Saturdays in Athens
GEORGE SOMERVILLE – THE TOUCHDOWN SEC CORRESPONDENT
Saturday , 3rd September 2022
Well, SEC fans, the wait is over! We have endured the void since 11th January, when the Georgia Bulldogs were crowned National Champions. And now, finally – SEC football is here!
In the lead up to Week 1 and the schedule starting in earnest, let’s take a look out what has been happening in and around the conference. And as you might expect there has been lots to talk about, not least a week zero opening win for Vandy – who now sit proudly atop the Conference!
It’s great to be back and to welcome y’all to our weekly round up of life in the Southeastern Conference.
Here are this weeks headlines….let’s get started y’all!
Hawaii 6-3!
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, hi.
During SEC Media Days Vanderbilt Head coach, Clark Lea caused headlines when he declared that he was bringing back the glory days to Nashville.
“We know in time Vanderbilt football will be the best program in the country”
said Lea back in July. Which not unsurprisingly raised some eyebrows and drew a few muffled sniggers. But Clark Lea comes with a proven track record and is clearly a man who believes in his message.
But still last years 2-10 losing record and more importantly Vandy’s 0-8 in conference record looms large over Nashville.
Which is why many saw the Commodore’s opening schedule visit to Hawaii as much more than a banana skin. Some had the Rainbow Warriors as a likely shock win on their home turf..
As it transpired Vandy fans had very little to worry about. Typically they are an educated bunch and didn’t need to buy into such negative nonsense. Vanderbilt football prevailed in the beautiful surroundings of Aloha stadium and did so comprehensively. For those who stayed up to the ludicrous hours to watch the game, they saw Hawaii take an early lead with a Dedrick Parson rushing touchdown.
While an early shock gave Hawaii fans some hope, a couple of quick touchdowns in response – one from a Hawaii fumble – gave Vandy the lead at the half.
Vandy quarterback, Mike Wright then repaid his Head Coach’s decision to name him starting QB with 146 passing yards ,163 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns over the four quarters. This included an 87 yard rushing touchdown which showed that when Wright turns on the burners, few will be able to stop him.
So as we enter week one, Vandy stand proudly atop the SEC. Currently the Commodores are the clubhouse leaders. Hyperbole? Almost certainly, but Clark Lea could not have asked for more than an impressive winning start on the road.
Final score: Hawaii 10 : Vanderbilt 63
#AnchorDown
What is going on at Auburn?
Auburn, AL.
After all the brou-ha-ha that surrounded the Auburn football program last season, Head coach Brian Harson desperately wanted the pre season to go quietly.
But yet, it’s Auburn. A program that seemingly plays football despite its best efforts to stop itself from doing so.
First it was the news that quarterback TJ Finley had been arrested. Not ideal for Bryan Harsin who at that point was undecided on his starting QB. He has of course now named Finley as his starting quarterback
But the news this week is far more serious and has far reaching consequences for Harsin’s longevity on the Plains. Why? Because the man who hired Harsin – Athletic Director Allen Greene -stepped down from his role this week.
Greene was only five months away from his initial five year deal with Auburn expiring. Talks of a new contract stalled with reports suggesting Auburn deciding to wait until the end of the football season before committing to any new offer.
Greene said this week,
“The decision to step away from Auburn athletics is not an easy one, but it is the right time for me to begin the next step in my professional journey…..I am very proud of the work that we have done together to move our athletics program forward”.
So what was behind the reluctance to issue a new contract to Greene? Well if you have been a follower of these pages you know that Auburn boosters play a large and often unwelcome role in the dealings of the football team. The hiring of Harsin was not universally welcomed by the Booster club, with a large contingent keen on Kevin Steele as the new Head coach. The subsequent loss of Booster golden child, Bo Nix to Oregon did not go down well either.
The Harsin coup earlier in the year was designed to remove the head coach, but was unsuccessful. But to think that all fans are behind Harsin would be naive. A loss to Penn State and/or LSU early in the season will heap the pressure right back on Harsin – if indeed it ever left him. With Greene gone, the cead coach has precisely zero sponsors to protect him.
Auburn must feel like a lonely place for Bryan Harsin these days.
#GoTiger
Saban is going nowhere
Tuscaloosa, AL.
It wasn’t the news of the hefty salary that Nick Saban is getting paid which caught everyone’s attention this last week. When details of the Alabama Head Coach’s new contract were released by the University, the $93.6m extension was the least of everyone’s concerns.
It was the “expires in 2030” which had anyone outside of Tuscaloosa wailing and gnashing their teeth. Earlier this year when Coach Saban turned 70 everyone and anyone had an opinion as to when the great man would hang up his straw hat. Few, if any thought that Saban would still be coaching in the next decade.
Speaking to ESPN, Coach Saban was quick to knock those who think he is too old to continue coaching. Saban said this about his extension,
“First of all, I feel like a young man, aight? So let’s clear that up……The 71 … is a number, just a number, and I still feel like they don’t make ’em like they used to, but you have to be flexible. I think that’s one of the most important things about competitive sports. You know, the game has changed. The 3-point shot changed basketball. So you either change with it or you fall behind”.
Saban continued,
“The no-huddle changed football, RPOs [run-pass-option plays] changed football. If you don’t sort of study the game and know the impact of these things and use them to your advantage, you’re going to just completely get bypassed by a lot of folks.”
Saban was asked if he intends to see out all of is new contract – the question on everyone lips – are you still going to be at Alabama in 2030? Saban replied,
“Still alive? I sure plan to be here coaching.”
#RollTide
Ole Miss & the Party Punter
Oxford, MS
It wouldn’t be Saturdays In Athens without a classic line from either of our favourite Mississippian Head coaches. And this week it was Rebels Head coach, Lane Kiffin who duly obliged with this weeks headline.
Ole Miss were lacking in depth on special teams, especially at punter. So Kiffin told his people to go find him one on campus. which they duly did. Unbelievably, the coaching staff found a division I punter on campus. Coach Kiffin tells us the rest of the story,
“I don’t know a whole lot about him. I think he was down at the frat house, like at a keg party or something, where they got him from. So, we have condition work to do with my guy. But we just said, ‘Hey, someone go find a punter around campus,’ so we found one that actually used to punt in Division I. So, you never know.”
Which is about as college football as it gets. And we LOVE IT!
In case you were wondering, the party punter’s name is Charlie Pollock. Pollock was actually the No. 13 punter in the nation in his 2020 recruiting class and signed with Nevada out of high school. He did not see any action in 2021 with the Wolfpack before entering the transfer portal and ended up in Oxford. And at a frat party. Obviously.
#HottyToddy
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.