SEC This Week

SEC Players of the Week

September 02, 2008

The SEC named its players of the week. Here’s the information:

SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CHRIS NICKSON
Quarterback
VANDERBILT
6-1 • 210 • Senior
Brundidge, Ala. (Pike County HS)

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Friday game recaps

August 29, 2008

The SEC season is underway. South Carolina’s defense could be the strongest part of the team. But what is wrong with the offense? To say Beecher was ineffective wouldn’t be honest. He sucked. Beecher threw two interceptions in the first quarter and missed several additional throws. Add an interception in the second quarter. And one in the third. Has Steve Spurrier lost his golden touch? What was going through his mind while Beecher tossed interception after interception?

Beecher was given the job by Spurrier in April despite throwing three interceptions in South Carolina’s closing spring scrimmage. Ever since, Spurrier has stood solidly in Beecher’s corner repeating the junior would have a chance to go the distance for the Gamecocks this season. From AP story

Blogs urge Spurrier to “pull the plug” on the Tommy Beecher Experiment.

Sure, it’s easier to come in when the opposing defense is worn down and put up the points. But consider this: With Beecher at quarterback, the Gamecocks’ longest two drives were 34 yards each, and South Carolina scored 13 points. With Smelley under center, the Gamecocks had scoring drives of 60, 69 and 74 yards and scored 21 points. And it’s not just that Smelley (5-of-5, 92 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs) was measurably better than Beecher (12-of-22, 106 yards, 0 TDs, 4 INTs). The entire offense seemed to kick it up a notch with Smelley. Mike Davis with Beecher: 7 rushes, 11 yards. Mike Davis with Smelley: 7 rushes, 90 yards. Beecher could be a fit for a running quarterback, situational role. But nothing he showed me Thursday indicated he can start in the SEC.
From Garnet And black Attack

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has a decision to make that should be very easy, as long as he doesn’t mind admitting he was wrong.

He needs to acknowledge that his best quarterback isn’t the guy he chose to start last night’s opener, Tommy Beecher. He needs to bench Beecher and choose Chris Smelley as his starting quarterback for next Thursday’s game at Vanderbilt, and going forward.
From College Football Talk

The Gamecock’s offensive line drew attention from some blogs.

Despite scoring 34 points, for most of last night’s game Steve’s Spurrier’s offense looked thoroughly inept. The offensive line, a big weakness last year for the Gamecocks, gave no reason to think it would be much better this year. It was porous and failed to get any push against the NC State defensive line until the game was pretty much decided after the end of the 3rd quarter
From And The Valley Shook

Again sore spot was the O-line but they began to play good towards the end of the game but not sure if that was fatigue on the NCSU side or good better play.
From Left Over Hotdog

CollegeFootballNews questioned ESPN and its heavy ex-Florida Gator tilt. It also panned the Dr. Lou Show.

Vanderbilt: Chris Nickson brilliant in return to starting job—Inside Vandy
Showing the dual-threat talent that made him a star for Vanderbilt two years ago, Nickson made big play after big play with his arm and his legs, leading the Commodores to a convincing 34-13 victory over the RedHawks in both teams’ season openers. The elusive signal-caller rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns, and completed nine of 16 passes for 90 yards, one score and no turnovers.

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Around the SEC

August 27, 2008

General SEC: The state of discipline at SEC programs led by Mark Richt, Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban were discussed by the Wizard of Odds. “Suspensions, what are they good for? In college football, absolutely nothing.”

The Wiz doesn’t explain the purpose of a suspension. Is it to punish the player or the team or the coach? With coaching a business does it even make sense to suspend players when you’ve got bonus money riding on the outcome? And with parity in college football is any game really safe to dish out a suspension?

General SEC: A preview of every SEC game this week—Garnet And Black Attack

General SEC: Pigskin Pathos predicts ESPN will hire “the Daves” of Raycom.

Alabama: Fallout continues from the Clemson comments about Alabama’s recruiting. Kevin Scarbinsky covers it in a column in the Birmingham News. Tider Insider TV took on Vic Koenning’s comments about Alabama’s recruiting of WR Julio Jones. Here’s the video. The discussion begins at about 3:50 of the 19:52 video and ends about the 5:15 mark.

Arkansas: Jarius Wright is listed as starter at WR but you can expect to see freshman wide receiver Joe Adams on the field as well. 

“I just think [Wright ] has been a little more consistent,” said Paul Petrino, the Razorbacks’ offensive coordinator and receivers coach. “There’s not a whole lot of difference between him and Joe. “ They’ll probably play almost the exact same number of snaps, but Jarius has probably graded out higher each scrimmage in effort…. and that’s how I determine who starts.”—Whole Hog Sports 

Arkansas: Youth has prompted a simpler defensive playbook—The Slophouse 

Arkansas: One more Arkansas item. The Razorbacks are completely overhauling the administrative structure of the athletic department.

Arkansas previously operated with separate men’s and women’s athletic departments, but it was announced shortly after Long’s hiring in October that a merger would take place, bringing together all 19 varsity sports, more than 450 student-athletes and more than 200 athletic department staff members.

Members of the new executive staff include associate vice chancellor and executive associate AD Bev Lewis, senior associate ADs Chris Wyrick, Jon Fagg and Matt Trantham, and associate ADs Tom Dorre and Kevin Trainor. Lewis, the former women’s AD, Dorre and Trainor served in various capacities prior to Long’s hiring; Wyrick, Fagg and Trantham were hired by Long.—WholeHogSports

Auburn: Tommy Tuberville had to adjust his “personality and coaching style pretty much over night” Track Em Tigers reported. WR Robert Dunn was demoted to fourth team.

Florida: The New York Times said the Floriga-Georgia game and the Florida-LSU are two of the 10 games to most impact the national championship picture. About the Georgia game—“This game impacts the SEC East, the SEC over all, the national title race and possibly the Heisman race.” 

Georgia: The New York Times places three Bulldog games on the list of the 10 games to most impact the national championship picture. About the LSU game—“Nobody ever said it was going to be easy for the Bulldogs. The Tigers won the national title last season with two losses, so a loss for either team probably doesn’t knock them out of contention.”

Kentucky: John Clay ranks the coaches who have coached in the UK-Louisville series. Howard Schnellenberger ranks first, Bobby Petrino second and Rich Brooks third. Here’s what he said about Rich Brooks.<br>

Would put him above Petrino were he not 0-4 against Bobby P. Brooks turned Oregon around. Now, he is turning Kentucky around. I thought his hire here was questionable at best. I was wrong.

LSU: The New York Times places two LSU games on the list of the 10 games to most impact the national championship picture. About the Florida game— “The reigning national champions face the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.”

Ole Miss: Parrish Alford predicts Ole Miss to land in a bowl game this for ths first time in four years. Alford predicts a victory over the rival Bulldogs.

Miss State: The Bulldogs have the youngest athletic director in the SEC and the Kosciusko Star-Herald reports on the priorities for the MSU program including the desire for new practice facilities. 

South Carolina: GoGamecocks provides the keys to the South Carolina-NC State game. 

Key matchup: Gamecocks MLB Jasper Brinkley vs. N.C. State RB Andre Brown

About Brinkley: Brinkley, an All-SEC selection in 2006, returns after missing the final eight games last year following knee surgery. The fifth-year senior had 107 tackles two years ago, more than twice as many as the Gamecocks’ next-leading tackler. He was bothered by an ankle injury during the preseason, but practiced this week and estimated the ankle is 95 percent healed.

How he’ll win the matchup: Even before his knee injury last year, Brinkley was less than full speed as he battled a high ankle sprain. The Gamecocks need a healthy Brinkley to stuff the running lanes if they are to improve a run defense that ranked last in the SEC and 110th among 119 teams nationally in 2007.

Key number: 100 - Of Brinkley’s 128 tackles, 100 have been solo stops (78 percent).

About Brown: Like Brinkley, Brown is coming back from a season-ending injury in 2007. The 6-foot, 228-pound senior broke his foot against Florida State midway through last season, then re-injured it during spring practice. Brown, who has 1,772 career rushing yards, will start in place of the injured Jamelle Eugene.

How he’ll win the matchup: With a young quarterback making his first start, Wolfpack coach Tom O’Brien likely will try to establish the run with Brown, the ACC’s second leading active rusher behind James Davis. Brown, who has 15 career touchdowns, might be able to slip past Brinkley if he hits a quick crease between the tackles. 

Tennessee: From Third Saturday In Blogtober

If Gerald Williams doesn’t get in — and it’s a distinct possibility that he won’t — it’s a big problem this season. That big problem turns into a colossal problem next year. Basically, this year, it just means that UT will depend on Ellix Wilson inside (he’s starting, anyway) and if he gets hurt or needs a breather, the Vols can depend on 5-foot-8 former walk-on Nick Reveiz, bump Adam Myers-White or Nevin McKenzie inside (most likely scenario) or play somebody like Savion Frazier or — gasp! — Chris Donald inside. I know that those aren’t particularly great options, but they’re the options for better or worse. I guess Rico McCoy could move in too, a la Jerod Mayo.

Vanderbilt: Chris Nickson named Vandy’s starting quarterback—The Tennessean

Vanderbilt: Redshirt junior Mackenzi Adams should not only be considered for the job but see major playing time—Inside Vandy 

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College Gameday (basketball) heading to Knoxville

August 27, 2008

College Gameday will be in Knoxville when Florida visits Tennessee on Jan. 31. Here’s the list of all the places Gameday visits in 2009 from Awful Announcing. 

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SEC games on Satellite radio Week 1

August 27, 2008

SATELLITE RADIO SCHEDULE
The following games are scheduled to be on XM satellite radio for the weekend of Aug. 28-Sept. 1:

Vanderbilt at Miami (Ohio) 199

N.C. State at South Carolina 200

Hawaii at Florida 200

Georgia Southern at Georgia 199

Appalachian State at LSU 200

Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech 199

Western Illinois at Arkansas 201

Louisiana-Monroe at Auburn 144

Memphis at Ole Miss 141

Alabama vs. Clemson 232

Kentucky at Louisville 199

Tennessee at UCLA 199

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Week 1 SEC TV schedule

August 27, 2008

Thursday-8/28
Vanderbilt at Miami (OH) 7:30 on ESPNU
North Carolina State at South Carolina 8:00 on ESPN

Saturday-8/30
Hawaii at Florida 12:30 RAYCOM (local affiliates)
Appalachian State at LSU 5:00 ESPN
Miss State at Louisiana Tech 6:45 ESPN2
Alabama vs. Clemson 8:00 ABC

Sunday-8/31
Kentucky at Louisville 3:30 ESPN

Monday-9/1
Tennessee at UCLA 8:00 ESPN

(all times Eastern)

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Around the SEC

August 26, 2008

General SEC News: Tony Barnhart at AJC.com said the ESPN and CBS television deals are going to be major aids in recruiting battles. Barnhart also reveals how the SEC earned its big payday of $55 million per year from CBS and $150 million per year from ESPN. Barnhart does one puzzling thing. He defends Raycom and the Three Daves—This is just one man’s opinion, but if ESPN is smart, they’ll keep the same broadcast team of Dave Neal, Dave Archer, and Dave Baker to do the early SEC games. In fact, the SEC should insist on it. Continuity is important, especially in the over the air package of games, which has played an important role in the growth of the conference on TV. It’s just something to think about.

General SEC News: There is a scoreboard arms race at SEC schools. First there was Arkansas building a $5.3 million Smartvision scoreboard. Now Ole Miss and Mississippi State are building scoreboards. The Commercial Appeal explains how the Rebels have a $6 million 48 foot x 84 foot scoreboard and the Bulldogs are building a $6.1 million 47 foot x111 foot scoreboard. The pricetags sound large, but advertising revenues are expected to cover the cost.

Alabama: Tide blogs were mostly restrained after a Clemson defensive coach joked about Alabama’s popular recruit Julio Jones. Roll Bama Roll said the fallout was mostly negative for Clemson—so now his boss is taking heat for it and also has the added burden of mending bridges with a prominent football coach at a powerhouse program in a talent rich part of a state that he makes a recruiting priority. The Tide Druid wrote—What do I think of this? I was over it as soon as I read it. If you’ve lived in this state the last 10 years, you’ve heard your fill of cheating jokes. I’m just shocked Vic Koenning could not think of a better gag. The old “a player got an Escalade” bit has been done before.

Arkansas: Don’t call Arkansas’ new offense the spread. The Slophouse tells us that Paul Petrino says the offense is “a mixture of two-back, one-back, multiple offense.” This offense is about attacking players said. The Arkansas fans are anxious for the season to begin. Hogballer at RazorBloggers Network said he hasn’t “been this excited about a season opener in a very long time.” Hogballer credited the Razorback fans for saving their football program. I think only SMU after the ‘death penalty‘ could lay claim to having more administration changes in such a short time frame.   The irony is that an out-of-control SMU administration lost their football program, while an out-of-control Razorback fan base helped to save their program by demanding change.

Auburn: Auburn has released its depth chart for the season opener. It didn’t reveal who would start the game at QB. 

Florida: Percy Harvin participated in drills Tuesday but is still questionable for the season opener against Hawaii.

Georgia: The Dawg-Gone Blog provides a list of 10 things about this year’s Georgia squad. One of the things he expects NOT to see—An Auburn 2004 Screwjob – This is easy to predict.  If we go undefeated this year, we have to be the best team in the land.  Period.  The SEC is universally thought of as the toughest conference, so don’t expect any kind of screwjob from the system or the media.  If we go 13-0, we’re playing a week later than 117 other teams at the end of the season. One more item about the Bulldogs, Richt hasn’t given up using Knowshon Moreno on punt returns.

Kentucky: UK’s offensive line faces heavy pressure as it is touted as the strength of the team. John Clay provides the details of how the line is adjusting to the pressure and expectations. Kentucky fans are also thinking about basketball. A Sea of Blue examines the Wildcats’ chances to contend for the SEC title.

LSU: And the Valley Shook provides tidbits to setup the LSU-Appalachian State game. This stat was impressive—Ranked sixth entering the season, this is the fifth consecutive year LSU has started in the top 10.

Ole Miss: Parrish Alford reports on the differences at Rebel practice as the team moves from camp into game week prep. The Clarion Ledger explains how Houston Nutt has enjoyed his “honeymoon” at Ole Miss. Ole Miss is in a scoreboard arms race with rivals.

Miss. State: Miss State’s LT Derek Sherrod will miss a couple of practices due to a foot infection. The Bulldogs leading receiver Jamayel Smith is battling tendonitis in his left knee. MSU is in a scoreboard arms race with rivals.

South Carolina: Gamecock fans can expect to see improvements at Williams-Brice stadium. The most expensive item is a $2.4 million athletic training room. South Carolina is spending a total of $5.6 million on renovations. 

Tennessee: Volquest has banned many posters reports Losers With Socks. LWS promises—THIS SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN. The UT depth chart is available at Rocky Top Talk.

Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt needs a 2008 version of the 2006 Chris Nickson writes Matt Wilson on his blog. 

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Around the conference

August 26, 2008

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Roundup: What people think of the TV deal

August 25, 2008

Everyone has an opinion about the SEC’s new TV deal with ESPN. Here’s a survey of what’s being said by newspapers and blogs:

SEC TV deal with ESPN on football will mean all conference games will be broadcast writes the Birmingham News.

Actually, Raycom will be broadcasting the early morning games in HD this season. Too little too late in the SEC’s eyes, I guess—The Slophouse

Georgia Sports Blog: A likely SEC TV schedule next year (during a typical week) would be:

Best Game: CBS at 3:30 pm
2nd Pick: ESPN at 7:45 pm
3rd Pick: ESPN2 night game
4th Pick: ESPNU 12:00 or 12:30

Lou Holtz will spit his way into millions more homes each weekend, which surely will enrich the lives of caustic fans across the country. His down-home colloquialisms add so much to ESPN’s coverage and I, for one, am looking forward to many more years with Coach Holtz providing us simulated pep talks and pointless rants—writes The Hottest Auburn Blog on the Net

Ron Higgins of The Commercial Appeal  says the deal ends the idea of an SEC Network—The ultimate conclusion was that each school has its own pay-per-view and re-telecast agreements, and that web was not worth untangling, especially after CBS and now ESPN has backed up the Brinks armored car to the SEC vault.

A Georgia football blog raises a good question about these television deals and any changes to the playoff format: Speaking of which, I do have one little question about these deals.  Given their length and the financial outlay, how concerned do you think CBS and ESPN are now about an extended D-1 football playoff format devaluing the significance of regular season SEC games?

An Alabama football blog says the new deal means another advantage for SEC recruiting—None other than the recruiting maestro Nick Saban said the reason the SEC has been successful is due to the tremendous exposure through its national television games on CBS and ESPN. Saban said the new deal is only going to enhance the league’s exposure.

3rd Saturday in Blogtober: SEC fans, say goodbye to the Three Daves of Raycom when they come to visit your town this year. This year sounds like the farewell tour for the Trainwrecked Triumvirant.

AOL’s Fanhouse provides this take: You know what? I like the deal. Let’s be honest, here. The games that were covered on what is now Raycom were terrible. The video production looked like something out of th 1980’s, the picture was atrocious (god help you if you have a big screen or are accustomed to High-Def), and the announcing was poor at best. The network put out a highly sub-standard product, but they were the only option we had some Saturdays. 

The Journal of Sports Media says the ESPN deal is the death knell for the regional sports network—However, with one 45-minute press conference today, the SEC and ESPN burst the RSN bubble and, indirectly, gave Big Cable companies a victory in their feuds with the Big Ten Network and the NFL Network. Mike Slive, commissioner of the SEC, confirmed today that going it alone with a network is too big a risk. During his conference call comments, he alluded to starting an RSN as 20-25 year commitment. Instead, he and his band of athletic directors and presidents took the money - $2.2 billion of it.

Matt Wilson of NashvilleBallerz details something many SEC fans have suspected that ESPN was biased against the SEC—

SEC fans the last 15 years or so have begun to suspect that not being affiliated with ABC/ESPN has had a negative impact in both exposure and by extension, voting for national rankings and individual awards.

Ask any Tennessee fan and they’ll probably tell you they think Peyton Manning got jobbed out of the Heisman Trophy because he played in a conference that ESPN didn’t have a contract with. Ask any Auburn fan about the Tigers’ undefeated 2004 season — the one in which they didn’t win the national title. Could the fact that the SEC wasn’t an official league televised by the network have played a role in that? Fine, I’ll say it. I think so.

Now the SEC arguably becomes the flagship league for ESPN. It will be intriguing to see how things change.

One Mississippi State blog has a different view: This means that the 11:30 Raycom (JP for the old-timers) broadcast will be history starting next year. After our record in 11:30 Raycom games last year, (begin “the world is against us” rant”) this feels like it was diliberately meant to keep us down (end rant)!

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ESPN and SEC Reach Unprecedented 15-Year Agreement

August 25, 2008

Exclusive Games on ESPN, ESPN2 , ESPN on ABC and ESPNU; ESPN Regional Television New SEC Syndication Home; Men’s Basketball Tournament Semis/Championship on ESPN on ABC; Comprehensive Multimedia Rights to ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV and More

ESPN and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) have reached a milestone 15-year agreement beginning in 2009-10 and continuing through 2023-24, it was announced by George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports, and Mike Slive, SEC Commissioner. The landmark deal – the longest national rights agreement in ESPN history — will result in ESPN entities (ESPN, ESPN on ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN International, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Classic) carrying more than 5,500 SEC events – including football, men’s and women’s basketball, Olympic sports and SEC Championships.

ESPN has televised the SEC since 1982. All national programming will fall under the branding “SEC on ESPN.” As part of the agreement

• • ESPN and ESPN2 will continue to offer premier SEC games, including Saturday night and two primetime Thursday football games, triple the basketball offerings with three nights (two new) of men’s basketball and present SEC Championships in women’s basketball, baseball, softball and gymnastics.
  • ESPN Regional Television will become the new over-the-air syndication home for SEC football and basketball games. In addition, ESPN and the SEC will work together to offer multi-sport packages (including football, men’s and women’s basketball, Olympic sports and conference championships) of SEC content for regional cable syndication.
  • ESPNU will now offer exclusive SEC telecasts, including football and basketball and selected conference championships. In addition, the network will present a weekly, hour-long program on SEC sports throughout the academic year as well as sport-by-sport previews, reviews and specials.
  • The semifinals and championship of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament will be televised nationally for the first time on ESPN on ABC.
  • All SEC championship games except football will be aired on either ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN on ABC, ESPNU or ESPN Classic.
  • The agreement will also showcase the academic successes of SEC student-athletes by including twice-annual programs dedicated to academic accomplishments of SEC student-athletes; an annual Campus Connection (students take part in the production) telecast at each SEC institution; a weekly segment on an SEC show featuring academics; and an online SEC Academic Network utilizing ESPN360.com technology.
  • Extensive coverage of women’s basketball and Olympic sports will be offered nationally through ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU and regionally through ESPN Regional Television, including both regular-season and conference championships.
  • Comprehensive multimedia rights are also an integral part of the agreement as live SEC action, including football and basketball, will be offered via simulcasts onESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV and extensive content rights have been granted to ESPN.com.
  • ESPN International, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FULL COURT, ESPN Classic and ESPN Deportes will also feature the SEC.
  • Each SEC institution retains the right to continue a local multi-media rights package. 

 “The SEC delivers tremendous quality and depth and a devoted, widespread fan base,” Bodenheimer said. “This historic deal will offer fans more SEC access than ever before through every form of media that exists today or may be developed during the life of this long-term arrangement. We applaud the leadership of the conference as well as these great academic and athletic institutions for supporting this groundbreaking collaboration.”

Slive said, “The Southeastern Conference has embodied excellence for 75 years and during the last 26 years, ESPN has carried the stories of our 12 member institutions throughout the nation and the world.  With this landmark agreement, ESPN and its platforms will continue to showcase the SEC with more games and original SEC-dedicated content than ever before.  The SEC is looking forward to continuing its relationship with ESPN as we move into our next 75 years.”

 “The Southeastern Conference is pleased to extend its relationship with ESPN and its wide-ranging outlets in this milestone agreement,” said Dr. Lee Todd, President of the University of Kentucky and the Southeastern Conference.  “This contract represents an innovative and revolutionary direction for the SEC that will showcase our conference in a variety of means both academically and athletically.”

Following are the key details of the new agreement:

Football 
ESPN has acquired rights to every SEC home football game (excluding those on the network broadcast package) and will serve as the exclusive national cable home and the syndication rightsholder for the conference.

ESPN and ESPN2: The networks will increase coverage by combining to televise a minimum of 20 SEC games annually, including Saturday night and two primetime Thursday matchups.

ESPNU: The 24-hour college sports network, which launched in March 2005, will present a package of SEC football for the first time, with a Saturday game-of-the-week (generally in primetime and a minimum of 13 games annually).

ESPN Regional Television (ERT): The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, becomes the official over-the-air syndication home for the SEC and will feature a game-of-the-week package (generally at 12:30 p.m. ET), with a minimum of 13 games each season throughout the SEC footprint and beyond. In addition, ERT will produce and distribute a studio show.

ESPN360.com: Simulcasts of SEC game telecasts will be offered on the broadband network. 
ESPN Mobile TV: Live games will be simulcast on mobile phones. 
ESPN International: The agreement includes global rights to present live games and encore presentations. 
ESPN Deportes: ESPN has acquired domestic Spanish-language rights for SEC football on the 24-hour, U.S.-based network. 
ESPN GamePlan: The out-of-market college football pay-per-view service, will offer SEC action. 
ESPN Classic: The network may telecast select SEC live games as well as historic and immediate encore presentations. 
ESPN.com: Extensive SEC content, including highlights, will be presented online.

Men’s Basketball
As the exclusive national cable home and syndication rightsholder, an ESPN outlet will offer every SEC intra-conference game (excluding those on the network broadcast package) and numerous inter-conference matchups.

ESPN and ESPN2: The networks will triple the offerings by featuring SEC action three nights per week through a minimum of 24 intra-conference games plus an additional six inter-conference matchups involving the SEC each season. Highlighting the increased schedule will be the return of the SEC to ESPN’s Super Tuesday and the addition of SEC slots on Thursday and Saturday (ESPN or ESPN2). The SEC will also continue to participate in an annual inter-conference basketball challenge event (e.g. – SEC/Big East Challenge).

ESPNU: The network will televise exclusively a minimum of seven intra-conference and five non-conference games. 
ESPN on ABC: A minimum of two regular-season games each season plus the addition of a national telecast of the SEC Tournament Semifinals and Championship Game, giving ABC its first entry into the annual Championship Week.

ESPN Regional Television (ERT): Similar to football, ERT takes over the rights to SEC syndication and will produce and syndicate a minimum of 37 intra-conference games each season throughout SEC territories and beyond. Highlights will include weekly doubleheaders on Saturdays, Wednesday night games, a studio show and the first two rounds of the SEC Tournament.

ESPN360.com: Simulcasts of SEC game telecasts will be offered on the broadband network. 
ESPN Mobile TV: Live games will be simulcast on mobile phones. 
ESPN International: The agreement includes global rights to present live games and encore presentations. 
ESPN Deportes: ESPN has acquired domestic Spanish-language rights for SEC basketball on the 24-hour, U.S.-based network.

ESPN FULL COURT: The out-of-market college basketball pay-per-view service, will offer SEC action. 
ESPN Classic: The network may telecast select SEC live games as well as historic and immediate encore presentations. 
ESPN.com: Extensive SEC content, including highlights, will be presented online.

Women’s Basketball
ESPN and ESPN2: SEC teams will make a minimum of 16 appearances on ESPN or ESPN2 and one of the networks will also televise the conference tournament championship game.

ESPNU: The network will also feature a minimum of 16 appearances by SEC teams, in addition to the women’s conference tournament semifinals.

ESPN Regional Television: ERT will syndicate a game-of-the-week during the regular season as well as the early rounds of the women’s conference tournament.

Olympic Sports
ESPN and ESPN2: A minimum of three regular-season baseball or softball games will be offered on ESPN or ESPN2 as well as three regular-season gymnastics matches. In addition, the conference championships in gymnastics, softball and baseball will be televised.

ESPNU: A minimum of 25 regular-season events annually will be televised, including baseball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and diving, track and field and others.  ESPNU will cover all SEC Conference events not on ESPN or ESPN2, including swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and women’s soccer.

ESPN, Inc. 
ESPN, Inc., The Worldwide Leader in Sports, is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring the broadest portfolio of multimedia sports assets with over 50 business entities.  Sports media assets include ESPN (launched in 1979), ESPN on ABC, five additional domestic cable television networks (ESPN2; ESPN Classic; ESPNEWS; ESPN Deportes; ESPNU), ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD and ESPNEWS HD (high-definition simulcast services of ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNEWS, respectively), ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (34 international networks and syndication), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine,  ESPN Enterprises, ESPN PPV, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360.com (Broadband), ESPN Mobile Properties (wireless), ESPN On Demand and ESPN Interactive.  Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.  The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN. 

SEC 
The Southeastern Conference was formed in 1933 and consists of 12 member institutions: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. The league currently sanctions championship play in nine men’s sports and 11 women’s sports. Its headquarters has been located in Birmingham, Ala., since 1948. For more on the conference, visit www.secsports.com.

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