Quick bits from the Demo-Zette
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SEC Report: Holtz going with Hogs, top 'Dogs
COMPILED BY BOB HOLT -ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
South Carolina Coach Lou Holtz is famous for running down his team's chances of being successful, but he had no problem mentioning favorites for the SEC division races this season.
"I think Georgia is going to be the best team in the conference," Holtz said without being asked.
That statement about the East division's Bulldogs -- likely inspired by the fact South Carolina opens SEC play against Georgia -- prompted someone to ask Holtz's opinion of the West's best team.
"I think Arkansas and LSU would be my two favorites," Holtz said.
Holtz said he likes the Razorbacks because of sophomore quarterback Matt Jones. Holtz added that Houston Nutt "is the ideal guy" to be the Razorbacks' coach.
Richt seeing better
Georgia Coach Mark Richt, who had laser surgery on his eyes a month ago to improve his vision, was able to make a joke at his own expense.
"Maybe that will help me in the heat of the battle keep an eye on that clock," Richt said.
Richt, who went 8-4 in his first season as Bulldogs coach, was referring to Georgia's 24-17 loss to Auburn, when the Tigers stopped Jasper Sanks short of the goal line on a running play from the 1-yard line and the game clock ran out before Georgia could get off another play.
While Richt caught a lot of heat after the game for not calling a pass into the end zone that would have allowed the Bulldogs at least one more play if it hadn't worked, he said the fans have been pretty understanding when he's spoken at booster clubs.
"They're like, 'Let it go, move on,' " Richt said.
Enjoy retirement
Roy Kramer's last official day as SEC commissioner is Thursday, but he said he's basically already in retirement mode.
While Kramer made an appearance at SEC media days on Tuesday, Mike Slive, hired as the conference's new commissioner July 2, made the opening remarks. Kramer spoke informally with a few reporters.
"I'm pretty well gone now," Kramer said. "Mike and I meet and we talk a lot, but basically he's the man now. And he should be."
Kramer, 72, said he's looking forward to retirement.
"I knew this day was coming, so I feel very good about it," he said. "I'll have a free weekend now and then where I'm not at a baseball game, a track meet, a football game, a basketball game, although I expect I'll show up for a game now and then."
Clemson, Georgia reunite
Georgia has won its last five season openers by an average score of 41-8. But that was against Arkansas State (twice), Kent State, Utah State and Georgia Southern.
The Bulldogs figure to have a much tougher opener this season when they resume a series against Clemson on Aug. 31 at Sanford Stadium.
Georgia and Clemson have played 60 times since 1897, with the Bulldogs holding a 39-17-4 advantage, but they last met in 1995.
With the NCAA adding a 12th regular-season game, the rivalry is back on.
While the last thing the Bulldogs appear to need is another rivalry game -- aren't Florida, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Tennessee and South Carolina enough? -- second-year Georgia Coach Mark Richt said he's excited about playing Clemson.
"I like the fact that we're opening the season with Clemson," Richt said. "I think it really puts a different focus on the year. ... I think your summer workouts are affected by who you play in the first game.
"That fact it's a rivalry game and our players know we certainly can get whipped if we don't take care of our business, it helps the players made a decision, 'Am I going to work out today or not?' They know they can't take a day off and beat a team like Clemson."
Woody still waiting
Woody Widenhofer, who resigned under pressure as Vanderbilt's coach after last season, still hasn't landed another coaching job.
Considering Widenhofer's resume as a respected defensive coordinator for NFL and college teams, it's a surprise he's still job hunting.
Widenhofer does have an offer to become defensive coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana -- which is resuming its football program in 2003 after a 10-year absence -- for Hal Mumme, the former Kentucky coach who was hired recently as the program's new coach. But Widenhofer hasn't accepted the offer yet, apparently hoping something better will come along.
<br/>By the numbers12.75 Starters on offense and defense returning on average per SEC team. That's 6.58 on offense and 6.17 on defense.
281-77-2 SEC's nonconference record since 1992 when it expanded to 12 teams, adding Arkansas and South Carolina.
9 SEC teams that have been ranked among the Top 25 nationally in at least one magazine's preseason poll. They are Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina, Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
