SEC football talk, news and discussion.
Mike Slive is going to be back for the 2014-5 academic year, the SEC Commissioner told reporters. He said to the Birmingham News: “I’ve got too much going on…..I’ve got the (SEC) Network to work on. I’ve got football scheduling to solve. We’ve got the NCAA restructuring. We’ve got a lot of important issues to take care of. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” The report noted that Slive made $1.2m in 2012-3.
Read moreTennessee wide receiver Alton ‘Pig’ Howard has taken a leave of absence and won’t play in the spring practice period with the team, say reports coming out of Knoxville. The News Sentinel-owned GoVolsExtra site said “Howard has been away from the team due to “personal reasons” and his long-term future with the Vols had not yet been decided.” Howard had 44 receptions and 3 TDs in 2013, which led the offense-light Volunteers. He also had 388 receiving yards. He is thought to be the Vols No.2 receiver behind Marquez North coming into the Spring. BOTTOM LINE: This isn’t going to make the Vols’ already-tough schedule any easier. Howard may well return for the Spring, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely. Over to
Read moreDish Network and ESPN owner Disney have finally come to a deal over DVRing, according to reports. And in a side agreement between the two sides, SEC fans will be able to watch the new SEC Network when it comes in August. The two sides had also come to an agreement which means that the Dish’s auto-hop function – which allows viewers not to have to view commercials – will be disabled for all ABC/ESPN programming. And while that may be annoying for some people DVRing SEC games or SEC Network shows, the good news is is that at least they’ll be watching them. John Skipper, President, ESPN & Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks said in a statement: “We worked with DISH to
Read moreThe controversial ‘Saban Rule’ which would ensure that would delay offenses and effectively blindside the quick snap tactics is to be re-considered, USA Today has reported. The rule, which would ensure that offenses had to give defenses 10 seconds between snaps (apparently because of ‘safety reasons’, according to Alabama Coach Nick Saban), is apparently going to be reconsidered by the NCAA Rule Committee next week….even before it comes before a vote. The reason for the rule in the first place is worries that more players would be injured as offenses speed up and they are unable to take breaks. Saban and Bielema had lobbied for this since June, according to a piece by Saturday Down South at the time. “I
Read moreVanderbilt has snagged Utah State’s defensive line coach Frank Maile, the Salt Lake Tribune has reported. The Tribune noted: “In the last two years alone, five of his linemen earned all conference honors: Al Lapuaho, Connor Williams, Jordan Nielsen, A.J. Patiali’i and B.J. Larsen.” The paper noted that Maile was well-known for his in-state recruiting, and especially his recruiting of Polynesian recruits. That could be some asset for new coach Derek Mason’s team if Maile continues that vein of form. Maile replaces Vavae Tata, who arrested for DUI earlier this month.
Read moreTwo Ole Miss starters have been given a medical hardship, the school has said. Defensive end CJ Johnson and guard Aaron Morris were both injured in September games. Morris – who started every game for the Rebels in 2012 – tore his ACL in the season opener against Vanderbilt…a game which Ole Miss in one of the most exciting finishes of the season (and that’s saying something!). And while we don’t know the specifics of CJ Johnson’s leg injury, we do know that Johnson was one of Ole Miss’ top pass rushers, which probably didn’t help his school’s cause when he left injured in the blow-out loss to Alabama in 2013.
Read moreSchool Practice Begins Spring Game Pro Day Alabama March 15 April 19 March 12 Arkansas March 16 April 26 March 5 Auburn March 18 April 19 March 4 Florida March 19 April 12 March 17 Georgia March 18 April 12 April 16 Kentucky March 28 April 26 March 14 LSU March 7 April 5 April 9 Ole Miss March 5 April 5 March 3 Mississippi State March 18 April 12 March 5 Missouri March 11 April 19 March 6 South Carolina March 4 April 12 April 2 Tennessee March 7 April 12 April 2 Texas A&M February 28 N/A March 5 Vanderbilt March 11 April 12 March 21
Read moreLSU has landed the No.1 fullback in the nation for its 2015 class, according to reports. Les Miles offered Lakeshore High School (Mandeville, La.) a scholarship to David Ducre after inviting him to the school’s Junior Day. Ducre, who can 100 yards in 11 seconds (quick), is 6ft high and 230 lbs (great to block) told Saturday Down South: “I’m stoked because I have the opportunity to play with and compete against some of the best players that the country has to offer…The competition will only make me better. They love my physicality, strength, speed and my hands.” If he keeps his commitment to LSU through National Signing Day next year, he’ll arrive in Death Valley to good company. The
Read moreVanderbilt has suspended defensive line coach Vavae Tata indefinitely after he was arrested for DUI, the Tennessean is reporting. According to the report, Tata was charged for being off his tatas on Saturday night, blowing a .18 on his breathalyzer test, more than twice legal blood-alcohol limit of .08%, according to an affidavit released by Davidson County. Which was quite good going, if you think about it. It’s not Tata’s first brush with the law: He was arrested for DUI in 1997 and convicted in 2000. Vandy, which underwent a new coaching regime with former Stanford defensive co-ordinator Derek Mason after James Franklin went to Penn State, had a relatively successful signing day. And Vanderbilt’s also no stranger to brushes with
Read moreOle Miss stars Denzel and Robert Nkemdiche have been slapped with a $2m lawsuit over the assault of a university frat boy at a party on February 17th last year, according to a report from Fox Sports College Football Blog ‘Outside The Lines’. According to a civil complaint the two brothers (Robert was one of the biggest recruits in high school at the time and had only just signed to Ole Miss) and five other Ole Miss players attacked Matthew Baird and later Ford Everett at a KA Party. This is the second piece of bad news in quick succession for Denzel Nkemdiche, who was arrested for disturbing the peace on Saturday night. Fellow linebacker Serderius Bryant was also arrested,
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