2010 College Football Preview: SEC

Heading into the 2010 college football season the SEC might be a little overrated.

Sure the national champion will probably come out of the SEC once again, but from top to bottom the SEC is weak this year. The majority of the teams are reloading (Alabama, Florida) and the rest of the teams are rebuilding (Ole Miss, Kentucky, Tennessee).

Alabama will be the favorite. They return a talented offense with the reigning Heisman winner Mark Ingram returning along with quarterback Mark McElroy and receiver Julio Jones. Alabama will have to replace two starters on their line, but that shouldn't be a big problem. The Crimson Tide though has to replace the majority of the defense. Mount Cody and Javier Arenas are both gone. Nick Saban though is such a good recruiter and the defense should be loaded with talent.

Florida faces the same problem as Alabama except on offense. Not only is Tim Tebow gone, Florida also lost two receivers, tight end, and a right guard. All talented players that need to be replaced. Florida does though return a strong defense with veteran defensive lineman and secondary players returning. Florida is realistically still a year away from contention for a national title, but they should once again play in the SEC Championship game.

The Links

Rebecca Grant (via James Craven).......Thoughts and prayers to those who lost loved ones at Ft. Hood...... Dez Bryant confirms he's leaving for the NFL.... Isiah Thomas tries to reinvent himself at FIU..... LeBron is still complaining about not getting to the line at the end of the game last night..... Brock Lesnar has mono..... Are you ready for more Boston Celtics and 72 wins talks?..... More on Lincecum being busted with pot

DeAngelo Hall takes a shot at Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff (PFT)

The Cavaliers couldn't shoot last night against the Bulls (Ball Don't Lie)

With a Super Bowl and NBA All-Star game coming to Dallas in upcoming months, city officials are expecting prostitution numbers to go up (Sportress of Blogitude)

Your week nine NFL announcing schedules (Awful Announcing)

A great story on Aubry Boyd (Fanhouse)

Here's all the reasons why I don't watch WWE Raw anymore (Camel Clutch Blog)

Jumping from High School to the D-League? (TrueHoop)

Should the Phillies still try and acquire Roy Halladay? (Philly.com)

This Tom Cable story is getting worse by the day (With Leather)

SEC replay official overturns Roe vs. Wade (The Onion)

Another reason why Soccer sucks (The Big Lead)

The Links

Ali Larter to start the mourning.... How to fix the WNBA..... The Washington Redskins are just flat pathetic..... Detroit Red Wings are struggling early in the season..... The SEC referee's suck..... Manny Ramirez was taking a shower when Jimmy Rollins hit that game-winning hit...... Give the Phillies the respect they deserve..... Kayne West isn't dead

A David Hasselhoff reality show (Warming Glow)

Should Ohio State bench Terrelle Pryor (The Scores Report)

Umpire Tim McClelland makes the worst call ever (Big League Stew)

The season of failure continues for the Mets (Deadspin)

Speaking of failure and Mets. Former Mets GM and current ESPN personality Steve Phillips had an affair with an ESPN production assistant who went Fatal Attraction on him (The Big Lead)

Update: Here are the pictures of the girl Phillips had the affair with. She isn't exactly a looker (The Big Lead)

Family secretly videotapes father while watching Arkansas game (Wiz of Odds)

Lane Kiffin continues to take shots at Florida (AL.com)

You may not like Chris Spielman the broadcaster, but you will like this story about Chris Spielman the husband (Columbus Dispatch)

10 biggest busts in sports (Maxim)

I say yes: Should the NFL ban domed stadiums? (Wall Street Journal)

Wynne Arboleda: The Flippino Ron Artest (Basketbawful)

The Links

Brooklyn Decker to start the mourning.... Man steals thousands of Porn DVD's.... A sprinter was forced to take a gender test.... Even Canada is warning America about Universal health care.... Brook Hogan freaks out on stage.... Man stabbed over a cheeseburger.... A Hurricane is on it's way to South Florida.... A reality show contestant is a murderer?

Memphis has to take the fall, for John Calipari's wrong doings (Memphis Commercial-Appeal)

Hope your not a blogger that covers the SEC (NY Times)

More drama surrounding Brandon Marshall and the Broncos (Denver Post)

The Dodgers sign Vicente Padilla and his attitude (LA Times)

NFL selling Michael Vick jersey's for dogs (USA Today)

Katy Perry vs. Aussie TV (The Sun)

No way! The NCAA is investigating Bryce Brown (Dr. Saturday)

Remember it's the dogs fault, not Vick's (KSK)

President Obama goes redneck (HHR)

I don't think this is how Disney wanted the seven dwarfs to be remembered (Ugliest Tattoos)

The Links

I haven't seen Elizabeth Hurley in a long time..... Obama angers the left, but does the right thing.... Indeed! Mel Gibson's golddigger is pregnant with his baby.... 'Terminator' had a week opening weekend.... The Nuggets evened their series between Los Angles

An alleged rape occurred at Jets safety Kerry Rhodes' home (The Big Lead)

The NBA might not get their dream matchup of Kobe-LeBron (Fanhouse)

The Minnesota Timberwolves have crushed the Sports Guy's dreams (Deadspin)

Post-Memorial Day MLB Power Rankings (Off Bob Howry)

F.U. Phillie Phantic (The Big Picture)

Jose Canseco got his ass kicked in his MMA bout (Online Sports Guy) Video Below

The Law of the Beanball (27 Pitches)

The Lakers looked tired last night (LA Times)

Another stupid guarantee. This time it's Mo Williams guarantees a Cavaliers win tonight (Mourning Journal)

SEC offseason's are more fun now than the season (The Tennessean)

Never count out Steve Spurrier (AL.com)

Recap(with video) of last night's showdown between Vince McMahon and Nuggets owner Stan Kroneke (Fire Andy Reid Now!)

Video of Jose Canseco getting his ass kicked in a MMA bout

The Links

Happy St. Patrick's day, now here's Jurgita Valts.... Natasha Richardson is in critical condition after an ski accident... 10 things you didn't know about Ireland.... Houston Rockets guard Carl Landry was shot in the leg... A-Rod finally opens up... Cole Hamels is going to have his elbow looked at, never a good sign.... Sci Fi Channel has a new name

- Jenna Jameson and Tito Ortiz had twin baby boys (US)

- Could the next steroid problem come out of the NBA? (Fanhouse)

- The players union and the NFL could go to "War" over the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (PFT)

- The AVP knows how to market beach volleyball (Deadspin)

- Remember when you are watching Eric Devendorf play in the NCAA tournament, you are watching a guy who hits girls (Rumors and Rants)

- Ladies of Stephen F. Austin (Busted Coverage)

- Cal has to focus on Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez in the tournament (SF Chronicle)

- Who does Jerry Tarkanian think will win the NCAA tournament (LA Times)

- The SEC is mad about lack of seeds and low seeds (Indianapolis Star)

- Paul Finebaum explains why the NCAA tournament is also a bad thing (AL.com)

- John Calipari says the Non-BCS schools get overlooked in the tournament (Memphis Commercial-Appeal)

Selection Sunday Open Thread

Today is the last day of conference championships. By 3pm today, the selection committee will choose 34-at large teams to go along with the 31 conference champions to make up the field for the NCAA tournament.

Championships determined today:

ACC Championship

Big Ten Championship

SEC Championship

Southland Championship

Here is an open thread for your comments or you can go over to the live blog over at Fire Andy Reid Now!.

Have fun

The Links

Head on over to Fire Andy Reid Now! there is a live blog of the entire day of hoops from the Big East...... Katie Price rollerblading

- Questions about Andre Smith reflect upon his agent (AL.com)

- Pacman continues to make it rain (PFT)

- Robert Morris and Portland St. are going dancing (Deadspin)

- How are the Patriots spending the Matt Cassel money (Mass Hysteria)

- Mike Singletary went off last night. But not the Singletary you are thinking of (With Leather)

- The 'Watchmen' and the NFL (Kissing Suzy Kolber)

- Georgetown and Norte Dame are the biggest disappointments in college basketball (The Big Picture)

- Tempers flare in the Seton Hall, Syracuse game (NJ.com)

- SEC teams don't view their league as mediocre, but competitive (Tampa Tribune)

- Utah Jazz finally lose a game (Salt Lake Tribune)

- The Orlando Magic have clinched a playoff birth (Orlando Sentinel)

- Tubby Smith is breathing new life into the Minnesota basketball program (Star-Tribune)

- Oklahoma St., Oklahoma face off for a third time today in the Big 12 tournament (The Oklahoman)

- Oregon and Oregon St. had bad nights in the Pac-10 tournament (The Oregonian)

- Indiana has some big dreams for the Big Ten tournament (Indianapolis Star)

BREAKING: Auburn Chooses Their Coach

After a coaching search that included interviews with, Buffalo coach Turner Gill, Ball State coach Brady Hoke, and a few others Auburn has finally choose a coach.

According to CBS Dennis Dodd, Auburn has chosen Iowa State coach Gene Chizik as their next coach.

Chizik was the Auburn defensive coordinator from 2002-2004, including leading the best defense in the nation in 2004 en route to an unbeaten season.

Chizik then left for Texas, where he was also the defensive coordinator, leading the team to the 2005 National Championship. Chizik was one of the hottest assistant coaches in the nation after that season.

In 2007, Iowa St. choose Chizik to lead their program. He only went 5-19 in two season's at Iowa St., including a zero win season in the Big 12 this year.

This is an interesting choice for Auburn. He is familiar with the program and conference, but he has not been that successful in his tenure as the Iowa St. coach. Hoke or Gill would have been better choices because of their track record of turning around their respective programs.

I hope Chizik is ready for the always demanding Bobby "Jet fuel" Lowder.

The Links

- Pop Warner team gets kicked out of Disney Land (Deadspin)

- Miss SEC Poon (Poon of the SEC)

- Man steels Little League Money (SportsbyBrooks)

- Sixers fire Mo Cheeks (ESPN.com)

- Tara Reid goes to rehab, and no one is surprised (New York Daily News)

- Clint Eastwood's new movie isn't very good (MTV.com)

- Only in Canada can a man build himself a robot girlfriend (Foxnews.com)

Mommy Can You Help Me

(Put me down, or I will tell my mom)

As I reported last week, Auburn had let go their coach Tommy Tuberville.

Their were conflicting reports that Tuberville resigned and that he was fired.

Well according to Tuberville's mom, he was fired. She told the The Opelika-Auburn News the school turned their back on her little boy.

"This went on too long," she said. "They had their minds made up days ago, I imagine. It was tough. He didn't know what to expect. All of his friends have stayed with him."

Auburn AD Jay Jacobs said Tuberville left on his own decision. Tuberville himself said that it was the best interests of both parties.

I or anyone else knows what exactly went wrong in Auburn, but if that was me, I wouldn't won't my mommy telling the press, "they turned their backs on my little boy".

College Football Links

- Wondering how it fell under for Tyrone Willingham (SF Chronicle)

- Is there a better coach for Auburn than Tommy Tuberville (Press-Register)

- Cincinnati had a bad trip last time they played in Hawaii (Cincinnati Enquirer)

- What would have happened if Tebow would have chosen Alabama (Orlando Sentinel)

- SEC Championship game preview (Rivals.com)

Report: Tuberville is out as Auburn coach

There is nothing official yet, but apparently Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville is out as the coach.

The Birmingham news reported the story.

An official announcement could come out today.

Tuberville met with school AD Jay Jacobs on Tuesday and Wednesday. And the school might not waste anytime getting rid of Tuberville.

Tuberville is 85-40 in his ten years at Auburn. This is year though has been the worst. The season started with high expectations because a great defensive was returning and they were implementing a new spread offense.

Well things went down hill and Tuberville fired his new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin after five weeks. The offense could never compliment the defense and forced Auburn to miss the postseason since Tuberville's last year.

More on this to come.

This could get interesting

Well Lane Kiffin hasn't even been the Tennessee coach since Monday, and he has taken and received a jab by Steve Spurrier.

Spurrier who used to needle former coach Phil Fulmer, was at it Monday before the ink dried on Kiffin's contract. He questioned if Kiffin broke NCAA rules by contacting a recruit before he was allowed to.

Jarvis Giles, a high school running back from Florida was contacted by Kiffin on Sunday mourning.

Kiffin struck back by hiring one of Spurrier's assistants, David Reaves, as his new recruiting coordinator. Then had this little gem.

"As far as recruiting, we've hit the ground running. I took the test a few days before I got hired here so that we could do that," he said Monday at his introductory news conference.

I have to say even though I questioned the hiring of Kiffin at Tennessee yesterday, I am starting to like the move. Kiffin, which we found out in the Bay Area, doesn't hold back when running his mouth. He could be the perfect foil to Spurrier. I can't wait till next year, to see the first South Carolina Vs. Tennessee game.

College Football Links

- Defending the Florida Gators (The Huntsville Times)

- The running backs will be the star's of the MAC Championship (Muncie Star Press)

- Boston College expected to play in the ACC Championship game (Boston Globe)

- The annual Pete Carroll to the NFL rumors have started (LA Times)

- The Big 12 needs to get rid of their divisions, so you wouldn't have this problem next year (CBSSports.com)

- The coaching carousal (Rivals.com)

It's official: Lane Kiffin introduced as the new Tennessee coach

(SEC fans are not as forgiving as Al Davis)

It became official today, Tennessee introduced Lane Kiffin as the 21St coach in Volunteer country.


This hire is peculiar to me because Kiffin hasn't really done anything in his coaching career. He spent five years at USC, two of those years as the offensive coordinator. He more famously the head coach of the Oakland Raiders the past 1.25 years. He only won five games in his time spent in Oakland.

I don't now what qualified Kiffin to be in the same coaching ranks as: Mark Richt, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Houston Nutt. But Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton obviously saw something in Kiffin. Lane is supposedly going to bring in his father Monte to run the defense and Ed Orgeron as the lead recruiter.

This hire could go both ways: complete disaster or complete genius by Tennessee, but their is no middle ground. And he doesn't have complacent Raider fans sitting behind him, he will have fanatic SEC fans. Good Luck.

Saban is a busy man

Tom Dienhart of rivals.com, has a great piece today about a normal work week for Alabama coach Nick Saban.

Say what you want about Saban, but the man is definitely one of the hardest workers today in any sport. He is driven by the sport of college football and his only happiness is winning. His single focus has turned off a lot of people, who have called him a dictator. He is who he is because of his focus.

Also in the piece Saban talked about his NFL experience,

"I love the college game," Saban says. "The NFL? It is too much about self-preservation. It's hard to get everyone on the same page. And the league is too media-driven. I enjoy the college game more. "

Isn't college football media driven? Anyway we all understand that Saban didn't enjoy his time in the NFL. The college game only fills his desire.

So everyone needs to respect the man, and appreciate what he is doing in only his second year in Alabama.