It's Only SEC (but I like it....)
GEORGE SOMERVILLE – THE TOUCHDOWN SEC CORRESPONDENT
week 9
I say every week that the conference is getting wilder and crazier than the week before. And this week is no exception. This time around, Georgia bullies Texas, and the Vols take down Alabama. Imagine the drama! Speaking of drama Missouri were losing to Auburn and had to get their QB out of hospital to secure a sensational comeback win against those other Tigers!
Meanwhile, things are getting worse for the Sooners, meaning action has to be taken. In doing so, the SEC sees its first coaching casualty of the season.
I am out of breath covering this conference!
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
SEC Fallout from Austin
Austin, TX
In the aftermath of the scenes we saw in Austin last Saturday, the SEC came down hard on the Longhorns. What scenes, you ask? You surely will have seen the end zone littered with bottles thrown by the Texas student section following a controversial pass interference call. The penalty cancelled out an interception by the Longhorns, although this was overturned during the delay caused by the need to clear the field of debris.
The SEC issued this statement shortly after the end of the game.
“The throwing of debris and resulting interruption of play that took place Saturday night cannot be part of any SEC event,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey via statement.
Included in the statement were the sanctions that Texas received as a result of the student’s behaviour which included,
- a financial penalty of $250,000;
- to identify the individuals who threw objects onto the playing field and banning those fans from attending Texas Athletics events for the remainder of the 2024-25 academic and athletic year;
- Review and update its Athletics Department game management procedures and alcohol availability policies and provide a copy of the review to the SEC office.
What is probably of more concern for the SEC is the growing view that the fan’s disruption gave the officials the time and opportunity to reconsider the call, eventually overturning it.
In his post-game press conference, Kirby Smart made this point,
“I will say that now you’ve set a precedent that if you throw a bunch of stuff on the field and endanger athletes, that you got a chance to get your call reversed,” Smart said in his post-game remarks. “And that’s unfortunate because, to me, that’s dangerous.”
Which frankly is the last thing that the Southeastern Conference needs or wants.
Brady Cook leaves hospital to play
Columbia,MO
On Saturday in the win over Auburn, Tigers’ quarterback Brady Cook went down in the first half with what looked like an ankle injury.
Cook limped off and ended up in the locker room. It transpired shortly after that Cook was taken to the hospital for a scan of the injured ankle.
Missouri, who started the season as one of the favourites to make the college football playoff, struggled against Auburn without Cook. Auburn led the game through the third quarter and seemed in command, seeking a much-needed win.
Thankfully for Mizzou, Cook’s scan came back clean, and the quarterback had no second thoughts about returning to the field.
So Cook did something that you only see in the movies. He got the hell out of hospital and made it back to the field in late quarter 3.
“It was a long hour-and-a-half for sure. I did not think I was going to come back to play in the game. My stuff was off, my pads were off,” Cook told ESPN at the final whistle.
“Ultimately, I realized I had 2½ games left to play in Faurot Field. We were going to find a way.”
At the point Cook rejoined, Mizzou trailed 17-6, giving him a huge amount of work to do. Ultimately, Cook inspired his teammates to a comeback victory over the Auburn Tigers 21-17.
Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz was understandably proud of his team’s resilience.
“There’s a lot of toughness in that team. A lot of young guys in that team that have never won like that before,” Drinkwitz said. “There’s a lot of fight in that team. And to figure it out like that bodes well for the rest of the year.”
Now that is a feel good story (not for Auburn, mind…!)
Bama stares into the abyss
Tuscaloosa, AL
Crimson Tide fans are in a state of apoplexy.
The third Saturday in October holds legendary, almost mythical status in Alabama and Tennessee fans’ lives. So, losing the game is not easily accepted by the defeated team’s fans.
Alabama has held a firm grip on this game during Nick Saban’s years, winning 16 of the 17 matchups preceding Saturday’s game. Tennessee won the game in 2022 in Knoxville, a feat that they repeated on Saturday, beating the Crimson Tide again at home.
You will remember this was an Alabama team that already has one loss this season—also in Tennessee, after being defeated by Vanderbilt.
So, the pain Alabama fans feel is threefold. Firstly, the Tennessee game hurt because of the intense rivalry. Secondly, the defeat to Vandy was as unexpected as it was shocking. Questions were raised about the coaching staff. But most importantly, and thirdly, this is now a two-loss Alabama team, and it is only October. We have just crossed the halfway line of this season, and to have two defeats at this stage is unthinkable for a team like Alabama.
Overdramatic? Well, no. The last time this happened was 17 years ago. Secondly, realistically, Alabama is one defeat away from not making the expanded college football playoff. For a team that has been at the pinnacle of college football for the last decade and a half, this would be a major blow. Few expected head coach DeBoer to win a Natty in his first year, but to miss the playoffs would heap enormous pressure on the coach’s shoulders.
Alabama still has to face Missouri (home), LSU (road), Mercer (home), Oklahoma (road) & then the Iron Bowl (home). LSU is the only team showing real form at the moment meaning a night game in Tiger Stadium will be fraught with danger. However as it currently stands the games against Missouri, Oklahoma and the Iron Bowl are no guarantees. 9-3 or 8-4 Alabama?
Sheesh, it isn’t worth contemplating that outcome.
Kirby makes it to 100
Athens, GA
The win over Texas was crucial for Georgia. It restored credibility after the defeat to Alabama and gave Texas a rude awakening that they would not make a run on the SEC schedule.
But like all great achievements the win also unlocked a milestone for Kirby Smart.
With that road win over the Longhorns, Kirby Smart became the latest head coach to record 100 SEC wins. He joins an elite group of legendary coaches who have done so – Saban, Spurrier, Fulmer, Les Miles, and Bear Bryant have all achieved this milestone. However, Smart has hit the magic number faster than anyone else, including his mentor, Nick Saban.
After the Texas game, Smart acknowledged those who had helped him achieve the milestone.
“A lot of credit goes to a lot of people… Sam Pittman, (Jim) Chaney, Dell McGee, Todd Monken,” Smart said.
“A lot of players. Kamari Lassiter. D’Andre Swift here tonight. (DeAndre) Baker. So many others had an involvement in those 100 wins.”
Per Saturday Down South, Smart’s .855 winning percentage is the best in the conference’s history and is ahead of Saban’s .847 winning percentage in the SEC.
Go Kirby!
SEC Legends class of 2024
Birmingham, AL
The Southeastern Conference has announced its 2024 SEC Football Legends class. The Class includes 16 former stars who excelled in the SEC (and other conferences) and helped shape the conference’s history at their respective institutions. It is the first class to include representatives from new members Oklahoma and Texas.
The Class will be honoured at events surrounding the SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta in December.
Per the SEC, “This year’s class includes All-Americans, All-SEC selections, Academic All-Americans, NFL standouts, and NFL first-round draft picks. The group represents teams that won SEC Championships, claimed Super Bowl titles, and are represented in state, school, and college football halls of fame.
Combined, this class of legends was responsible for nearly 2,300 points scored during their college careers and nearly 1,000 tackles on defense. Together, they caught passes for more than 5,000 yards, rushed for more than 7,000 yards and passed for nearly 30,000 yards”.
The Class of the 2024 SEC Football Legends is:
- Alabama – Barrett Jones, Offensive Lineman, 2009-12
- Arkansas – Ken Hamlin, Free Safety, 2000-02
- Auburn – Marcus McNeill, Offensive Tackle, 2002-2005
- Florida – Rex Grossman, Quarterback, 2000-02
- Georgia – Terrence Edwards, Receiver, 1999-2002
- Kentucky – Dicky Lyons Sr., Tailback/Receiver/All-Purpose, 1966-68
- LSU – Andrew Whitworth, Offensive Tackle, 2002-05
- Ole Miss – Dexter McCluster, Running Back, 2006-09
- Mississippi State – Fletcher Cox, Defensive Lineman, 2009-11
- Missouri – Chase Daniel, Quarterback, 2005-08
- Oklahoma – Barry Switzer, Head Coach, 1973-88
- South Carolina – Corey Miller, Defensive End, 1987-90
- Tennessee – Eric Berry, Defensive Back, 2007-09
- Texas – Vince Young, Quarterback, 2002-05
- Texas A&M – Luke Joeckel, Offensive Tackle, 2010-12
- Vanderbilt – Ricky Anderson, Punter/Kicker, 1981-84
First coaching casualty of 2024
Norman, OK
When Jeff Lebby left Oklahoma to take the Mississippi State job, the void was filled by Seth Littrell.
Littrell, a former Oklahoma player and North Texas head coach from 2016-22, was brought back to Oklahoma last year as an offensive analyst. He was then promoted to O.C. upon Lebby’s departure.
But as we know now, the Sooners’ season has not gone well. In fact, their first season in the SEC has been something of a disaster.
With Saturday’s thumping defeat to South Carolina (35-9), the Sooners have lost three of their last four games with an offense ranked 132nd in the country.
The Sooners have struggled, especially at quarterback, with the performances of both Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins well documented.
It was clear that something had to be done, and with head coach Brent Venables under increasing pressure, he decided to let Littrell go.
In the interim, co-OC Joe Jon Finley will continue his role and take on primary play-calling responsibilities while offensive analyst Kevin Johns will be elevated to co-OC and quarterbacks coach.
These are testing times in Norman, Oklahoma. Next up is a visit to Oxford to face Ole Miss, where both teams must win to get their seasons back on track.
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.