Notre Dame Who...Who Cares...Meyer Stays

Meet the 4 Million Dollar Man. Meet the highest paid coach in the SEC (until Alabama and LSU return serve) and the 3rd-highest paid coach in college football. USC's Pete Carroll makes more than Urban Meyer. Meyer should be the 1st-highest paid!
Florida and Florida's Guy have finalized a 6 year, $24 million contract, $4 million annually, that will run through 2014. That is the price you pay these days. They originally were going to wait until Sept. 19 to sign it in Lane Kiffin's blood. The SEC Rocks!

OLE MISS ...Coming out from under the Radar

The preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll doesn’t come out for another 3 weeks, but the sniping has already begun. The Sporting News has Ole Miss ranked 5th in the country and pegged the Rebels as the favorite in the SEC West. Everybody loves a trendy pick to make some noise, and Ole Miss seems to be it.
Ole Miss is trying to buck some pretty imposing history. The Rebels haven’t won the SEC since 1963, the year of JFK’s death and long before integration. They are the only team in the SEC West yet to play in the league championship game, which was launched in ‘92. Ole Miss came close in 2003, Eli Manning’s farewell season, only to lose to LSU 17-14 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
The Tigers would go on to win SEC and BCS national titles that year.
Ole Miss is generating this buzz based on 3 or 4 things:
1) The Rebels are loaded on the defensive line, even after Peria Jerry’s departure;
2) They kicked a_ _ at Tiger Stadium(LSU), and were the only team to beat Tim Tebow and Florida in 2008;
3) They can score points in bunches and move the football, whether they’re in their conventional offense or Houston Nutt’s beloved “Wild Rebel” scheme;
4) And most important, they’ve got a big-time quarterback.
That’s what Jevan Snead has brought to Ole Miss. A presence. A guy who can fling it. A smart player with a quick release and NFL ambitions. And expectations the Rebels haven’t had to deal with in decades.
The SEC Rocks!

The Bad Things About Lane Kiffin

Said " Urban Meyer Cheated"
3 recruiting Violations
Talked about beating Florida
Made and denied a gas pumping comment
Posted Recruits on Twitter
said "Vols lured Louisiana safety fair and square"
Confronted by Steve Spurrier
I have one word left and that is WOW!

UK's Rich Brooks...nervous about 1st week of Camp

Last year, Rich Brooks didn't have to wait for the season for his 1st loss.
The University of Kentucky football coach announced on the 1st day of practice last season that QB Curtis Pulley was dismissed from the team, costing the Wildcats a potential starter.
Brooks knows all too well that the week leading up to practice (UK takes the field for the 1st time on Friday )can be just as stressful as the ones leading up to games against Florida or Alabama.
“This is 1 week that is filled with trepidation by me,” Brooks said. “I just want to get to the starting gate with all the horses, not have any scratches, if you know what I mean.”
UK's players, most of whom spent the summer on campus, report for camp on Thursday, but until they do, there will be some tense moments.
Two weeks ago, Brooks said the eligibility of 2 incoming freshmen , wide receiver/tight end Anthony Kendrick , and defensive lineman Donte Rumph was uncertain.
Last Friday, he said there still were some uncertainties about the roster. The SEC Rocks!

Same Expectations for 2009 Georgia Bulldogs

Things will be a lot different than last year when Georgia’s players report for preseason practice today, but the expectations of the players haven’t changed a bit.
“We have a great football team,” senior defensive tackle Jeff Owens said. “We have a lot of talent. You just look at our past recruiting classes. We’ve got the talent. We’ve got the guys. We’ve just got to put it all together.”

Georgia coach Mark Richt and numerous players have admitted the team failed to handle the hype and heavy expectations that came with last season’s No. 1 ranking. This year, the Bulldogs quietly have flown under the radar, avoiding off-field problems and remaining focused on earning redemption for last season’s missed opportunities. The SEC Rocks!

Spurrier Pleased at the Improvements with Gamecocks

Although the team has been bowl eligible in each of his 4 seasons at the University of South Carolina, Gamecocks football coach Steve Spurrier admits to being disappointed at not affecting the collective attitude of the program more significantly.
He believes that is finally happening, thanks to a reworked coaching staff and the entrance of one of the best recruiting classes since he came to the school.
“In the spring we had the best attendance, guys going to class, not missing and going on time, that we've had,” said Spurrier. “I think a lot of that is attributed to our new coaches demanding, expecting and making sure that players do what they are supposed to do.
“We had the best summer attendance (for unsupervised practice and weight room workouts) from what I understand, from what I hear since I have been here. We are certainly looking forward to a new era of Carolina football.”
The Gamecocks hope to continue that good feeling and hard work when they begin fall practice on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The SEC Rocks!

VOLS' 5 Main Questions for Kiffin

If you told 1st-year University of Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin that he had just 5 pressing questions headed into his first preseason camp with the Volunteers, Kiffin would probably ask where he could sign that unbeatable deal.
The fact is UT has more than 5 questions heading into Tuesday's first practice at Haslam Field, but those 1st 5 are as important as they are uncertain.
"We've got so much to do, and we really don't have much time to do it," Kiffin said earlier this summer.
The Volunteers have precious little time to sort out these 5 issues.
1. Who will start at quarterback?
2. Who will catch that quarterback's passes?
3. Who will emerge as the fifth offensive lineman?
4. Can this year's linebackers continue Chavis-like success?
5. Which true freshmen are ready to help?
Receiver is an obvious position that needs freshmen on the field, but Kiffin has long stated a dislike for simple seniority atop the depth chart.
Tailbacks Bryce Brown and David Oku and defensive backs Janzen Jackson and Darren Myles Jr. stand out as potential immediate impact players, but others, especially big defensive tackles Marlon Walls and Arthur Jeffery , could also become factors. The SEC Rocks!

Alabama Picked for SEC West Favorite

Alabama coach Nick Saban walked away from SEC media days with a tag he hasn't towed since his days at LSU: SEC West favorite.
The Crimson Tide was the media's pick to win the West and face Florida in the SEC Title Game, despite Saban's own warning hours before the votes were due.
"It's very difficult to predict what a bunch of adolescents are going to do, and we have over a hundred of them on our team," Saban said. "It's difficult to predict what's going to happen with any team."
Most programs have pressing concerns to address during fall camp, and Alabama is no different. Certain areas will receive daily attention when the Crimson Tide takes the field Thursday to being 10 consecutive practice days. The SEC Rocks!

Alabama's AJ McCarron...for Backup QB

Redshirt freshman Star Jackson couldn't catch McElroy for the starting role during spring practice, and now the multi-threat quarterback from Florida faces another challenge in former St. Paul's standout AJ McCarron.
In all fairness, Jackson's sub-par showing in the A-Day Game came behind an overwhelmed offensive line and with a "touch-sack" rules that negated his elusiveness. But since arriving on campus in early June, McCarron has drawn raves for his big arm and pinpoint throws. However, McCarron hasn't yet been through a full-scale practice and needs to add bulk to his 6-foot-4 frame to withstand the rigors of the collegiate game.
Alabama was spoiled the past three years by the remarkable durability of John Parker Wilson, who never missed a start. Now with Wilson gone, the No. 2 quarterback could again prove a very significant role. The SEC Rocks!

Is It, Eric Berry the Next Heisman Winner

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- It would have been easy for an All-American like Tennessee's Eric Berry to defy the leadership of a new coaching staff going into what is likely his last season with the Volunteers.

"He could have resisted," coach Lane Kiffin said. "But from day one he's been the first one in meetings, the last one to leave, always asking questions, always coming up to my dad's office trying to get better."

It's that kind of leadership and motivation, along with the junior safety's immense talent, that's behind the Tennessee staff's promotion of Berry for the Heisman Trophy.
(by www.utsports.com)

LSU's Dickson on the Mackey Watchlist

LSU senior tight end Richard Dickson has been named to the 2009 John Mackey Award preseason watch list, presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate tight end, announced by the Nassau County Sports Commission.
Dickson, a native of Ocean Springs, Miss., heads into his final LSU season with a shot at breaking every tight end receiving record in school history. For his career, he has caught 69 passes for 795 yards and 10 touchdowns in 39 games.
Dickson’s 10 touchdown receptions are tied with Brad Boyd for the most in school history, while his 69 receptions is the 4th-highest total and the 795 yards are the 5th most in school history.
In 2008, he earned 2nd-team All-Southeastern Conference honors after hauling in 31 passes for 324 yards and 5 touchdowns. Dickson started all 13 games, ranking 3rd on the team in receptions and yards and was 2nd on the squad in touchdown catches. The SEC Rocks!

Kentucky's T. C. Drake on Mackey Award Watchlist

Kentucky senior T.C. Drake has been named to the watch list for the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end, as announced by the Nassau County (N.Y.) Sports Commission.
Drake (Bardstown, Ky.) caught 12 passes for 204 yards last season, with an outstanding average of 17 yards per reception. His top game was 4 catches for 82 yards in the win over Middle Tennessee and he had a career-long grab of 37 yards in the victory over Arkansas. He also contributes on several special teams. The SEC Rocks!

GameCocks' TE Weslye Saunders on Mackey Awards Watchlist

University of South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders is one of 30 players listed on the 2009 John Mackey Award watch list, as released by the Nassau County Sports Commission . Given annually to the best collegiate tight end, the award recipient will be announced on December 10, 2009.
Saunders, a 6-5, 280-pound junior from Durham, N.C., caught 16 passes for 214 yards during the 2008 season with 3 touchdowns while appearing in all 13 games. In his 2 years at South Carolina, Saunders has caught 28 passes for 365 yards, an average of 13.0 yards per catch. He was a Freshman All-SEC selection by the Sporting News in 2007. The SEC Rocks!

Arkansas' D.J. Williams on Mackey Awards Watchlist

Junior tight end D.J. Williams was named to the 2009 Mackey Award Preseason Watch List, by the Nassau County Sports Commission. The John Mackey Award is given annually to the nation’s best collegiate tight end.
Williams is one of 30 players on the preseason watch list and is the only returning semifinalist from last season returning. Arkansas’ leading receiver from a year ago is also 1 of 10 juniors to make the list and 1 of 6 SEC tight ends to be considered. This year’s John Mackey Award winner will be announced on December 10, 2009.
Last season Williams had a breakout season as he caught 61 passes for an Arkansas record 723 yards by a tight end. He scored 3 touchdowns with a long catch of 76 yards. In 12 games last year he broke the 100-yard mark 3 times including back-to-back contests of 129 yards, a career best.
Widely considered one of the best tight ends in the nation, Williams has already been named to a pair of preseason All-SEC squads including a 1st-team honor by the media in attendance at SEC Media Days last week. The SEC Rocks!

Auburn's Tommy Trott...on Mackey Award Watchlist

Auburn senior tight end Tommy Trott has been named to the watch list for the 2009 John Mackey Award, the Nassau County Sports Commission announced Wednesday. The Mackey Award is given annually to the best collegiate tight end in the nation.
Trott, who was one of 30 players named to the watch list, started Auburn's first 11 games last season, finishing with 20 receptions for 201 yards. He caught at least 3 passes in 5 games, including back-to-back games against West Virginia and Ole Miss in which he caught a career high 4 balls in each game!
Trott enters his senior season with 34 career receptions for 330 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He has played in 39 career games, making 22 starts.
The John Mackey Award will be selected by a vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee, and the 2009 John Mackey winner will be announced Dec. 10, 2009. The SEC Rocks!

LSU's Annual Football Fan Day is Set

LSU's annual football fan day is set for Sunday, Aug. 9 at the River Center in downtown Baton Rouge. Doors to the River Center will open at 2:30 p.m.
Due to the large turnout a year ago for Fan Day at the River Center, both the Exhibition Hall as well as the main arena will be used this year to accommodate fans.
Fans will be able to meet Mike the Tiger, the LSU cheerleaders as well as the volleyball and women’s soccer teams starting at 2:45 p.m. The LSU football team, along with head coach Les Miles and his coaching staff, will be available for autographs and photos from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Some of the giveaways that day include posters, schedule cards, and magnets for the football, soccer and volleyball teams.
In addition, the popular football placard poster will be given away that day. The only other time fans will be able to get a 2009 LSU football placard poster will be at the soccer match against Texas on Aug. 14 at the and the purple and gold volleyball scrimmage on Aug. 24.
The LSU Sports Shop will have two booths located inside the River Center, one selling new LSU merchandise and the other selling clearance items. The SEC Rocks!

He's Back...Terry Bowden That Is

Bowden's abrupt exit from Auburn's Football Program nearly 11 years ago left the unabashedly ambitious, ultraconfident coach full of self-doubt.
"I think I suppressed so much depression and just unhappiness," said Bowden, preparing for his 1st season coaching at Division II North Alabama. "You wake up for at least 30-45 minutes every day and say, 'Could I have done something different? How did that happen?'
"It crushed me. I was probably unable to handle that degree of failure to the degree that it crushed me."
It kept the onetime coaching wonder, who won his first 20 games as a major college coach, sidelined for nearly a decade, relegated to the comparatively safe world of TV studios, broadcasting booths and keyboards.
Now he's back. Back in the state where he gained fame and eventually infamy, but far removed from both Auburn and the powerful SEC. Hey,mainly, he's just back coaching. The SEC Rocks!

5 Ways the Georgia Bulldogs are Improved

The offensive line:
8 different offensive linemen started games for Georgia last year, and that doesn’t include left tackle Trinton Sturdivant, who hurt his knee in fall practice and missed the year. The upside is that the Bulldogs now have plenty of veteran linemen that could become one of the top units in the country, a huge benefit to an offense that will have a lot of new faces elsewhere.
Joe Cox’s leadership:
Georgia will certainly miss the cannon arm of Matthew Stafford, but what the Bulldogs lose in talent, they may make up for in heart with new quarterback Joe Cox. Cox is a vocal leader, and a veteran who isn’t afraid to call out a teammate who isn’t getting the job done. He’s been the backbone of a dramatically more focused offseason, but only time will tell if that pays dividends this fall.
Lower expectations:
Last year, Georgia began the season as the No. 1 team in the country and faltered miserably under the spotlight that comes along with such lofty expectations. This year, the Bulldogs are flying quietly under the radar, and that’s a role Mark Richt and company say they’re far more comfortable playing.
Dominant defensive tackles:
Jeff Owens hurt his knee in Week 1 last year, depriving Georgia of what could have been a dynamic tandem on the interior defensive line. This year, he’s back to full health and will pair with Geno Atkins to give the Bulldogs a dominant defensive front up the middle that can cause plenty of havoc in the backfield while still shutting down the run.
Be healthier:
There’s virtually no way Georgia could be bitten any harder by the injury bug this year than they were in 2008. More than 30 players missed action or were hindered in practice last year due to injuries, and the run of bumps and bruises caused Richt to scale back practice. This year, the injured Bulldogs are on the road to recovery, and everyone’s keeping their fingers crossed that last year’s bad luck is balanced by an injury-free 2009. The SEC Rocks!