SEC Media Days: What We’re Expecting (SEC East)

On Tuesday we told you what we’re expecting from SEC West coaches on the schedule. It should be a lot of talk about the schedule, quarterbacking and good running backs. Of course, we’d love them to talk about LSU and Alabama’s penchant for getting people arrested, shitty defensive co-ordinators, and their hot wives/daughters/do-nothing husbands-in-law, but it’s probably not going to happen. Anyway, this time it’s time for your SEC East coaches. FLORIDA What Jim McElwain will probably get asked: How he’s settling into the job (“I love it down here. It’s a change from the Rockies”), how he plans to change the offense (“Don’t expect miracles, but we should be better than last year”); How tough the SEC’s schedule is (“We’re

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Alabama’s Nick Saban top-paid coach in college football

Unsurprisingly, Alabama head coach Nick Saban is the top-ranked coach in college football, USA Today has reported. Despite a season where he didn’t win his bowl game and lost to Auburn, Saban – who’s Crimson Tide team is now the top-ranked team in the nation – still earned $7.1m in total pay in 2013 – including a base salary of $6.9m. Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin was the second-most paid in the SEC and the fourth-best coach in college football, pulling in $5m in base salary, and $5.006m total. LSU’s Les Miles earned $4.3m ($4.369m total), and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier earned $4m ($4.016m total).   Here is the total pay for all SEC coaches: 1. Nick Saban (Alabama) – $6.9m

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Can Ole Miss rebound to beat Auburn? Will Georgia win the Cocktail Party? SEC Week 10 Preview

If someone told you at the start of the year that the Ole Miss versus Auburn game would be the biggest game of the football season to date, they’d send you back to the crackhouse with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. But it’s true: War Eagle’s visit to The Grove will represent the clash of two of the four teams in the College Football Play-Off Committee (Auburn was voted No.3 and Ole Miss No.4), with the loser seemingly going to get booted out of contention. College Gameday, after visiting SEC schools – including two Missisippi schools- three times in four weeks – has decided to go up to Morgantown for the TCU’s visit of West Virginia. We hope they’ve brought their

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Tennessee boots freshman RB

Tennessee has dismissed redshirt freshman running back Trayvon Paulk after police reported that he had hit his girlfriend at a party, according to reports. The Chatanooga Free Times press reported: “According to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Paulk was accused of assault, though his ex-girlfriend, 18-year-old Chelsea Reese is refusing to prosecute or take out an order of protection. He will not be charged….While at a party on Saturday, Paulk and Reese began arguing when he “became very agitated and struck her in the mouth with his fist….Reese had cuts to her lips but refused medical treatment.” Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said: “We hold our players to a very high standard and expectation with being a member of our

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2014 SEC Preview: Can Tennessee overcome weakness on the lines?

Let’s be honest: It hasn’t been the greatest few years at Tennessee. The fans on ‘Rocky Top’ haven’t had a winning record since 2009, and one double-digit win season in seven years. In other words, UT fans have spent a lot of time finding game tailgates as a chance to catch up and hate life together. Neyland’s a pretty easy ticket now. Butch Jones coming in last year, though, has threatened to turn things around. Tennessee was perhaps the best 5-7 team in college football, and this year, recruiting’s going well and smiles might just be returning again. LAST SEASON Tennessee had a winning record early on in the season because they beat very substandard competition. And beat ’em well.

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Tennessee HC Butch Jones speaks at the 2014 SEC Media Days

Butch Jones, the Tennessee head coach, was at his second SEC Media Days get-together, and here are some of his memorable quotes, which have been gained off Twitter. On the UT receiving corps: “We are the original wide receiver U” (apparently, it’s not….it’s Pittsburgh) Who’s going to be QB?:  “We like the progress with [current QBs] Justin Worley, Joshua Dobbs and Nathan Peterman, but we’re not naming a starter”. On the fact that Tennessee’s playing Alabama every year because of the 6-1-1 schedule, which has infuriated some coaches: “What makes college football special is the rivalries”. Young talent: “That has brought a lot of positive energy….We’ve had an influx of young talent.” On Florida: “I believe Florida’s going to be

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Tennessee QB to transfer – reports

Tennessee back-up quarterback Riley Ferguson isn’t expected to return to Knoxville, his coach Butch Jones has said. “As of right now, based on our recent conversations, we do not anticipate that he will be a member of our football family moving forward,” Jones told the News Sentinel. No-one really knows why Ferguson is planning to leave – aside from the fact that it may be something to do with him wanting to be closer to home – but there is a feeling that his departure could cause Jones a headache, particularly with there only being three quarterbacks on the roster – senior Justin Worley, and sophomores Joshua Dobbs and Nathan Peterman.  

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Leading Tennessee WR takes leave of absence

Tennessee 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

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Tennessee comes in with HUGE recruiting haul

After years of being terrible, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones has come in with just what the doctors in Knoxville ordered: A monster haul. By the end of National Signing Day, 32 players had signed up to be Volunteers (yeah, you read that right), much to even the biggest UT bloggers, who titled their National Signing Day post: “Where did all these bricks come from?” The answer is that Tennessee kicked butt and got signings in pretty early – including shoring up their defense with some excellent recruits. The biggest signings of these was safety Todd Kelly (59 on ESPN’s Top 300 list), OLB Dillon Bates (105), and DE Dewayne Hendrix (176). On the offensive side – and something that

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Tennessee’s head of football operations steps down

Brad Pendergrass, Tennessee’s head of football operations, has stepped down – only two days before National Signing Day. In a release, Pendergrass said: “It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from my position on the football staff here at Tennessee…I am very appreciative of the experiences this great university has afforded me, and I look forward to watching the successes that lie ahead on many fronts. I would like to thank [Tennessee AD] Dave Hart, Butch Jones, and many others for their support and advice in this decision, and I look forward to new opportunities for professional and personal growth.” Pendergrass was a UT grad before working at Tennessee for 10 seasons, leaving for the

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