Best the SEC: Police Blotter Edition

Well, only 7 days away from the start of the football season, a goodly number of SEC players are finding themselves in legal difficulties. To wit:

• GeauxTigers at And The Valley Shook reports that LSU linebacker Derrick Odom has run afoul of the authorities.
  
  
• Brandon at Cock -n- Fire wonders when South Carolina metastasized into Miami. Looks like the OBC is going to stand by his man.
  
  
• Fulmer's Belly reports that LaMarcus Coker is out of Fulmer's latrine and back on the team after drug rehab "taking care of personal business"
  
  
• Senator Blutarsky at Get The Picture gives Alabama and especially a certain highly-paid coach the business over some recent misbehavior by his players.
  
  
• Ouch.
  
  
• The 8th or 9th Shoe Drops according to Richard Pittman at Geaux Tuscaloosa.
  
  
• UPDATE: And in the very, very latest, Marcus Harrison, DE at Arkansas, has been arrested for felony drug possession in Fayetteville in connection with some of the wacky weed. The Hog Blogger, like us, is speechless.
  
  
  

Some other great posts not related to lawbreaking:

• Heisman Pundit asks some tough questions.
  
  
• Newspaper Hack at Journalism Is For Rockstars says Georgia fans will really like Marcus Dowtin
  
  
• Lalover at New Orleans Love sends some love frustration Les Miles' way. I think he's giving Les good advice here. Let your game do the talking.
  
  
• Orson Swindle at EDSBS says betting can sometimes net you a scholarship to Florida to play football. Who knew?
  
  
• Scott Hood at GamecockCentral has this observation about Blake Mitchell and his recent run-in with the OBC.
  
  
• Arkbear at the Hawg Blawg reports on the status of Arkansas' search for an AD to replce Frank Broyles.
  
  
• Hunker Down at the Hunker Down Dawg Blawg brings us this Youtube Video:
  
  
  
  
  
  Oh, dear.
  
  
• Parrish Alford reports on the Powe watch at Ole Miss.
  
  
• Mergz at Saurian Sagacity wonders if Notre Dame might be underrated this year.
  
  
• Jerry Hinnen at Joe Cribs Car Wash looks at the pros of the Auburn University football team, one of them fitting in nicely with today's theme -- limited pre-season hijinks. Tuberville may be boring, but boring can sometimes be a good thing.
  
  
• Third Down Draw says some South Carolina fans don't find Blake Mitchell's fun and games with the OBC all that funny.
  
  
• Wellway16 of VolNation writes about the concerns Tennessee has heading into next weekend's big game at California.
  
  
• Just found this blog, The Football Diary of Nick Saban. They have a very interesting post today about how several prominent coach's salaries compare to their school's football revenue. Very illuminating.
  

Periodic bleg

One of the missions of this blog (a blog with a mission? -Ed.) is to try to maintain as comprehensive a list as possible of SEC related blogs. It is a bigger job than I thought, because the Internet is, well, a big place.

It is so big, in fact, that I have to periodically enlist some help from people who read us. That's the point of this particular post. If you know of an SEC-related blog not listed on my blogroll to the left, or you are a new SEC blogger, please drop me a note at bestofsec@gmail.com, and I will get your site into my feed reader and on my blogroll.

On another administrative subject, those of you who read this blog will note that some schools get more tags than others. Quite simply, some schools have a really outstanding blog presence online, and I am not really an "affirmative action" blogger -- the best of the day in my opinion usually gets a mention. Not always -- occasionally when a school hasn't been mentioned for a while, I make a point to link one of their blogs. Also, I don't really do message boards unless they also have a blog, so schools with a really strong message board presence but a weak blog presence are obviously underrepresented.

But the goal, obviously, is to notice the best or the most interesting out there, while tying to maintain some semblance of egalitarianism. It is a tricky balancing act, and is turning out to be tougher than I thought. So for those out there blogging excellence who think I am ignoring you, be patient. There is a man, not a machine, behind this thing, and I'm giving it my best.

Thursday: Best of the SEC Blogs

Spanning the World Wide Web to bring you the constant variety of commentary. Today, we have lots of goodies out there, so let's get started:

• Kevin Donahue at Fanblogs thinks that the new kickoff rule may not be such a big deal after all. He and Ed Orgeron should get together and talk about it.
  
  
• Will Collier at From the Bleachers has this report on a potential academic scandal brewing that could affect the Crimson Tide.
  
  
• Jon at Fulmer's Belly finishes with his rankings of coaches who have put the better part of at least one leg into their mouths.
  
  
• Andy Staples says that Florida's Urban Meyer elects to receive.
  
  
• Richard Pittman of Geaux Tuscaloosa looks at how and why running backs wait or go.
  
  
• Doug at Hey Jenny Slater once again tempts the wrath of a vengeful God.
  
  
• Cock -n- Fire introduces the SEC Power Poll. Coming to a blog near you. Gatorpilot at Orange and Blue Hue also blogs the SEC Power Poll, and has more.
  
  
• Jai Eugene at Loser with Socks plays Whac-a-Mole with Alabama fans.
  
  
• Memphis Tider has an update on the Simeon Castille case.
  
  
• TipsterHog at Razorbloggers talks about their first BlogPoll ballot.
  
  
• Seth at the Hotty Toddy blog asks Ole Miss fans for their thoughts on the Auburn game.
  
  
• King Bee at The Wishbone Blog has a hot issues post that covers a lot of football ground.
  
  
• Bigbluemist of Wildcats Thunder Blog looks at the Kentucky offensive line. You mean, they have one? Yes, they do.
  

Nick Saban - Pharaoh, Caesar or Napoleon?

The Tuscaloosa News has a big, fat story on a big, fat story in Sports Illustrated (don't you just love how the media loves to write about ... itself!?). Here is a quote from the SI article:

“They have welcomed him as Caesar, as pharaoh, and paid him enough money to burn a wet dog. Now he will take them forward by taking them back to the glory of their past -- the 21 Southeastern Conference championships, the 12 national championships, the Team of the 20th Century (as The Wall Street Journal called the Crimson Tide in 2000).

“Saban has not promised them so much -- 'I don’t believe in predictions,’ he says -- but they believe. It may take two years, three, more, to be in the discussion again when people talk about the best teams in college football. But they know he will take them home."

I think a comparison to Napoleon would be more apt. Saban has been crowned Emperor of Alabama for the nonce, but what will happen if Tuberville defeats him and Alabama wins 7 or 8 games, and maybe loses whatever bowl they wind up in? As a Kentucky fan, I understand, perhaps as only Kentucky fans can, about what expectations can mean when the fans are, as my grandmother used to say "A bit tuch'd". But basketball and football are vastly different, and if Alabama is unable to contend for an SEC championship this year, how many more years will Saban get, especially given the amount of money he is being paid?

Alabama fans expect results. 92,000 fans at a practice game don't suggest that they are expecting a couple more seasons as also-rans. But when they look at his salary and the historical place of Alabama in the national picture, 7 or even 8 win seasons will not get it done. 'Bama fans are bound to want much more, and that right soon.

How soon? Well, I'm not really qualified to say, this being football and all. But my guess is, this year is Saban's only warm up. If Alabama isn't contending for the SEC championship next year, I'll wager "FireNickSaban.com" will be up and busy, and 'Bama fans will be making ready to exile him to whatever the SEC football equivalent of Elba is (maybe Kentucky, like Bill Curry).

Frankly, I hope Saban succeeds. Alabama and Kentucky fans are closer kin than most of either fan base would admit. Only in Kentucky basketball can Alabama fans find a peer when it comes to passion ... nay, obsession, with a college sport. Maybe Gator football (remember Ron Zook?), but I'm not so sanguine about that.

Anyway, Nick Bonaparte, good luck. You are going to need a heaping helping, in my judgment. Like my brethren in Lexington, Alabama fans are not noted for their long-suffering patience.

Tuesday Late Night Blogging

Careening toward the first kickoff of 2007, there are several interesting items today that deserve some attention.

The Alabama bloggers are up in arms about the Simeon Castille arrest. There is so much coverage of this story, I'm going to do a quick list of the best:

• The Capstone Report takes a balanced view, and blames it on the Strip.
• TonyOrlando at Alabama Game Day thinks the whole situation contains a whiff of racism.
• Todd at Roll 'Bama Roll has the arrest report.
• The Tide Druid also has the report, and tries to convert what it says into a comprehensible sequence of events.

Moving on, our next stop is College Football Resource, who was voted the #2 Football Blog by SI on Campus. Not only that, but he has his usual Tuesday pundit roundup, which is not to be missed. In this week's edition, he calls the Pat Forde article about football in the South "Pure poppycock." Read the whole thing.

Jon at Fulmer's Belly continues his ranking of SEC coaches. It's a bit of a surprise to find Phillip Fulmer ranked only 8th, and Kentucky's Rich Brooks ranked higher than Urban Meyer and Houston Nutt. With all the BS Nutt went through earlier this year, and all the crap that fell out of his pie hole, I can't quite believe he ranks below Brooks. And Brooks getting gigged for touting his team, well -- that just ain't right, Jon! Fulmer's Belly also thoughtfully plugs Best of the SEC Blogs. Thanks, Jon!

Heisman Pundit has a roundup of college football, and it is well worth reading. It seems that the Big 10 commissioner suggested that the SEC had lower academic standards than the Big 10, and maybe that's why the SEC has so much speed. HP mocks both the SEC and the Big 10 in two paragraphs. And they said it couldn't be done ...

Kyle Veazey reminds us that Leonard Postosties is no longer with us. I miss that guy also.

Nixforsix at Old School Nasty continues his review of SEC schedules, this time it's LSU. The Bayou Bengals aught to like what he has to say in this one.

Not everything about Mondays sucks

Just because the work part is miserable, it doesn't mean the blogging is. And looking around today, we have some downright excellent blog posts to help elevate your day out of the doldrums.

• Kyle King at Dawg Sports starts us out by dawging out South Carolina in a post entitled Georgia-South Carolina: If Not Ownership, Then a Lease with an Option to Buy. All I can say to this is "Ouch". The Dogs have owned the Gamecocks for the last five years, and are 8-2 against them in the last 10.
  
  
• Fulmer's belly ranks the SEC coaches starting from worst to best. Auburn fans won't like the fact that Tubby makes #12, and his biggest complaint seems to be that Tubs is boring. Well, maybe, but Tuberville was the AFCA coach of the year only 2 seasons ago.
  
  
• Orson Swindle at Every Day Should Be Saturday has figured out what drives Nick Saban's rage at player's low-hanging gangsta drawers and the occasional subordinate.
  
  
• Paul Westerdawg at Georgia Sports Blog warns Nick Saban about Karma, and mocks Roll 'Bama Roll.
  
  
• Senator Blutarsky at Get the Picture doubts seriously if the rest of the conferences can bring the Big 10 and the Pac 10 to their knees by leaving them out of a new playoff scheme. My take is, if the Big 10 and Pac 10 loose money, they will capitulate. If not, they won't. As it has been for some time now (like, maybe 230 years or so), in American, money talks and bullshit walks.
  
  
• Greg Ellis updates the Mississippi State depth chart after Josh Riddell was suspended for being arrested for a DUI.
  
  
• Jai Eugene of Loser with Socks has his way with Cal, and he isn't kind. Not even a little.
  
  
• Outside the Sidelines has been blogging excellence for just a short time, and he has been noticed. Roll 'Bama Roll, of the SB Nation network, has invited him to join. What a great fit that will be. Don't miss him at his new blog home.
  
  
• Parrish Alford notes that Ole Miss received a visit from some former coaches today.
  
  
• The Hog Blogger let's us in on a secret -- Chris Mortenson is really John Kerry's son! Well, not really, but they do have the flip-flop thing in common.
  
  
• Mergz at Saurian Sagacity gets all labyrinthine on us. I think he was trying for recursion, and some might say he got there.
  
  
• The Tide Druid has some interesting thoughts on what to expect from Alabama this year. I found this one particularly interesting:
  

  This season will be an all out war between Alabama fans and the rest of the SEC.Don’t expect too much support from other SEC West teams. We’ll see plenty of signs calling Saban a liar, loser, and much more. Expect it to be at an all time high when Alabama plays Auburn (since it is on the road )and LSU (because some of them have gone crazy with rage). Expect some sort of “I told you so!” moment after Alabama’s first loss (as if they were the only ones who said it during the pre-season).

• OH,NO! Another "silent verbal". Will we never learn?
  
  
• Bobby O'Shea at the Vanderbilt Sports Line is excited that Vandy is now getting love from the likes of Mel Kipper, Mark Richt and Houston Nutt. He should be.

Sunday Fun & Games

I have to step up and defend the Kentucky Wildcat's honor here. Larry Vettel wrote today for FightingGators.com that Florida faces more top 20 ranked teams than anyone

Florida State will open the season ranked No. 19 despite tough times in Tallahassee in recent years. That means Florida will face FIVE of the top-20 teams. That’s more than anyone else will have to go up against. It puts into perspective the need to have two or three home wins you can count on, doesn’t it.

I hate to break it to Larry, but the Kentucky Wildcats face no less than five top 20 teams themselves based on the most recent poll: LSU, Florida, Louisville, Georgia, Tennessee. In fact, Kentucky faces three of the current top ten: LSU, Florida and Louisville. Throw in Arkansas at #21, and frankly, I think UK's is "bigger" than Florida's in this dimension.

In other UK-related news, Lexington Herald-Leader and Rich Brooks critic John Clay asks if there is any more room aboard the Brooks Bandwagon. Sure, John -- jump right on. And here is a little salt and pepper for that crow ...

BamaMag writes that Alabama point guard Ronald Steele, still not 100% after off-season surgery, will not be playing much in Canada. Instead, Mikhail Torrance is likely to step in, along with others.

Seems like the Pac 10 teams are so enamored of USC, they are giving up before the season even begins. Jeez, guys, get a freaking testosterone injection, willya?

Richard Pittman at Geaux Tuscaloosa has a warning for Alabama fans:

If Bama is going to have to win with offense, they're going to find that harder than they think. I don't think they're scoring 45 points on SEC teams, and may have trouble holding the better offenses in the league to less than 30.

That's likely to be right. Although, I really don't think Alabama will be that bad defensively. They have serious questions, though, especially against the run.

Jai Eugene at Loser with Socks thinks the Gators aught to be #1 till someone proves they can beat them. I think this argument actually has some merit, but I'm sure the media types who vote in the poll won't see it.