mark Keenum and his staff. I really believe the university is in great hands, and Dr. Keenum and I had a very solid working relationship. There are truly very few jobs for which I would leave Mississippi State. This just happened to be one of them.
"In closing, on behalf of my wife Regina, and my boys Nick and Davis, I want to thank you for bringing us into your family. We will never forget you, nor the time we spent in Mississippi.
"Go Dawgs!"

Defense impresses LSU's Miles

Les Miles conducted his second full-scale scrimmage of the spring in Tiger Stadium and came away from the 130-play exercise beaming about his defense’s performance.
“The defense appears to me to be a little bit ahead, a little more advanced than the offense, at this time,” Miles said after the Tigers completed their third week of spring drills. “I would’ve said on Tuesday of this week the offense would probably have been just a little ahead.
“You erase a couple of missed tackles and get the linebacker fits right and you start stripping balls and you’re busting your tail to the ball,” Miles said after the scrimmage, which was closed to media. “The defense looked pretty good today.”
Defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Kendrick Adams, defensive tackle Drake Nevis, linebackers Kelvin Sheppard and Kevin Minter, cornerback Patrick Peterson and free safety Craig Loston were among the defenders earning praise from Miles after the scrimmage.
Peterson had an interception for one of the two takeaways with the other coming on a forced fumble by Nevis and recovery by Minter as the defense held the upper hand.
Montgomery led the way with eight tackles, one for a 2-yard loss, and Sheppard had five tackles. Nevis, who had two sacks and a forced fumble; defensive end Michael Brockers; and Loston were credited with four tackles each, according to statistics provided by LSU.
“We had a good, long work day,” Miles said. “The day was won by the defense. The defense was crisp and they tackled well.
“There were only a few missed tackles, if any. The thing that appears to me is the defense is just faster.”

RB Ford shines in LSU scrimmage

LSU's HC Les Miles, may have found someone who may help prop up the sagging ground attack.
Redshirt freshman Michael Ford rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries in the second scrimmage of the spring, and Miles said it could be a sign of things to come.
"Michael makes a nice natural cut, gets up into space and he comes out the other side if he can," Miles said according to the Shreveport Times. "He's a good runner, and he's going to give us some carries this fall.". LSU coach Les Miles particularly liked Ford's short-yardage efforts.
"He really took some really difficult snaps up in there for some short yards, 13 carries for 40 yards thereabouts," Miles said. "Both he and Stevan Ridley are competing very well at that spot, and they're dependable."
Ford rushed for 4,854 yards in his Leesville High career but was unable to earn a playing role last season as LSU was stocked at tailback with Charles Scott, Keiland Williams and Ridley. That could change in 2010 with Scott and Williams gone.

Ex - Ole Miss Willis Wins Butkus Award As Collegian And Pro

The second-ever Butkus Award, honoring a professional linebacker was presented to Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers Tuesday. The Award was presented by Pro Football Hall of Fame legend and the Award's namesake Dick Butkus, and his son Matt.
Willis is the first player to win the Butkus Award in two categories, having won the 2006 Collegiate Butkus Award while playing at Ole Miss. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound, third-year linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, received 12 first place votes and a total of 50 points. Willis finished the 2009 NFL season with 154 tackles, including 114 for loss and four sacks, three forced fumbles and three interceptions.
Willis edged the 2008 professional Butkus Award winner, DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys, who finished with 39 points.

Vols ready to pick up pace in practice with pads next

The Vols capped their opening workweek with a Saturday morning session at Haslam Field. UT coach Derek Dooley said the pace is pretty fast thus far and about to pick up in intensity.
“You throw it all in, throw a lot at them, see what sticks, pick up what doesn’t, throw it back out there,” Dooley said of the team’s adjustment to their new coaches. “Each day will get a little bit more like that. You start understanding the personalities a little bit better and how to coach them.
“But the new dimension’s really going to be Tuesday when we put the shoulder pads on. That’s when real ball starts.”
UT was limited by NCAA rules during its first two days to helmets and shorts. Full pads come Tuesday as the Vols will practice three times in the upcoming week.
Dooley likes what he has seen in the early going from senior tight end Luke Stocker.
“I think there is no question that Luke has a lot of ability. He’s got good size, he’s got the right competitive character and he’s produced. He’s one of those few guys who have shown good production, and I think he’s going to play an important role in our offense.”
Dooley told media representatives Saturday that the opportunity is there for several new faces to make an impact this season.
“We don’t have a lot of productive guys back. They’re all new to me, but there are going to be a lot of them new to you guys too.”

Bulldogs A.J.Green kicking around punt-return opportunity

During his two seasons at Georgia, A.J. Green has established himself as one of the premier, if not the premier wide receiver in the country.
In those two years, Green has totaled 109 receptions, 1,771 yards and 14 touchdowns, numbers that earned him several All-SEC and All-American honors.
Now, the junior wants to add yet another title to his résumé: punt returner. Green has not returned a punt at the collegiate level, but he scored 12 return touchdowns during his high school career. Green was seen fielding punts during drills, and said he is gunning for the starting job.“Yeah, I was talking to coach Mark Richt the other day about returning punts and having me back there,” he said. “It’s something I did in high school.” Green told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. "I hope they give me a chance back there. It would be fun. Just adding another dimension to my game." So, let's say you are Mark Richt, and your best player on the offensive side of the ball came to you asking to return punts,give it a moment. What would be your response?

Georgia 'Dawgs set new rules to tackle tailgate trash

Well, here is the scoop for you, UGA football fans on tailgating. Apparently due to more than a few slobs, you now will have limited access to North Campus on game days as part of new rules intended to prevent damage to that historical part of campus.
Tailgating on North Campus can begin only four hours before kickoff, according to the rules the UGA Cabinet released Thursday. Tailgaters also will be barred from bringing tents, kegs, generators, grills and other items to that area on game days.
University officials have been targeting tailgaters and their trash since the Sept. 12 home game when fans dumped about 70 tons of garbage and left mounds of tents, grills, coolers and chairs across the beloved North Campus. Some even urinated on public buildings and defecated outside.
President Michael Adams said the new rules seek to maintain the tradition of tailgating while preserving a historic section of campus. Adams said he still wants fans to be on campus and enjoy the games.
"We just don’t want them to destroy the campus in the process," he said during a media briefing. Shame for shame on you.

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Top recruit in the house? 'Cocks RBs say "Bring It"

The current stable of Gamecock backs are unimpressed with the Lattimore's résumé.
While some were more blunt than others, well here is the scoop,and how it is going down.
Kenny Miles, who led the Gamecocks in rushing in 2009, has three years of eligibility remaining. He shrugged off the acclaim being given to Lattimore.
"That's recruiting; it's going to happen every year," Miles said after a spring practice this week. "Somebody's gonna come in, a new coach or a new player. So, really, the only thing you can do is focus on what you need to do to get better and do your job."
Senior Brian Maddox began last season as the starter and will get another shot at the job.
"It's nothing to me," Maddox said of the Lattimore hype. "Don't get me wrong, he's a great guy, but he's a freshman."
Maddox, Miles and the other veteran tailbacks saw a similar senerio last year, Jarvis Giles was a highly touted freshman who enrolled in the spring, unlike Lattimore.
Giles showed the kind of burst that some of the other backs lacked, but he annoyed coaches by going too much east-to-west running rather than hitting holes.
Maddox, who weighs about 45 pounds more than Giles, emerged as a good goal-line back, rushing for seven touchdowns, but his problem was getting near the goal line. Maddox's per-carry average of 3 yards kept him from holding down the starting spot.
So, Miles held the job for most of the season because he was viewed as the most well-rounded back. Eric Baker was plagued by injuries, and fan favorite Bryce Sherman, the 5-foot-4 former track star was mainly used on kick returns.


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Vols Dooley on Bryce Brown: As of now he's not a part of the team

The first practice was meant to announce an arrival.
A departure overshadowed it.
Derek Dooley officially debuted as the coach at Tennessee. But the curtain apparently has closed on Bryce Brown as a Vols running back.
The former No. 1 recruit in the country was a no-show as UT took the field under Dooley for the first time on Thursday afternoon, one day after the new coach indicated Brown hadn't approached him about possibly leaving the program.
"As of now he's not a part of the team," Dooley said.

Ex Vols coach Kiffin apologizes for being Über-sexy for Esquire

No.16 seed Kiffin, with the exception of one hours-long blip Tuesday afternoon, has held a substantial lead over LPGA touring pro and No.1 seed Natalie Gulbis in the field of 64 hopefuls vying for America's nod at their respective sexiness. Kiffin continues to hold a solid lead over Gulbis, pulling in 43,809 votes to the golfer's 31,452. So...now have we all seen it all!

Razorback's Petrino shakes up early RB depth chart

Arkansas has released its spring depth chart, and it contains at least a mild surprise.
The Razorbacks' two leading returning rushers, Broderick Green and Dennis Johnson, find themselves at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, on the way too early depth chart. Green led the Razorbacks with 442 yards last season.
Ronnie Wingo Jr., not to be confused with Ronnie Wingo Sr., sits atop the depth chart after rushing for 319 yards in 2009, and head coach Bobby Petrino has fellow sophomore Knile Davis , listed as his backup at the position.

Urban 'back in charge, storming around'

Urban Meyer is back as Florida's head coach.
And, it seems, not a whole lot has changed during his sabbatical. At least as far as one early impression is concerned.
While the Associated Press reports that Meyer "is clearly less involved in certain aspects" of his team, the Gainesville Sun's Ray FitzGerald paints a slightly different picture. FitzGerald is live "threading" from the first practice of Florida's spring session, and has included the following entries:
- "Urban is back in charge, storming around and yelling like he always does."
- "Urban seems like same old Urban. Loud enough to hear on 13th street."
- "Urban is everywhere."
So, Meyer is back and seemingly not a lot has changed.

Confusion at UT over who is allowed, and when, at practices

An apparent misunderstanding has some Tennessee football lettermen concerned about head coach Derek Dooley's policy decisions.
The problem began in mid-February when Dooley cleared UT's indoor practice facility of all visitors not involved in the upcoming conditioning drills.
Unknown to Dooley, former UT players were in the group escorted from the building, according to senior associate athletic director David Blackburn.
Blackburn said that Dooley has since spoken to the board of UT's Lettermen's Club and sent a letter to former players, mostly to welcome them on campus, although with a few stipulations.
Most importantly, if a former player wants to attend practice, he's asked to inform the
football office beforehand.
"The lettermen are always welcome here to stop in and visit," said Blackburn. "They're always welcome at practice."
Dooley was not available for comment Monday, but did speak to former defensive tackle Wes Brown, one of the players escorted from UT's complex.
Brown said Dooley called Monday to apologize and the two even joked about the situation. Brown said Dooley said he wants former players to be involved and is the opposite of the reputation that is preceding him among some former lettermen.
"He was basically telling me there were so many fresh faces in the complex," Brown said. "I understand that. I wasn't upset or mad."
Brown said he didn't think much about being asked to leave, that he only planned to stay for a few minutes and was close to leaving for class anyway.
Brown said UT's last coach, Lane Kiffin, also had a small circle of confidants he trusted in the early days of his tenure before opening up.
Brown said he understands the need for security, that onlookers could be from other schools.
"I'd want you out of there, too," Brown said. "It was pretty odd how fast word traveled among former players."
Before Dooley addressed the problem with Brown and other lettermen, rumors circulated among former players that they might not be welcome at practice and during team functions.
Former UT safety Eric Berry, who has been preparing for the NFL draft since January, said he planned to meet with Dooley today.
"That was one of the things I'm going to bring up," the All-American said of the snub Monday on the News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page.
Berry said he heard of the new rumored policies.
"One of my former teammates called and told me that (Dooley) had kicked a few guys out of practice and they weren't able to watch practice," Berry said. "I got a message from someone else saying that they were also kicked out of practice.
"They were very upset about it. I was trying to figure out what was going on. I thought a lot of people were just playing ,joking, but I found out it was a serious matter."
Berry admitted he wasn't completely clear on the new policies. But if he's asked to give back, financially or otherwise, he expects to be welcomed by the athletic program.
"They're going to ask us to give back, but at the same time people have played here," Berry said. "We've played, sweat and cried. It's been a big deal. A lot of people have put a lot of time into Tennessee and the 'T' on our helmet.

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USC's Gamecocks spring practice schedule

The Gamecocks are back at it Tuesday at the Bluff Road Proving Grounds for the second of 15 spring football practices.
All practice sessions are open to the public. Most practices will take place at the Bluff Road practice fields. Scrimmages will take place at Williams-Brice Stadium. All dates and times are subject to change.
Tuesday, March 16, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 19, 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 20, 10 a.m. (Scrimmage)
Tuesday, March 23, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 25, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 26, 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 27, 10 a.m. (Scrimmage)
Tuesday, March 30, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 2, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 6, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 7, 7 p.m.
Friday, April 9, 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 10 (Garnet & Black Spring Game), 4 p.m.

No fake grass for the Tide

There's a rumor making the Internet rounds that field turf or something of its being is slated to be put in place at Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Fear not, real grass 'Bama fans.
The University of Alabama has had exactly one spring practice and players are now taking off a week for spring break, but the rumors fly. The latest one of that field turf, or some form of artificial turf, will be installed at Bryant-Denny Stadium is the infacto. It's not going to happen, according to Thad Turnipseed, UA’s director of athletic facilities.“Zero chance,” he said. “It hasn’t even been discussed.” So much for that.

Tennessee still in lead for tight end Heuerman

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end from Barron Collier High School in Naples, Fla., is preparing for a whirlwind tour of some of the schools that have shown him the most interest.
Later this month, he'll visit Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Notre Dame and possibly Purdue. Of those schools, only Purdue has officially offered Heuerman a scholarship.
"I've got nine offers. Tennessee is my biggest one," said Heuerman, who also has offers from Michigan State, Rutgers, South Florida, Maryland, Memphis, Florida Atlantic and Florida International.
The early offer during a standout visit to UT's junior day last month has put the Vols in prime position.
"Tennessee, they're in the lead," Heuerman said. "They're out and away in the lead so far."
Of course, that could change if other schools start offering.
Heuerman said Georgia, South Carolina and Notre Dame have been recruiting him heavily.
Florida has recently shown interest.
Those schools won't have much time to decide on Heuerman, who plans to announce his decision in June.
"I'm kind of narrowing it down now," he said.
Heuerman will also visit UT again for its Orange and White Game on April 17. Heuerman said the distance between his home in South Florida and Knoxville won't be a factor in his decision thanks to a discount airline that offers inexpensive, direct flights between nearby Punta Gorda to Knoxville.


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Lure of starting job led LSU's Eugene to position switch

LSU defensive backs coach Ron Cooper approached Jai Eugene about switching positions.
Eugene had only played cornerback in his college career. He knew moving to free safety may represent his best chance to earn a starting role.
“I just wanted to play,” Eugene said. “I thought if push came to shove, I’d move back to corner. But I’m liking safety. It’s a place I feel I can make more plays and showcase my talents. Sometimes, I wish I would have moved back there earlier.”
The departure of Jones, who left following his junior season to enter the NFL draft and that of the development of sophomore Morris Claiborne at cornerback, led to the decision.
“As a football player, it’s expanding my knowledge of the game,” said Eugene, who plans to coach one day. “I understand the defense better. When you’re a cornerback, you really only worry about your side of the field. I have to cover the whole field now, make sure nothing gets past me.”
So, first things first, he must win the job.
“As long as we’re taking snaps this spring, we’re going to evaluate the competition there,” LSU coach Les Miles said.
Eugene has been here before, he lost a starting spot at corner to Peterson two years ago after getting starting in the position for nine straight games as a sophomore.

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Miss. St. lineman hit with pot charge

According to the Starkville Daily News, and citing unnamed sources, Mississippi State's
Sean Ferguson was arrested Thursday night on a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession in the vehicle he was driving. Ferguson was taken into custody at 7 p.m., but was released within two hours. A native of Miami, Fla., the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Ferguson had just completed his sophomore season in 2009. Any disciplinary action by MSU football coach Dan Mullen has not been announced at this time, but there was a statement released by team spokesman Joe Galbraith Friday afternoon. In a statement, the school said that they "are aware of the incident and when all of the facts are determined, we will handle the situation appropriately."

Bama LB...back, Hightower; 'I think he could play in a game right now,' Saban says

So much for that talk about linebacker Dont'a Hightower being held out of contact until August as he recovers from a serious knee injury. "I never said that," Alabama coach Nick Saban said today after the Crimson Tide's first spring football practice."He'll practice every day like everybody else, I think he could play in a game right now."Saban said a determination will be made before each scrimmage if Hightower is good to go. The junior-to-be star tore both ligaments in a knee during the Crimson Tide's fourth game of the 2009 season, a 35-7 victory over Arkansas. The time frame last fall was for Hightower to be sidelined from full contact until preseason workouts begin in August.

RB Grant's once-promising Tide career ends

Terry Grant's once-promising college football career is over.
The running back from Lumberton, Miss., has decided not to come back for a fifth year of eligibility, as has receiver Travis Sikes.
"He's been injured two years in a row," Alabama coach Nick Saban said of Grant, who had two surgeries for a sports hernia.
"He decided because of injuries, he's already graduated, that he would not come back for his fifth year. He does qualify for a medical, if we need to do that, so he can continue academically."
Sikes also has graduated, Saban said.
Grant played in three games as a true freshman in 2006, carrying two times for 22 yards against Louisiana-Monroe. He missed the final nine games with an injury and received a medical redshirt year.
As a redshirt freshman in 2007, Saban's first year at Alabama, Grant led the Crimson Tide in rushing. He carried 180 times for 891 yards and eight touchdowns. He also caught 26 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown.

ESPN to Televise Alabama's 2010 A-Day Spring Football Game on April 17

The University of Alabama’s annual A-Day Game will be televised live to a national audience by ESPN on Saturday, April 17. A-Day is the 15th and final practice of the spring with kickoff from Bryant-Denny Stadium scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (CDT). Admission will once again be free to the public.
Over the last three years, Alabama has totaled 254,388 fans at A-Day. UA set a college football record in the spring of 2007 as a capacity crowd of 92,138 watched head coach Nick Saban’s first A-Day at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Last year’s attendance of 84,050 again led the SEC and an average of 84,796 have been on hand for the last three A-Day scrimmages at Alabama.
ESPN reaches more than 99 million households and has televised SEC sports for 27 years. Coverage was expanded last year as the 11:30 a.m. (CDT) league match-up is now an ESPN Regional Television syndication game. On-air commentators for A-Day have not yet been determined by the network.
Alabama has made 10 national television appearances in each of the last two seasons, which does not include these last two A-Day appearances on ESPN. Only Notre Dame (also with 10 the last two years) has had as many nationally televised games. Alabama’s games against South Carolina and Mississippi State were carried by ESPN while the first and last games of the season (Virginia Tech and Texas) were televised by ABC.
Alabama started spring practice this Friday, March 12, and will then take the next week off for spring break. The second practice is scheduled for Monday, March 22.

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Florida Gators to Host Pro Scout Day

The University of Florida football program will hold its annual Pro Scout Day on Wednesday, March 17, when more than 15 Gators are scheduled to work out for NFL coaches and scouts.
Viewing for the on-field portion of this event, which will begin at approximately 10 a.m., is open to the public with free admission. Fans will be able to enter the stadium through Gate 2, which will open at 8:30 a.m.
Restrooms and concession stands will be open for the event. There are over 100 water fountains available throughout Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Smoking is prohibited on the campus of the University of Florida.
Fans are also reminded that no video cameras are allowed.

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Music City Bowl extends SEC partnership

The Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl has extended its partnership with the Southeastern Conference through the 2013 season.
The bowl in Nashville matches teams from the SEC and the Atlantic Coast Conference typically between the Christmas and New Year's holidays. The bowl announced the extension on Friday.
The bowl will select sixth after the BCS selection for 2010-2013 and will continue to be broadcast on ESPN through 2014.

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Florida-Bama CBS night game

CBS has targeted the Oct. 2 game between Alabama and Florida at newly expanded Bryant-Denny Stadium as its prime-time telecast for the 2010 football season.
The Crimson Tide and Gators have not met during the regular season since 2006 but have collided the past two years in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Alabama won last year's meeting 32-13 and then defeated Texas in the BCS championship game, after Florida won the '08 encounter 31-20 before beating Oklahoma for the BCS crown.
"How do you argue with that?" CBS executive vice president Mike Aresco said Thursday. "It's developed into the rivalry du jour. It's clearly now the biggest game, and this is almost like a rubber match, although they may end up playing again in Atlanta."
Continue reading at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Ole Miss...Grove Bowl Scheduled For 1 pm Kickoff, Live On CSS

Kickoff has been set at 1 p.m. CT on April 17 for the 2010 Grove Bowl, which marks the culmination of Ole Miss' spring football drills, and the game will be televised live on CSS.
Red-Blue Weekend will also be highlighted by the Chucky Mullins Courage Award Banquet, which will be held Thursday, April 15 at the Indoor Practice Facility. Other events surrounding the weekend will be announced in the weeks to come.
The Rebel football team is set to open its third spring practice under Nutt on March 27. Ole Miss is coming off its second straight nine-win season for the first time since 1961-62, and notched a 21-7 Cotton Bowl victory over No. 18 Oklahoma State.
CSS, the regional sports channel focused on college sports throughout the south, will air seven NCAA spring football games in March and April, including Ole Miss, Georgia and Clemson that will air live. CSS will also re-air multiple games during the spring and place them on Comcast and Charter's Video On Demand where they will also have enhanced features, including behind-the-scenes player and coach interviews and team stories.

'Bama looking to fill secondary holes

The University of Alabama football team opens spring practice tomorrow, and with preparation for a new season often comes a few experimental position changes.
Apparently, Kendall Kelly will be among those to get a chance at a new position.
The redshirt freshman from Gadsden City High is expected to open spring drills at safety after spending his first season on campus working with wide receivers. One of his former high school coaches, Gadsden City defensive coordinator Ali Smith, said he was surprised when Kelly told him of the move.
“I was surprised, but at the same time, I know he's the kind of athlete who can do something like that,” Smith told The Tuscaloosa News. “He's upbeat about it. He knows it's an opportunity for him to compete for a position, and he also knows he may be back at receiver at some point.”
The move would help spur competition in a UA secondary that enters spring drills limited both in terms of game experience and numbers. Four of the five defensive backs used in the Crimson Tide's nickel defense in 2009 do not return. Returning experience at receiver, by contrast, is significantly deeper, and Kelly (6-3, 216 pounds) may not be the only receiver to get a similar opportunity to join the competition in the secondary. The Crimson Tide's leading receivers from last season – Julio Jones, Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks – all return. That trio combined for 91 receptions and 1,291 yards in 2009, while several reserves return as well.
Asked if Kelly, who redshirted last season, got experience playing defensive back in high school, Smith said very little.
“Sparingly, very sparingly,” Smith said. “People forget how much he was hurt the last couple of years. It would have been a lot to ask.”

Gamecocks backup QB arrested, suspended indefinitely

According to the State newspaper, USC backup quarterback Aramis Hillary and his brother, Cicory "CoCo" Hillary, were arrested early Thursday morning in Lexington County on alcohol-related charges, according to documents provided by the West Columbia Police Department.
Aramis Hillary was charged with underage drinking and drunkeness. CoCo Hillary was charged with driving under the influence and violation of the ABC Act. Both men were released on personal recognizance bonds after 10 a.m. today.
Aramis Hillary, a redshirt freshman from Edgefield, is among a number of quarterbacks competing for the No. 2 job this spring.
Athletics Department spokesman Steve Fink said he did not know if head football coach Steve Spurrier has spoken with Aramis Hillary today, but said it is university policy that any student athlete who is arrested is suspended indefinitely.

Vols' Head Coach, Dooley puts high value on character

Dooley has repeated every time he's been in public since taking over in January, that's only half the battle for him. The off-the-field pieces aren't all in place yet based on job listings on the UT Web site for a director of football operations, an on-campus recruiting expert and a coordinator for his character development program.
Most certain, the first two likely will have a visible impact when the Vols step on the field, the last one might actually be the one Dooley wants the most.
"Character education , this is very important to me," Dooley said last month. "So many of these young men come from different backgrounds, they come from different value sets, they come from different socioeconomic places, and they all have different views of what's right and wrong. Let's face it, when you're 18 to 22, no matter where you came from, you have a big hole in your head. I know I did. I did some of the dumbest things that I can't even believe I did.
"I think it's our responsibility as coaches to help educate them as people. That's not an easy task, so we put in a character education program at Louisiana Tech. It was very successful, it's a rough culture there, and over the course of two years we changed the culture. We started defining what's right and what's wrong and helping them make choices."
Dooley will have a similar program for the Vols, though it might not be completely ready at the moment.
The UT job listing describes the vacant position as a sort of guidance counselor for the team.

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Vols set 2 p.m. kickoff for Orange and White Game

The start of spring practice is a little more than a week away.
Tennessee has now nailed down exactly when it will end.
The Vols will wrap up Derek Dooley's first spring with the Orange and White Game on April 17, and the school announced today that it will be a 2 p.m. kickoff. UT will open with the first of 14 practices on March 18, officially going through Dooley's first workout with the team at 4 p.m.

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Joker feels the need for more UK defensive speed

The 'need for speed'(coin a phrase from Top Gun), on the defensive side of the ball, Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips has decided to move junior Matt Lentz from the secondary to linebacker.
Lentz has played 25 games at free safety and strong safety the last two seasons, including six starting assignments. He has totaled 46 tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups.
"We need to get faster on defense and this move will make us faster," Phillips said in quotes sent out by the school. "Anytime you move a player closer to the ball, such as safety to linebacker or a linebacker to the defensive line, it helps you get faster.
"Matt gives us a guy at linebacker who will be strong and physical. He flies around and hits people. He reminds me of Jeff Snedegar (UK linebacker from 1996-99 who was known for his toughness), same type of attitude (as Snedegar)."
Last season, Kentucky was 43rd in the nation (5th in the SEC) in scoring defense at 22.7 points per game, but was horrible on run defense 100th (out of 120 schools) at nearly 183 yards per game.

Florida coach Urban Meyer's vacation nears its end

Sure, he's taken a trip to visit his daughter and went on vacation with his wife in Hawaii, but Meyer hasn't completely removed himself from the football operations.
Assisted coach Dan McCarney, speaking to the Orlando Sentinel, "busted" Meyer for his dipping into the football offices on occasion during the leave of absence.
"It's not like he's been here at 6 a.m., but he's sat in on a couple of meetings," McCarney said. "His text messages to us are still going strong. But clearly he's tried to get away by removing himself from the daily operations, and I'm sure Shelley Meyer has had a lot to do with that."
That being said, Meyer has obviously pulled the reins back on what is normally a hectic, non-stop offseason for the coach. No glad-handing at booster functions, no trips to visit recruits ahead of Signing Day. Instead, it's been golf and "relaxing", relatively speaking.
So, whatever you may think about Meyer, and his flip-flopping back in late December, his health is the most important issue. Regardless of what it took to get him to realize that he needed to change his ways.
Oh, and by the way, a rejuvenated Meyer will be on the field when the Gators commence spring practice on March 17.

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Florida Gators safety Dorian Munroe appeals NCAA for sixth year of eligibility

Florida safety Dorian Munroe isn't accepting the NCAA's "final" decision.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Munroe has appealed the NCAA's decision to deny him another season of college ball.
Munroe told the paper that he's uncertain of the status of his appeal, but is "hoping for the best." Should his appeal sway the NCAA, Munroe might be able to see the field now that Wright is off to the NFL. Munroe was a talented player in 2007, but he redshirted in 2008 with a torn ACL and missed most of 2009 with a torn meniscus and other knee-related injuries.
Munroe is the only remaining Gator from the 2005 class.
It's unclear when a final decision by the NCAA will be made on Munroe's appeal.

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Samuel adjusting to new UGA role...as Linebacker

Richard Samuel was tapped as Georgia's starting running back.
Nearly seven months later, Samuel, who ended up as UGA's third-leading rusher behind Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, is in the running for significant playing time yet again. This time on the other side of the ball.
Samuel has been moved from RB to linebacker, a position he hasn't played in three years. Head coach Mark Richt said UGA's switch from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense has leveled the playing field of sorts for Samuel as he attempts to adjust to the new position.
"I think he's about like the rest of the guys , they're all kind of lost because they're all learning it brand new," Richt said according to the Macon Telegraph. "But that's one thing that will help Richard. If all these guys had experience at it, he might be farther behind. But he's about as lost as the rest of them."
According to the Telegraph, there are a few options for Samuel and how he will be utilized in Todd Grantham's new defense, pass-rushing specialist, run stopper inside or, if he struggles in adjusting to the position, redshirting the 2010 season altogether.
Samuel said he had no clue how long it would take to make a successful transition.
"I'm not too sure how quick I'm going to pick it up," Samuel said. "You know, it's been two years since I've played the position so it might take some time to pick it up."

Rivals.com Names Gators Stan Drayton as a Top Position Coach Hire

Rivals.com put out their list of the top position coach hires in the 2010 offseason and Stan Drayton was named the top running back position coach hire by the website’s writers on Tuesday.
Rivals.com college football senior writer Tom Dienhart described Drayton as a student of the game and as one of the top recruiters in the Southeast. This is Drayton’s second stint at Florida and he re-joins the UF staff after coaching the running backs at Syracuse University in 2009. He has also worked in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers. Known for being an elite recruiter, Drayton was named one of the nation's top-25 recruiters in 2007 following his involvement with Florida's No. 1-rated recruiting class. He mentored the Gator running backs from 2005 through 2007. Drayton has also coached at Tennessee (2008), Mississippi State (2004) and Villanova (1996-2000). At Florida, the Gator rushing offense ranked third in the SEC and 23rd nationally under Drayton's direction in 2007, averaging 200.2 yards per game. Drayton has spent a combined 13 years coaching running backs on the collegiate level, in addition to three seasons in the NFL. He helped Green Bay to three-straight NFC playoff appearances during his 2001-03 stint with the Packers as offensive quality control and assistant special teams coach.

LSU Football Team Wraps Up First Week of Practice

LSU wrapped up its first week of spring practice on Saturday with a full pads workout that saw head coach Les Miles put the Tigers through an abbreviated scrimmage consisting of nearly 80 live snaps.
Saturday's practice was the fifth of 15 for the Tigers this spring. LSU will take Sunday and Monday off before starting week two of the spring workouts on Tuesday. LSU will practice three times next week - Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday - with Saturday's session scheduled for a scrimmage in Tiger Stadium.
"Today was the first day of spring in reality," Miles said after the practice. "We were in pads and we scrimmaged. We went 40 minutes and had a lot of fun. Some young players really showed and some guys that were veterans looked like veterans. It was still a little too sloppy for my liking so we need to improve. We may go slower in football just to make sure we have it all right."
Another new wrinkle for the Tigers this spring has been the introduction of the "Big Cat" drill, which is a one-on-one full contact drill between and offensive player and a defensive player.
"We started this practice out with a "Big Cat" drill and that is something we will do every day in pads," Miles said. "It's a one-on-one man-on-man aggressive drill.
"This drill gives our players the competitive view of physical interaction. To me, it is basically to make us a dominant and physical football team. If they can step in that drill and do well then they can be a dominant physical football team."

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'Fistic encounter' lands LSU WR on wrong end of taser

LSU football player Terrance Toliver was cited for “disturbing the peace by fistic encounter; disturbing the peace by public intoxication and resisting an officer” in a scuffle at 2 a.m. outside Fred’s Bar, 1176 Bob Pettit Drive, police spokeswoman Lt. Melissa Salamoni said. Dennis Harris, a redshirt freshman on the LSU men’s basketball team, was cited for “interfering with a police officer” and “entering or remaining after being forbidden” while the incident was under investigation, Salamoni said in a news release. Toliver, 21, of Hempstead, Texas, and Timothy Moran, also 21, were observed fighting in the parking lot outside Fred’s, the news release said. Toliver “refused to comply with officers’ commands and was tased,” the release said. The men were issued summonses and released. LSU coaches and university officials plan to meet with Toliver and Harris today.

“We are in the process of gathering information on this incident,” Tigers football coach Les Miles said in a statement from the university. “We are going to investigate it thoroughly to find out the facts and then act accordingly.”

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UGA QB hit with five charges, facing game suspension

One of the trio of combatants battling for Georgia's starting quarterback job was arrested over the weekend on a bevy of charges, the Macon Telegraph is reporting.

The Telegraph reports that redshirt freshman Zach Mettenberger was charged with five offenses early Sunday morning, including underage consumption, disorderly conduct and possession of a fake ID.

The incident that led to Mettenberger's arrest occurred just after 1:30 a.m. ET outside of a joint called "Flip Flops". And, like my dad always warned me growing up, nothing good ever happens after midnight, especially outside of establishments named for footwear.

Mettenberger is competing with Logan Gray and Aaron Murray for the starting job, but, per UGA regulations, any athlete convicted of an alcohol-related offense would be subject to a one-game suspension.

If suspended, it would keep Mettenberger out of the season opener Sept. 4, and would seem to put a big dent in any shot he had at starting under center. At least early on in the season.