The Sod Father (Or, Anything Goes With Spades & Hoes)
By Michael – Louis Ingram Associate Editor-Football Reporters Online/Contributing Writer- Black Athlete.com
BASN/FRO
 
A BASN (in the) BLACK PAPER:
 
PHILADELPHIA (BASN/FRO) From the halls of the biggest money – making not for profit entity in America, the NCAA (aka Not Conforming to Actual Application) it’s time once again for another edition of “As The Twirls Turn.”
 
You don’t need the O’Jays bringing that wicked bass riff to know what the Bowl Game Championships are about; and when those turnstiles twirl with asses rolling in to stadia across the country, there is not a “cha-ching” to be found; because electric and paper money - makes no noise - when it falls to the ground…
 
But the $64 dollar question (and by the way, that same $64 will get you a ticket to an Ohio State football game, but won’t cover your parking) is - just how much money are we talking about?  In this BASN Special Report, we’re about to find out.
 
My colleague, L.A. Batchelor has long contended about college football being ruled by the “Five Families” – the five most competitive, if not powerful, football conferences in the nation: the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Big Ten Conference, the Big 12 Conference and the Pacific 10 Conference.
 
 
Convoluted computer concoctions calculate cryptic credentials, causing conflict and cacophonous crowing over collecting cash – and who gets the biggest piece of sweet potato pie.
 
With the current bowl schedule now in effect, it’s now time to break out the BASN “abracadabracus” – and see how money disappears into the Five Families’ coffers.
 
Below, we provide a list of the bowl games, teams and their respected conferences; along with the estimated amount of cash both sides are to receive:
 
New Mexico Bowl: Won by University of Wyoming (Mountain West Conference), 35-28 over Fresno State (Western Athletic Conference); both schools get $750K. 
 
St. Petersburg Bowl: Won by Rutgers University (Big East Conference) 45-24 over the University of Central Florida (Conference USA); both schools get one million dollars.
 
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Won by Middle Tennessee State (Sun Belt Conference) 42-32 over Southern Mississippi University (C-USA); both schools got $325K.
 
Papajohns.com Bowl: Connecticut (Big East) vs. South Carolina (SEC); both get $300K.
 
MAACO Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State (Pac – 10) vs. Brigham Young University (Mountain West); both get one million dollars.
 
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: Utah vs. California (Pac – 10); both get $750K.
 
 
Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl: Nevada (WAC) vs. Southern Methodist University (C-USA); both schools get $398K.
 
Emerald Bowl: Boston College (ACC) vs. University of Southern California (Pac – 10); both schools get $850K.
 
Meineke Car Care Bowl: North Carolina (ACC) vs. Pittsburgh (Big East); both schools get one million.
 
Little Caesars Bowl: Ohio University (Midwest Athletic Conference) vs. Marshall (C-USA); both schools get $750K.
 
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl: Kentucky (SEC) vs. Clemson (ACC); both get $1.6 million.  
 
Independence Bowl: Texas A&M (Big 12) vs. Georgia (SEC); both get $1.1 million.
 
Champs Sports Bowl: The University of Miami (ACC) vs. Wisconsin (Big 10); both get $2.25 million.  
 
Eagle Bank Bowl: UCLA (Pac – 10) vs. Temple (MAC); both get one million.
 
 
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl: Nebraska (Big 12) vs. Arizona (Pac – 10); both get $2.35 million.
 
Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl: Idaho (WAC) vs. Bowling Green (MAC); both get $750K.
 
Texas Bowl: Missouri (Big 12) vs. Navy (Independent); both get $700K.  
 
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force (Mountain West) vs. Houston (C-USA); both get $600K.
 
Brut Sun Bowl: Stanford (Pac – 10) vs. Oklahoma (Big 12); both get $1.9 million.
 
Insight Bowl: Minnesota (Big 10) vs. Iowa State (Big 12); both get $1.35 million.
 
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech (ACC) vs. Tennessee (SEC); both get $3.005 million.
 
Outback Bowl: Northwestern (Big 10) vs. Auburn (SEC); both get $3.3 million.
 
Capital Bowl: Penn State (Big 10) vs. Louisiana State University (SEC); both get $4.25 million.  
 
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl: West Virginia (Big East) vs. Florida State (ACC); both get $2.5 million.
 
Rose Bowl: Ohio State (Big 10) vs. Oregon (Pac – 10); both get $17 million.
 
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Florida (SEC) vs. Cincinnati (Big East); both get $17 million.
 
AT&T Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State (Big 12) vs. Ole Miss (SEC); both get $3 million.
  
Auto Zone Liberty Bowl: East Carolina (C-USA) vs. Arkansas (SEC); both get $1.7 million.
 
International Bowl: University of South Florida (Big East) vs. Northern Illinois (MAC); both get $750K.
 
Valero Alamo Bowl: Texas Tech (Big 12) vs. Michigan State (Big 10); both get $2.25 million.
 
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Texas Christian University (Mountain West) vs. Boise State (WAC); both get $17 million.
   
FedEx Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech (ACC) vs. Iowa (Big 10); both get $17 million.
 
 
GMAC Bowl: Central Michigan (MAC) vs. Troy (Sun Belt); both get $750K.
 
 
Citi National Championship: Texas (Big 12) vs. Alabama (SEC); both get $17 million.
 
 
The Tab
 
For the Five Families, the amount of potential revenue earned for the bowl games comes out to a whopping $183,005.5 million bucks (damn!) with a breakdown as follows: $25.1 M for the Pac – 10, $28.305 M for the ACC, $29.650 M for the Big 12, $47.4 M for the Big 10 – and $52.5505 M for the SEC.
 
The combined revenue of the other conferences antes up to $68.506 M. Three other conferences – the Mountain West ($18.95 M) the Big East ($22.5 M) and the WAC ($18.9 M) took bigger bites out of the pie than the families would like; an aberration when you consider only two teams - TCU and Boise State – were preseason Top 25 ranked teams, and no team from the Big East got any pre-season consideration, making Cincinnati’s run all the more impressive.
 
College basketball has seen the future in this, and has headed its focus in the same direction, turning the NCAA Basketball Tournament into the Five Families Invitational (with cameo appearances by the Big East). Here Cinderella will not be invited to the ball; and if she tries to slide in or smile and flash her ta-tas at the doorman, he will toss her skank ass out…
 
With everything said, however, it still comes back to these two realities: how long will the NCAA continue to perpetrate “values” on their 100 yard plantations, depriving the most valuable assets – the players – a share of the profits they earn?
 
And what incident or ruling (perhaps the EA Sports lawsuit) will be the eventual breakthrough in determining where the arguments for not paying the student-athletes stop – and the check writing begins?
 
So in spite of the fact Pimp Flava Supreme has split the scene, those turf plantations get hoed, plowed and ready to serve over the next two weeks.
 
After all, anything goes when it comes to hos; ‘cause pimpin’ ain’t easy…
 

mike@footballreportersonline.com
 

The 2009 SEC Championship: Of Sugar, Roses and Inner Peace
By Drew Moss-special to Football Reporters Online
 
Photo: Tim Tebow with his 2007 Heisman. Does he get to win another one?? (by Dr. Bill Chachkes)

Judging by his spiritual eye black (consult your nearest Good Book for John 16:33), Florida Gators southpaw phenom Tim Tebow has an inner fortitude usually reserved for monks and wise men. 
 
After yesterday's heartbreaking 32-13 pasting at the hands of Nick Saban's methodical, mechanical Alabama Crimson Tide, he's going to need it.
 
Previously ranked #1 Florida will have to settle for a bridesmaid's Sugar Bowl matchup with Big East comeback kids Cincinnati in New Orleans on New Year's Day, while Saban's well- oiled, fine tuned "big red machine" gears up for it's shot at the BCS Championship on January 7th in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA vs. Heisman hopeful Colt McCoy the #2 ranked Texas Longhorns, who eked out an ugly 13-12 win over Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship.
 
Tebow may very well have the All-American profile, the off-season integrity, the matinee looks and the gridiron goods to back it all up, but Saturday night's SEC Championship belonged to Saban, his stubborn, disciplined defense and his offensive playmakers. 
 
Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy matched Tebow and then quickly bested him, with a highly efficient 12-18 passing performance for 239 yards and a touchdown.  But perhaps most telling was McElroy's high wire sideline hustle for a first down with 8:30 remaining in the first half.  It was an athletic, determined and tone setting play that sent the Tide's - and Saban's - overall message:  Alabama was not to be denied.
 
"We had a meeting (last offseason and told the players) everything you do, every time you go to work, every time we lift weights, it's not to be as good as the guy you're playing against, it's to be as good as the guy you have to beat to be the champions," Saban said.
In yesterday's SEC Championship, that proverbial "guy" was Tebow and the Gators.
 
A chance to play for the National Championship was not all that may have brought Tebow to post-game tears.  His 4th Quarter coffin closing pick combined with Alabama running back Mark Ingram's big day in a big spot (28 rushes for 113 yards and three touchdowns) did everything to hurt Tebow's chances at snagging his second Heisman Trophy - and everything to help Ingram's chances for a first.
 
Not that he's thinking about it.  Saban would never have it and Ingram seems to know it.
 
"Coach Saban has a philosophy of hard work and discipline," Ingram said. "And you can't have self-indulgent behavior.  It's about doing everything you can, every chance you have, to make the team better."
 
On Thursday night January 7th in Pasadena, while Tebow's already done "sugarcoating" and meditating on his very bright future; Saban, McElroy, Ingram and the Tide will forget about getting better - they will be looking to be the best.

Gator chomp gets rolled by Tide. Alabama wins SEC for first time since 1992.
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer Football Reporters Online
Southeast Region
 
Alabama 32 Florida 13
All season long this was the match up everyone wanted. No other team in the conference looked like they would compete so the best were at it Saturday in Atlanta. There were story lines like the next to last game in the career of AT&Tebow. Could Mark Ingram make his case for the Heisman? Would Greg McElroy start quick or work from behind? Which one of these defenses would step up when it mattered most? There could be a host of other questions but these were the burning ones. AT&Tebow has had a collegiate career that will be talked about for years to come. He has built so much respect from his peers that it appeared like he was almost untouchable. In the SEC championship game Alabama made sure he was touched plenty. He had been able to dodge every bullet and come out a winner for so long he knew no other way. That was until he lined up against an Alabama team that was playing for so much more than an SEC or BCS title. They were playing to be kings of the mountain again. They were playing for a coach that took this job with one thing in mind. That was to bring this program back to national prominence and to another national championship. Anything less would be complete failure for a coach some don’t like but can’t help respect. Coach Nick Saban took a lot of heat when he left Baton Rouge for the southern hospitality of Alabama. This was one that the Tide have been working on since the last one in 1992. So Tebow did his best to keep his team in the game but a drive in the first quarter stalled and ended in a field goal. When he hit David Nelson from 23 yards to make it 12-10 that was just answered by Ingram a minute later when he ran in from three. That scoring run would be all the Tide would need and Tebow would fall short on his last try in this conference of champions. He would finish 20-35 for 247 yards with an interception as well as the touchdown pass. He would finish the way he did not plan when he decided to come back for his senior year to get this SEC title as well as the BCS trophy. Now it’s on to the NFL and see if he can find a place among the big boys of the sport he loves so much. Mark Ingram came into the season well known by the SEC but still had questions to answer. What he did Saturday was put his stake in that Heisman argument running for 113 yards on 28 carries. He did his most damage where it hurt the Gators the most, in the red zone. He would have touchdown runs of seven, three and one yard. He kept the Gator defense off balance all day, as they could not contain him. He ran left and right as well as off-tackle. He gave his quarterback the time to throw the football and make his own case too. McElroy had never lost a start before this one and he put on an MVP performance going 12-18 for 239 yards and no interceptions. He needed to start quickly with Ingram running the ball well to be effective. So with his running game giving him 251 yards he was able to hurt Florida. He hit his receivers when he needed and was accurate in doing so. His timely passing and determination gave him the MVP and maybe a bright future to look forward to. The last question was about defense and Alabama flat out shut down the bite of the Gators. They were held to 13 first downs and 88 yards rushing. Bama held the ball for almost 40 minutes and the Florida offense was just 4-11 on third down conversions. When the Gators were trying to threaten Javier Arenas picked Tebow off and the game was done. It was as dominating a performance as you could get in this epic. Two teams on a collision course from opening day, and now only one was left standing. So it is the Tide of Alabama that moves on the BCS game against Colt McCoy and the Longhorns. It will be a game, but in the end I have to stick by what I have said all year, the SEC is king of the college football world and when it’s all said and done the Tide of Alabama will sit on top as BCS champions.

SEC Wrap Up Week 11

By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer
Southeast Region

Ole Miss 42 Tennessee 17
At kickoff the question would be if the Vols could overcome what had just happened with three players, when they were accused of armed robbery, and the answer was they simply could not. What they ran into was Ole Miss back Dexter McCluster and his school records of 282 yards rushing and 324 all-purpose yards. The Vols had practiced all week on how to bottle him up but could not even tackle him when he was right in front of them. Several Vol players said that he was the best player they had faced all year. He started the scoring four plays in with a 15-yard run to make it 7-0. Tennessee answered right back when Jonathan Crompton tossed a 16-yarder to Jeff Cottam to tie it. The teams traded scores, but when Daniel Lincoln hit a 27-yard field goal to make it 21-17 Rebels, the roof caved in on UT. The field goal was followed by three unanswered touchdowns by Ole Miss and they never looked back. McCluster had a beauty of a 71-yard score to open the fourth. He was able to make his way through the defense and just run away from the defenders that could not catch him. He showed plenty of heart for a kid that weighs all of 170 pounds and plenty more speed. So the Vols answered the question that everyone was asking this week about the three student arrested and how it would affect them. They started out strong but ended with a dud. They are still one win away from being bowl eligible so they have to suck it up and get back to work. They have Vanderbilt at home next week and then go to Kentucky to close the season. Neither of these games is a lock so lets get ready for a photo finish.

Florida 24 South Carolina 14
This game would give Steve Spurrier another shot at beating his old school but he would once again come up short. The game was decided by defense when it counted most. AT&Tebow tied the SEC mark for career touchdowns and the Gators won their 20th straight. It was the first time a Florida team has gone undefeated in league play since 1996 when Spurrier was the coach. Tebow was unable to dominate on this day as he was just 14-25 for 199 yards and had 26 yards on 16 carries. He did have a touchdown pass and one rushing but ran into a determined Gamecocks defense. It appeared that they might lose this game as S.C. quarterback Stephen Garcia was driving his team to a potential tying score. He kept the drive alive with a fourth and two conversion but then came the big mistake. As he threw the ball it was tipped and DE Justin Trattou grabbed it and ran 53 yards to set up the game clincher by Tebow four plays later. So now the Gators are perfect in the regular season and have a laugher next week when Florida International visits the Swamp. They will use that one to rest up some players for the big showdown against Alabama for the SEC title. The loser goes home very disappointed while the winner will play for the BCS title.

Georgia 31 Auburn 24
When the game started it looked like Auburn would halt a three game losing streak to Georgia. They got off to a 14-0 lead on their first two possessions and the rout appeared to be on. Then the Dawgz got to work and cut it to 14-7 by halftime. The second half was all Georgia as they scored the first 10 points in the third and running back Caleb King scored twice on runs of 11 and 24 yards. The first touchdown broke a 17-17 tie and then the Tigers answered when Demond Washington ran the ensuing kickoff back 99-yards to tie it again. The second touchdown by King looked to end it but Auburn had other plans. They were driving down the field to set up the game tying score when quarterback Chris Todd’s pass fell into the arms of Mario Fannin at the goal line. Just as he was catching the pass Bacarri Rambo dove at him hitting him so hard it knocked the ball away for an incompletion and knocked Rambo out.
So another SEC team is now bowl eligible and that brings the count to nine. How many will get into one is yet to be determined but that is football in the most powerful conference in the country.

Other scores:

Alabama 31 Mississippi State 3

Kentucky 24 Vanderbilt 13

LSU 24 La. Tech 16

Arkansas 56 Troy 20

                      
 SEC Wrap Up Week 10
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer
Southeast Region
 
Alabama 24 LSU 15
 
For Alabama the task was simple, win the game and win the West. They needed this win to keep pace with Florida and Texas for the BCS title. So as the teams took the field each coach knew they had to get the best game of the year from their teams. What they got was an entertaining game that now clears the picture in the SEC. LSU looked strong early and it looked like they would get the best in this one. With LSU playing the run, the Tide put the ball in the air 25 out of the 34 times they threw the football in first half, but could only muster a Leigh Tiffin 28-yard field goal. In the meantime the Tigers were up 7-3 with Quarterback Jordan Jefferson and running back Charles Scott leading the way. Then the two of them were hurt in the second half and the game changed. It was 10-9 Alabama after a safety when Stevan Ridley had an 8-yard scoring run to put LSU up 15-10 going into the fourth quarter. Then Alabama showed the form that has gotten them this far this year. Running back Mark Ingram ran for 106 of his 144 yards in the second half and receiver Julio Jones had his best game of the year. It was reported that one or more of the Tigers defensive backs had been talking smack to Jones all day. Well all of that was squashed when he broke LSU’s back on a 73-yard catch and run for a 21-15 lead his team would not relinquish. Another Tiffin field goal with 3:04 left ended the scoring. With the win the Tide clinched the West and will play Florida for the SEC championship on December 5 in Atlanta. Barring a breakdown before that, the winner in Atlanta should play for the BCS title.
 
Tennessee 56 Memphis 28
The one thing that has been a constant this year in Knoxville is coach Lane Kiffin. He has stirred the stuff on more than a few occasions and this week was no different when Memphis coach Tommy West supposedly said some kind of joke that involved Kiffin and a dog. After the game Kiffin shot back in true fashion saying the dog had bitten back. He did not make any friends in the game either as he had his Vols play with the intensity of a conference championship. They kicked an onside kick with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and went for it a few times on fourth down in the first half. He would also call a timeout on a third down play when Memphis had the ball at their own 14. It was his way of sending a clear message to his team that they would be playing full throttles the rest of the season. Yes it was Memphis they were playing and the Tigers scored most of their points against back up players. It did not matter as Jonathan Crompton threw for a career best 331 yards, five touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown. It could have been worse but Kiffin pulled him in the third and then the defensive subs followed. It was a game that Kiffin hopes he can use to help recruiting in the Memphis area for the future. He has made many waves in his rookie season but he has also put a fire under these Vols. They are playing the brand of football that has not been seen in awhile here. They still have a few games left and if they can win out they stand a shot at bowl bids like the Outback and the Cotton. It’s still early up on Rocky Top but things are looking up for the future of Tennessee football.
 
Florida 27 Vanderbilt 3
One of the things I hate to hear is when they say a team got a moral victory in a loss. To me there is no such thing. So that takes us the Gainesville and the game between the Commodores and the Gators. It was never a contest but Vandy sacked AT&Tebow four times and limited him to just 27 yards rushing. He was efficient but Vanderbilt made him work harder than usual and Florida looked to have more questions than answers. They could not get into a flow and were confused with the different looks they were getting from the Vandy defense. Either way the Gators won their 19th straight game and is now on cruise control for their showdown versus Alabama for the SEC title. As for Vanderbilt, they showed again they have a top-flight defense but lack the offense and consistency to beat teams like Florida. Mistakes and stalled drives continue to be the flavor and they had to punt seven times. Mackenzi Adams started for the injured Larry Smith but could only get 100 yards passing and the offense managed just 199 total yards. That will not get it done in this league so Florida must now win out and use these next games as preparation for Alabama. If they play like they did on this day they will not beat the Tide and defend their national championship. Hold on cause now its SEC football at it’s best.
 

                                 SEC Week 9 Wrap Up
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer Football Reporters Online
Southeast Region
 
Tennessee 31 South Carolina 13
The last time their was this much excitement in Knoxville the Vols were considered a good team. When this year began the idea was to get the program back to it’s winning ways. A task tat would fall to new head football coach Lane Kiffin and his new staff. Things did not start well for the Vols but began changing when they lost that narrow game to Florida. They followed it up with a closer one against Alabama. Although they were losses they seem to build the character of this team and they seemed to have found some kind of unity and understanding of each other. I had written that maybe they had found that missing piece of something that they needed to build their confidence and play ball again. Well on Saturday they were facing a Gamecock team that would not fold easily. Yet when it came to game time they could not execute as they fumbled three times in the first half to help the Vols take a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Vols wore Halloween uniforms also going with the black top with orange letter on it. It was a move by a team that is feeling more confident each week. After the first half all the Vols had to do was hold on to the lead as South Carolina never really threatened or put up any kind of fight. It was a huge win for the team as they showed that they can compete and finish against a quality opponent. The fact that they were humiliated by S.C. last year, then a few days later Phillip Fulmer was advised that he would not return as coach, played a big part in their motivation. Jonathan Crompton continues to improve and show more confidence in his game. He managed the game well going 12-24 for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly he did not throw an interception and was on target for the most part. Montario Hardesty continues to run strong and hard as he ended the game with 121 yards on 23 carries. There was the almost customary blocked field goal and that will have to be addressed too. Junior Chad Cunningham handled the kicking duties while Daniel Lincoln was nursing an injured quadriceps. Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia had 300 yards passing on 25-50 but most of it was late when his team was trying to come back too little too late. He was bothered all day by the new blitzing schemes implemented this past week and never really could get into a rhythm. The running game was not a factor as well due to the lead that was built by Tennessee. It was the first time in a while that UT outplayed a Steve Spurrier coached team like this. He is usually prepared for any situation but not on this day. The win puts UT at 4-4 on the year with hope of finishing off strong. An 8-8 record is not out of the question yet.
 
Florida 41 Georgia 17
This was not supposed to be this bad but AT&Tebow made sure it was. He accounted for four touchdowns, throwing and running for two each, and set the record for rushing touchdowns in SEC history with his 50th and 51st of his career. A.J. Jones had two big picks and another was returned five yards by Brandon Spikes for a touchdown. It was the best that      Florida has played in quite some time as they won their 18th straight game to extend the nation’s longest win streak. They also clinched at least a tie for the SEC East title after the South Carolina loss. As for Georgia it was a rough outing to say the least as they are still smarting form last year’s 49-10 loss to the Gators in which coach Meyer called two timeouts to prolong the Bulldogs loss. Pictures of him calling the timeouts were posted all over the Georgia locker room and but it did nothing as far as motivation. Georgia QB Joe Cox was replaced in the lineup by Logan Gray and the Gators welcomed him on the pick by Jones to end the scoring. Georgia will now have to take another look at their team to see what they can do to salvage a season they hoped would go better than this one has gone. They are now at 4-4 overall and at 3-3 are tied with South Carolina in the East. It’s been a disappointing season but they have time to finish strong.
 
Mississippi State 31 Kentucky 24
It was the Anthony Dixon show as he ran for a school record 252 yards and two touchdowns. He broke the school record that was held by Jerious Norwood (247 yards) right after he broke the career mark also set by Norwood two weeks ago. The Bulldogs keep their bowl hopes alive and are now 2-3 in the West and 4-5 overall. Quarterback Tyson Lee was efficient going 10-17 for 145 yards a touchdown and two picks. For the Wildcats it was not enough even though they started so strong jumping out to a 14-3 lead. Quarterback Morgan Newton continues to show signs that he is the future of this team. He was just 11-19 for 119 yards but on his 11-yard scoring run he dragged defenders with him showing his toughness. He made good decisions but made his mistakes as well. Kentucky was moving the ball in attempt to tie the game but fell short when they turned it over on downs. The bowl picture still looks god for both of these teams.
 
Auburn 33 Mississippi 20
 LSU 42 Tulane 0
Georgia Tech 56 Vanderbilt 31
Arkansas 63 Eastern Michigan 27

                                        SEC Wrap Up Week 7
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer
Southeast Region
 
(1)    Florida 23 Arkansas 20
It was supposed to be easy when you looked at this game at the beginning of the season, but the Hogs had other plans. They were the first team to score first on the Gators this year. They sacked AT&Tebow six times and forced four Florida turnovers. For the first time in awhile a team made the Gators look normal. As a matter of fact they led 10-3 at the half on the strength of their defense and some good early running by Broderick Green. He had a 19-yard touchdown run called back for holding but later atoned for it by punching it in from the one to make it 7-0. The score was made possible when Tebow was sacked and fumbled the ball back to the Hogs. In the second half the Gators took the lead when Tebow hit Deonte Thompson on a 77-yard strike to make it 13-10. It was the longest scoring pass of his career. This came after Arkansas kicker Alex Tejada missed his first of two field goals that would prove to be the difference. So after three hard fought quarters the game turned in to an offensive one. Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet came out in the fourth and started the scoring tossing a 75-yarder to Greg Childs. The score did was not official until a review of the play showed that Childs recovered a loose ball in the end zone. It put the Hogs back up 20-13 and it looked like Florida may go down on this day. On the next possession they went right down the field with the help of some penalties and tied it at 20. Arkansas got another shot to take the lead when Mallett moved them far enough to set up a Tejada 38-yard attempt. The kick sailed wide left and the Gators took over at the 31. The winning drive was typical Tebow as he drove his team down the field. He hit Riley Cooper a couple of times and ran the ball five times to set up the game winning 27-yard filed goal from Caleb Sturgis. The game told a story for both teams. For Florida it showed that they could have an off day. That you can prepare for them and possibly beat them in this derby for the national championship. It showed that maybe the Gators depend too much on Tebow as he accounted for 324 of his teams 391 yards of offense. They will have to take a closer look at who else can help in the stretch run. To win the BCS title you will need more than one player on your team to do it all. Arkansas will not find comfort in losing the game but found out a few things. Mallett looks everything like they guy they envisioned to lead their team back in the SEC. He has poise and the arm and is only getting better. The young defense showed what it could do against top-tier teams, as they held their own. So if you thought that maybe the SEC might slip up some time soon you were wrong. This conference is stronger than ever and with the new recruits waiting in the wing it will just get stronger.
 
Kentucky 21 Auburn 14
It had been forever since the Wildcats beat the Tigers. It was way back in 1966 to be precise and they did it in comeback fashion. Auburn had come in with this offense that was producing so well, it was assumed that Kentucky would have problems with it. What they did was make it look like another ordinary offense as quarterback Chris Todd had trouble connecting with his receivers all game long. It all started out fine for the Tigers when they blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt and ran it back 69 yards for a 7-0 lead. Kentucky countered with a four-yard run by quarterback Morgan Newton to tie it. Newton had a miserable day, in place of the injured Mark Hartline, going 5-13 for 39 yards but was able to count on his running game to carry the team to victory. Auburn took the lead back on a Ben Tate one-yard run to close the first half. Tate had a great day running for 132 yards on 31 carries. It was his fifth 100-yard game of the season. Yet the Tigers would not score in a second half that belonged to Kentucky. The third quarter was scoreless setting up an exciting fourth. Will Fidler got some time at quarterback for Kentucky and had a 4-yard score late in the fourth to tie the score at 14 with just over six minutes left. He was also 4-9 for 36 yards and will compete for the starting job this week. So the stage was set when the Tigers got the ball again and Randall Cobb (19-126) had a sweet run for 61 yards and then two plays later scored to winning touchdown. Auburn started this season with so much hope only to lose key games that will hurt them at years end. Kentucky got a big win but must deal with the reality that they need to choose a QB and hope to make the right choice.
 
Alabama 20 South Carolina 6
It was the eve of the BCS polls and the Tide wanted to make a statement to the rest of the football world. It could be a number one team if the pollsters just gave them a chance. Well it worked and it didn’t work you could say. By Sunday night they would be No. 2 in the BCS and No. 1 in the AP. It was not one of their best outings of the year because they were up against the best defense they had faced all year long. Quarterback Greg McElroy was not on so he handed the ball off the Mark Ingram 24 times and all Ingram did was rush for a career best 246 yards and a touchdown with 4:54 left in the game for the win. McElroy finished 10-20 for a mere 92 yards and two picks. The Tide had three chances in the red-zone but could only score once. They had as many turnovers in this game as they had all year with four. They got help from a strong defensive showing as the Tide had five sacks and nine tackles for loss. They have not given up a touchdown in two games now. South Carolina had a few chances to put the ball in the end zone but came up short. McElroy’s receivers missed several passes in the end zone that could have turned the game the other way. So now the Tide host Tennessee next week and look to get a hold onto the top ranking in the BCS if possible.
 
Ole Miss 48 UAB 13
It wasn’t even this close as Jevon Snead threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns. They also added 163 rushing yards to finish with just over 500 yards of offense as Ole Miss takes advantage of a lesser opponent to get back into the win column.
 
Georgia 34 Vanderbilt 10
The Bulldogs ended a two game skid while extending Vanderbilt’s losing streak to three. The story of the game was field position as Vandy found itself with horrible position while giving the Dawgz good field position all day. Head coach Bobby Johnson expressed his disappointment with special teams play and the offensive line’s inability to give QB Larry Smith time to throw. The Dawgz needed this one after the whipping they took last week against Tennessee.

E

                                                      SEC Wrap Up Week 6
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online
Southeast Region
 
 
 Tennessee 45 Georgia 19
Well, an all points bulletin has been put out to find the real Jonathan Crompton, because someone had to be impersonating him Saturday. If this Is the real one, then all Volunteer fans want to keep him. Crompton showed up and had a career day going 20-27 for 310 yards with four touchdowns. He did have an interception run back for a score but that was on a tipped pass and It never hurt the team. He hit receivers short and long. His passes were dead on for the most part and he had three of those touchdown passes by halftime. When Georgia looked like they might get the momentum back, the Vols took It back. When Crompton’s pass was picked off Crompton came right back to lead his team on an eight-play 80-yard drive. The defense was outstanding allowing only a 52-yard field goal. The other two Georgia scores were from a 100-yard kickoff return and a safety. Georgia quarterback Joe Cox could not buy a chance to get the ball out of his hands. When he had a receiver the ball was jarred loosed or tipped away. On three straight possessions in the second half the Vols held the Bulldogs to -1 yard each time. Head coach Lane Kiffin got his first SEC win after he stressed all week that his team had to beat Georgia. There was a pep talk by one of the coaches about how the staff believed in the team and It hit home with most of the players. Montario Hardesty had another good showing running 20 times for 97 well earned yards. Receivers held on to the football. Mistakes were held to a minimum and they played with an energy not seen in Knoxville in quite some time. The fans still believe In their team as they came out 103,261 strong. Something good may have happened to this team in the past week but I would hold out before the celebrations start. The Volunteers have had a knack for letting their fans down. They will come up big one week and stink the joint up the next. They will come out of the shadows of adversity only to go into the depths of ineptitude. Just because they showed all this heart doesn’t mean they won’t break a few next time up. For now, It was an impressive game for a team in need of one. They looked like a team that believed in each other and played with confidence. They did It against an SEC foe, which Is a step in the right direction. Now let’s see what they come up with next.
 
(25) South Carolina 28 Kentucky 26
Kentucky scored and then South Carolina scored and then Kentucky scored and then, the story. It was a seesaw battle that wasn’t decided until the final minutes when the Wildcats failed on a two-point conversion that would have tied It at 28. Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia may have finally come into his own, as he was spectacular. He was 16-23 for 233 yards, three touchdowns passing, one rushing and one pick. He controlled the offense all day and impressed his coaches. Freshman wide receiver Alshon Jeffery had his best game with seven catches for 138 yards and touchdown catches of 10, 28 and 22 yards. Before the Gamecocks get to feeling too good they gave up 205 yards rushing and must face an Alabama team that can run a whole lot better than Kentucky. The Wildcats showed signs that their team Is getting to where It wants be but after they lost QB Mark Hartline to a knee injury they lost their rhythm. With both their starting cornerbacks out they looked weak on the secondary. There were scoring opportunities and mistakes that also cost them points. These are the things that Kentucky must improve on to take that next step up In the East.
 
(1) Florida 13 (4) LSU 3
Well It was the return of AT&Tebow and the Gators didn’t even have to use all of their weapons because they knew that LSU would have a problem throwing against them. All the talk was about the concussion suffered by Tebow and how It would affect him. Well I saw him lower his shoulder on one run. He was knocked to the ground, slightly hitting his head, while trying to pass. So if the Tigers were hoping to put a scare into the kid It didn’t work and Florida Is basically In the drivers seat now in the SEC East. Tebow avoided oncoming rushers and dodged them when he had to. He and the Gators played a bit conservative to protect their quarterback. Still he went 11-16 for 134 yards a touchdown pass and a pick. He also ran the ball 17 times for 38 yards. Hey those are not the stats of a player playing scared. LSU could not generate offense as Jordan Jefferson was sacked five times by a savage Florida defense. The Tigers got only 162 yards of offense when they weren’t making mistake after mistake. They came In ranked last in the SEC in total offense and it got so bad that fans were headed to the door with over two minutes left in the game. So once again the offense of LSU gets exposed and the Gators find another way to win. It sounds like two teams headed in different directions. The Gators hope that direction takes them to Atlanta for the SEC championship game and then the BCS title. LSU is just not sure which direction they are headed in at this time. 
 
(3) Alabama 22 (20) Ole Miss 3
Now here Is an argument as to who should be the real number one. Some experts feel that the Tide should be the top ranked team in the country and they played like It, sacking Jevon Snead four times. They were relentless all game as they applied pressure to the Rebels offensive line until they gave. They took advantage of mistakes and scored off of them and head coach Nick Saban said” This was the most complete win we’ve had all year, in a difficult situation”. Ole Miss is losing some of that steam It started the season with and Is now 1-2 in the west. Alabama Is alone atop the West at 3-0 thanks to the LSU loss. Running back Mark Ingram was all the offense they needed as he ran over and around the Rebels for 172 yards on 28 carries. The Rebels offense could not surpass 200 total yards of offense and they had the ball for less than 22 minutes. Next week Alabama has another big one at home against South Carolina. As for Ole Miss, they will host UAB in a game they can win and need to win.
 
Arkansas 44 (17) Auburn 23
Wow was this a surprise on a day the SEC was full of surprises. The Razorbacks held the Tigers scoreless in the first quarter for the first time all season and never looked back. By halftime it was 27-3 and by the time Auburn scored three times in the third quarter the lead was too big to overcome. Michael Smith ran for 145 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Ryan Mallett continued to shine going 24-37 for 274 yards two scores and one pick. This was the Tiger’s first loss of the season leaving Florida and LSU as the only unbeaten now.
 
Houston 31 Miss. St. 24
Army 16 Vanderbilt 13 OT

                                                   SEC Wrap Week 5
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer Football Reporters Online
Southeast Region
 
 
LSU 20 Georgia 13
This is another reason the SEC is the best football conference in the nation and here is some proof. This is a conference where you are made or broken. Ole Miss found that out when they could not produce in primetime against a conference foe. This week it was LSU’s turn to prove the voters right and the doubters wrong. They were ranked fourth in the nation just like Ole Miss was last week and were the underdogs in this one. True to form, you never know which Tiger team is going to show up. They were able to move the ball in the first half, control the clock, but had only six points for all the effort. Georgia was trying to make a statement in the conference as well. So they took the hit from LSU for three quarters and were only down six. In the third quarter the momentum seemed to shift towards the Dawgz. After a good drive they opened the fourth quarter with a one-yard touchdown run by Shaun Chapas that gave Georgia a 7-6 lead. For all the Tigers had done, mistakes kept them from leading by a few touchdowns. They had two chances inside the Georgia ten and came away empty after a pick in the end zone and a failed fourth and inches. So after the Georgia touchdown the Tigers went to work on a 13 play 88 yard drive that ended in a two yard Charles Scott run that made it 12-7. The two-point conversion failed and Georgia got the ball back with just under three minutes to go and time to answer the latest Tiger score. So that is exactly what they did as QB Joe Cox led them on a six-play 79 yard drive to put Georgia up 13-12. They also went for and failed on their two-point conversion and the stage was set for the finish. There was 1:09 left in the game and the Tigers found themselves suddenly fighting for their season. They knew that next week was Florida so they had to take care of business today. There were reasons to pack it in and say they tried but it would not be. On the Georgia score wide receiver A.J. Green was penalized for excessive celebration so his team had to kick off from the 15. Trindon Holliday returned the kick to the Dawgz 43 and another penalty put the ball at the Georgia 38 with a chance to win the game with a field goal. Instead Scott took the second down handoff and fought of defenders on his way to the game winning 33-yard touchdown. So it was now done and the Tigers could move forward to the huge task at hand next week. They face Florida for power positioning in the SEC. This is the way football is played here and the teams that are real will go to the head of the class. Slip up and this conference will expose you quickly.
 
(3) Alabama 38 Kentucky 20
When things go your way they just go your way. Alabama was up when they were pinned deep in their territory. Running back Trent Richardson took a handoff and appeared to be tackled in the end zone. The officials came back and ruled that he just got the ball out of the end zone on time. The Tide would then move the football the length of the field and go ahead for good. It was that kind of day as Alabama basically dominated the Wildcats in every form and fashion. They were so dominant in the second half the outcome was never in doubt. Running back Mark Ingram had a career day as has had 140 yards on 22 carries to go with two touchdowns. Quarterback Greg McElroy was efficient in going 15-26 for 148 yards and two scores. More importantly he did what was expected of him when he was needed. This game showed that the Tide have earned their number three national ranking. They are deep everywhere with depth and experience as well as a load of talent. In order to get past this team you are going to have to come well prepared for a long hard fought game. Kentucky on the other hand has work to do. They can feel good about what they were able to do in this game. They were able to move the ball for the most part but were sabotaged by three Mike Hartline interceptions and another time he completed the pass but it was knocked free and Courtney Upshaw scooped it up and ran it back 45 yards for the score. That pretty much did it for the Wildcats and now they have faced the two of the top three teams in the nation the past two weeks and as head coach Rich Brooks said, “They're a great football team. I expect to see them in the SEC championship game."
 
Ole Miss 23 Vanderbilt 7
Speaking of being broken in the conference we check in on the Rebels. Last week they were riding high before game time. They had the highest ranking in forever at number four. They were being cast into the spotlight in primetime and got whipped. So now they had to regroup and quarterback Jevon Snead would lead the way against a weak Vandy team that has struggled this season. Instead he threw three interceptions when the team had already built a rhythm in the first half. Head coach Houston Nutt said that he was disappointed that Snead did not make better decisions and tried to force things. Yes he had three touchdown passes in the first half but the second half breakdown worries his coaches and himself. He came into the season much hyped and is now trying to hold it together so that his team may have a shot a major bowl. Vanderbilt came in ranked third nationally in pass defense but was lit up at the start. Mistakes helped give them a chance but they could not capitalize. Larry Smith was ineffective going 10-27 for 69 yards. He was sacked four times and when he drove Vandy to a possible score his pass got picked off. So there is plenty of work to do as Head coach Bobby Johnson knows. The Dores have to find some form of offense because defense wont win it here alone.
 
Elsewhere:
 
Auburn 26 Tennessee 22
The rebuilding continues as Auburn gained 459 yards of offense as they were balanced and never trailed. Vols manage to show some of their own offense with 410 yards but the game was not as close as the score would indicate.
 
South Carolina 38 South Carolina St. 14
The Gamecocks tie their best start in the Steve Spurrier era and Stephen Garcia ran for a touchdown and passed for two more. Still the small Bulldogs squad held their own showing S.C. they better be prepared when the big boys come a knocking.
 
Arkansas 47 Texas A&M 19
 
Georgia Tech 42 Miss. St 31 

                                                    SEC Wrap Up Week 4
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer Football Reporters Online
Southeast Region
 
South Carolina 16 Ole Miss 10
 
In this day and age of the BCS the one thing you can count on is that the preseason rankings mean nothing. When this season began a team like Ole Miss was in the mix for a top 10 ranking. They were one of the teams to watch for. Well somebody forgot to tell the Gamecocks last Thursday. The Rebels started the scoring with a Joshua Shene 42 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. That would just about do it for Ole Miss. Their much heralded QB Jevon Snead would be hounded all game long and could never get on track. He missed six consecutive passes at one point and finished 7-21 for 107 yards and one touchdown. His team was having trouble getting first downs in the first half and could not capitalize on any other chances. They were 1-13 in third down efficiency and had nine penalties for 70 yards. A running game that been so productive was only able to get 139 yards. When things seemed to go right they went wrong. Running back Brandon Bolden ran away for a 59-yard touchdown that was negated by a holding penalty. They had to settle for the field goal. In their final four possessions the Gamecocks went three and out and the Rebels could not answer. Snead showed that there can be too much hype given to any player at any time. He does have the ability for a promising future but this is the SEC. Here you have to prove your value every Saturday against some of the best the country has to offer. As for the Gamecocks it was just their second win in 33 tries against a top five team. Their only other win came in 1981 at North Carolina and after this game they partied like there was no tomorrow. It was not an easy win as quarterback Stephen Garcia fumbled to end one drive and a penalty led to their first field goal. They had to settle for two more Spencer Lanning field goals when they could have gotten more. Still it was enough to stop a team that was probably ranked higher than it should have been. Yet, late in the game Ole Miss found itself with a chance to go ahead, but a sack and a batted away fourth down pass sealed the win for South Carolina. The celebration was a big one they could relish but there is still work to do cause one win won’t cut it here. The two teams have work to do now. Ole Miss must regroup as their season is far from over. They have big games at home where they can make some noise. As for the Gamecocks they had a big win here but know that they still have work left. Garcia must put in a better performance week in and week out. He was 16-34 for 220 yards with only one touchdown pass but must improve his completion percentage. The offense will have to do more because teams won’t play as poorly as Ole Miss did on this day. Stay tuned as the national and SEC pictures begin to take shape.
 
LSU 30 Mississippi 26
 This game had a little bit of everything with special teams play as well as mistakes. The Tigers of LSU were looking for a pretty easy game against a team that should not have given them much of a test. Chad Jones returned a punt 93 yards and wide receiver Brandon LaFell caught two touchdown passes from QB Jordan Jefferson. The game came down to the last minutes, as the Tigers needed a goal line stand to preserve the win. It would have been easier for them had they not missed an extra point and a chip shot 19-yard field goal. They could not run on the Bulldogs defense all day as holes were plugged up and back could not break tackles. Senior Bulldog running back Anthony Dixon had a great day as he ran for 106 yards 27 carries with two touchdowns. But when his team needed him the most he could not score given two chances from inside the three. Quarterback Tyson Lee went 15-38 for 172 yards one touchdown and three interceptions. He made the first mistake of the game when Patrick Peterson picked off his pass and ran it back 37 yards on the Bulldogs first offensive play. Another mistake he will have a hard time getting over will be the one he made late. There was 1:12 left in the game and it was fourth and goal with the score 31-24 LSU. Lined up in the wishbone Lee ran the sneak and failed to get the touchdown that could have tied the game late. On the ensuing Tiger possession LSU punter Derek Helton killed a few seconds running around in the end zone and then ran out of it for the safety. With the score now 31-26 State got the ball back but Lee threw four incomplete passes ending any hope of a wild finish. LSU made this game harder for them than it should have been. Mistakes in the kicking game and shabby play all day leaves the Tiger head coach Les Miles wondering if his team is ready to take that leap in the polls they are about to take. The schedule will not get any easier and if LSU hopes to play in Atlanta they cannot afford to continue this type of play on the field.
 
Tennessee 34 Ohio 24
Just when they thought it was safe to get back on the field the Vols nearly laid an egg. It was raining all day and it stopped just in time for kickoff. This was supposed to be an easy win after playing Florida so close to the vest. The defense that showed up in the swamp was mired with injuries to three starters. By games end they lost two more and were unable to stuff the Bobcats. Ohio managed to get 340 total yards mostly on the arm of quarterback Theo Scott who threw for 319 of those yards. The Vols were tough against the run holding Ohio to 21 yards on 17 carries. Vols quarterback Jonathan Crompton threw two touchdown passes but also threw pick number eight on the young season. The running game was a little better with Montario Hardesty rushing for 140 yards on 20 carries including an 11-yard touchdown. Freshman Bryce Brown added 56 yards and 60 receiving to help out. It was still a rather disappointing performance for a team that needs to play with much more consistency to win ballgames. Next week they have Auburn and the defense will be shorthanded. Special teams will have to improve as well. After Hardesty’s touchdown the Vols could be seen celebrating and just like that the ensuing kickoff was run back 95 yards by Ohio’s Chris Garrett for the tying touchdown. Mistakes have been killing the Vols and continued in this game. The defense came in ranked fifth in the nation in total defense but gave up all those passing yards. They must find a way to get better coverage as opposing receivers are still catching the ball a little too wide open. Crompton still has much work to do as he has proven that he cannot be counted on when the passing game is needed. It’s back to the drawing board for the Vols and there is much work to do.
 
Elsewhere:
 
Alabama 35 Arkansas 7
Razorback quarterback Greg McElroy has career high of 291 yards and three touchdowns to nine different receivers. The tide is now 4-0 and poised for some votes for the top ranking in the nation. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett went 12-35 for 160 yards with one touchdown and one pick. Arkansas defense folds once again.
 
Georgia 20 Arizona State 17
A.J. Green had the game of his young career catching eight passes for 153 yards including a beauty of a 56 yarder for his touchdown but it was his blocked field goal that helped the Dawgz win. The game was not decided until kicker Blair Walsh hit the game winner as time ran out.
 
Auburn 54 Ball St. 30
Well this was one of those easy ones folks. QB Chris Todd passed for 287 yards and tied a school record with five touchdown passes. The Tigers got nearly 500 yards of offense and are now 4-0. WR Terrell Zachery showed out with five catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores came in the second quarter from 46 and 65 yards.
 
 
Vanderbilt 36 Rice 17
This was one the Commodores needed badly so they ran for 216 yards and four touchdowns for the win. Warren Norman had 11 carries for 119 yards and a 58-yard score. Quarterback Larry Smith bounced back going 23-41 for 268 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Dores got almost 500 yards of offense and moved the ball virtually at will. The win snapped a two game losing streak to put them at 2-2.
 
Florida 41 Kentucky 7
The one thing the Gators worry about is losing AT&Tebow to some sort of injury. It would appear it’s the only thing that could stop them. Well it finally happened when he took a hard hit to the chest and then his head hit the turf. He was taken to the hospital and stayed overnight for observation. The game itself was no contest as Florida jumped out to a 31-0 lead and never looked back. Tebow ran 16 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. That gives him 48 rushing touchdowns for his career. That is just one short of the SEC record held by Hershel Walker. He also passed for 103 yards and one touchdown before being injured.

 
                                         The SEC Wrap Up Week 2

By Rafael Garcia Sr. Contributing Writer-Southeast Region-Football Reporters Online
 
So it’s the second week of the season and some teams had some easy ones to start the year. A week later there were expected wins and of course unexpected losses. So sit back and let’s talk about how this weekend unfolded.
 
UCLA 19 Tennessee 15
 
After a laugher against Western Kentucky the Vols found themselves at reality check’s door week 2. The Bruins were a different monster on this day even though they were supposed to lose this game. Remember all the noise that Lane Kiffin made before the season began? Well he is a bit quiet after the debacle on Saturday. He is beginning to realize that it is going to take some time for this rebuilding process. The Vols offense was nothing short of anemic turning the ball over four times. They managed just 208 total yards and one touchdown. Kiffin left quarterback Jonathan Crompton in too long and he admitted it cost his team big. Crompton finished 13-26 for 93 yards and three picks. The problem for Tennessee is that he is all they have. He beat out Nick Stephens for the job so what does that say about their depth at that position? There was some infighting between players after the game, prompting Kiffin to rally his troops, but it will be on the field where they will have to make a difference. Either way the problems that hurt them last year seem to be creeping up again and that won’t fly in Knoxville. Kiffin will have to make decisions to change the team. Will he go with Stephens or stick with Crompton? What changes will he make to generate more offense? Next is Florida and a performance like this one is going to get them blown right out of the swamp. One way or another there will have to be change or this season will be a long one.
 
Georgia 41 South Carolina 37
 
Wow was this a crazy game or what? This one had special teams play, defense and a lot of penalties too. With all that happened it all came down to one last play before this one would be decided. There was 22 seconds left and the Gamecocks had the ball at the 7-yard line. South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia tried to win it but was turned back when his pass was swatted away by Rennie Curran. It helped the Dawgs avoid a 0-2 start for the first time since 1996. Garcia had a big day as he went 31-53 for 313 yards two scores and one pick. His counterpart Joe Cox was 17-24 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He also had one interception returned 35 yards for a score too. South Carolina kicker Spencer Lanning tied a team record with five field goals. It was a much-improved offense after scoring just seven points last week. As for Georgia, well they could ill afford to be winless and were able to eek out the win on that big play at the end. Brandon Boynkin had a huge game with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and set up another score with an interception. DeAngelo Tyson had the huge play of the game when he blocked an extra point try. That block did not allow South Carolina to tie the game with a field goal. Instead they had to go for the win and missed out. The defenses obviously had a hard time of it giving up so many points in the first half that ended with Georgia up 31-23 at the half. So there is next week now and much more work to do.
 
LSU 23 Vanderbilt 9
 
On a rain soaked afternoon the Tigers found out they still have much work to do although they got the win. Head coach Les Miles said after the game that he was happy to get a win, but acknowledged that his team must play better in the weeks to come. The Dores were trying to win at LSU for the first time in nearly 50 years. They were still in the game until Keiland Williams caught a late touchdown pass. The Vandy defense played well in a loss holding LSU to three filed goals after allowing them inside their 20.  Tiger quarterback Jordan Jefferson was 20-29 but had only 138 yards passing to show for it. He had problems finding deep receivers all day and had to check down to the short routes in order to move the ball. Freshman Russell Shepard got in some playing time in the wildcat rushing three times for 27 yards and catching a six-yard pass that he fumbled away. Their defense turned it up in the second half as they shut Vanderbilt down in the second half. The Commodores really hurt themselves bad when penalties allowed the Tigers to keep drives going. Quarterback Larry Smith had the only touchdown for Vandy and went 11-24 for only 88 yards with one interception. All in all head coach Bobby Johnson has reason to be pleased. He saw his team stay almost toe-to-toe with a national power. That will only help his team’s confidence going forward. They will need all they can get a hold of as they try to get to consecutive bowls.
 
Elsewhere, the Gators turned it up as AT&Tebow racked up four touchdown passes plus another rushing score. It put him third in the SEC for rushing touchdowns and within five of the lead for overall touchdowns. The Gators won the game 56-6 in preparation for Tennessee. Down in Tuscaloosa Alabama had no problem with Florida International as they whipped up on them in a 40-14 rout. Highly regarded freshman Trent Richardson showed out as he rushed for 118 yards on 15 carries with two scores in his first full action. The Auburn Tigers went wild with their new offense and racked up 589 yards with Ben Tate ran for 159 yards and freshman Onterio McCalebb had 1220. It was the first time a freshman has had over 100 yards rushing ever for Auburn Yes folks that would include the likes of Bo Jackson.

SEC Roundup
By Ralph Garcia SEC Insider-10-8-08

Vanderbilt 14 Auburn 13

As Vanderbilt took the field Saturday they looked around to find a packed house. Black and gold were everywhere the naked eye could see. The noise level was at pitch not heard here in decades. ESPN's College Gameday was here to hang out for the game. It was an official welcome to the big stage for the “Dores”. Only thing left was to go out on the field and get it done. Within a 60 second span it was 13-0 Tigers. Then at the end of the half Vandy scored to turn the momentum. In the second half Auburn would score no more. Their ever faltering spread offense could muster nothing. QB McKenzi Adams came off the bench to spark the comeback that put Vandy at 5-0 for the first time since 1943. They beat Auburn for the first time since 1955. Auburn was held to a little more than 200 yards of offense. Their QB's were sacked five times by five different players. Holding on to a one point lead with 2:16 to play Vandy had to punt. In came Brett Upson and his kick went 55 yards to the Tiger 3. One play later Myron Lewis picked off a Chris Todd pass and the celebration was on. A school known for its brain would now be recognized for its brawn. No longer are they be the doormat or joke of the SEC. Now they are wearing targets and other teams better take aim. This was for the long suffering fans, the boosters who never gave up, the fans that have been faithful for so long. Ah, but this is the SEC folks. The question of which conference is the best keeps being asked. If you watched Vandy's win then you should ask that question no more.

Elsewhere:
Tennessee 13 Northern Illinois 9
Nick Stephens goes 10-17 for 153 yards and a touchdown. The running game fell short with 75 yards on the ground. What was supposed to be a blowout almost ended in an upset. UT's offense could not move the ball and they better get it right soon.

Alabama 17 Kentucky 14

Glen Coffee ran for 218 yards but Alabama needs the late 24 yard field goal to get past Wildcats. Tide improves to 6-0.

S.C. 31 Ole Miss 24
QB Chris Smelley throws for a career high 327 yards go with three touchdowns. Rebels are held to a second half field goal. Crucial mistakes keep S.C. in East race.

Florida 38 Arakansas 7
AT&Tebow finishes 17-26 for 217 yards and two touchdowns to go along with an interception. Jeffrey Demps runs for 103 yards in the romp. Chris Rainey had a spectacular 75 yard run for a score. Win helps Gators stay half game behind East leader Vanderbilt.