SEC Spring Meetings: James Franklin interview

While Nick : and Les Miles were expected to battle it out for a National Championship in 2011, Mark Richt and Steve Spurrier were expected to battle it out for the SEC East, James Franklin and his Vanderbilt team were expected to be their inspiring, yet toothless selves. But the Commodores had a sensational season by their standards, finishing 6-6 and getting bowl eligible (they lost 31-24 in a heartbreaker in the Liberty Bowl). Franklin, looking resplendent in white shirt and chinos (he looked like one of the cast of the OC), took the interview with the SEC’s Buzz Baker: The 2011 season: The UConn win at the start of the season was critical to us – UConn were a

Read more

SEC Spring Meetings: Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze talks!

Hugh Freeze isn’t new to the SEC but he’s new to the head coaching business. But he’s come to familiar waters – Oxford, Mississippi – to take over the new head coaching job. Anyway, he talked to SEC TV’s Buzz Baker. Here are some good excerpts of his conversation: On coming back to Ole Miss: It’s been an exciting ride for my family. I feel honored and blessed to be a part of Rebel Nation. The Blind Side (Freeze was the high school coach of one Michael Oher, Baltimore Ravens offensive linesman and big-time recruit who eventually came to Ole Miss): Our recruiting team has really used the film to recruit. It’s a great thing to have behind us. Michael Oher

Read more

SEC Spring Meetings:Nick Saban on entitlement, titles and schedules

Nick Saban sat down with Buzz Baker to talk about things at the University of Alabama, and he made sure that he delivered more than just an interview… Here are some of his best quotes: On Entitlement: There was a lot of entitlement in 2010 after we won in 2009 and we played badly. In 2012, the team we have now the entitlement is less but the schedule is tougher. But entitlement is a human condition. With it, you focus on what you’ve done and the holiday that you’re entitled to rather than focus on what makes you successful. The LSU game: I’m proud of the way they managed losing the first LSU game. We knew that we didn’t execute

Read more

Spring Meetings: Les Miles’ interview with SEC TV

In his chat with the SEC’s Buzz Baker, Les Miles – wearing a rather loud yellow shirt – and not with all his children (they are on camp, apparently!) – had some soundbytes. Sorry if the quotes aren’t exact: The season: We played three 2nd ranked teams and beat them all. We played 13 great teams, and the one we didn’t so well in was the National Championship game, unfortunately. Our team understands they were in the SEC West and now they have a Championship banner that no-one else hangs. Motivation for the future?: They are excited with playing and they are looking forward to it. The team for 2012: Good on defense, and the offense will be much better.

Read more

SEC Meetings: Miles, Saban headline Tuesday Schedule

Here are the SEC Spring Meetings schedule for the SEC Digital Network. The ones highlighted are the football head coaches.   10:40-10.50                     Gary Pinkel, Mizzou 11:00 – 11:10                      Les Miles, LSU          11:20 – 11:30                      Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss  12:00 – 12:10                      James Franklin, Vanderbilt 12:30 – 12:40                      Nick Saban, Alabama 12:50 – 1:00                        Commissioner Slive Don’t worry, we’ll be writing each of the press conferences up on SECFootballBlog.net! Expect: Gary Pinkel to talk about new, big wide receivers, and the challenge of SEC Football after the joke that was the Big XII North. Les Miles to talk about quarterbacks Hugh Freeze to talk about life after Houston

Read more

SEC Spring Meetings Preview: What to Watch Out For

We love the SEC Spring Meetings. Whether it’s coaches ranting on about whether student-athletes should be paid to others talking about oversigning, they are generally the first smell of powder, and the first sound of war. The only thing it is missing is fans tailgating before, during and after it in the car park, and a live animal in parking lot. Anyway, from Tuesday to Thursday it’s the Spring Meeting from Florida, which is going to mean potential RSI for this blog and a lot of information from you guys. Seriously – if you want to find out how Wil Muschamp plans to exorcise last year’s demon in the State of Florida, you’ve come to the right place. Heck, we’ll even

Read more

Slive: I Like Play-Offs

When the most powerful commissioner in college football is saying: “I like play-offs”, it’s not going to be a matter whether college football goes to a play-off, it’s a matter when it does, and how many teams are involved. Speaking at the SEC Baseball tournament in Hoover (won by the Mississippi State Bulldogs, if you’re counting), Mike Slive said that he favours a four-team play-off. “I think what’s in the best interest of college football is a four-team playoff,” he told ESPN. “I think it’s better for everyone involved in the game. The plus-one narrows the postseason in a way that’s not necessarily in the best interest of all the conferences.” Of course, now comes the madness and questions: 1)

Read more

Why the hate for Steve Spurrier?

Steve Spurrier made some non-needed headlines in the college football world this week when ESPN’s Mark Schlabach said that the South Carolina Gamecocks coach was ‘College Football’s Most Hated Coach (Of All Time)’. Said Schlabach in his article: “Rival fans hated Spurrier not only because he beat them so often while coaching at Florida, but more so because he loved to tell them about it afterward. From Spurrier’s famous jabs like “Free Shoes U.” and “Can’t Spell Citrus Without UT,” the Old Ball Coach gave rival fans myriad reasons to dislike him.” Also included in the list from 2-10 are: Ohio State’s Woody Hayes, Oklahoma’s Barry Switzer, Miami’s Jimmy Johnson, Tennessee and USC’s Lane Kiffin, Bobby Petrino, Ohio State head coach

Read more

What will recent arrests mean to both Arkansas and Tennessee?

Another week, another bunch of arrests in the world of college football. TENNESSEE: This week, the Tennessee Vols  tight end Cameron Clear was arrested on a felony theft charge involving a laptop, according to the Atlanta Journal-Consititution, and the Tennessee Vols has dismissed him from the team. The sophomore tight end has one reception and four receiving yards in his Volunteers career. WHAT THIS MEANS: The biggest pain in the neck with Clear’s arrest is that it hits embattled Vols coach badly on the depth chart. Clear was meant to be No.2 on the chart, and now he’s not there anymore. Now, it’s going to be up to Brendan Downs to do the job alongside senior Mychal Rivera to do

Read more

Could the SEC bolt for UNC and Duke?

As we know, the SEC is no stranger to expanding its reach. South Carolina and Arkansas came aboard in 1991. Missouri and Texas A&M came aboard in 2012. But could Duke and UNC come along and be part of SEC country, giving them not only dominance in football, but also – dear God – basketball? Why do we ask this question? Tonight, we were at a charity function and got talking to someone still involved with Duke who told us: “It wasn’t so long ago that we and UNC were talking to the SEC about moving there”. He also remarked that Florida State would go to the Big XII, but wasn’t so sure about Clemson’s ambitions. With the way the

Read more
1 130 131 132 133