SEC Talk

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.