Saturdays in Athens
GEORGE SOMERVILLE – THE TOUCHDOWN SEC CORRESPONDENT
Saturday 22nd October 2022
A real mixed bag of news across the SEC this week. Following Alabama’s defeat to the Vols last weekend there was quite a bit of fallout, which continues to rumble on and on.
There is also some sad news out of Mississippi State this week, which resulted in coach Leach not being available for the midweek coaches conference.
Finally, there continues to be rumours surrounding Auburn. A weekly occurrence these days it seems.
The SEC is never dull and this week proves just how crazy life around the conference is.
Here are this week’s SEC headlines….let’s get started y’all!
one of our goalposts is missing
neyland stadium, knoxville, tn
Help pay the tab for surmising goalposts!
Amidst the absolute scenes at Neyland Stadium at the final whistle of the Tennessee v Alabama game, was the sight of the Vols goalposts being brought down and carried out of the stadium.
The subsequent “Post-watch” was documented closely via Twitter following the travels of the post from the stadium to its ultimate resting place – the Tennessee river!
However, in the cold light of day, the Vols administration quickly realised that the Vols are scheduled to play in Neyland this coming Saturday against UT-Martin. A game they will be unable to play if they have no goalposts.
So the Administration sent out an SOS – or better still started a crowdfunding – to pay for the cost of replacing the goalposts.
I would also suggest that any crowd funding received might also help to pay the $100,000 fine imposed by the SEC in response to the Vols fans taking to the field.
If you are so inclined to help a Vol out, the link to the crowdfunder is included in the tweet below. Please give generously.
#RockyTop
Y'all remember how we tore the goalposts down, hauled em out of Neyland and dumped em in the Tennessee River?
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 16, 2022
Yeah that was awesome.
Anywho, turns out that in order to play next week's game, we need goalposts on our field. Could y'all help us out? 🙏 https://t.co/NSMoL3SzPX
From bad to worse
Tuscaloosa, AL.
Just at the point Alabama Head coach, Nick Saban thought his side’s defeat to Tennessee couldn’t get any worse, one of his players found himself in even hotter water immediately after the game.
As Tennessee fans rushed the field to celebrate their team’s last minute winner against Alabama, video footage of wide receiver Jermaine Burton emerged of him striking a Tennessee fan as he exited the field.
While Alabama have yet to discipline the player, Nick Saban issued a statement saying that they were collecting information about the incident.
While Saban has provided support for players in similar situations in the past, preferring to deal in house and rehabilitate where necessary, the timing could not be worse for Burton.
He has hardly set the heather alight since his transfer from Georgia, but worse still Alabama has shown an unusually high level of indiscipline so far this season.
During the Tennessee game, the Crimson Tide amassed 17 penalties for 130 yards which is crippling for any team, let alone one playing on the road against one of the fastest offenses in college football.
Per Blake Toppmeyer of Tuscaloosa News, Alabama ranks 131 of all 131 FBS teams for penalties this season. Which is criminal for a team that has aspirations to win back the National Championship.
Saban said midweekÂ
“We can’t continue to tolerate guys that aren’t doing the things they need to do to be successful”
Which sounds very much like some of this team are on borrowed time as far as playing time is concerned.Â
#RollTide
Sam Moreland
Starkville, MS
Some very sad news out of Mississippi State this week, with the death of freshman Sam Westmoreland who was only 18.
Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach said via a statement:
“The Mississippi State Athletics Family is heartbroken by the sudden death of Sam Westmoreland. Sam was a beloved son, brother and teammate and a tremendous young man with a limitless future. He will always be remembered and deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him. The entire MSU family mourns as our thoughts go out to the Westmoreland family. Our highest priority is the support of the Westmoreland family and our student athletes during this troubling time”.
A cause of death has not yet been released, although the state coroner has rued out foul play.
Sam Westmoreland, who hailed from Tupelo, Mississippi, had a decorated high school football career before joining the Bulldogs as a walk on.Â
#HailState
From one Tiger to the next
Jackson, MS
As I write this (late on a Friday), it seems that Auburn’s Bryan Harsin will survive the Tigers’ bye week – but the rumours of his termination just will not go away.
One name which will not go away is current Jackson State head coach, Deion Sanders. However let’s be clear, it is not just the Auburn job (an opening which does not exist at this moment) which Sanders is being associated with. But, the Auburn job, if it should become available, is a huge job.
Speculation really started to mount following flight trackers picking up a flight from Jackson to Auburn. Not unusual I guess, given the fast paced nature of recruiting these days. And to be honest, this is what has caught most people’s eye when watching the progress that Sanders has made with the Tigers. Sanders can definitely recruit well.
The situation at Auburn almost certainly will play out between now and the end of the season dependent on results. But the pressure mounting on Bryan Harsin was not helped by comments Sanders made this week.
“I’m gonna have to entertain it…Straight up. I’d be a fool not to.”
said Sanders when asked if he would be interested in taking a Power 5 job.Â
In the same interview (with 60 Minutes) Sanders cited that his drive behind any such move would be to improve the remuneration of his coaches. Jackson State has an annual football budget of $4m which is dwarfed by Power 5 programs, and Sanders wants his coaches paid.
Of course he has made it clear he would like that to happen in the SWAC, but is realistic as to how much money there is around the conference.
This story isn’t done yet. There’s going to be a lot to play out over the coming months.
#GoTigers
Â
GEORGE SOMERVILLE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER
A GLASWEGIAN LIVING IN LONDON, GEORGE IS A COLLEGE FOOTBALL FAN WHO FOLLOWS THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE. HE PROVIDES CFB CONTENT FOR THE TOUCHDOWN AND IS ONE THIRD OF THE COLLEGE CHAPS PODCAST.