It's Only SEC (but I like it....)
GEORGE SOMERVILLE – THE TOUCHDOWN SEC CORRESPONDENT
week FOUR
The SEC football season has accelerated into full throttle mode, and there seems to be no time even to take a breath! But it’s SEC football season, y’all, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
This week, we have apologies for bad behaviour and suspensions for even worse behaviour! And that’s just the coaches!
Aside from Coaches misbehaving, we have been treated to some great football, and the schedule this week is again AWESOME!
So, it’s time to catch up on what’s been happening in and around the conference! Yup, it’s time for some “It’s Only SEC”….
Here’s what’s going on in SEC country!
this weeks sec Stories
Tiger's head coach apologises for outburst
Baton Rouge , LA
I have covered my Louisiana experience in another piece, which you can read on The Touchdown. But one of the unexpected “experiences” I had late Saturday night, deep in the bowels of Tiger Stadium, was close-up exposure to Brian Kelly’s now infamous rant.
Firstly, I am glad that I wasn’t on the end of his tirade, but mostly it was experiential to see the raw emotions of an SEC Head coach immediately after what was a hard-fought game. Kelly spoke from the heart, which didn’t easily sit with some. The fallout from the video that my good friend Chris Marler posted was viral. Sports radio the next day was full of hot takes and responses to Kelly’s outburst.
You can read what I thought about the situation in the other piece; however, it was no surprise that Kelly came out quickly after and offered up an apology to the reporter involved.
“I’ve texted with [the reporter] and offered my apology to him for the way I handled the questioning,” Kelly said during a news conference Monday. “I think it’s important to understand that you know, my standards relative to how we work with the media on a day-to-day basis, need to be higher, and I take responsibility for that, and I’ll be better in the future.”
Florida coach suspended
Gainesville, FL
If you followed along with me last week, you know I was in Baton Rouge to cover the Florida Gators playing the LSU Tigers in Tiger Stadium.
In the pre-match warm-ups, there was a coming together of the two teams when the Gators players seemed to encroach on the LSU practice space. Quickly tempers frayed in what is already a hotly contested SEC football rivalry game played in very hot and humid weather conditions.
Things were brought under control very quickly, although the game itself remained chippy throughout.
Afterwards, video showed Gators Associate Head coach and Running backs coach Jabbar Juluke appear to strike one of the LSU players.
It didn’t take long for the SEC and Florida to issue a press statement condemning Juluke’s behaviour and imposing a three-game suspension for the Coach.
The statement reads as follows (as per the SEC press release),
“The Southeastern Conference and University of Florida have jointly announced a three-game suspension of Jabbar Juluke, associate head football coach and running backs coach at Florida, for his involvement in an altercation prior to the Florida at LSU football game on Saturday, Sept. 14”.
Commissioner Greg Sankey added his comments condemning the Gators’ coaches’ behaviour and making it clear that this situation can only be a one-off.
“Jabbar Juluke’s conduct during the pregame altercation reflects behavior that is unacceptable and not aligned with the standards of the Southeastern Conference,” said Sankey. “Coaches are expected to be leaders and to de-escalate tense situations, and that did not happen in this circumstance. This suspension is appropriate, and any future misconduct by Jabbar Juluke will result in more severe disciplinary action.”
Coach Jabbar Juluke also provided his apology via the SEC Press Release.
“I, first, would like to apologize to both Florida and LSU universities, their teams, staff and fans. I also sincerely apologize to the young athlete and his family.
On Saturday, I reacted in a manner I’m not proud of. There’s no excuse for my behavior and I take full responsibility for my actions.
In this game, emotional situations occur and bad reactions happen.
I regret my reaction and commit to using this moment to strengthen my emotional intelligence. I know more is expected of us as coaches, and I commit to living up to that expectation. I believe growth is in ownership and learning from the good and the bad.
I intend to use this situation as a teachable moment, not only for myself, but for those I impact. Again, I offer my sincerest apologies to both institutions and the staffs and families involved.”
SEC Nation breaks new ground
Norman, OK
If you’re a fan of SEC football, you’ve probably seen the SEC Network’s pregame Saturday morning show “SEC Nation”. If you haven’t, you’re missing a trick.
The concept is similar to College Gameday except it’s regionalised and takes on the madcap, humorous, but also very knowledgeable role of the anarchic sibling of Gameday.
“Nation” is also a live on-campus show, but with the sole focus on the SEC, the potential to visit new destinations is, well, limited.
Until now, with the introduction of Texas and Oklahoma to the conference last year, two new stops in Austin and Norman have been added.
On Saturday, the Nation crew will make it to Norman, OK, for the very first time! So if you have the opportunity to tune in to watch Marty & McGee, Laura Rutledge, Tim Tebow, Roman Harper, Jordan Rodgers and Paul Finebaum….do! It will be a great show!
beamer to Blacksburg?
Columbia, SC
I’ve been to Columbia, South Carolina. It’s lovely, beautiful even. The town is consistently voted one of the best college towns, and who wouldn’t want to visit Williams-Brice Stadium on a gameday!
Contrary to this, I have never been to Blacksburg in Virginia. I am sure it’s a great place to stay, but I don’t hear it as often quoted as being the idyllic college town.
Now. Where Blacksburg does come into its own is with the atmosphere inside Laine Stadium and the legendary Enter Sandman intro. So this is an appealing job.
The surname Beamer is synonymous with football in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech. Legendary is probably the more appropriate word.
But with the news this week that Tech Head coach, Brent Pry, had been fired, it opened the door – potentially – for another Beamer to step into Laine Stadium.
It was no great surprise that Shane Beamer’s name has been mentioned as a replacement for Pry. But would Beamer give up what seems like a plum job at South Carolina and in SEC football, no less, to coach a team that finds itself rooted to the bottom of the ACC?
Chatter this week has been high on the Beamer to Blacksburg topic. Not just Beamer, alumnus Michael Vick has also been touted along with many others.
On this week’s SEC Head coaches teleconference, Beamer was asked about the rumours.
“I’ve addressed that plenty….” said Beamer when the question was raised.
“Ive been asked hypotheticals since August, so I’ve talked about my feelings for South Carolina many times and nothing has changed.I better be worried about what we played and coached on Saturday night”.
Week four Schedule
Across the SEC
We are now well into Conference play with some great matchups scheduled for this coming Saturday.
College Gameday will be in Miami for the visit of the Gators, which is looking like a must-win game more & more the closer we get to the game.
As mentioned above, SEC Nation will be in Norman as the undefeated Sooners take on an undefeated Auburn Tigers team. This will also be the return to Norman for Jackson Arnold who had a forgettable season playing at QB for the Sooners last year. Hugh Freeze rolls into town confident, although Brent Venables and his gunslinger QB, John Matter, certainly have other ideas.
The other big game to watch out for this weekend is South Carolina at Missouri. The MIZ Tigers have got off to a good start and are flying under the radar of many. But watch them. Coach Drink has another great team this year. Shane Beamer has not managed to carry last season’s momentum over, and the Gamecocks are looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Vandy. This should be a cracker of a game.
Here are this week’s games, which feature SEC teams (all kick-off times are local time). Stats from SEC Media.
Week Four
(2024 Record)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Arkansas (2-1, 0-1 SEC) at Memphis (3-0)
Series: UM leads, 3-2
11 a.m. CT • ABC
Last: ARK, 23-9 (1998 at Memphis)
Memphis, Tenn. • Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (58,325)
UAB (2-1) at Tennessee (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
Series: UT leads, 5-0
12:45 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (101,915)
Tulane (3-0 at Ole Miss (3-0, 2-0 SEC)
Series: UM leads, 44-28
2:30 p.m. CT • ESPN
Last: UM, 37-20 (2023 at New Orleans)
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
Auburn (3-0, 0-0 SEC) at Oklahoma (3-0, 0-0 SEC)
Series: OU leads, 3-0
2:30 p.m. CT • ABC
Last: OU, 27-21 (2024 at Auburn)
Norman, Okla. • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (83,489)
Northern Illinois (1-1) at Mississippi State (3-0, 0-0 SEC)
Series: First Meeting
3:15 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (60,311)
South Carolina (2-1, 0-1 SEC) at Missouri (3-0, 0-0 SEC)
Series: MIZ leads, 8-6
6 p.m. CT • ESPN
Last: SC, 34-30 (2024 at Columbia, SC)
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (57,321)
Florida (1-2, 0-1 SEC) at Miami (3-0)
Series: UM leads, 30-27
7:30 p.m. ET • ABC
Last: UM, 41-17 (2024 at Gainesville)
Miami Gardens, Fla. • Hard Rock Stadium (64,767)
Georgia State (1-2) at Vanderbilt (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Series: GSU leads, 1-0
6:30 p.m. CT • ESPNU
Nashville, Tenn. • FirstBank Stadium (35,000)
SE Louisiana (2-1) at LSU (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Series: LSU leads, 2-0
6:45 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (102,321)
Sam Houston State (0-3) at Texas (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
Series: TEX leads, 1-0
7 p.m. CT • ESPN+ / SEC+
Austin, Texas • Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (100,119)
Open Date:
Alabama (2-1, 0-0 SEC);
Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC);
Kentucky (2-1, 0-1 SEC);
Texas A&M (3-0 0-0 SEC).
GEORGE SOMERVILLE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER
GEORGE IS A LONG STANDING FANATIC OF LIFE AND FOOTBALL IN THE DEEP SOUTH AND WRITES HIS WEEKLY COLUMN CALLED “IT’S ONLY SEC” FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. HE IS ALSO CO-HOST AND ONE THIRD OF THE COLLEGE CHAPS PODCAST, THE UK’S FIRST PODCAST DEDICATED TO THE COLLEGE GAME.