It's Only SEC (but I like it....)
GEORGE SOMERVILLE – THE TOUCHDOWN SEC CORRESPONDENT
week 2
Week one is in the bag and it did not disappoint!
This week we had smiles, laughs. tears and even a tantrum in SEC football – a conference that never lets us down in the drama stakes!
In a topsy-turvy kind of week, Vandy and Arkansas knocked it out of the park, while LSU and Florida had weeks to forget. Even though South Carolina won, Shane Beamer is still getting it in the neck from Gamecock fans! Some things never change, and SEC football never lets us down!
So, welcome y’all to our weekly round-up of life in the Southeastern Conference.
Here are this week’s headlines….let’s get started!
this weeks sec headlines
Angry Brian Kelly
Baton Rouge, LA
The Tiger’s defeat to USC came as a shock to many, including LSU head coach Brian Kelly. Although shock quickly changed to frustration and anger for Kelly during the post-game press conference.
“It’s the first time since I’ve been here (at LSU) that I’m angry at my football team,” Kelly said post game on Sunday night. “I’m not doing a good enough job as a coach … it’s unacceptable for us not to have found a way to win this football game. We’re sitting here AGAIN and talking about the same things.”
Kelly was so angry at this point that he banged his fist on the table, sending a bottle of water into the air.
“We had some guys play their butts off tonight and we’re sitting here again. We’re sitting here again talking about the same things!” Kelly said as he hit the table”.
By Wednesday, Kelly had calmed down and talked about the effort the team had put into practice this week and their bounce back from the Las Vegas trip.
“I was proud of our guys”. said Kelly during the SEC head coaches teleconference.
“I mean, it’s a short week, right? I mean, we were out there in full gear, 96 degrees going at it hard on what would normally be an off day for us and they had the right mindset, you know, the right attitude to to go out there and compete. Everybody was tired, everybody was sore. We didn’t get home until Monday at 5 Am”.
However, as we know, it seldom rains, but it pours. Worse news was to come out of Baton Rouge Thursday as LSU confirmed that sixth-year running back John Emery Jr. had torn his ACL during practice. LSU confirmed that Emery will miss the rest of the season.
Emery has had a torturous time in Baton Rouge with injuries. Last year, he missed the second half of the season with a torn ACL on his right knee.
Emery, a former five-star recruit, has 223 carries for 1,123 yards and 14 TDs across his LSU career. His best season came in 2022, when he had 76 carries for 375 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also added 13 catches for 129 yards and two receiving scores.
This is a tough loss for the Tigers so early in the season.
Saban field at Bryant Denny stadium
Tuscaloosa, AL
While the Nick Saban era is over at Alabama, the Legend of Saban officially starts on Saturday.
The University of Alabama announced that the field at Bryant Denny Stadium will be named in Nick Saban’s honour. The dedication will take place on Saturday ahead of the game against USF.
“We are thrilled to honor Coach Saban with the naming of Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium,” said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. “He is one of the greatest coaches of all time, impacting countless lives far beyond football. What he and Ms. Terry mean to The University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa community is immeasurable”.
Speaking of Bryant Denny Stadium and Saban Field, I had the opportunity to speak with Alabama head coach, Kalen DeBoer this week. I asked him about coaching his first game at BDS last Saturday versus Western Kentucky
“I think I got so consumed in the game which I expected. A lot of the peripheral stuff outside of really managing the football game and our team, I probably didn’t notice a lot of that” said DeBoer.
DeBoer continued, “You know, I think spring game I kind of soaked it in probably a little bit more, (it’s a) different type of tone and feel, you know we’re into the the grind of the season. And I know that all the little pieces, whether it’s our Walk of Champions, or, you know, just the nuances that come along with the the game being played at Bryant Denny. It was pretty special. I know our players feel it, its a lot of fun”.
Coach DeBoer went on to talk about the dedication of Saban Field, which happens during Saturday’s game.
“It will be a lot of fun this week too with the ceremony to announce Saban Field” said DeBoer.
“It’s a really great tribute to Coach Saban. One that’s extremely well deserved, and looking forward to playing this game, and all the others on Saban field in the future”.
Diego leads dores to victory
Nashville, TN
While many had already written off the Vanderbilt Commodores before a ball was kicked in anger, there is a quiet confidence in Nashville this season.
After Saturday’s impressive win over Virginia Tech, that quiet confidence is getting louder.
“We have everything we need to go on a run this year. With Diego [Pavia] at the helm, anything is possible,” said wide receiver Quincy Skinner Jr. after the game.
He and quarterback Diego Pavia had struck up an impressive and potent partnership in this game, one that inevitably led to the Hokies’ downfall.
“He’s a leader, he’s a dawg and he brings that dawg mentality to everybody.” continued Skinner.
It’s clear that the Vandy quarterback is having fun in this new offense.
“We have a fun offense, and we have the weapons. [We need] to have a fun offense,” Pavia said post game. “We’re gonna be electric this year. We’re here to put on a show and win football games.”
It is true that Pavia, a transfer from New Mexico who is joining coach Jerry Kill in Nashville, has the potential to be a game-changer for the Dores.
Pavia threw for two touchdowns in the season opener and rushed for a third in the overtime win. He completed 12-of-16 passes for 190 yards and two scores while running for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Per Vanderbilt Athletics, Pavia became the first Vandy signal-caller to eclipse 100 passing and 100 rushing yards in the same game since Mike Wright in a win over Kentucky on Nov. 12, 2022.
He is the first Commodore at any position to rush for 100 yards in a game since Ray Davis went for 122 in a victory over Florida on Nov. 19, 2022.
It was no great surprise then that Pavia was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
SEC introduces Availability Reports
Birmingham, AL
The SEC announced this week that it would introduce Availability reports for the Southeastern Conference for football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball, beginning with the 2024 SEC football season.
So, what is an availability report?
The schools will provide public reports on student-athlete’s availability to participate in each Conference game for football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball.
The first conference game affected will be this Saturday when South Carolina travels to Kentucky.
Per the SEC via press release under the reporting structure, prior to game day, student-athletes will be designated as “available,” “probable,” “questionable,” “doubtful,” or “out” for their next game. To provide additional clarity on game day, student-athletes will be designated as “available,” “game-time decision,” or “out” for the upcoming game.
“This availability reporting policy is intended to reduce pressure from outside entities seeking participation information and represents a commitment of our 16 institutions to provide enhanced transparency to support efforts to protect our student-athletes and the integrity of competition,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.
Auburn joins the 800 club
Auburn, AL
Auburn’s win over Alabama A&M on Saturday gained the Tigers entry into a very exclusive club.
Auburn University was founded in 1856 and started playing football in 1892. The football program is storied. Head coaches Ralph “Shug” Jordan, John Heisman, Pat Dye, Mike Donahue, and Tommy Tuberville have been at the helm during the successful periods in the program’s 132-year history. With Saturday’s win, current head coach Hugh Freeze guided the Tigers to their 800th win.
This is an exclusive club with Auburn becoming only the 13th college football team to reach this milestone.
“Obviously it’s Auburn 800th victory,” said Hugh Freeze after the game on Saturday. “There’s been a lot great coaches, players and staff through the years that have contributed to that. We’re excited to be a part of those 800 wins, and I think we are only the 13th program in FBS to have that, so it puts you among the elites” said Freeze.
If you are interested, the other 12 teams with 800 or more wins are USC, LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, Nebraska, Penn State, Oklahoma, Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama, and Michigan.
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.