TheState.com: GoGamecocks: Around the SEC

Murray overcomes jitters in Georgia scrimmage

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:56 EDT

ATHENS, Ga. | Georgia coach Mark Richt did his best to make his team's last scrimmage of the preseason feel like a real game.

There were Southeastern Conference officials on the Sanford Stadium field. There were game captains, pregame warmups and even a coin toss.

Richt wanted to see how his players handled the added rush that came with the simulated game.

Perhaps the most important test was for freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, who is preparing for his first start in No. 23 Georgia's opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 4.

Murray said it felt like more than just another practice.

Kentucky starting QB remains unnamed

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:09 EDT

LEXINGTON, Ky. | A total of 18 practices into Kentucky's preseason camp, head coach Joker Phillips still hasn't named a starting quarterback.

Phillips has offered brief insight into the three-man battle but has made all quarterbacks off-limits to the media until a starter is named. After a Saturday scrimmage, a larger-than-usual group of media showed up for interviews, hoping to catch some news.

Phillips' first comment: “Are we announcing something today?”

He didn't. The first-year head coach reiterated Saturday the race still has fifth-year senior Mike Hartline, sophomore Morgan Newton and redshirt freshman Ryan Mossakowski all in equal competition.

Hartline, a 6-6, 210-pound senior from Canton, Ohio, is 8-6 as a starter at Kentucky. He was named the starting quarterback this time last year, and he started the first five games before going down with a knee injury at South Carolina.

Vols want to eliminate UNC from schedule

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:19 EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | Tennessee wants to eliminate a trip to North Carolina from its 2011 football schedule, even if it means paying a $750,000 buyout of a contract with the Tar Heels.

The two schools have a contract to play in Chapel Hill, N.C., in 2011 and in Knoxville in 2012, but Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton requested several months ago that the series be pushed back to future seasons.

Tennessee's tentative 2011 schedule has the Vols hosting Cincinnati before trips to Florida and North Carolina, home games against Georgia and LSU and a trip to Alabama.

“Going into the season having two BCS non-conference opponents is problematic when you're trying to rebuild a team,” Hamilton said. “This is not a change in our scheduling philosophy, however.”

Hamilton said he's been told by North Carolina officials that the Tar Heels won't be able to delay the series to future seasons, which led to talks of a buyout of the contract. North Carolina senior associate athletic director Larry Gallo said the final outcome hasn't been decided, though, and the Tar Heels would prefer to play the series.

Ark. broadcaster wears Gators hat, loses job

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:43 EDT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. | An Arkansas radio personality announced that she was fired Monday, two days after wearing a Florida Gators hat to an Arkansas Hogs news conference.

Renee Gork announced on Twitter that she had been fired by KAKS, a northwest Arkansas radio station that calls itself Hog Sports Radio. Gork had worn a Gator hat Saturday to a news conference with Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino.

Petrino, whose team lost to the Gators last season 23-20 at Florida, commented on Gork's hat after answering a question she asked. “And that will be the last question I answer with that hat on,” Petrino said.

Gork, a Florida graduate, said she grabbed the hat without thinking Saturday because it was raining outside. She also said she sent a letter of apology to the university and Petrino.

“Was hoping to publicly apologize to coach Petrino and UA fans on the show today … but I won't get that chance,” Gork wrote on KAKS' Twitter account. “I've been fired.”

Pair of Tennessee signees ruled ineligible

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:40 EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | The NCAA has informed Tennessee that defensive tackle John Brown and athlete Marcques Dixon are academically ineligible to play this season.

Brown, a junior who transferred from Northeast Mississippi Community College, attended summer classes at Tennessee but will not enroll in fall classes. The Vols were hoping the 6-foot-2, 285-pound native of Lakeland, Fla., would help bolster depth on the defensive line, which has lost several players to injury.

Coach Derek Dooley said Monday that he knew the pair were “academic risks” when he signed them in February. He says neither player has determined what he will do now.

Tennessee is still awaiting final word from the NCAA on the eligibility of defensive back Eddrick Loften and linebacker Martaze Jackson.

Kentucky's Hartline faces challenge to keep QB job

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:11 EDT

LEXINGTON, Ky. | Mike Hartline's name is atop the Kentucky quarterback depth chart for the third straight preseason. But while the job is more familiar to him now than ever, his hold on it appears more tenuous.

The last two seasons, Hartline has essentially entered August camp as the undisputed starter. In 2008, his rival Curtis Pulley was surprisingly kicked off the team just as camp was getting under way. Last year, Hartline was unchallenged for the No. 1 job at the beginning of the year as a bowl-winning quarterback being pushed only by two inexperienced albeit immensely talented freshmen.

But things are different for the Wildcats' signal caller this year, and Hartline knows it.

At the team's media day on Friday, his new head coach Joker Phillips suggested he's only penciling in Hartline's name as the team's top quarterback as the Wildcats open their August practices.

“He'll start off as the starter, yes,” Phillips said. “I shouldn't say ‘start.’ He'll start off as the first guy that gets reps because somebody has to do it, and he's been around here the longest.”

Georgia freshman Morant departs

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:31 EDT

Manning native Dexter Morant's career at Georgia is over before it started, apparently.

The freshman defensive end is no longer with the team, Georgia's sports information department confirmed on Wednesday.

Morant, a 6-foot-7 native of Manning, S.C., went through Monday and Tuesday's practices, so the decision is sudden. And the door is almost certainly not closed, since many a player through the years has had a change of heart.

But for now, Morant is gone. He was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and a three-star by Scout.com.

Georgia coach Mark Richt will address the news after practice today.

2 Vols ineligible, status of 4 more still unclear

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:37 EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | Two Tennessee Volunteers are ineligible for the upcoming season, and the team is awaiting word on the status of four more.

Coach Derek Dooley said Tuesday the NCAA has ruled defensive back Dave Clark of Baton Rouge, La., ineligible. Defensive tackle Chase Nelson was declared academically ineligible at the end of the spring semester and is no longer on the team.

Defensive back Eddrick Loften, defensive lineman John Brown, linebacker Martaze Jackson and athlete Marcques Dixon have not been cleared by the NCAA. Dooley says he hopes to have final word on their eligibility within the next week.

Dooley also says defensive tackle Chase Nelson was declared academically ineligible at the end of the spring semester and is no longer on the team.

The Vols begin fall camp on Wednesday.

Vandy drops 'interim' from Caldwell title

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:00 EDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. | Maybe it was the great performance at Southeastern Conference media days that wound up with a standing ovation from some reporters. Vanderbilt has removed the “interim” from the title of new coach Robbie Caldwell.

Vice chancellor David Williams announced the news Monday at a Rotary Club meeting. Williams later said he had conferred with the Board of Trust and is busy finalizing a new contract for Caldwell.

“We are both pleased with this new agreement but with the season upon us, getting our team ready for Northwestern is the most important thing for our coaches at this time. We are excited about having Robbie Caldwell as our head coach and maintaining continuity with our excellent staff,” Williams said in a statement.

Caldwell was named interim coach July 14 when Bobby Johnson announced his retirement from coaching. The 56-year-old Caldwell has coached the Vanderbilt offensive line since 2002 and was assistant head coach in recent years under Johnson. He still faces the challenge of trying to revive a team that slumped to 2-10 in 2009 after winning the Music City Bowl in 2008.

AP-ES-08-02-10 1944EDT

Murray opens practice as Georgia's new No. 1 QB

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:53 EDT

Mark Richt isn't afraid of starting a freshman quarterback.

Having only freshmen at the position is a different matter.

Richt acknowledged it is “scary” to have only four freshmen quarterbacks, including new starter Aaron Murray, in team meetings.

“The quarterback room has got to be the youngest room maybe in the history of college football,” Richt said Monday before Georgia's first practice.

“You've got a redshirt freshman, a true freshman on scholarship and then two walk-ons. That is all that is in that quarterback room right now, so it's scary in there.”

NCAA plans to interview 1 Georgia player

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:27 EDT

ATLANTA | The NCAA intends to interview one Georgia player as part of its probe into improper benefits given to athletes by agents.

In an e-mail obtained by The Associated Press on Monday, Marcus Wilson, the NCAA's assistant director in charge of agents activities, outlined plans for the interview.

The NCAA is investigating possible rules violations at a party on Miami's South Beach in May. Wilson wants to find if the player was involved in, or knew about, NCAA rules violations.

Georgia redacted the student-athlete's name when releasing the e-mail. Standout wide receiver A.J. Green says he has never been to Miami and coach Mark Richt says the university will wait to see what happens.

Football players at Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina are part the probe.

Tennessee to host FCS runner-up Montana in 2011

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:58 EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | Tennessee will host Montana in the 2011 season opener at Neyland Stadium.

The Volunteers announced the one-game deal on Monday.

Tennessee was scheduled to host North Texas on Sept. 3, 2011, but the Mean Green decided it wanted to begin its season at home in its new football stadium, which is scheduled to open then. The schools plan to reschedule the game for a later date.

The Grizzlies have twice won a national Football Championship Subdivision national title and have been runners-up for the championship for the past two seasons. The FCS national title game has been played in Chattanooga for the past 13 years.

Montana will receive a $500,000 guarantee from Tennessee, and Montana athletic director Jim O'Day says the game will be one of the biggest in UM history.

Coaches: Players also responsible for agent probe

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:58 EDT

HOOVER, Ala. | Tennessee coach Derek Dooley and Auburn's Gene Chizik both say the onus isn't just on agents to follow the rules, college athletes know the difference between right and wrong.

“A lot of this has got to go back to the young guy,” Chizik said Friday. “He's got to have an allegiance to his school. He's got to have an allegiance to his teammates. He's got to have an allegiance to his coaches and to his university. The bottom line is, I think everybody probably does a really good job of trying to educate their kids.

“If they know right from wrong and they choose to do wrong, then they don't really have an allegiance to the people that I just mentioned. They know right from wrong.”

It was a slightly different message from the first two days of the Southeastern Conference media days, when coaches were on the attack against unscrupulous sports agents.

Investigations are ongoing at Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida for alleged improper contact, along with North Carolina. The rash of issues led Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban to liken the actions of those rogue agents to the behavior of a pimp.

Slive: Agent rules might be part of problem

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:03 EDT

HOOVER, Ala. | Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive wants the NCAA to switch its focus on agent dealings from enforcement to assisting players. Alabama coach Nick Saban wants to take aim at the agents.

Slive opened the league media days with three schools — Florida, Alabama and South Carolina — facing investigations stemming from possible improper contact with agents.

The SEC commissioner says the current rules "may be as much part of the problem as they are the solution."

Saban says he wants the NFL Players Association to get involved and suspend agents whose dealings help cost players eligibility.

Saban confirmed that Alabama is looking into a trip defensive end Marcell Dareus took to an agent's party at Miami's South Beach.

[Blog] SEC Media Days, Round 1

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:27 EDT

With several SEC teams ensnared in the sweeping NCAA investigation involving players and athletes, the topic quickly became the prevailing storyline at the SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel.

Expect two more days of it.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive opened Media Days by calling for a re-examination of the NCAA rules regarding agent activity. Alabama coach Nick Saban took it a step further, saying agents who cost players their eligibility should lose their license in the NFL Players Association for a year.

“That’s the only way you’re going to stop it,” Saban said, “because it’s ridiculous and it’s entrapment.”

Saban said schools also could close their doors to agents. Saban said he currently allows agents to watch the Crimson Tide’s practices to get a behind-the-scenes look at players as they go drills.

Saban compares unscrupulous agents to a 'pimp'

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:57 EDT

HOOVER, Ala. | Nick Saban didn't pull punches Wednesday when discussing the improper contact with athletes by unscrupulous agents, comparing their behavior to that of a “pimp.”

The Alabama coach was upset about the rash of recent agent-related incidents that have resulted in NCAA investigations at several Southeastern Conference schools.

“I don't think it's anything but greed that's creating it right now on behalf of the agents,” Saban said in a rant at the Southeastern Conference media days. “The agents that do this – and I hate to say this, but how are they any better than a pimp?

“I have no respect for people who do that to young people. None. How would you feel if they did it to your child?”

Agents, not national titles, was the primary topic on Day 1 at the Wynfrey Hotel. Three SEC teams – Florida, Alabama and South Carolina – are investigating allegations involving improper contact with an agent. Saban and SEC commissioner Mike Slive both emphatically said it was time for a change to NCAA rules governing agents.

Florida, NCAA investigating potential violation

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:43 EDT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As Florida investigates a potential rules violation involving former Gators star Maurkice Pouncey, it's uncertain what the next move will be.

So far, public responses have been minimal after an ESPN.com report surfaced Monday that Pouncey allegedly received $100,000 from the associate of a sports agent a month before the 2009 season ended. An unnamed representative allegedly paid Pouncey between Florida's loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 6 and the Sugar Bowl win over Cincinnati on Jan. 1, ESPN reports.

If the allegations stick, a whole line of questioning unfolds regarding sports agents, whether Florida must vacate its Sugar Bowl victory, if any other players received similar benefits and whether twin brother Mike Pouncey, who is a rising senior at Florida, was involved.

There's currently no evidence suggesting any of that, and Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley indicates in a statement that there's no proof Pouncey taking money.

“We were made aware of some information in early June that we reported to law enforcement and we then shared with the NCAA and the SEC,” Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said in a statement. “At this time we have no information that has indicated that there are any compliance issues for the University of Florida.”

Florida receiver on probation, fined in DUI case

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:17 EDT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. | Florida receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. has been sentenced to probation as part of a plea deal in a DUI case.

Hammond was sentenced Friday and ordered to pay a $500 fine and court costs, perform 50 hours of community service, and serve a 12-month probationary sentence.

The 20-year-old sophomore was suspended last month from all team activities following his arrest on DUI and alcohol possession charges. University police said he was speeding, swerving and driving with two open bottles of whiskey in his car.

Hammond was expected to be part of Florida's revamped receiving corps this season. He will likely miss some playing time due to his arrest.

Vols' Dooley vows to change culture of program

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:29 EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley says he is embarrassed by the recent arrests of some his players and has vowed to change the culture of the Volunteer program.

But those changes can't come soon enough.

Police continue to investigate the off-campus bar brawl involving several athletes. A seventh player, defensive tackle Chase Nelson, was named as a possible suspect in a Knoxville police report released Wednesday. Two players have already been arrested for their role in the incident.

Sophomore defensive back Darren Myles Jr. was charged Friday with assault, resisting arrest and evading arrest and has been dismissed from the team. Incoming freshman wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, but remains on the team. More players could be charged.

“We're not going to let this incident ruin the positive changes that are happening,” Dooley said. “We're going to continue to build our structures so that we educate, we discipline, we support our players, and at the end of the day we're going to have a culture here that's not just going to be about winning but our fans will be proud of how we represent them.”

Georgia's Jackson to transfer following arrest

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:27 EDT

ATHENS, Ga. | Dontavius Jackson, one of two Georgia players arrested on alcohol-related charges last week, is transferring from the university after summer semester.

Coach Mark Richt suspended Jackson for at least six games after the sophomore was charged with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and other motor vehicle offenses early Saturday morning.

Jackson, a backup running back, had four carries for 38 yards in 2009.

Richt announced Jackson's plans to transfer on Wednesday. The school initially said Jackson would transfer after spring semester.

Sophomore split end Tavarres King was charged with underaged possession of alcohol and has been suspended for at least one game.