SEC Football.....way early preview

[30A Skunkape]

Spurrier to win SEC East
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Randy Moore
InsideTennessee.com Apr 11, 2007

After two years spent mostly taking his lumps, South Carolina head man Steve Spurrier is ready to begin administering some lumps during the upcoming 2007 Southeastern Conference football season.

In fact, Spurrier's Gamecocks are poised to supplant the defending national champ Florida Gators as champions of the SEC Eastern Division this fall. At least, that's the projection of Larry Phipps, publisher of the Phipps' SEC Football Guide.
Phipps, based in Cola, S.C., tabs Tennessee second in the East race, with Georgia third and the graduation-depleted Gators slipping to fourth. Kentucky and Vanderbilt are pegged fifth and sixth, respectively.

Phipps projects LSU to win the West, then beat South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game. Following the Tigers in the West race are Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

Phipps sees no Tennessee players worthy of first-team recognition on his preseason All-SEC offensive squad but rates quarterback Erik Ainge a second-team choice.

Phipps lists three Vols on his first-team preseason All-SEC defensive squad ? linebacker Jerod Mayo, safety Jonathan Hefney and punter Britton Colquitt.

Here are Phipps' complete All-SEC teams:

OFFENSE

1ST TEAM

QB- Andre' Woodson (KY)

RB- Felix Jones (AR)

RB- Darren McFadden (AR)

WR- Keenan Burton (KY)

WR- D. J. Hall (AL)

WR- Earl Bennett (VU)

OL- Jonathan Luigs (AR)

OL- Michael Oher (UM)

OL- Drew Miller (FL)

OL- Brian Stamper (VU)

OL- Antoine Caldwell (AL)

TE- Jacob Tamme (KY)

PK- Ryan Succop (SC)

2ND TEAM

QB Erik Ainge (TN)

RB Cory Boyd (SC)

RB Rafael Little (KY)

WR Early Doucet (LSU)

WR Kenny McKinley (SC)

WR Marcus Monk (AR)

OL Ciron Black (LSU)

OL Andre Smith (AL)

OL Brett Helms (LSU)

OL Jamon Meredith (SC)

OL Phil Trautwein (FL)

TE Andy Boyd (SC)

PK Joshua Shene (UM)

DEFENSE

1ST TEAM

DL Glenn Dorsey (LSU)

DL Antwain Robinson (AR)

DL Derrick Harvey (FL)

DL Tyson Jackson (LSU)

LB Jasper Brinkley (SC)

LB Wesley Woodyard (KY)

LB Jerod Mayo (TN)

DB Simeon Castille (AL)

DB Matterral Richardson (AR)

DB Paul Oliver (GA)

DB Jonathan Hefney (TN)

P Britton Colquitt (TN)

2ND TEAM

DL Casper Brinkley (SC)

DL Quentin Groves (AU)

DL Titus Brown (MSU)

DL Wallace Gilberry (AL)

LB Jonathan Goff (VU)

LB Rory Johnson (UM)

LB Weston Dacus (AR)

DB Emanuel Cook (SC)

DB Kelin Johnson (GA)

DB Trevard Lindley (KY)

DB Chevis Jackson (LSU)

P Ryan Succop (SC)


To order Phipps' SEC Football Guide, go to either of these websites:

www.larryphipps.com

 

[kathydwells]

My predicition is that ALABAMA is going to surprise everyone. ;-)

 

[whiteyfunn]

From SportingNews.com:

Dienhart's SportingBlog
Ranking the SEC coaches
April 10, 2007


1. Nick Saban, Alabama. Just shut up and get out the way. A genius is at work. Sure, Saban was a dud in the NFL. Who cares? His tunnel vision and maniacal focus will make him impervious to the Crimson hanger-on-ers who poison this program. Still not convinced? Well, if Saban won it all at LSU -- which I like to call "Alabama Light" -- he can do it in T-town.

2. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina. I'm just wondering out loud here: Has Spurrier lost some of his luster? Let that thought roll around your noggin. Regardless, the ol' Ballcoach gets the benefit of the doubt in these rankings. Spurrier is trying, trying to make the Gamecocks into the Gators. He's getting closer. Witness his wins over the likes of Tennessee and Florida and big recruiting hauls. Spurrier WILL win big in Columbia. He's just gotta. He's too good.

3. Urban Meyer, Florida. He's the "it" coach at the "it" school. Yeah, it's good to be Urban Meyer. He's got the tan, 32-inch waist, fat wallet, beautiful wife. But where does he go from here? How about the NFL? Uber Urban will have to scratch that itch some day. Until then, he's eyeing another national title. Given the mega talent he's assembling in Gainesville, that should come pretty quickly. Someone get this guy some endorsements.

4. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn. I'll go ahead and admit it: He's my favorite SEC coach. Tuberville not only survived a coup, but he has made the Tigers perhaps the premier program in the nation's premier conference. Good stuff. If Tubs were doing all of this in Tuscaloosa, he'd already have a statue of him outside the stadium. Oh, you know it's true, Bama Boy.

5. Houston Nutt, Arkansas. Look, this isn't as sweet a gig as Hogs fans like to think. Nutt knows this, but he won't dare say it. Instead, he suffers in silence, annually doing one of the best coaching jobs in the nation. Alas, with a new athletic director on the horizon, Nutt's days in Fayetteville may be numbered. Once he's gone, Hogs fans finally may realize exactly what they had: A great, great coach.

6. Mark Richt, Georgia. This is the guy who I would want coaching my son. Richt is the voice of sanity in a conference renowned for insanity. Even better, Richt has the Dawgs back to the elite level they haven't enjoyed since Vince Dooley was barking at the Silver Britches between the hedges. But can Richt -- the quintessential Mr. Nice (aka anti-Nick Saban) -- deliver a national title? I sure hope so.

7. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt. Ask yourself this question: If Johnson coached Tennessee, do you think he'd ever lose to Vandy? You know the answer to that deep down in your Big Orange heart. As it is, we are witnessing a golden era of Vandy football. Sure, the bowl drought still dates to 1982, but Johnson is getting closer. In fact, his 2007 team may be his best yet. Johnson has made playing Vandy just plain no fun. And I love it.

8. Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee. Excuse Fulmer as takes a few deep breathes. He has to be feeling the heat. The guy hasn't won the SEC since 1998. And title droughts of that duration aren't understood at football factories like the one in Knoxville. What's my point? This could be Fulmer's last season if he doesn't win the SEC. Either way, I think he should pass this hot potato program after the season and head straight to the College Football Hall of Fame.

9. Rich Brooks, Kentucky. I should have known: Any guy who can make Oregon football matter wouldn't be intimidated by the prospect of making Kentucky football matter. Still, I had my doubts when Brooks got this job. But last year showed he still has fire in his belly. And this year may be even better. Credit Brooks for building a good staff.

10. Les Miles, LSU. Is he just winning with Saban's players? It's a question that's not worth answering. Miles deserves credit for keeping the Bayou Bengals at a high level. Now, here's a legit question: Can Miles reach the summit like Saban? If Miles didn't do it last year, he never may get it done. Is that a clock I hear ticking?

11. Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State. Everyone tells me: Sly is on the hot seat. That's about the time I fall off my seat. It's this simple: Croom inherited a mess (Thanks, Jackie!) that is taking time to repair. He does everything the right way, which is why his rebuilding job is taking time. I've got your back, Sly. You keep on doing what you're doing and ignore the face-painting loonies.

12. Ed Orgeron, Ole Miss. One writer in the southeast called Orgeron "every athletic director's worst nightmare" last fall. Yeah, pretty harsh. I say let's give Big Ed more time before throwing him on the Weber in the Grove. No doubt, he has improved the talent. Now, he has to win. And give him credit for continually tweaking his staff in an attempt to make things work. Still, it all makes me wonder: Why again was David Cutcliffe fired?

 

[30A Skunkape]

My predicition is that ALABAMA is going to surprise everyone. ;-)

Yeah, I guess Phipps didn't hear UA hired Saban. Can't wait for kickoff, can you?:clap_1: I am fired up!

 

[whiteyfunn]

Yeah, I guess Phipps didn't hear UA hired Saban. Can't wait for kickoff, can you?:clap_1: I am fired up!

I can't wait. :clap_1: I set up a google alert for "Nick Saban."

It's official. I'm a lunatic. :roll:

 

[kathydwells]

Yeah, I guess Phipps didn't hear UA hired Saban. Can't wait for kickoff, can you?:clap_1: I am fired up!

Oh, I have to admit that was funny Skunky!!! No, I can't wait, I am so excited!!!!!! :clap_1:

 

[kathydwells]

I can't wait. :clap_1: I set up a google alert for "Nick Saban."

It's official. I'm a lunatic. :roll:

:funn:

 

[Kurt]

I would believe USC first before I would believe UF fourth. Spurrier's success will depend on if anyone emerges at QB. Gators are young and will take their lumps but are 15-2 against UGA lately. UT at UF early will once again set the order for the East.

 

[30A Skunkape]

I'll show ya Alabama light

Nice bumper sticker, Nick:funn:

 

[whiteyfunn]

I'll show ya Alabama light

Nice bumper sticker, Nick:funn:

:roll: