As they prepare to face off this weekend, both Georgia and South Carolina are still waiting on the NCAA to rule on whether or not some of their players will be available for the game.
According to Chris Lowe, Georgia is still waiting on word as to whether star WR A.J. Green will be eligible, while South Carolina waits on word for tight end Wesleye Saunders, cornerback Chris Culliver and offensive tackle Jarriel King
Last night (the first night of the college football season), we learned a couple of things.
First- South Carolina has enough talent and abiilty to win the SEC.
Since last season, I have been warning other analysts not to underestimate the Gamecocks this season. When voting in the media preseason poll, I picked them to finish 2nd in the SEC East ahead of Georgia and behind Florida. I was laughed at, but I’m not paid to be a fan of one team on Saturdays– I’m paid to know what is going on in this sport. The fact is that Stephen Garcia is a year older and has more experience in a Steve Spurrier offense, and possibly the best WR corps in the Eastern Division at his disposal.
Second- RB Marcus Lattimore lived up to the hype as the #1 ranked RB out of high school (by numerous publications).
The kid is for real and has the potential to be a really special player for Steve Spurrier. On top of that, when you read about all the drama that took place just hours before kickoff.
Personally, I think the Gamecocks could potentially beat the mighty Gators, but you don’t pick against Florida in a poll like that until it has been proven that they can be beaten, and they have won the east for consecutive years now.
Third- Monte Kiffin has a lot of work to do on defense.
Giving up 36 points to Hawaii is no way to start off the new regime. Overall, it was an unimpressive debut for the new regime at Southern Cal, and to be honest, they need to win big this season because it’s going to be a long couple of years in Los Angeles with all the sanctions put in place by the NCAA.
Fourth- Two Heisman Trophy candidates looked like… well… Heisman Trophy candidates…
The only slightly disappointing performance last night came from Pitt RB Dion Lewis (cough… yes, my top preseason candidate…). Utah was able to knock off the Pittsburgh Panthers at home, while Lewis failed to break 100 yards rushing. There were no letdowns from either Terrelle Pryor or Miami’s Jacory Harris though. Both threw the ball with poise and accuracy in their season debuts, putting up impressive numbers.
It’s finally here. College football officially begins tonight with Southern Miss traveling to Columbus, SC to face off with the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Unlike some BCS programs, South Carolina usually opens their season against a decent midmajor program, and Southern Miss is one of the most consistent winners among that category. Our #1st edition of this season’s Kickoff weekly newsletter has only a 4.8 point difference in the two programs power ratings to open the year, which would indicate that it may be a tough game for the favored Gamecocks.
Were one to pay attention to all the news throughout the spring and summer concerning South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia, you could be forgiven to think that this former prized prospect has been the recruiting bust of the century. In fact, that’s not the case at all. Garcia actually put up some impressive numbers last season. He ranked 2nd in the SEC in 220 passing yards per game, and 3rd in total offense, averaging 234 total yards per game. It seems to escape some analysts minds that last season Garcia was a sophomore and in only his first full year as the entrenched starter. This should be the year that Garcia finally puts everything together with the talent he has returning at WR and the addition of super recruit Marcus Lattimore at running back.
Tonight may not be a blowout because Southern Miss does have some talent, but the Gamecocks should come out of this game victorious.
Pick: Gamecocks by 6+
While so many have bought into the idea that success in Columbia, South Carolina will depend solely on the play of quarterback Stephen Garcia, the Gamecocks should improve offensively because of their addition at the running back position.
In Marcus Lattimore, Steve Spurrier’s offense will boast the top rated freshman running back in the nation, and so far, he has not disappointed.
If Lattimore lives up to his preseason billing, it should take much of the pressure off of quarterback Stephen Garcia’s shoulders, opening up the offense more than has been possible in recent years, despite the stable of solid, if not spectacular, running backs that South Carolina produces on a yearly basis.
While the quarterback will always be in the spotlight on a team coached by Steve Spurrier, the old ball coach’s most successful teams have always had a top notch running back to balance out his passing attack.
With their talent they have returning at WR, the Gamecocks are finally set for a breakout campaign in the upcoming season, and be a legit contender for the SEC Eastern Division title.
Here are the media’s selections for the conference (SEC) order of finish:
MEDIA SURVEY
(Predicted order of finish with first-place votes in parentheses)
EASTERN DIVISION
1. Florida (153) 1030
2. Georgia (15) 791
3. South Carolina (8) 790
4. Kentucky 462
5. Tennessee 450
6. Vanderbilt (1) 194
WESTERN DIVISION
1. Alabama (157) 1034
2. Arkansas (6) 726
3. Auburn (10) 691
4. LSU (1) 653
5. Mississippi State 320
6. Ole Miss (3) 293
Votes to win SEC Championship Game: Alabama 143, Florida 17, Auburn 7, Arkansas 3, Georgia 2, Ole Miss 2, Kentucky 1, LSU 1, South Carolina 1.
The Southeastern Conference have announced the media’s All SEC teams (which yours truly voted on). There are some real headscratchers included.
Here they are:
1st Team All SEC Offense:
QB Ryan Mallet (118) Arkansas 6-6 238 Jr. Texarkana, Ark. RB Mark Ingram (165) Alabama 5-10 215 Jr. Flint, Mich. RB Trent Richardson (69) Alabama 5-11 220 So. Pensacola, Fla. WR A.J. Green (142) Georgia 6-4 205 Jr. Summerville, S.C. WR Julio Jones (123) Alabama 6-4 220 Jr. Foley, Ala. TE D.J. Williams (105) Arkansas 6-2 251 Sr. Little Rock, Ark. OL Lee Ziemba (114) Auburn 6-8 391 Sr. Rogers, Ark. OL Barrett Jones (103) Alabama 6-4 301 So. Memphis, Tenn. OL Clint Boling (85) Georgia 6-5 310 Sr. Alpharetta, Ga. OL James Carpenter (77) Alabama 6-6 300 Sr. Augusta, Ga. C Mike Pouncey (109) Florida 6-4 310 Sr.
1st Team All SEC Defense-
DL Marcell Dareus (126) Alabama 6-4 306 Jr. Birmingham, Ala. DL Jerrell Powe (77) Ole Miss 6-2 320 Sr. Waynesboro, Miss. DL Cliff Matthews (46) South Carolina 6-4 260 Sr. Cheraw, S.C. LB Dont’a Hightower (158) Alabama 6-4 258 So. Lewisburg, Tenn. LB Kelvin Sheppard (84) LSU 6-3 239 Sr. Stone Mountain, Ga. LB Josh Bynes (72) Auburn 6-2 235 Sr. Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. LB Brandon Hicks (65) Florida 6-2 228 Sr. Jacksonville, Fla. DB Mark Barron (127) Alabama 6-2 210 Jr. Mobile, Ala. DB Patrick Peterson (116) LSU 6-1 211 Jr. Pompano Beach, Fla. DB Ahmad Black (67) Florida 5-9 189 Sr. Lakeland, Fla. DB Stephon Gilmore (61) South Carolina 6-1 188 So. Rock Hill, S.C. Lakeland, Fla.
1st Team All Purpose/Special Teams-
PK Blair Walsh (72) Georgia 5-10 191 Jr. Boca Raton, Fla. P Drew Butler (104) Georgia 6-2 207 Jr. Duluth, Ga. RS Derrick Locke (45) Kentucky 5-9 190 Sr. Hugo, Okla. AP Randall Cobb (123) Kentucky 5-11 186 Jr. Alcoa, Tenn.
2nd Team Offense-
QB Greg McElroy (44) Alabama 6-3 225 Sr. Southland, Texas RB Derrick Locke (40) Kentucky 5-9 190 Sr. Hugo, Okla. RB Mario Fannin (22) Auburn 5-11 228 Sr. Hampton, Ga. WR Darvin Adams (19) Auburn 6-3 185 Jr. Kennesaw, Ga. WR Randall Cobb (14) Kentucky 5-11 186 Jr. Alcoa, Tenn. TE Luke Stocker (26) Tennessee 6-6 253 Sr. Berea, Ky. OL Carl Johnson (53) Florida 6-6 360 Sr. Durham, N.C. OL Marcus Gilbert (48) Florida 6-5 322 Sr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. OL Derek Sherrod (47) Mississippi State 6-6 305 Sr. Columbus, Miss. OL DeMarcus Love (27) Arkansas 6-5 315 Sr. Lancaster, Texas C William Vlachos (27) Alabama 6-1 289 Jr. Mountain Brook, Ala.
2nd Team Defense
DL Pernell McPhee (34) Mississippi State 6-4 285 Sr. Pahokee, Fla. DL Justin Trattou (31) Florida 6-3 252 Sr. Ramsey, N.J. DL Kentrell Lockett (29) Ole Miss 6-5 260 Sr. Hahnville, La. LB Chris Marve (62) Vanderbilt 6-0 232 Jr. Memphis, Tenn. LB Nick Reveiz (32) Tennessee 5-10 224 Sr. Farragut, Tenn. LB Courtney Upshaw (31) Alabama 6-2 263 Jr. Eufala, Ala. LB Justin Houston (30) Georgia 6-3 260 Jr. Statesboro, Ga. DB Janoris Jenkins (56) Florida 5-11 186 Jr. Pahokee, Fla. DB Will Hill (41) Florida 6-1 204 Jr. West Orange, N.J. DB Brandon Boykin (39) Georgia 5-10 183 Jr. Fayetteville, Ga. DB Zac Etheridge (33) Auburn 6-0 213 Sr. Troy, Ala.
2nd Team All Purpose/Special Teams
PK Wes Byrum (65) Auburn 6-2 216 Sr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. P Chas Henry (34) Florida 6-3 222 Jr. Dallas, Ga. RS *Julio Jones (42) Alabama 6-4 220 Jr. Foley, Ala. RS *Warren Norman (42) Vanderbilt 5-10 192 So. Stone Mountain, Ga. AP Chris Rainey (35) Florida 5-9 176 Jr. Lakeland, Fla.
The juiciest headlines coming out of SEC Media Days has little to do with on the field matters, but who was at what party with what agent.
As has been reported, the University of Georgia is the fourth team to be added to the list of schools being investigated concerning a Florida party which involved agents and NCAA college football players. UGA reciever A.J. Green has denied that he is the player under investigation.
Reached by phone Tuesday night — almost a day before the NCAA contacted Georgia — Green told SI.com that he did not attend the party. Green, who is considered on of the nation’s best receivers, said a Georgia compliance official asked him Tuesday if he attended the party. Green said he spent Memorial Day weekend at home in Summerville, S.C.
“I never went to South Beach,” Green told SI.com.
Sports Illustrated does a good job of explaining exactly what is going on-
Earlier Tuesday, ESPN.com reported that Alabama officials are investigating rumors that defensive end Marcell Dareus attended the party. NCAA officials have interviewed several North Carolina players as well as South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders. Investigators are trying to determine whether agents or financial advisors paid for the party. If someone other than the players footed the bill, any player who attended would be found to have accepted improper benefits and could be ruled ineligible to play for part or all of the 2010 season.
Jim Litke, of the Associated Press, has called out Nick Saban for referring to the agents as “pimps.” Litke feels that many of the coaches are being dishonest when giving their opinion involving agents and NCAA programs, and I tend to agree with him.
Everyone hates agents — even scrupulous agents — unless they have one. The problem with making unscrupulous agents the villains in this drama is that just like the kids they pick off, they’re only the low-hanging fruit. Considering the way college football is structured, it’s nothing short of laughable to hear the coaches and conference commissioners occupying the branches above to suggest the rot could be stopped there.
Big-time college football is effectively running a minor-league system for the NFL, and they’re doing it largely on the backs of kids whose football schoolwork is so demanding that many will never be able to take advantage of the scholarship that gets thrown in with it.
It’s not about the scholarships, anyway. As incoming Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly noted not too long ago, both of his predecessors routinely boasted some of the best graduation rates in the nation and both got fired.
Leave it to Steve Spurrier to give the most honest and straightforward assessment of the situation when he said that he had no real solution and that “I guess sometimes the lure of taking some cash right away affects all of us.”
The coaches selections for the preseason All SEC teams have been released. Here they are:
Preseason Coaches All SEC Team-
1st Team Offense:
QB Ryan Mallet Arkansas 6-6 238 Jr. Texarkana, Ark.RB Mark Ingram Alabama 5-10 215 Jr. Flint, Mich.RB Derrick Locke Kentucky 5-9 190 Sr. Hugo, Okla.WR A.J. Green Georgia 6-4 205 Jr. Summerville, S.C.WR Julio Jones Alabama 6-4 220 Jr. Foley, Ala.TE D.J. Williams Arkansas 6-2 251 Sr. Little Rock, Ark.OL Clint Boling Georgia 6-5 310 Sr. Alpharetta, Ga.OL Carl Johnson Florida 6-5 360 Sr. Durham. N.C.OL Barrett Jones Alabama 6-4 301 So. Memphis, Tenn.OL Lee Ziemba Auburn 6-8 391 Sr. Rogers, Ark.C Mike Pouncey Florida 6-4 310 Sr. Lakeland, Fla.1st Team DefenseDL Marcell Dareus Alabama 6-4 306 Jr. Birmingham, Ala.DL Jerrell Powe Ole Miss 6-2 320 Sr. Waynesboro, Miss.DL Cliff Matthews South Carolina 6-4 260 Sr. Cheraw, S.C.LB Josh Bynes Auburn 6-2 235 Sr. Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.LB Dont’a Hightower Alabama 6-4 258 So. Lewisburg, Tenn.LB Chris Marve Vanderbilt 6-0 232 Jr. Memphis, Tenn.LB Kelvin Sheppard LSU 6-3 239 Sr. Stone Mountain, Ga.DB Mark Barron Alabama 6-2 210 Jr. Mobile, Ala.DB Patrick Peterson LSU 6-1 211 Jr. Pompano Beach, Fla.DB Stephon Gilmore South Carolina 6-1 188 So. Rock Hill, S.C.DB Janoris Jenkins Florida 5-11 186 Jr. Pahokee, Fla.1st Team All Purpose/Special TeamsPK Blair Walsh Georgia 5-10 191 Jr. Boca Raton, Fla.P Drew Butler Georgia 6-2 207 Jr. Duluth, Ga.RS Warren Norman Vanderbilt 5-10 192 So. Stone Mountain, Ga.AP Randall Cobb Kentucky 5-11 186 Jr. Alcoa, Tenn.2nd Team OffenseQB Greg McElroy Alabama 6-3 225 Sr. Southland, TexasRB Jeff Demps Florida 5-8 184 Jr. Winter Garden, Fla.RB Trent Richardson Alabama 5-11 220 So. Pensacola, Fla.WR Darvin Adams Auburn 6-3 185 Jr. Kennesaw, Ga.WR Alshon Jeffery South Carolina 6-4 237 So. St. Matthews, S.C.TE Luke Stocker Tennessee 6-6 253 Sr. Berea, Ky.OL James Carpenter Alabama 6-5 300 Sr. Augusta, Ga.OL DeMarcus Love Arkansas 6-5 315 Sr. Lancaster, TexasOL Derek Sherrod Mississippi State 6-6 305 Sr. Columbus, Miss.OL *Cordy Glenn Georgia 6-5 330 Jr. Riverdale, Ga.OL *Joseph Barksdale LSU 6-5 315 Sr. Detroit, Mich.C Ryan Pugh Auburn 6-4 297 Sr. Hoover, Ala.2nd Team DefenseDL Pernell McPhee Mississippi State 6-4 285 Sr. Pahokee, Fla.DL Drake Nevis LSU 6-1 292 Sr. Marrero, La.DL *DeQuin Evans Kentucky 6-3 256 Sr. Long Beach, Calif.DL *Chris Walker Tennessee 6-3 245 Sr. Memphis, Tenn.DL *Ladi Ajiboye South Carolina 6-2 278 Sr. Riverdale, Ga.LB Jerry Franklin Arkansas 6-1 241 Jr. Marion, Ark.LB A.J. Jones Florida 6-1 226 Sr. Tampa, Fla.LB Craig Stevens Auburn 6-3 229 Sr. Tallahassee, Fla.LB K.J. Wright Mississippi State 6-4 250 Sr. Olive Branch, Miss.DB Ahmad Black Florida 5-9 189 Sr. Lakeland, Fla.DB Chris Culliver South Carolina 6-1 197 Sr. Garner, N.C.DB Will Hill Florida 6-1 204 Jr. West Orange, N.J.DB Neiko Thorpe Auburn 6-2 186 Jr. Tucker, Ga.2nd Team All Purpose/Special TeamsPK Caleb Sturgis Florida 5-10 192 Jr. St. Augustine, Fla.P Chas Henry Florida 6-3 222 Jr. Dallas, Ga.RS Brandon Boykin Georgia 5-10 183 Jr. Fayetteville, Ga.AP Chris Rainey Florida 5-9 176 Jr. Lakeland, Fla.
If anyone does not read Mark Wiedmer’s columns for the Chattanooga TFP, you are missing out. He is polarizing, but his wit and writing style are always enjoyable. His opinion on this subject can be found here.
The latest school rumored to be caught up in the NCAA investigation into agents is none other the defending national champions, themselves. That’s right… the mighty Crimson Tide. According to ESPN, University of Alabama defensive lineman and top NFL prospect Marcel Dareus is the latest name to be caught up in a scandal that is rapidly bringing more and more schools into the firing line.
As the Southeastern Conference begins it’s annual SEC Media Days in Birmingham, the majority of the buzz revolves around the fact that now three schools are involved, including both the University of Florida and the Crimson Tide.
Thankfully for all those involved, this is coming out now instead of during the football season, which could spare the university of an Antonio Langham-type of fallout.
Regardless, the NCAA has become serious in its crackdown of agents contacting players.
I have just finished my ballot for the preseason ALL SEC team (the media ballot).
So- in full disclosure- I am publishing my ballot.
Tommy’s All SEC Media Ballot:
1st Team Offense:
QB- Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
RB1- Mark Ingram, Alabama
RB2- Jeff Demps, Florida
WR- AJ Green, Georgia
WR- Julio Jones, Alabama
TE- Luke Stocker, Tennessee
OL- Clint Boling, Georgia
OL- Lee Zimbia, Auburn
OL- Carl Johnson, Florida
OL- Barrett Jones, Alabama
Center- Mike Pouncey, Florida
1st Team Defense:
DE- Chris Walker, Tennessee
DE- Marcell Dareus, Alabama
DT- Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss
LB- A.J. Jones, Florida
LB- Donte Hightower, Alabama
LB- Kelvin Sheppard, LSU
LB- Chris Marve, Vanderbilt
DB- Janoris Jenkins, Florida
DB- Patrick Peterson, LSU
DB- Will Hill, Florida
DB- Janzen Jackson, Tennessee
1st Team All Purpose/Special Teams
Placekicker- Blair Walsh, Georgia
Punter- Drew Butler, Georgia
Return Specialist- Warren Norman, Vanderbilt
All-Purpose Back- Randall Cobb, Kentucky
Tommy’s Preseason SEC Ranking:
Eastern Division
1- University of Florida
2- University of South Carolina
3- University of Georgia
4- University of Tennessee
5- University of Kentucky
6- Vanderbilt University
Western Division
1- University of Alabama
2- Lousiana State University
3- Auburn University
4- University of Arkansas
5- Mississippi State
6- University of Mississippi
SEC Champion:
University of Alabama