SEC This Week

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