Monday, September 8, 2008

News and Notes Around the SEC

It has been said that teams improve the most between week 1 and week 2. As we take a look around the SEC, how much did each team actually improve?

In Knoxtown, head coach Phil Fulmer had the weekend off, presumably spending the day "with his family, lounging around the living room and kitchen around the TV and a 'few' boxes of donuts and pizza," according to reports. Meanwhile, the rest of the Vols had the opportunity to sulk a little longer after a what-could-have-been on national TV last Monday. The actual on-field improvement will have to wait another week when the Vols take on the formidable Blazers of Alabama-Birmingham. Looks like the jury may have to wait until Florida.



"I regret to inform you, ..."

Not much more could be said in Fayetteville, where Bobby Petrino's 'revitalized' career is looking for any vital signs period. The Razorbacks are looking like the cellar of the SEC for the second straight week after surviving with a late Casey Dick touchdown strike followed by a missed 45-yard field goal attempt by a Louisiana-Monroe squad that no SEC team should schedule in the near future. Apparently Petrino's secretary didn't pass on Nick Saban's message where he left numerous words of advice and scouting tips on the Warhawks. The revitalization will be on hold for at least another week, as Bobby takes his Hogs down into Austin for a grudge match with Mack Brown and the Texas Longhorns.

Speaking of Saban, all is well in Tuscavegas after the Crimson Tide improved to 2-0 after "ripping" the Tulane Golden Wave. After the victory, Saban only had good things to say about his squad that needed two special team touchdowns to save them from a repeat of last year's bout with the aforementioned Warhawks. "The boys really played hard today, and they really showed how they could overcome a challenge from a formidable opponent," Saint Nick reported. What's next for Saban and the Tide? A nationally televised bout with the 'Toppers of Western Kentucky, followed by a trip into Arkansas to take on Petrino's new career (That is if he has not quit by then). I guess we won't really know how Crimson the Tide is until September 27th.



"Dear God, please guide me away from Rennie Curran"

Head coach Urban Meyer and his Florida Tebows have much to rave over in Gainesville after routing the "old" U, the one that used to reside in Miami but now apparently lives in the 'Ville. Tim Tebow's un-Godly performance should make the world forget the Heisman even exists. After Florida's reign over Miami, Brent Musburger reported in his post-game review that "Tebow is without a doubt the greatest specimen I've ever laid eyes on. The way his arm flexes when he throws, his eyes glisten when he scores, his calves flex when he gets sacked, he just makes me warm inside. Some even say his eyes are the sparkle of God. I've seen the light, and that light is coming from Mr. Tebow." Brent's jubilations are words the nation can share and cherish. Meanwhile, Mark May had similar words, while saying Knowshon Moreno's performance was "just so-so."



"Mommy, Mr. Steve hid my bottle of bourbon. Wait 'til he sees his car after the Vandy game..."

I'm not sure the Ol' Ball Coach even knew how to find his way back to Columbia after what happened at Vanderbilt. He didn't have much to say in the post-game press conference, but in his closing statements, Spurrier reported, "I sure hope Stephen Garcia is sober on Saturday." I think we all do, Coach.

Out in the plains, head coach Tommy Tuberville has "found the quarterback of the future." Tuberville went on to rave about his new guy under center, saying "he's got all the tools we need for a 9-4 season. He's sharp, makes minimal mistakes, and throws enough touchdowns per game to lead us to free chicken biscuits for a year from the kind people in Atlanta." After beating the new-look Southern Miss, the War Eagles travel to Starkville to take on Sly Croom's Mississippi State squad still trying to look past what happened in Shreveport in week 1.

As for the Dawgs in Athens, I think The Leap just about wraps that discussion up.

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