Saturdays in Athens

GEORGE SOMERVILLE – THE TOUCHDOWN SEC CORRESPONDENT

Saturday 10th october 2022

Believe it or not it’s week six in the SEC already, with huge games coming at us thick and fast. There is no doubt that if your team isn’t firing on all cylinders by now, you are getting left behind – mostly, as it turns out, by the Lane Train. 

This week the game that has been circled for months is upon us. Back in the summer Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher had a lot to say about Alabama Head Coach, Nick Saban. We all were eagerly anticipating this showdown.

But now the game is hitting the headlines for very different reasons. Jimbo is a coach under pressure. Read on to find out why….

And lest we forget, this weekend also brings us the SEC’s oldest rivalry game. As usual there is never a quiet period in the South Eastern Conference.

Here are this weeks headlines….let’s get started y’all!

Tillman goes under the knife

Photo Credit: University of Tennessee Athletics

knoxville, tn

As much as Vols fans have been delighted with the start to their season, they held their collective breath’s when star wide receiver Cedric Tillman went down injured during the resounding win over Akron.

Tillman suffered a nasty high ankle sprain which ruled him out of the Vols SEC clash with Florida in week 5.

Concerns that Tennessee could not operate as efficiently without Tillman as a target for Hendon Hooker were largely put to rest as the Vols beat Florida 38-33.

However Tennessee will need to have Tillman fit if they are to fulfil their early season promise.

Which is why the Vols elected to put Tillman under the knife last week. Per ESPN’s Chris Low, Tillman underwent “tightrope” surgery on his ankle to repair the damage. This type of specialised surgery is used particularly with these types of injuries and usually results in a quicker healing time than recovries from more intrusive surgery.

This is the same surgery that Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa underwent twice in 2018 and 2019. The surgery is also designed to decreased the chances of longer term recurring issues with the ankle.

Tagovailoa returned to action some 28 days after surgery, and Vols fans will hope that Tillman will return just as quickly.

The good news is that Tillman is already back in a limited practice capacity, which Vols head coach Josh Heupel confirmed during his Monday press conference:

“Cedric did have surgery. He did that — had an opportunity to speed up the recovery process. We’ll see where he’s at. He was limited (during Monday’s practice) but moving around a little bit today. We’ll continue to see how it unfolds this week and see where we’re at.”

The benefit the Vols have is that they had a bye week last week, with the next game scheduled agains LSU this Saturday (8th). They then play Alabama on 15th October and Kentucky on 29th October. Tennessee will be desperate to have him back for at least one of those games.

#RockyTop

Rebels 5-0!

Photo Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Oxford, ms

With the Ole Miss Rebel’s 22-19 victory over #7 ranked Kentucky in week 5, Lane Kiffin’s team moved to 5-0 – and one of only 4 undefeated teams in the SEC.

This is first time that Ole Miss has started a season 5-0 since 2014. But rather than Kiffin’s dazzling offense hogging the limelight, it is the Rebel’s stingy defense which is stealing the show.

In fact, in five games the Rebels defense has only allowed 59 points, which is second fewest points allowed by a Rebels team in the last 30 years. In this run of defensive improvement, the Rebels have held nine of their last ten opponents to 21 points or less.

Defensive coordinator Chris Partridge has taken up the reins on his own since DJ Durkin moved across to Texas A&M. The upfront pressure created by the Ole Miss defense has been a feature this year, and was evident on keeping Kentucky QB Will Levis under constant pressure last Saturday. Ole Miss has accrued 37 tackles for loss this season already.

The improvement on defense in Oxford has been stark. One year ago Ole Miss were ranked 126th in total defense. Today this looks like a totally different team.

Midweek, during the SEC coaches conference call, Kiffin was asked if the improvements in defense had taken him by surprise. Kiffin had this to say:

“On one side, no, because we spent the last half of last season playing extremely well. We played really well in the bowl game on defense, so that wasn’t a surprise. But all the new pieces after losing so much, that would be…not a surprise but not a given…that they would play this well and come together this early. I’ve always thought that this could be a really special team but it may take a while. Hopefully, they’ll be really good by the middle or end of the year when they’ve played together for a while. We’ve got some players that just got here this summer starting, so that’s very unique, kind of like a free-agency in the NBA type team that hopefully continues to improve,” 

Ole Miss plays Vandy on the road this Saturday. Given how Vanderbilt have started the season, this is no guaranteed win for the Rebels. But a 6-0 start to the season would be a ringing endorsement of Kiffin’s magic touch in Oxford.

#HottyToddy

It just means a lot more

Image Credit:Saturday Down South

College Station, TX

If you’re a regular reader of this column then you by now understand the passion of the South Eastern Conference fan base. Of course, when I say passion I really mean craziness or outright madness of SEC fans.

Take this week for yet another example of the chaos within the conference. Texas A&M Head coach Jimbo Fisher is a man under pressure. Texas A&M are 3-2 going into this weekend’s long awaited match up. Not only were Aggies fans expecting a 5-0 team to wipe the smile from Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s face, but not in their wildest dreams did they expect their team to have been beaten by Appalachian State.

With yet another defeat to a Mike Leach team this past weekend, Aggies fans are livid. Just how furious? Well there are loud mutterings that the Aggies should shell out the $87m it takes to buyout the remainder of Jimbo’s contract. Just think about that for a moment. A college football team paying their Head Coach $87m to go away.

Per Saturday Down South, the Aggies would still be shelling out th best part of $50m in 2026. And that’s a big if, given how Aggies fans are feeling right now. 

As is so often the case we turn to Paul Finebaum as the barometer for feelings in the South. This week, ‘Roger from Texas’ called into the Finebaum show. Roger had strong feelings about Jimbo,

“as far as Jimbo’s contract, that $90m contract….a hitman costs a lot less than that”.

Talk about a drop the mic moment from Roger. Of course we shouldn’t joke about this. The Finebaum show has had crazy callers on before. Take Harvey Updyke, who came on to crow about poisoning the tree at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn. Updyke would eventually find himself in prison over such an escapade.

So let’s just leave these as words. Regardless, the Aggies boosters won’t be a happy bunch. Beware the Ides of March Jimbo. 

#GoAggies

The sec's oldest rivalry

Photo credit:Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Athens, GA

Since 1892 Georgia has faced off against Auburn playing football. It is the oldest SEC rivalry game in history. Since the game became established, its fair to say that Auburn views it’s greatest rival as Alabama, whilst Georgia tends to direct their purest hate towards Florida. However, this shouldn’t demean this classic SEC match up – which with the exception of only 5 times since 1892, has been played every year. 

Georgia currently leads the series 61-68-6 with the Bulldogs overwhelming favourites to win this Saturday.

As Georgia head coach, Kirby Smart holds a 6-1 winning record against Auburn, and is on a 4 game winning stretch which he is looking to make 5 on Saturday. It is no surprise that Kirby is fired up for the game and looking forward to it. Smart said this during the SEC Coaches call midweek:

“I think when you talk about one of the oldest rivalries in college football, it’s always been a game that I know, as a player, I looked forward to playing in…It’s been some tremendous games between the two teams, and our guys are looking forward to getting to play at home in front of a raucous crowd, great atmosphere.”

Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin continues to feel under pressure. A 17-21 defeat to LSU at home after leading 17-0 has done nothing to appease the criticism thrown Harsin’s way. 

While not directly asked the question about his own position midweek during his “Tiger Talk” radio show, Harsin was asked about the recent bout of midseason head coach firings. Harsin said this:

“I think every program is different. I really do. I don’t know if it has to do with anything bigger than that. I couldn’t tell you each and every program’s situation and where they are and those types of things. That’s just part of it. I don’t know if there is a better answer than that. I know those coaches and have seen good coaches out there. Every program has different things they’re working through and what they want. So I think that goes back to where they are more than anything and where those coaches are in that program.”

Saturday’s game is a must win for both coaches, but in very different ways. Georgia needs to keep its foot on the gas and get the critics fro the low key Missouri win off their back. Harsin, while not expected to win, would do his prospects of lasting until the end of the season no harm at all with a win over the reigning National Champions. But away from home – Auburn’s first road game of the season – against the calibre of Georgia? A win is a tall order.

#GoDawgs #WarDamnEagle

George

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.

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