Friday, May 31, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 31, 2013 and 92 days left

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngHappy Friday! Get an early buzz with these six college football stories from around the country.

Reprimand underscores Ohio St president's mistake

Verbal gaffes by Ohio State University president Gordon Gee have long been a source of amusement and headaches at the school, whether he was calling the state governor a ''dummy'' two decades ago or more recently likening the challenges of holding together university divisions to ''the Polish Army.''

It's the offseason, but verbal sparring is in championship form; Whose barbs cut deepest?

James Franklin, Tim Davis, Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, Nick Saban, Charlie Weis, Steve Spurrier and E. Gordon Gee have all called out someone or some team recently.

2013 Texas A&M Football Preview

Can Texas A&M repeat the success of its first year in the SEC? Will the Aggies be able to defeat defending national champion Alabama for a second straight season?

Tales from L'Arche: Dameyune Craig's weight, Miss Terry's purse and AJ McCarron's house

Phil Savage was the straight man at the DEX Imaging 19th annual L'Arche Football Preview at the Mitchell Center on Thursday night.

George, Prothro discuss NCAA player pay in depositions

Two former NCAA athletes say the quality of a player should determine quantity of pay.

Quotable:

In an interview this week at the SEC spring meetings, Battle said there needs to be recognition that perhaps only two or three sports make money at universities.

"If you start to pay fair market value to those that the market is for, which is football and men's basketball, then how do you pay them and don't pay softball and rowing and swimming and diving and women's sports?" Battle asked. "If you go on market value, we're telling some people that they aren't worth much. We're paying what the market tells you. Again, look at the U.S. system and how many student-athletes come and have a great experience and play in good facilities with good coaching. There's value to that."

Auburn President Jay Gogue, in a separate interview, took a similar position and said paying athletes beyond a cost-of-attendance stipend is "inappropriate for an amateur athlete."

"I think if you look at the value, some of the numbers show you're spending about $150,000 per student-athlete in terms of training, medical costs and all that," Gogue said. "That's probably an appropriate amount for a college kid."

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 29, 2013, with 94 days to go

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngHumpin’ right through the countdown with six new college football stories from all kinds of places.

All Ole Miss' Freeze has to do is win

First Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze landed a top recruiting class. Then he challenged doubters to contact the school's compliance office via Twitter. As the dust settles he still must find a way to win in the SEC West.

2013 Arkansas Football Preview

Will new leadership make Arkansas a contender? Find out in our 2013 Arkansas Football Preview.

Top-rated QB recruit snubs home state, reveals top 5 schools

Scottsdale Desert Mountain quarterback Kyle Allen, ranked by Scout.com as the top quarterback recruit in the Class of 2014, has left Arizona State and Arizona off his list of top five schools.

SEC out to upgrade fan experience

The SEC wants to make sure fans can check Facebook, surf the Internet and text their friends during college football games.

Butch Jones says Tennessee needs to do its part to reinvigorate rivalry with Alabama

"We've got to start winning a few of those games as well," Jones says.

Quotable:

In sum, an athlete cannot leave one school to become a student-athlete at another school unless he or she gets the blessing of the coach. But a coach can job-hop from one college to another without the approval of the student-athletes he or she is jilting.

The players should have more freedom, just as the coaches do. Nobody wants them hopping from team to team every year, but why not allow a one-time transfer where coaches cannot intervene?

If the NCAA truly is in this for the good of the student-athlete, it’s the right thing to do.

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 28, 2013 – 95 Days, y’all

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngSoothe that post holiday hangover with six new college football stories from around the country. Only 95 days now, y’all…

Football: Alabama Offensive Line Has New Faces in 2013

Cyrus Kouandjio will be a big player on the Alabama offensive line in 2013. We continue our preview of the Crimson Tide with a look at the Alabama offensive line.

Former D-II champion QB Finnerty missing

Authorities are searching for Cullen Finnerty, a quarterback who led Grand Valley State to three Division II national football championships after he failed to return from fishing near his northern Michigan cabin.

As SEC spring meetings begin, a 10-year breakdown of each permanent, cross-divisional football rivalry

Take a gander at the recent history of each permanent, cross-divisional rivalry.

Miami's Dye 'intimidated' during original testimony

Current Miami football player Dyron Dye will be interviewed by the NCAA for the third time Tuesday after a recently filed affidavit refutes some of his previous testimony in the Miami case.

Michigan State's offense hopes to bounce back

Had its offense packed a little more punch, Michigan State’s 2012 season might have played out very differently. Mark Dantonio’s team fielded one of the most stifling defenses in the country last fall, but its attack kept it from living up to lofty preseason expectations.

Quotable:

Q: Do you get involved with non-conference football scheduling or do you leave that to Steve Spurrier?

A: I was very much involved in doing the deal with North Carolina for the 2015 opener in Charlotte. That being said, I just went back to Coach Spurrier with another suggestion. Make no mistake, he is very much involved in what we do in non-conference scheduling.

Q: Steve Spurrier, obviously, has been very successful and has quite a big personality. Have you clashed at all or had any disagreements with him?

A: I really haven’t. The admiration that people have for Coach Spurrier and his decision to come to South Carolina are things our fans will always cherish. He didn’t have to come here, and his intentions are to remain here. He and I have been friends. You hear people say, ‘We’re family’ in athletic departments and a lot of times it’s rhetoric. It’s really true here.

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Monday, May 27, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 27, 2013. 96 days until kickoff

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngHappy Memorial Day. Start the festivities right with six college football stories from around the country.

No. 2 overall football prospect of 2014 chooses Michigan

Jabrill Peppers is the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the class of 2014.

QB Golson suspended, leaves ND

Everett Golson is out for at least the fall semester at Notre Dame, saying he has been suspended by the university for what he called poor academic judgment. [That’s a nice way of saying he cheated]

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater asks Charlie Strong, Louisville not to mount Heisman campaign

"We're going to let Teddy go and play," Strong said. "Teddy doesn't want to let people down and he doesn't want all of the attention. He wants to win first and foremost."

2013 Georgia Football Preview

Will the Bulldogs get back to Atlanta? We examine that in our 2013 Georgia Football Preview.

Les Miles says SEC scheduling gives certain teams 'unintended and unearned advantages'

"If I would've told you in the last 13 years, you would've played non-divisional opponents Florida and Georgia, you've played them 17 times. And Alabama has played them eight times. What would you say to that?"

Quotable:

“I was the only person that spoke out in favor of it last season,” Saban said. “If you increase the size of the league, then you’ve got to play more games.”

Many of the same arguments against adding one more conference game came up in 1992 when the SEC split into divisions and went from seven to eight league games. Coaches and others said it would be the end of SEC programs competing for national championships.

Alabama won the national title that season. SEC teams have won 11 national championships in the 21 years since an eighth game went on line, including the last seven in a row.

Would a ninth conference game make it tougher for an SEC team to win the national championship? Sure. But something tells me the SEC would manage.

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Friday, May 24, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 24, 2013, and only 99 days until kickoff!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngWe’re celebrating the under hundred with six cool, clear and heady college football stories from here and there.

Notre Dame paid Weis more than Kelly in 2011

Former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis made more from the school in the 2011 season than Brian Kelly, the man who actually coached the Irish…

Oklahoma schools team up for disaster relief effort

The three biggest schools in Oklahoma have teamed up to design a shirt to sell to raise money for disaster relief in the state.

Big freshman checks in at No. 13 in countdown

Just a quick recap of what this countdown is. Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at our choices for the 25 people who will have a short-term and a long-term effect on the rebuilding of the Auburn football program.

Butch Jones quickly wins over UT fans

He hasn’t won (or lost) a game as Tennessee Vols coach yet, but Butch Jones is being treated like a conquering hero.

Univ. Maryland attorney argues against ACC exit fee

The ACC is asking Maryland for the full exit fee mandated by the Terps' league departure.

Quotable:

Kenny Bell has made a living with the deep ball. Kevin Norwood tends to get overlooked, but has been the source of many an LSU fan’s nightmare. Christion Jones’ hands are made of industrial grade flypaper, and moves like a fart in a whirlwind. Erase any of the aforementioned and DeAndrew White becomes one of the 2-3 most talented receivers Bama has had in over a decade. Then there’s talk of Chris Black, sidelined early by injury last season, being the best of the lot. And Falkins, Foster and Stewart could start for half the SEC right now.

Simply put, this receiving corps has the kind of talent that could’ve made former Bama quarterback (and transfer) Jimmy Barnes look like a gun slinger.

It’s easy to understand how important this year’s wide receiver group will be to the success of this Alabama team. Take away the 6 touchdown passes thrown to running backs and tight ends last season, and McCarron still would have broken the Alabama school record for touchdown passes in a season with the remaining pair he threw to his wide receivers.

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 23, 2013 and 100 days until kickoff

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngThirsty Thursday! Continuing our vigil with another six fresh college football stories from around the country.

Predicting the 2013 SEC Football Season…

In a series leading up to fall camps, I have purchased a German predicting octopus to help me figure out how it will all unfold in the upcoming season. I have named him Rocko.

Alabama's Mal Moore posthumously named Athletic Director of the Year by Sports Business Daily

Alabama won five national championships during the final 14 months of Moore's career.

College Football Hall of Fame construction underway

The construction caught many business owners and residents off guard.

A-List No. 7: Carver-Montgomery's Shaun Dion Hamilton puts his grades before football

With a 4.0 grade-point average, the Alabama commit is on track to be the valedictorian of Carver-Montgomery's 2014 class.

Georgia loses a TE to transfer

Though Aaron Murray will be looking to the likes of Arthur Lynch and Jay Rome to make plays at the tight end position, Georgia’s depth at that spot has taken a bit of a hit.

Quotable:

Nick Saban brought LSU a national title in 2003, but he's done real wonders at Alabama. With Alabama's 42-14 win over Notre Dame in last season's Discover BCS National Championship Game, the Crimson Tide became the first team in modern history to win three national championships in four seasons. Alabama has won two straight national championships, has dynasty status and should be one of the favorites to win it all in 2013.

The SEC's dominance during the BCS era hasn't just been about bling. The league also has a nice collection of bronze statues, as four of the past seven Heisman Trophy winners have come from the SEC. Last season, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to win the award, while Florida quarterback Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win it in 2007 when he became the first player to rush and throw for 20-plus touchdowns in a single season. Alabama running back Mark Ingram took home the trophy in 2009, while Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, who became the first SEC player to run for at least 1,000 yards and pass for at least 2,000 in the same season, won in 2010.

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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 22, 2013. 101 Days until kickoff!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngHumpin’ right along on the countdown. Check out six college football stories from around the country.

Online petition to reinstate unfairly banned lineman goes viral

At long last, a college sports-related petition that actually makes a lot of sense.

Sooners coach Bob Stoops on Oklahoma tornado: It was 'just about a mile from our home'

"My family actually saw the tornado coming from the west through our back window, literally a mile away,"

Show cause of ex-Texas Southern coach upheld

The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee has upheld a three-year show-cause order for former Texas Southern football coach Johnnie Cole.

Former Prattville star thrilled to be committed to Auburn

Derrick Moncrief can vividly recall his emotions from Feb. 1, 2012.

What will Paul Finebaum’s move mean to Alabama, Auburn?

Paul Finebaum, antagonist extraordinaire. One has to wonder what the Alabama – Auburn rivalry would have been over the last 30 years without Paul Finebaum. News broke Tuesday that Finebaum’s silence would soon cease…

Quotable:

“Oh,” Whitfield said to Manziel, “you’re going to throw it.”

Whitfield already had asked that all cameras be turned off, half-expecting Manziel to be all over the place once he did throw the ball.

“I felt it,” Manziel said after the first blindfold attempt.

Manziel threw only two uncatchable passes in 29 attempts while blindfolded, prompting a bystander to ask if Manziel could somehow see.

“I have always said he has the best antenna in football,” Whitfield said. “I think he just proved that.”

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 21, 2013 and 102 days until kickoff

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngContinuing the countdown and checking off another six cool, clear and refreshing college football stories from around the country.

Derrick Thomas' hall of fame snub inspires 'boycott' from Alabama great Cornelius Bennett

The Alabama legend says there's "no doubt" Derrick Thomas should be in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Woodson leaves Tide for South Alabama

Former Alabama receiver Danny Woodson is transferring to South Alabama.

Auburn's Gus Malzahn greeted recruit at 3 a.m. in morning

When everything appears to be just about equal in a tight recruiting battle, it’s often the “little things” that can help a top recruit pick one school over another.

Military Bowl moves to Navy’s Memorial Stadium

The Military Bowl is getting a venue change, and a slightly more appropriate one at that.

Coach confident in Tennessee Vols' strength staff

Butch Jones soon will turn his first Tennessee football team over to his strength and conditioning staff.

Quotable:

''These are rules about preserving the basic character and integrity of athletic competition and its relation to the goals, the most important goals, of higher education,'' Ballenger said. The NCAA and its members, he said, have a right to determine how they want to maintain college sports' tradition of amateur athletics.

Along with the fine, the consent agreement also imposed a four-year ban on postseason play, a temporary reduction in scholarships and the elimination of more than 100 wins under former coach Joe Paterno. The deal has angered many Penn State fans and alumni.

A weakened Penn State football program has implications for students, businesses and others, said Jim Schultz, Corbett's general counsel.

''Penn State football is an economic power source for the commonwealth and its citizens,'' Schultz told Kane, and that power source would be ''seriously damaged'' by the NCAA.

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Monday, May 20, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 20, 2013. 103 days until kickoff!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngCommencing countdown! 103 days until the Crimson Tide kicks ass off. Meanwhile… y’all know this drill.

Is Nick Saban as bad as some are saying?

Four writers debate.    

Pac-12 commissioner Scott's pay surpasses Delany, Slive

Larry Scott's total compensation surpasses commissioner pay in the Big Ten and the SEC.

Mizzou ready for SEC rebound

While Texas A&M was making an instant splash in its Southeastern Conference debut last football season, Missouri was darting straight into obscurity.

Four-star receiver returning to Mountaineers

In early November of last year, Ivan McCartney was the second West Virginia wide receiver in a span of four days to leave the football program. A half a year later, the wayward receiving son has returned home.

McNabb, McPherson to have Syracuse numbers retired

A pair of standout Syracuse signal callers will not so unexpectedly be honored by their alma mater, the school announced Sunday. In a press release,

Quotable:

In his 16 years as president of the University of Georgia, Michael Adams’ influence on athletics at the school has been felt, as he put it, by keeping “a hand on the rudder.”

That has made for some smooth sailing as well as some choppy times during his tenure. Georgia’s athletic revenue has grown from $25.7 million in 1997 when Adams became president to a projected $92.1 million for fiscal year 2013, and the Bulldogs have won 19 national titles in six sports during that time.

He had a messy parting of ways with athletic director Vince Dooley that enraged much of the Bulldog Nation and played a large role in the hiring of basketball coach Jim Harrick Sr., who resigned after four seasons following an academic scandal.

“I don’t have many regrets,” Adams said during an interview in his north campus office in his final weeks as president before his retirement on June 30. “You want to know what my biggest regret is? Not getting the final five yards against Alabama. To have gone out in the national championship game, and I felt that night that was the national championship game and I think the following events proved me right. I’m not sure I’m over that one yet.”

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 17, 2013

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngIt’s eff’in Friday, folks. Kick back and relax with these six college football stories from around the country.

Football Preview: Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon stars for the 2013 Tide

Alabama’s offense will depend on T.J. Yeldon in its 2013 season.This is part 2 of our Alabama Football Preview.

2013 QB signee transferring from Mountaineers

An early enrollee has decided to take an early leave of the West Virginia football program, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting.

A-List No. 13: Florence's Kendrick Doss evolving into complete quarterback

Doss is one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks, and has offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Tennessee.

‘Canes, Gators Rivalry In Jeopardy

It’s been one of the nation’s best rivalries in college football, but this year’s Sept. 7 matchup (first meeting since 2008) in Miami could be the last game the Gators and ‘Canes square off for a ‘good, long while.

Big Ten releases 2014 schedule

The Big Ten released its first football schedule with Rutgers and Maryland included, and the Scarlet Knights are getting quite a welcome to conference in 2014.

Quotable:

One arrogant football powerhouse dismissing another arrogant football powerhouse. No thank yous for past games, or promises of future rewards.

Just a letter from Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick handed to Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon about an hour before last year's game in South Bend. Brandon was so focused on the game he didn't even read it until the next morning, when the Wolverines were headed home.

''Because I am providing you with this notice prior to the commencement of this year's football game on September, 22, 2012,'' Swarbrick wrote, ''there is no liability to Notre Dame for cancelling those games.''

With that, Notre Dame got itself off the hook, financially. A bit sneaky, sure. But college football is a business, no matter what the cabal behind the bowl system formerly-known-as-the-BCS wants you to believe. And there is no one that does football business better than Notre Dame, which even in its leanest years was always on Saturday afternoons on NBC under a lucrative contract other schools could only dream about.

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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 15, 2013

Humpin’ through the week with another six college football stories from around the country.

Florida assistant Tim Davis calls Nick Saban 'the devil himself'

For the second time this year, an SEC football coach has compared Alabama head coach Nick Saban to the Prince of Darkness.

Big 12 bowl lineup could get a new look too

Russell Athletic Bowl likely to move up and pick the next available ACC team after the Orange Bowl beginning in 2014.

Former G.W. Carver QB Johnson among first arrivals

Some of Auburn's newcomers and returning players are voyaging back to the Plains this week for the start of the summer semester.

Cassano, Khalif join Tech staff

Mike Cassano and former Georgia Tech football standout Saeed Khalif have been named to the Yellow Jackets football staff, where they will serve as assistant directors of player personnel.

Forbes says Nick Saban’s $5.3 million salary is ‘modest’

Forbes writer Tom Van Riper argues that Saban is more a recruiter of overall academic success than just a recruiter of athletes. At just under $5.5 million a year, it’s hard to consider Saban’s salary “modest”,…

Quotable:

Penn State moved quickly Tuesday night to rebut a Sports Illustrated story that appeared to paint an unflattering portrait of the university’s medical operation as it applies to football.

The story, which is teased on the cover of this week’s edition of the magazine with the headline, “Do Athletics Still Have Too Much Power at Penn State?”, is expected to be released online Wednesday morning. It was not available Tuesday night on any web sites.

A statement issued by Penn State said: “To characterize the medical care Penn State provides our student-athletes as anything other than the highest quality is erroneous. Access to urgent and quality are for our athletes is no less than where it was at any point in the past 20 years.

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 14, 2013

Another six, cool, clear and refreshing college football stories from around the country, with a strong SEC flavor.

Mike Bobo sheds light on Georgia’s ‘next play’ in SEC title game

Outside of coaches receiving regional Emmy nominations, there may be no more offseason-y post than a “what if” five months after the fact. But Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo shed some light on an interesting angle…

Charlie Weis says Bob Stoops has 'a point' with SEC 'propaganda' comment

"Just based off the numbers, you'd have to say he's got a point."

Hoke: Notre Dame "chickening out" of Michigan series

The Fighting Irish and Wolverines have no plans to play in football after the 2014 season.

College Recruiting: Another Alabama-UGA recruiting battle brewing?

It’s shaping up to be another Alabama vs. UGA battle for one of the state’s top college football recruits. Defensive end Lorenzo Carter, who is ranked as the state’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 247sports composite rankings, will trim his list of favorite colleges to 10 next month.

Alabama State RB Isaiah Crowell named to named to CFPA preseason watch list

Crowell was named SWAC Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore in 2012.

Quotable:

The other talking point in college football which needs to be done away with is talking about how many teams in your conference made a bowl game. It’s time to acknowledge that fans of any decent football program do not care about bowl eligibility. Auburn fans aren’t hoping Gus Malzahn brings them back to bowl eligibility.

Members of the media also turn to the scheduling discussion to take shots at the SEC. You will frequently hear football analysts try to talk about how the SEC doesn’t play enough non-conference matchups.  Once again, critics selectively pick and choose to support their anti-SEC rhetoric.

Both LSU and Alabama, two of the most dominant SEC programs in recent years, have lined up marquee non-conference matchups every during each recent season (Alabama: Penn State (2010), Penn State (2011), Michigan (2012), Va Tech (2013); LSU: UNC & WVU (2010), Oregon & WVU (2011), Washington (2012), TCU (2013)). As such, critics will turn to a team like Florida and say they never play any non-conference games out of the state of Florida. Except that critics conveniently ignore that Florida has one of the most difficult annual non-conference games in the country in its annual battle with the Noles.

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Monday, May 13, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 13, 2013

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mU_dQP_7Xg0/UJfDXuVaYCI/AAAAAAAAEaI/2gHVYMX2KT0/s1600/msp.pngGood Monday morning! Wake up in a hurry with six cool, clear and refreshing college football stories from around the country.

Three Ohio State assistants see their salaries break the $500k mark

Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease was one of three Gator assistants to receive raises earlier this month. Now, assistants at Urban Meyer‘s new job, Ohio State, will be getting bumps in pay as well.

College Recruiting: Rewind: The big fish that didn't get away from Georgia Tech

The big fish that didn’t get away from Georgia Tech was Travis Custis, the 4-star running back from Lovejoy High School.

Tigers land top in-state defensive end

Auburn capped off a tremendous week of recruiting with a commitment from yet another one of the top in-state prospects.

5-star QB Deshaun Watson, already a Clemson commit, talks about Alabama offer

"And, you know, it's a big thing getting offered by the national champs."

Colorado QB, ex-lineman arrested

Colorado quarterback Jordan Webb and former CU offensive lineman Alex Lewis have been charged with second-degree assault.

Quotable:

Meanwhile, schools like Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vandy are in the top eight in fewest penalties, but all have below-.500 records over four years.

Breaking things up, Vanderbilt's two seasons with James Franklin produced more penalties than the previous two, but the win total jumped from four to 15 in the two-year spans. Georgia's worst season of the past four - 2010 - had the fewest penalties of the four.

You wouldn't say that more penalties lead to wins in the SEC, obviously, because there are all sorts of factors that lead to wins. But an increased amount of penalties doesn't seem to deter you from winning, while fewer penalties doesn't always mean more wins.

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Friday, May 10, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 10, 2013

Hunkered down with six college football stories from around SEC country and the rest of the world.

ESPN's SEC list of top 20 NFL draft prospects for 2014 has 5 Alabama players and no Auburn players

The No. 1 prospect from the SEC is South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who ESPN dubs as "the ultimate game-changer."

Saban and Muschamp respond to Bob Stoops’ SEC is ‘propaganda’ comments

Bob Stoops stirred up a hornet’s nest this past week, calling the SEC’s dominance ‘propaganda.’

Georgia Tech’s former leading WR reportedly walking on at Ohio State

After deciding it would be best to “part ways” with Georgia Tech last December, Jeff Greene‘s name was briefly connected to the likes of Arkansas and Cincinnati. Apparently, the Yellow Jackets’ former leading wide receiver will instead go in another direction entirely.

Mark Helfrich's 1st Spring As Head Coach

Mark Helfrich talks to Ivan Maisel about his 1st spring practice in charge as the head coach of Oregon.

Co-chair of Kyle Field redevelopment: “It is going to be so loud that literally someone is going to wet their pants”

Texas A&M’s renovation plans for Kyle Field will not only make it one of the largest stadiums in the country but the university also planned to keep it one of the most intimidating stadiums in the the country as well.

Quotable:

He’s right. Like everybody else, the SEC is a league of Haves and Have Nots.

Consider: Tennessee’s 7-6 record in 2009 is the Vols’ only winning season in the past five years. Auburn won the national title in 2010 but is a combined 9-23 in conference games in the two years before and the two years after that championship season, which makes a case for Cam Newton as the greatest player in SEC history.

And with all due respect to the great job James Franklin is doing at Vanderbilt, let’s not pretend the Commodores have become a major player on the national scene just yet. The 9-4 record last season was nice, but the best team Vanderbilt beat was North Carolina State — a team Tennessee defeated in the season opener. The Commodores’ three conference losses were by a combined 96-33.

But what about the 2013 NFL Draft, you say. The SEC had 63 players selected, more than double any other conference. Doesn’t that prove the SEC’s total superiority?

No. It proves the total superiority of the SEC’s superior teams.

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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 9, 2013

A moribund offseason continues (knocking wood). But we can always find something to build a morning six pack with, eh?

The six most irritating chants in sports

These stadium staples should probably be silenced for a little while.

Auburn commit Tre Williams says Alabama's depth at LB not a factor in decision

"A lot of people say that Bama has a lot of linebackers, but I really don't look at (it like that) because either way I have to work hard for my spot."

New Mexico State’s starting QB to transfer

Shortly following the end of his first spring practice, New Mexico State’s new head coach has abruptly found himself without the Aggies’ starting quarterback in 2012…

2013 college football TV schedule

Season kicks off Aug. 29 with North Carolina at South Carolina on ESPN

O'Brien not expecting more Penn State transfers

Penn State has 67 scholarship players on its football roster and coach Bill O'Brien sees no reason why that will change significantly by the time the season starts Aug. 31.

Quotable:

There is thought that strength of schedule will come into play when the selection committee picks the final four teams. Muschamp said that Florida's non-conference schedule is set for the “next three or four seasons” but could change if the SEC elects to expand from an eight-game schedule to a nine-game schedule.

Muschamp said he doesn't agree with a selection committee picking the final four teams for the College Football Playoff. He's concerned about personal biases coming into play, and would rather see a computer ranking format similar to the BCS.

“We've navigated ourselves through a lot of situations with that,” Muschamp said. “What's wrong with continuing to do that and take the top four?”

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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 8, 2013

Humpin’ right along with six fresh college football stories from around the country, with an SEC flair.

Wyoming's new football field: Now with 100 percent more mountains

Cool! Mountains in the end zone.

'We've got the best fans in college football'

For first-year coach Gus Malzahn, though, tonight was an opportunity to meet with fans and either sign autographs until the Sharpie ran dry or his hand developed cramps.

Be Careful With USA Today's College Finances Database

The USA Today has done the annual update to its database of college athletics financials. It now contains information from the 2011-12 school year.

UGA's Mark Richt has delivered on 'best is yet to come' promise

It was somewhat brash for a Southeastern Conference football coach, and it was completely out of character for Georgia's Mark Richt.

Muschamp praises Polk players

Florida football coach Will Muschamp put Lakeland Dreadnaughts head coach Bill Castle on notice during his speech to more than 450 Gator fans on Tuesday night at the Lake Mirror Center.

Quotable:

"It depends on who you want to listen to," Stoops told the Tulsa World. "Listen, they've had the best team in college football, meaning they've won the national championship. That doesn't mean everything else is always the best.

"So you're listening to a lot of propaganda that gets fed out to you. You're more than smart enough to figure it out. Again, you can look at the top two, three, four, five, six teams, and you can look at the bottom six, seven, eight, whatever they are. How well are they all doing?

"What'd we (the Big 12) have, eight of 10 teams in bowl games this year? Again, you figure it all out."

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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

It’s official: The College Football Hall of Fame is a crock of crap

I could use a stronger term than crock of crap, but this site is family-friendly and is linked to by other family friendly sites. I dare not repeat what I snarled when I heard the news that Derrick Thomas wasn’t inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Dear CFHOF: How in the world do you put Teddy Bruschi in before Derrick Thomas?

Explain. Thomas had 56 career sacks, and 27 in a single season.

Bruschi was a heckuva college football player. He deserves to be in, without question.

But leaving Thomas out—again—smacks of anti-SEC and anti-Alabama bias. The same bias that will ultimately lead to a deserving SEC team to be left out of the upcoming college football playoff.

You watch.

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Morning Six Pack: May 7, 2013

Thank God for quiet offseasons and six normal college football stories from around the country, with an SEC flavor.

And it was worth every penny

Alabama spent $3.4 million on its seven-day Miami trip for the BCS Championship Game, according to the university's NCAA bowl expense report obtained by AL.com today.

Want to watch the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2013 announcement live? Here's how

The program starts at 10:30 a.m. CDT Tuesday in New York.

Kentucky, Michigan lose seldom-used players to transfer

Or, to be technically correct, never-used players. Either way, Kentucky and Michigan became the latest team to face post-spring attrition, with the former losing a player on the offensive side of the ball and one on the defensive side.

Howard ceremony for NFL star Reggie White

University of Tennessee All-American and NFL superstar Reggie White of Chattanooga will be honored by the Pro Football of Fame and Allstate Insurance Company next Monday morning at his high school alma mater.

Testimony could help NCAA's case against Miami

New testimony related to Nevin Shapiro's on-going bankruptcy backs up at least some of the former UM booster's claims of NCAA rule violations.

Quotable:

When asked Monday whether media should be involved in the playoff committee, Stoops said "Oh, hell no."

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Monday, May 6, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 6, 2013

Cinco de Mayo Hangover? Bah, get right back on that horse with these six college football stories from around SEC Country.

Alabama star making progress

Derrick Henry didn't need to say much to excite his massive Twitter following on Friday.

College Recruiting: Herschel Walker's nephew headed out of state for college football

The nephew of Herschel Walker, UGA’s all-time greatest football player, won’t be signing with the Bulldogs.

Kentucky's Lowery responding well after accident

On Friday night, Kentucky safety Ashely Lowery was hospitalized after he was in a serious car accident in Georgia. Lowery was ejected from his vehicle and landed 100 feet away from the initial crash. 

When it comes to turning high school talent into NFL draft picks, Vandy - not Alabama - tops list

"We examine the average rating points (typically a function of the number of rated high school recruits in a class) by conference over the relevant recruiting periods for the 2013 NFL Draft."

SEC Network ushers in new era of college sports

If you find it interesting that there’s real conversation about the major five football conferences “breaking away” from the NCAA and forming their own league, you should realize that this is happening whether or not we recognize its official status.

Quotable:

"Most of the news has probably been that we've been out-of-state, which we have," Richt said, alluding to, but not mentioning because of NCAA rules, commitments from tailback Sony Michel from Florida, and tight end Jeb Blazevich from North Carolina. But the strategy is to make sure we're really hitting Georgia hard during the time frame when the kids are actually out there practicing. Because it's an evaluation period. It's the best time to evaluate them, is during practice."

Richt said they haven't actually been targeting out-of-state recruits. He said the reason they've been outside Georgia so much lately is the high school schedule: Most Georgia spring practices are later in the year, like around now.

"It means a lot to us when our high school teams in Georgia are practicing," Richt said. "You're gonna hear a lot of us being in Georgia right now because they're practicing. I don't want to send a bad message that we're going out of state first, because it's not our priority to do that. But it just practically makes the most sense because we want to be in Georgia when our guys practice."

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Friday, May 3, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 3, 2013

TGIF, and TG for six fresh new college football stories from around SEC Country.

Steve Spurrier renews call for paying college athletes

"My question is, 'When are we going to start giving a little bit of it to the performers?'"

Muschamp pleased with Driskel's offseason progress

Gators coach Will Muschamp addressed his team's offensive goals before speaking to the Tampa and Pinellas County Gator Clubs.

Auburn’s Jay Jacobs says take his word for it, NCAA says they’re clean

The NCAA has not publicly cleared Auburn or commented on Auburn’s myriad of speculative infractions, but Auburn Athletic’s Director Jay Jacobs wants you to know that they have. Thanks Jay.

Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace throws for first time post-surgery

Late last month, Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze stated that starting quarterback Bo Wallace would begin throwing a football again 10 days or so. Two days or so ahead of that prognosis, Wallace has done just that.

Recruiting changes? Hold that thought

The NCAA board of directors wants to take a longer look at its new recruiting rules.

Quotable:

"We've been a work in progress this year in terms of trying to get our players to focus on paying attention to detail," Saban said Thursday before his Crimson Caravan appearance at the Mobile Convention Center. "I always use the analogy that ... in a season you can go back and look at these five or six critical plays that are going to determine the outcome of what happens with your season. And you never know when those things are going to come up.

“So if you don't have the right preparation and you haven't done all the things you need to do to play your very best, you're not going to be in the best position to make those plays when they do pop up.

"That's something we've been able to do in the past and I think that's something that this team needs to prove that they're capable of doing as well."

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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 2, 2013

Whet your whistle with six cool, clear and fresh college football stories, with an SEC flavor.

What to watch for during the SEC Network announcement today

Today, Mike Slive will arguably hold the most important announcement of his outstanding career regarding the new SEC Network in Atlanta.

Coastal Alabam Recruiting Update: What's making QB Matthew Jordan so attractive to recruiters?

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound rising senior could also end up playing defensive back or receiver in college, but he wants a shot at playing quarterback. What has made him such a solid prospect?

Inside the Reuben Foster you thought you knew

Football is a man’s game played by boys. Sometimes we forget that the players we cheer for on Saturday are kids.

Depth chart players on radar

So now that Auburn’s made their post-spring depth chart as official as official gets – other than Joshua Holsey as the No. 1 boundary safety, nothing else is particularly shocking – we wait to see what it all means.

Judges keep O'Bannon case reports, may allow depositions

College administrators who said they may have to drop from Division I may be questioned.

Quotable:

The Constitution. Jazz. The IROC-Z Camaro. American exceptionalism comes in many forms, and if you've ever thought that aristocratic snootiness belongs on the list of things that make this country great, then congratulations! Amateurism is right up your alley. As the Drake report reminds us, no-pay-for-play is a distinctly British idea, rooted in Victorian Era divisions between the rich and everyone else, an inherently snobbish, un-egalitarian concept that was copied from English universities and prep schools:

… British students took sport very seriously, but the amateur's casualness and dislike for professional drill were very much in evidence among athletes. [They] took great pains to distance themselves from the highly trained professional, the latter being viewed as "a mere segment of a man"at the center of this ideal was the belief that leisure activities are qualitatively superior to those associated with making a living or whose motive is material gain. The aristocrat had time to appreciate activities like literature, science, and sports merely for the love of it …

According to ABC News, Americans work longer days, take less vacation and retire later than anyone else in the industrialized world. In a poll, 70 percent of us believe we can get anything we want in this country through sheer hard work. We are not a nation of casual amateurs. We are a nation of strivers, and we expect to be rewarded for our efforts accordingly. Why hold college athletes to a different standard?

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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Morning Six Pack: May 1, 2013

The Morning Six Pack turns one year old today. In celebration, we’re doing a morning 12 pack. Enjoy 12 college football stories from around the country, with a focus on SEC squads.

SEC Commissioner wants “experts.”

Mike Slive wants knowledgeable football people choosing who plays for the national championship.

LSU RB celebrated after bar brawl

Baton Rouge Police say a cell phone video shows LSU running back Jeremy Hill punching a man from behind. Then he allegedly celebrated with high fives when another suspect knocked the victim out.

SEC spring football, team by team

ALABAMA Spring recap: Senior quarterback AJ MCarron threw for 610 yards and nine touchdowns in the first two scrimmages, and sophomore tailback T.J. Yeldon earned his second consecutive MVP award at the A-Day game.

Report: Texas A&M set to expand Kyle Field to 102,000

According to current official capacities, Kyle Field would become just the fifth college football stadium in the country to top 102,000 seats, joining (in order) Michigan Stadium, Beaver Stadium, Neyland Stadium and Ohio Stadium.

Muschamp set to speak Tuesday in Gainesville

Florida coach Will Muschamp will speak at the Titletown Gator Club starting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hilton UF Conference Center.

Who were college football realignment's big winners?

Some schools emerged from collegiate musical chairs victorious

Controlling Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel priority for SEC coaches

Few people outside the Lone Star State had heard of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel this time last year.

College Recruiting: Recruiting Rewind: Football star who has never missed a day of school

Every year in Georgia, you come across a few kids who are good football players but not defined by football. In other words, if football was taken away from them tomorrow, they would still probably be very successful in life.

David Blackburn puts hirings before office unpacking

Having reached his one-week milestone as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's new athletic director, David Blackburn has yet to open so much as one of the moving boxes sitting on the floor of his McKenzie Arena office.

LSU on the Frozen Tundra? Tigers reportedly discussing neutral-site matchup with Wisconsin

LSU, Wisconsin are discussing possibility of playing twice -- once at Lambeau Field, once in Houston.

Gus Malzahn, Nick Saban hit the links to raise scholarship money at Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge

Alabama's Nick Saban and Mark Ingram finished in sixth place with 7-under par; Auburn's Gus Malzahn and Bo Jackson finished in a tie for eighth with 5-under.

Quotable:

Putting nine members of the same team into the same NFL draft class is no small feat – but it’s one that Alabama might top in a year’s time.

Casting an eye towards the 2014 NFL Draft, Alabama fans might see as many as 14 or 15 Alabama players taken. A lot will be determined, obviously, by the junior seasons of some of Alabama’s draft-eligible underclassmen. From the senior class alone, Alabama could see 8 players called to the podium.

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