Posts Tagged ‘All-SEC’

2009 SEC Power Poll

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:

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Get more information on the SEC Power Poll at Team Speed Kills!

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:

Read the rest of this entry »

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

SEC Power Poll

All-SEC Selections: Safeties

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 safety.  The rest of the defensive positions are being announced today across the blogosphere as well.  Be sure to check them out:

• The Red Solo Cup: Defensive Line
• Garnet and Black Attack: Linebackers
• Save the Shield: Cornerbacks

And in case you didn’t get a chance to catch the offensive selections, they are already available at Team Speed Kills.

The envelope, please…

The 2008 Power Poll All-SEC Selections at Safety are: Eric Berry (Tennessee) and Rashad Johnson (Alabama).  The reasons behind these should be obvious, but in case they aren’t here’s why these two fine athletes are in a class of their own:

Eric Berry • 14

Tennessee Volunteers

5’11” • 195 • Sophomore • Safety

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 two 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 of the end of the 2008 season, he is 14 yards shy of breaking the NCAA all-time record for career interception return yardage of 501 yards (which has stood since 1989-91).  Most recently, he also garnered unanimous All-American honors.  On top of all of this he can now add one more prize to his trophy case:

Unanimous Selection: 2008 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team

Oh, and, yes, he is just a sophomore…

Thus, it is understandable why some are already viewing Berry as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate for 2009 and 2010.  In my Sports Blog Heisman Ballot, I quoted an article which I believe describes Berry’s style of play about as well as any I’ve ever read:

The Vols’ athletic outlier plays the game like it’s on a sheet of ice and he’s the only one that brought skates. … Berry is the flower that’s sprouted in a compost heap of a year.

As a result, of Berry’s punishing style of play, the Vols’ defense finished 4th in the country in total defense, despite having a less than stellar record.

Even more impressive, however, is Berry’s never quit attitude on the field (even when down by 20-plus points) and his ability to dish out some mammoth hits.  But don’t take my word for it just give these a look (or ask Knowshon Moreno)…

Eric Berry vs. Knowshon Moreno

Eric Berry vs. the World

Berry’s statistics through the end of the 2008 regular season are:

I can only imagine what the SEC will see from Berry next season.  Either way, I’d be scared.

Rashad Johnson • 49

Alabama Crimson Tide

6’0” • 186 • Senior • Safety

Rashad Johnson started out as a walk on in Tuscaloosa, played under 2 different coaches, and singlehandedly willed himself into becoming one of the top safeties in the country.  This Alabama native ended with 5 interceptions on the season including the game-winning grab against the LSU Tigers in overtime.  His stats pretty much speak for themselves, and paint a picture of a young man in a hurry … to get to the ball that is.

Johnson capped off his senior season by being named 1st team All-American by the AFCA and 2nd team by the Walter Camp, Sporting News, and Associated Press voters as a safety.  This “converted” running back can now add SEC Power Poll All-SEC to his resume as well.

Now, Johnson has the pleasure of looking forward to an NFL career, as numerous teams have shown an interest.  As one of the senior leaders for Alabama this season, he will be sorely missed in 2009.  For now, however, he’s one of the Pride of the Tide.

Here’s a few highlights from Johnson’s senior campaign:

How the West was Won: Alabama vs. LSU

Johnson’s statistics through the end of the 2008 regular season are:

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 team rundown will be posted Friday-ish.

– Go Figure …

Images Courtesy of: UT Sports • RollTide.com

Check out the Full Poll Results at Garnet and Black Attack!

SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team

Well, my good friends over at Garnet and Black Attack—who bring you the SEC Power Poll—have decided that the Power Poll voters have just as much right to name an All-SEC team as we do to rank the SEC teams on a weekly basis (that would be none, but we do it anyway).  Thus, soon the first ever SEC Power Poll All-SEC team will be released for all to admire.

Either way, here’s my ballot for the SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team.  Feel free to enlighten me if you think I have missed someone or been led astray…

In all its radiant glory:

Offense:

• QB:   Tim Tebow (Florida)
• RB:   Knowshon Moreno (Georgia)
• RB:   Glen Coffee (Alabama)
• WR:  Julio Jones (Alabama)
• WR:  Mohamed Massaquoi (Georgia)
• TE:   Jared Cook (South Carolina)
• C:     Jonathan Luigs (Arkansas)
• OL:   Anthony Parker (Tennessee)
• OL:   John Jerry (Ole Miss)
• OL:   Herman Johnson (LSU)
• OL:   Phil Trautwein (Florida)

Defense:

• DE:   Rahim Alem (LSU)
• DE:   Robert Ayers (Tennessee)
• DT:   Terrence Cody (Alabama)
• DT:   Peria Jerry (Ole Miss)
• LB:   Patrick Benoist (Vanderbilt)
• LB:   Jasper Brinkley (South Carolina)
• LB:   Rolando McLain (Alabama)
• CB:   D.J. Moore (Vanderbilt)
• CB:   Trenard Lindley (Kentucky)
• S:     Eric Berry (Tennessee)
• S:     Emanuel Cook (South Carolina)

Special Teams:

• K:     Colt David (LSU)
• KR:   Brandon James (Florida)
• P:     Brian Mims (Georgia)
• PR:   Javier Arenas (Alabama)

Coach of the Year:

Not that anyone asked me, but for my two cents I believe that the Right Reverend Houston Nutt has more than earned SEC Coach of the Year honors.  I’ll also give Nick Saban an honorable mention at second place for this award.

Totals by Team:

Here are the total number of selections by team from my ballot, with Alabama coming out far ahead of everyone.

	Alabama Crimson Tide	6		Ole Miss Rebels	2
	Georgia Bulldogs	3		Vanderbilt Commodores	2
	LSU Tigers	3		Arkansas Razorbacks	1
	South Carolina Gamecocks	3		Kentucky Wildcats	1
	Tennessee Volunteers	3		Auburn Tigers	0
	Florida Gators	2		Mississippi State Bulldogs	0

The Rest of the Power Poll

Now that you have wasted your time looking at my ballot for the SEC Power Poll All-SEC Team, go check out what everybody else is saying over at Garnet and Black Attack, where the final poll results will be posted in the coming days.

– Go Figure …

Well, the powers that be have selected the SEC Basketball Post-season awards, and the BasketVols are well represented in the final list.

Chris Lofton and Tyler Smith both were selected as members of the 8-man All-SEC First team, and JaJuan Smith was selected to the All-SEC Second team. JaJuan Smith also was selected for the SEC All-Defensive team. J.P. Prince was selected as the SEC Sixth-man of the Year.

In addition to these player accolades, Tennessee Head Coach Bruce Pearl was selected as co-Coach of the Year with Kentucky Head Coach Billy Gillespie. While I understand that Gillespie managed to transform a potentially disastrous season into a reasonably successful one, the Kentucky Wildcats are still a “bubble” team, and in my opinion his sharing the coach of the year honors with Pearl is ridiculous. The BasketVols have had a phenomenal season, and a number of their wins were the direct result of Pearl’s fabulous efforts on the sidelines. Be that as it may, the voters chose both. Either way, Coach Pearl has earned the accolade, and deserves a huge amount of credit for building on his past successes and propelling the Vols to the forefront of the world of College Basketball.

The Orange Nation is proud of all of the award winners, and of the team as a whole. One of the great things about this team — which I’ve blathered on about all season — is that they are truly a team, not just a collection of individuals. Hats off to all of the BasketVols!

Now let’s get ready to get going in the Georgia Dome!

– Go Figure …

Image Courtesy of: Knoxville News Sentinel