Well, apparently it made sense to USC…

Like me, ESPN’s Pat Forde is a bit shocked, and isn’t quite sure how this is going to work out for any of the parties involved.

I suppose that is what I get for spending the evening falling asleep on the couch watching Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe…

I feel like I should say something on the departure of Lane Kiffin, but at this point it almost seems premature.  Obviously, this is going to have a hugely negative impact on not only short-term but perhaps the long-term health of the Tennessee football program.  Beyond that, however, I am really not sure what to think yet and the last thing I want to do is to rush to judgment.  Contemplative and plodding—that’s always been my mantra.

Basilio »”>Tony Basilio, however, already has his thoughts up for all to read, with which I don’t necessarily disagree.  The students on campus have also spoken—via the Rock (**NSFW: Language).  Of course, I can hardly blame them.  Tony Barnhart, on the other hand, is just sad—for Tennessee and for the game of college football.

In the meantime, (and in an attempt to be positive) I suppose I would be remiss if I did not take a brief moment to welcome and send best wishes to the 22nd Head Football Coach at Tennessee, Interim Head Coach Kippy Brown.  I’m not sure this is what he signed on for, but I do wish him all the best and look forward to hearing from him in the coming weeks.

Coach Brown, we’re all behind you and the team…

In the meantime, I have a feeling that Smiling Mike Hamilton is doing anything but smiling right now, and I expect that we will be hearing from him, and that right soon.

More to come…

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:   UT Sports.com ||  Statement on Fair Use

Allegedy Related Posts (Computer Generated):

• Who is Smarter, Smiling Mike or Bea Arthur? (or A Few Belated Comments on the Hiring of Coach Kiffin) (1)
• HLL: NY Times Reports NCAA Investigating “Vol Hostesses” (3)
• HLL: Mike Hamilton Press Conference at 1:00 (5)

Check out the Full Poll Results at Team Speed Kills!

Final Season Ballot

Well, it’s been a long season and all the games are in the books.  This season, I have been less than dutiful in managing to write anything about the comings and goings of college football, which is highly disappointing for me.  Of late I’ve taken a few weeks off to try and recharge myself both as a person and as a blogger—more on that later.  Either way, since all that really matters in the world of college football is where you end the season, here’s my final ballot the SEC Football Power Poll, serving as a cap to the the 2009 season.

Here they are, my darlins:

Rk.	Team	Comments
1.		The last chapter in this book was nothing but ugly, but the 13 wins before that were pretty stellar.  A well earned championship the Alabama Crimson Tide.
2.		The Florida Gators finished strong against Cincinnati—bidding Tim Tebow a fond farewell, and possibly Urban Meyer. Next year, however, looks awfully uncertain, not bad, just really “sketchy.“
3.		Up and down, up and down.  The Ole Miss Rebels 2009 season was the roller coaster from hell, but it was fun, and was worth the ticket. In 2010, the Rebels have holes to fill and maybe the expectations will be a little more reasonable.
4.		What a difference between 2008 and 2009.  The LSU Tigers looked like a top-rate, second-rate program at times, especially on offense. I have a feeling there will be some changes in the off-season.
5.		Considering where the Auburn Tigers were this time last year, I call this one a success. Hats off to Gene Chizik for managing to return a winning record and to avoid being lynched by the Tigers’ fans.
6.(t)		The Tennessee Volunteers improved steadily throughout the season until injuries began exposing just how empty the cupboard was when Lane Kiffin took over. Call me crazy, but I think the Vols overachieved this season.  Next year, however, will be much more important; setting the stage for years to come.
6.(t)		The Georgia Bulldogs finished with a win, which is probably a good thing for Mark Richt. The question remains, however, just how much can they reasonably improve by 2010?  I fear not enough to keep the crazies at bay.
8.		While there were some real bright spots here and there in 2009 for the Arkansas Razorbacks, on the whole I am not so sure that things will be much better next season for the Hogs, until they figure out who they want to be offensively and start playing just a little bit of defense. Still, they were much better in 2009 than in 2008.
9.		Once again, the South Carolina Gamecocks suffered their late-season slide. Still, they beat kissing-cousin Clemson before imploding against Connecticut. So, how many more seasons does the Ole Ball Coach hang around?  I’m thinking not that many.
10.		While the Kentucky Wildcats lost to Clemson in the Music City Bowl, considering where the Cats were when Rich Brooks took over, I call four bowls in a row big time improvement. As for the future, well, it’s not like Joker Phillips hasn’t already been there and done that.
11.		Dan Mullen’s Mississippi State Bulldogs were light-years better than they were under Sly Croom in 2008.  They just could never catch a break when they needed one. Next year, however, that should start to change.
12.		As for the Vanderbilt Commodores, well … umm … the field looked nice this year.

The Rest of the Power Poll

Now that you have wasted your time looking at my ballot, go check out what everybody else is saying over at Team Speed Kills, where the 2009 Football Power Poll round-up is there for all to see.

Now, on to basketball season…

– So it goes…

Allegedy Related Posts (Computer Generated):

• 2009 SEC Football Power Poll: Week 6 (2)
• SEC Power Poll: 2009 All-SEC Football Selections Ballot (3)
• 2009 SEC Football Power Poll: Week 3 (0)

All-SEC Team: Defensive Backs

Check out the Complete All-SEC Team at Team Speed Kills!

Well, due to a complete lack of judgment on the part of the SEC Power Poll brain-trust, Gate 21 has been selected to announce the Power Poll All-SEC Team selections at defensive back.   The following positions for the 2009 All-SEC team have already been announced:

• Alligator Army:  Quarterback
• Roll Bama Roll: Running Backs
• Hey Jenny Slater: Wide Receivers
• Team Speed Kills: Tight End

The rest of the positions are being announced today and tomorrow across the blogosphere.  In case you miss one, be sure to check in for the most up-to-date announcements over at Team Speed Kills.

The envelope, please…

The 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Selections at Defensive Back are (in order of votes received): Eric Berry (Tennessee), Joe Haden (Florida), Javier Arenas (Alabama) and Mark Barron (Alabama). The reasons behind these should be obvious, but in case they aren’t here’s why these fine athletes are the cream of the crop:

Eric Berry • 14

Tennessee Volunteers

5’11” • 203 • Junior • Defensive Back

What can you really say about Eric Berry that hasn’t already been said?

This deep-ball predator is the sound of pain to backs and receivers in the open field, and a quarterback’s worst nightmare. This defensive terror has amassed nearly every accolade possible in his three seasons at Tennessee. He has broken almost every record for interceptions, some of which had stood for a very long time. Berry holds records for most interceptions at UT in a single season (which previously stood for 37 years), most career interceptions at UT (39 years), SEC record for most interceptions in a season (52 years) and SEC most career interceptions (59 years). He was named freshman defensive player of the year in 2007, as well as Freshman All-American.  As a sophomore, he once again garnered

unanimous All-American honors, and was a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection in both “official” and SEC Power Poll All-SEC balloting.  This season, he was once again unanimously selected as an All-American, won the coveted Jim Thorpe Award, was a unanimous All-SEC (official) selection and now, once again, has been unanimously selected as a member of the 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team.

This season, Berry was seen all over the field as he rotated between Safety, Linebacker, and even Kickoff Return Specialist.  Here are his career statistics through the end of the 2009 regular season:

As the only unanimous selection in this category (garnering 12 votes) Berry is truly in a class of his own.

Joe Haden • 5

Florida Gators

5’11” • 190 • Junior • Corner Back

Joe Haden has dominated the backfield for Florida for three seasons.  A 2007 Freshman All-American, he led the Gators in tackles by a corner back in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.  In 2009 he was again a force to be reckoned with recording 4 interceptions, 57 tackles, and a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks.  He led the Gators in Interceptions and finished the season near the top of the SEC in both Passes defended and Interceptions.

Here are his career statistics through the end of the 2009 regular season:

Haden garnered 9 votes (75%) for the 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team.

Javier Arenas • 28

Alabama Crimson Tide

5’9” • 189 • Junior • Defensive Back

Javier Arenas is truly a man of many parts, having contribute to the Crimson Tide attack on defense, special teams, and offense.  As a freshman, Arenas was only used on special teams to return kicks.  Then, in 2007 the sophomore broke out as a defensive back and began terrorizing quarterbacks across the SEC.  As a junior he was selected a member of the second-team All-SEC team, and produced 3 interceptions.  This year, Arenas continued notching 65 tackles, 5 sacks, and 3 interceptions.

Here are his career defensive statistics through the end of the 2009 regular season:

Arenas garnered 8 votes (66%) for the 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team.

Mark Barron • 14

Alabama Crimson Tide

6’2” • 215 • Sophomore • Defensive Back

Despite only being a sophomore, Mark Barron had an impressive season.  Leading the SEC with 7 interceptions, he also recorded 68 tackles, and 125 return yards.  This included a pick-six return for 77 yards and a touchdown against South Carolina.  With two years of eligibility remaining, it is probably fair to say that the other members of the SEC will be watching this predator in the secondary very closely in 2010.

Here are his career statistics through the end of the 2009 regular season:

Arenas garnered 6 votes (66%) for the 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team.

Other Receiving Votes

In addition to these four All-SEC Selections, the following players also received votes:

• Patrick Peterson • LSU Tigers (4 votes)
• Trevard Lindley • Kentucky Wildcats (3 votes)
• Major Wright • Florida Gators (1 vote)
• Walt McFadden • Auburn Tigers (1 vote)
• Ahmad Black • Florida Gators(1 vote)
• Sam Maxwell • Kentucky Wildcats (1 vote)
• Chad Jones • LSU Tigers (1 vote)
• Marquis Johnson • Alabama Crimson Tide (1 vote)

The Rest of All-SEC Team

You can check out the rest of the Power Poll All-SEC Team by visiting Team Speed Kills, where the complete All-SEC Team rundown will be updated as each position is rolled-out.

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:   UT Sports.com •   Gator Zone.com •   Roll Tide.com ||  Statement on Fair Use

Allegedy Related Posts (Computer Generated):

• SEC Power Poll: 2009 All-SEC Football Selections Ballot (3)
• 2009 SEC Football Power Poll: Week 6 (2)
• 2009 SEC Football Power Poll: Week 4 (0)

2009 All-SEC Football Selections

Well, I have been really lousy job lately at posting.  This has been due to a variety of things, none of which are of any importance to those of you out there in web-land who actually take the time to read the drivel that I produce.  Be that as it may, the brain-trust of the SEC Power Poll have joined together to, yet again, collectively select an All-SEC Football team for 2009.  Here is my ballot in all of its radiant glory:

All-SEC 2009 Offense

• WR: Brandon LaFell, LSU
• WR: A.J. Green, Georgia
• L: Mike Johnson, Alabama
• L: Mitch Petrus, Arkansas
• L: Mike Pouncey, Florida
• L: John Jerry, Ole Miss
• C: Ryan Pugh, Auburn
• TE: Luke Stocker, Tennessee
• QB: Tim Tebow, Florida
• RB: Mark Ingram, Alabama
• RB: Montario Hardesty, Tennessee

All-SEC 2009 Defense

• DL: Antonio Coleman, Auburn
• DL: Pernell McPhee, Mississippi St.
• DL: Terrence Cody, Alabama
• DL: Dan Williams, Tennessee
• LB: Rolando McClain, Alabama
• LB: Eric Norwood, South Carolina
• LB: Rennie Curran, Georgia
• DB: Javier Arenas, Alabama
• DB: Trevard Lindley, Kentucky
• DB: Eric Berry, Tennessee
• DB: Mark Barron, Alabama

All-SEC 2009 Special Teams

• P: Drew Butler, Georgia
• K: Leigh Tiffin, Alabama
• RS: Javier Arenas, Alabama

Thus, if you do the math, here are the total number of selections by school on my ballot:

I’m not going to lie, I feel bad about leaving a few key players off my list, (including folks like Dexter McCluster, Darvin Adams, and Ryan Mallett), but Alabama is just so damn good, they really occupy the field.  Oh, and I also feel bad about leaving Vanderbilt out of my ballot completely, but such is life.

At any rate, the members of the SEC Power Poll will be rolling out the consensus selections beginning next week, so check back here or over at Team Speed Kills for more information on that in the near future.

I know you can hardly wait…

– So it goes…

Allegedy Related Posts (Computer Generated):

• 2009 SEC Football Power Poll: All-SEC Team: Defensive Backs (3)
• 2009 SEC Football Power Poll: Week 6 (2)
• 2009 SEC Football Power Poll: Week 4 (0)

Okay, this pretty much sucks…

As the Vol Ambassador pointed out earlier today here on the Gate, according to the New York Times (which, as a general rule, avoids simply making stuff up), the NCAA is currently engaged in a wide-reaching investigation of recruiting at Tennessee under Lane Kiffin, with an emphasis on the use of the so-called “Vol Hostesses,” (with particular attention being paid to Hostess Lacey Earps), who routinely accompany recruits on visits to campus.  This investigation was confirmed by Mike Hamilton, though he declined to comment on the substance , and the UTAD has since issued an official statement.

The real interest appears to be trips taken by some of the Vol Hostesses to watch potential recruits play as high schoolers.  These visits, especially if they result in direct communications related to the recruiting of the athlete are potentially barred under NCAA regulations.  Times reporters Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans noted instances where Vol Hostesses had traveled as distance up to 200 or more miles to see recruits play, and had occasionally exchanged text messages with potential recruits.

As official representatives of the UT Athletic Department, contact by these Hostesses could lead to secondary violations, even if the contact was not sanctioned by athletic department officials.

Of particular note, is the fact that the NCAA has been interviewing potential recruits who have not yet formally signed a letter of intent to play for the Vols, an unusual occurrence.  Typically, the NCAA only interviews recruits after they have committed.  The implication being that the investigation is a serious one and one which the NCAA is not taking lightly.

This is especially true considering the fact that Tennessee racked-up a minimum of six secondary violations since December of 2008.  In fact, as attorney and former NCAA investigator, Rick Evrard, told the Times, those secondary violations could have been the impetus leading to the investigation in the first instance.  Evard was stated:

Secondaries mean something to the NCAA.  It’s very telling if an institution continues to report secondaries particularly if they’re in the same category.  If you keep doing the same thing over and over and keep reporting it, that would trigger the N.C.A.A.’s enforcement staff to possibly go in and look at some of that activity.

Former NCAA Investigator Rick Evrard, speaking to the New York Times

It seems to me that a recruiting tool which pairs attractive young women with potential football stars who are approximately 18 years old for the sole purpose of convincing them to play for Tennessee is destined for disaster.  This is hardly a new realization for me –  I have felt this way since I was a student at Tennessee — but this investigation makes it all the more apparent.  I do not believe that the athletic department has ever intentionally attempted to use the Vol Hostesses as the proverbial “bait,” and I am not questioning the scruples or morals of these young ladies.  All I am saying is that, at that age and in those circumstances, things can happen.

The fact of the matter is that this could be a potentially far-reaching and very serious investigation.  On the other hand, it could end up being more smoke than fire.  Either way, I would imagine that the Athletic Department will be taking a long, hard, look at the use of Vol Hostesses as part of the recruiting process.

More on this as the web untangles…

– So it goes

HT:  Go Vols Xtra

Allegedy Related Posts (Computer Generated):

• Alabama gets caught cheating, Kiffin plays with chalk (2)
• 2009 Big Orange Roundtable: Week 2 (4)
• UTAD Announces Naming Rights Sold, Neyland Stadium to be Renamed (13)

I know we’ve been slacking on covering the recent drama, but let me say a few things about Assistant-Gate:

1)  If Gran had something to do with Luc going to FSU, so be it.  We’ve got Michael Taylor and that boy is going to be an Al Wilson-grade stud.

2) If you put a gun to my head and told me I had to make Gran go to another school, I would say Florida State before you could finish the sentence.  Him being there is good for us because they play Florida every year and hardly ever play us.  A competitive Florida State (and for that matter, Miami) is good for us.  Also, the last time we played them, we walked away with a crystal football, so we’re good in my book.

3)  It’s good to have coaches in demand.  If another school wants one of our coaches, it means they recognize we’re doing something right.  This will also help us on the backside in recruiting new coaches in that UT can be a launching point.  I know a constant revolving door isn’t good for continuity, but I can assure you that the core of this staff (Kiffin, Orgeron, Monte) aren’t going anywhere and if Graham comes, he’ll probably join that group.

4) Graham is also recruiting well for South Carolina right now.  In light of some calls for Trooper to come back, Graham could be a deal to make everyone happy.

At the end of the day, how can you say no to a guy who did THIS to Bama?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Allegedy Related Posts (Computer Generated):

• No related posts.

The Tennessee Volunteers confirmed this evening that they will represent the SEC in the 2009-10 Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year’s Eve at the Georgia Dome.   Tennessee will face the Virginia Tech Hokies, who will represent the ACC.

The game will begin at 7:30 0n New Year’s Eve in Atlanta.  Tickets for the game go on sale tonight at UTTix.com.

The Vols most recent trips to the Chick-fil-A Bowl resulted in two disappointing losses to both the Maryland Terrapins and the Clemson Tigers.

Given that the Vols were sitting at home during bowl season last year, I have a feeling that they will be more than ready to face the Hokies, who they last played in the 1994 Gator Bowl, where the Vols upset the Hokies 45-23.

Looks like the Vols will be eating their Christmas “Turkey” on New Years…

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:   the Chick-fil-A Bowl •   UT Sports.com ||  Statement on Fair Use

Allegedy Related Posts (Computer Generated):

• The Tennesseeum (0)
• SEC Power Poll Ballot: Week 13 (0)
• From the Ashes Rises a Phoenix: Western Kentucky Postgame Thoughts (0)

Sure, he’s making fun of the Vols, but when LSUFreek speaks, people listen…

via:  LSUFreek  The Sporting Blog •  HT:  VolNation

I guess if Vols DB Nyshier Oliver didn’t want to get lampooned, then he shouldn’t have tried stealing shirts.

Allegedy Related Posts (Computer Generated):

• UTAD Announces Naming Rights Sold, Neyland Stadium to be Renamed (13)
• The Tennesseeum (0)
• Headlines, Links, & Lies: “I haven’t crashed into anything yet!” Edition (0)