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SEC Insider
Thursday, September 12, 2002
By Grant Hall
The Morning News/RazorbackCentral
WESTERN DIVISION
ALABAMA (1-1)
Despite a 37-27 loss to Oklahoma, coach Dennis Franchione left last week's game convinced that the Crimson Tide can play with any team in the country.
"Whether Oklahoma is a Top 5 or Top 10 team, we'll find out," Franchione said. "We may play a team or two that's better, but they won't be a lot better. We just have to execute better in the fourth quarter."
Anticipating no letdown against North Texas this week, Franchione said, "Maybe your appreciation for each game is a little deeper (with no bowl bid available for Alabama this season)."
Franchione also expressed his appreciation for life on Sept. 11: "This is a day when we all take a moment to reflect on the importance of life, and to be respectful for those who had losses."
ARKANSAS (1-0)
"So far, so good on our preparation for South Florida," said coach Houston Nutt.
Bulls quarterback Marquel Blackwell concerns Nutt because of his ability to both run and throw.
"South Florida uses a no-huddle offense with four or five wideouts, and they give Blackwell a lot of leeway to change plays," Nutt said. "He can run, and that gives a defense headaches."
Nutt said Hogs linebacker Tony Bua plays with such energy that Boise State coach Dan Hawkins made a highlights reel of Bua's plays to teach his team about all-out effort.
AUBURN (1-1)
Last year Auburn was the first team to travel to New York to play college football after Sept. 11.
"The commercial airport in Syracuse looked like an Air Force base, with all the security," coach Tommy Tuberville said. "We noticed right away that things had changed in this country. And it hasn't been the same since."
Auburn quarterback Daniel Cobb led the Tigers to five scores in six possessions against Western Carolina in a 56-0 win last week, but backup Jason Campbell came in to complete 12 of 14 passes.
"It's Daniel's job all the way," Tuberville said. "But we've told him, 'Don't look over your shoulder.'"
Troy Red****, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound freshman offensive lineman and engineering major, started for Auburn last week.
LSU (1-1)
Coach Nick Saban, asked about the SEC's 1-7 record in big intersectional games this season, said, "A lot of it is circumstance. We've played a lot on the road against good teams. But it doesn't do anything for the prestige of our league when you go 1-7 early."
Saban is pleased with the left side of his offensive line, where guard Stephen Peterman and tackle Andrew Whitworth reside.
"Our pass protection has been solid, except when Virgina Tech knew we had to throw (in a 26-8 loss)," Saban said.
This week the Tigers host Miami, Ohio, a no-huddle team that spreads the defense and features a fine sophomore quarterback.
"We'll need to run the ball more and use the good running backs we have," Saban said.
OLE MISS (2-0)
The Rebels have lost defensive back Marcus Woodson for the season because of an injury, but coach David Cutcliffe is otherwise upbeat going into a road game against Texas Tech.
Running back Robert Williams has been impressive for Ole Miss in two wins, and Tech has given up significant rushing yards during a 1-1 start.
Quarterback Eli Manning is still the man for Ole Miss, although he doesn't say much.
"Eli doesn't have to say a lot," Cutcliffe said. "He's still not real vocal, but he puts the preparation time in. Our players know it, and they feel pressure to keep up. This goes back to the summer."
MISSISSIPPI STATE (0-1)
Coach Jackie Sherrill goes way back with Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe, his opponent this week.
"My Texas A&M team played Auburn when Jack was the offensive coordinator there, and we (Mississippi State) played against him when he was the coach at Arkansas," Sherrill said.
Crowe was fired one game into his third season at Arkansas, in 1992.
"Sometimes things happen we have no control over," Sherrill said. "But Jack will bring the Jacksonville State program back."
Sherrill has declined to use MSU's loss to Troy State last season as motivation this week. "You don't live in the past," he said.
EASTERN DIVISION
FLORIDA (1-1)
"Miami was better than I thought they would be, having lost players to the NFL," said Gators coach Ron Zook after a 41-16 loss to the No. 1 Hurricanes. "But if Miami is the best, we're not that far away. There were some things we could have done to change the game."
In other words, Zook is in denial.
"Our players were a little hurt and embarrassed, but it's not the end of the world," Zook said. "We have 10 games left."
UF quarterback Rex Grossman took too much blame, Zook said, although he admitted, "Rex may have tried to do too much."
Zook's biggest concern remains the kicking game, where he's demoted a punter and placekicker this week. He's also added two freshman receivers to the offense.
GEORGIA (1-0)
An open date helped Georgia get healthy for South Carolina this week, particularly as rover Sean Jones couldn't have played last week.
Coach Mark Richt expects "a great battle in a great ball park" at Columbia, S.C.
Richt says he doesn't verbally lash quarterbacks David Greene and D.J. Shockley unless they freelance too much.
"The guy I blasted most was Chris Weinke in his first year at Florida State," Richt said. "I told him he couldn't just go off on his own out there."
KENTUCKY (2-0)
Guy Morriss, an early favorite for SEC Coach of the Year if he wins a few more games, looks forward to playing Indiana under the lights at home this week.
"Our fans and players like night games," Morriss said. "You can throw all the stats out the window when you play a rivalry game like this."
Morriss allowed that UK quarterback Jared Lorenzen (6-4, 275 and counting) is hard for defensive backs to bring down.
"They sort of bounce off him," Morriss said. "In fact, even defensive linemen have trouble bringing him down."
Lorenzen has become more vocal in the huddle, and unafraid to get in players' faces, Morriss said. Seems to be working, especially in close calls.
"Last year we came close in some games," Morriss said. "Now we're learning to finish."
SOUTH CAROLINA (1-1)
"We seem to be a very tired team," said coach Lou Holtz. "We have good speed, but we play very slow."
In a 34-21 loss at Virginia, the Gamecocks turned the ball over with their offense, defense and kicking team.
"I don't know if that's ever been done in the history of football," said Holtz, no stranger to hyperbole.
What vexed Holtz even more was that Virginia converted 65 percent of its third-down plays.
"If you think you can win when that happens, you're kidding yourself," Holtz said.
Quarterback Corey Jenkins had three of USC's seven turnovers, all inside the Virginia 20, but otherwise played well.
TENNESSEE (2-0)
The league's bellwether team so far by default, Tennessee gets this week off to jump-start its preparations for Florida on Sept. 21 (a series the Vols lead 17-14).
"We should be close to 100 percent healthy by then," said coach Phillip Fulmer.
With 49 of his 83 players freshmen or sophomores, Fulmer cracked, "It's been a thrill a minute."
Vols sophomore receiver Kelley Washington has been "dissed" for trash-talking in games, but Fulmer said, "I don't think he's been a distraction. I honestly don't think there's as much talking in games as there used to be."
VANDERBILT (1-1)
Though Vanderbilt thrashed Furman 49-18 last week, SEC writers still aren't keeping coach Bobby Johnson on the phone long in teleconferences.
Wednesday he talked mostly about Auburn running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and how he "out-athletes" people trying to tackle him.
"Southern Cal had him hemmed up, and the next thing you knew, he was in the end zone," Johnson raved.
"Auburn likes to get him the ball with a lot of green grass around him."
Somehow, Vandy leads the Auburn series 19-17-1.
