SEC Talk

Alabama announced today that it will appeal NCAA sanctions that were handed down by the NCAA last week.

The sanctions were in response to self-reported infractions where UA athletes were getting free textbooks for friends. While athletes from 15 sports were involved, football sustained the biggest hit, with orders to vacate 21 wins from 2005-2007. It’s been speculated that football was more harshly reprimanded because the program was still in a five year probationary window from previous infractions.

“We appreciate that the committee recognized the isolated nature of this violation as well as UA’s immediate and aggressive actions to correct the situation as soon as we discovered the problem. However, we are disappointed with the excessiveness of the sanctions in view of the facts of this case and the penalties in other textbook infractions cases.

“There is no evidence or allegations of other NCAA violations; no coaches or administrators were involved; no players obtained books and sold them for cash, and all the books were returned or charged to the student’s account as required by the UA textbook policy in effect at that time.”

Alabama President Robert Witt

Bama has until June 26 to formally file with the NCAA’s Infractions Appeals Committee.

IN OTHER SEC NEWS:

Sites for upcoming men’s and women’s basketball tournaments were announced on Wednesday, added to sites previously announced:

Men’s Tournaments:
2010 - Sommet Center, Nashville, Tn.
2011 - Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.
2012 - New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, La.
2013 - Sommet Center, Nashville, Tn.
2014 - Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.

Women’s Tournaments:
2010 - The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Ga.
2011 - Sommet Center, Nashville, Tn.
2012 - Sommet Center, Nashville, Tn.
2013 - The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Ga.
2014 - The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Dulluth, Ga.

The news out of Tuscaloosa isn’t good today.

The NCAA is reportedly going to place Alabama’s football program on three years probation and strip the school of up to 10 wins as a result of violations of textbook disbursement policy.

Additionally, Alabama will pay a fine. There will be no reduction of scholarships or bowl penalties.

The penalties are the result of student-athletes arranging for free textbooks for friends. Five football players, including starting linemen Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis and running back Glen Coffee, were suspended for four games in 2007. Although Bama lost three of its next four games, they crushed Tennessee 41-17, the day after the suspensions were announced.

The infractions occurred during Bama’s five year probationary period, which meant the University could have faced much more serious penalties. UA self-reported the violations when they were discovered more than a year and a half ago, although did not announce the situation to the public until three months after appearing before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions.

Football wasn’t the only sport involved. It has been reported that more than 200 UA athletes covering most sports participated. The problem was discovered by an employee of the University of Alabama Supply Store when a student account in excess of $1600 was found.

Bama hoped to avoid having to forfeit games, but the NCAA noted that the infractions went on for at least two years before being discovered, and that it could constitute a major infraction under the Lack of Institutional Control catagory.

Alabama has not decided whether to appeal the decision.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Tennessee’s Tyler Smith has withdrawn his name from the NBA draft and will return to the Vols for his senior season. Smith said the opportunity to stay and graduate, as well as be a part of what he called a “special” team, won out over the NBA.

Most likely the fact that most scouts projected Smith as an early second round pick weighed in the process, too.

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Kentucky DL Myron Pryor will be suspended for the team’s opener vs. Eastern Kentucky.

For years, the Vanderbilt Commodores have been the laughing stock of the SEC in both basketball and football. However, the program has experienced a resurgence recently and the look to improve on a solid football season in 2006.

Gone: They literally have lost no one. A few starters, but they have everybody who is anybody on this team back.

Back: Chris Nickson (QB, also led team in rushing), Earl Bennett (WR)

Early and Important: If they can beat Alabama at home in week two, they will probably be 4-0 heading into the Auburn game. That will put them in prime position to be a bowl team for the first time in a long time.

Confidence: “Our confidence is pretty high right now, but we also have to look at our schedule every once in a while and be realistic. You know, we played eight teams that were in a Bowl last year. So high hopes, but we got a tough job ahead of us. We’re looking forward to getting it started.” As you can see, they expect to be not only competetive but successful. It is possible for the ‘Dores to win seven or eight this year.

Unheard of in Nashville: Could you imagine if Vandy made it to a bowl on the heels of being a Sweet 16 (should’ve been Elite Eight) basketball season? Times have certainly changed quickly.

Still the SEC: Even with their vast improvement, Vandy still looks as if they will finish sixth in the East. However, they can still conceivably sneak into a bowl with six wins if they beat all their nonconference opponents, which will be difficult since they close with Orange Bowl runner-up Wake Forest.

This has to be the year for Erik Ainge. He has been overrated for too long. Maybe he will finally pull it together and be kinda OK. Because he is not good and never will be.

Gone: Robert Meachem (11 TD’s), Marvin Mitchell (LB, leading tackler)

Back: Lots of starters, Jered Mayo (LB)

Oh Steve…: Fulmer really needs to beat Spurrier this year in Knoxville. It looks more and more like he never will. And he won’t this year.

If this doesn’t piss you off: “It was the first time I’ve really had any real obstacle in anything in my life,” he said. “I had little things, but that was the first really test of my manhood.”
This from Erik Ainge after he didn’t start his freshman year at a major D-1 football school. Cry me a river. I love the fact you didn’t start after getting everything handed to you your entire life. You aren’t very good and that will be exposed this year.

Nothing: There never has been anything interesting about UT football. This year is no different. There is still a Colquitt. Cool, huh.

How far they have fallen: There was a time when UT was elite–not anymore. I think they will beat Cal in game one of the season but beyond that they won’t make much noise. Another 8-4 year, probably third in the East.

Safety Emmanuel Cook was arrested on gun charges. It seems Spurrier is having some trouble keeping order at USC…

Also, Nick Saban did not suspend All-SEC defensive back Simeon Castille after an arrest.

There is no doubt the team to beat in the SEC this year is LSU. They were, perhaps, the best team in the SEC a year ago. Without having done any research, I would say that they were the best two-loss team ever. With some major players coming back, they look ready to dominate again this year.

Lost: JeMarcus Russell (#1 overall pick), Dwayne Bowe (leading receiver), Laron Landry (leading tackler)

Back: Early Doucet (WR, KR), Ali Highsmith (LB), Glenn Dorsey (DT)

Biggun’: Just for vindication of the LSU faithful, the Tigers will go to Tuscaloosa and pound Alabama. I assume the game will be much worse next year in Baton Rouge, but with a simple road schedule ahead of them, LSU has a great chance to go undefeated if they don’t drop any trap games. They need to be careful with Virginia Tech in game two of the season and a mid-October meeting at Kentucky following the emotional Florida game.

Get it together, Les: “I apologize for being a little late, but this is a cramped schedule. We’re trying to adjust two‑deeps, kicking teams.” What else is there to say, Les. You guys are stacked and if Matt Flynn physically has an arm, at all, they should easily win ten if not breezing through twelve.

Flynn will win: Few people remember that Matt Flynn was the starting quarterback in the 2005 Peach Bowl in place of JaMarcus Russell who was injured. He ended up being the offensive MVP after thrashing Miami 40-3. If that is indication for things to come, LSU will be unbeatable.

Get out the purple and gold pom-poms: These guys are going all the way. They dropped a few last year, but they should have the experience to dominate the West this yer.

Again, I’d like to welcome everyone to the site and I hope you find it both interesting and informative. I encourage all of you to be as outspoken as possible with your opinions, as the site will thrive off of comments from the readership. The goal of the site is to provide news and statistics from the SEC in the most entertaining way possible. As I’ve already said, I plan to update the site very frequently with the latest in news and notes.

Since the season is less than a month away, I thought it would be a good time to outline each individual team. These capsules will include key lost/returning players, key additions, big games, and anything else that I see fit. I trust that talking about each team will arouse some sort of commentary from the masses. To ensure that I will not be playing favorites, I will move alphabetically through the conference.

Again, I hope you enjoy and check back every day.